Local News – Friday, February 23rd, 2018
The Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that patch grading would be done on Dent County Road 6500, the Cedar Grove Road, which is commonly called White Oak Hollow. He also noted that materials would be added to county road 6410, while his crew was also out cleaning culvert inlets and crossovers with pitchforks and shovels in preparation for the next rain event. Purcell said that on Monday he attended the Tourism Committee meeting where three proposals were submitted and approved, plus one reimbursement request was submitted and approved. He added that on Tuesday he attended the South Central Community Action Agency meeting in Winona. Purcell said the Agency received a clean audit with no recommendations, plus he learned that funds are still available for weatherization and renovations for those who qualify. He said those needing more information should call (573) 729-3500 and talk to Sarah. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he had a backhoe cleaning areas on Dent County Road 2340, plus materials would be added to that roadway. He said he had a man replacing signs on county roads 2340 and 2360. Larson went on to say that his crew was patching washouts and hauling materials to numerous areas. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that last Thursday he attended the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting at MRPC Headquarters in St. James where he learned that traffic fatalities are down for the MoDOT District that Dent County is part of. He also reported that he attended the GRO meeting this past Tuesday. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind Dent County voters that absentee voting is going on in her office for the April 3rd Municipal Election from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. She noted that the last day to mail out an absentee ballot for the April election is March 28th at 5:00 pm and that her office would be open Saturday, March 31st from 8:00 am until 12 noon for absentee voting. Curley added that the last day to register to vote for the April election is March 7th by 5:00 PM. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will Monday in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
The Salem Vision 2040 second meeting will be held Monday evening, February 26th, from 5:00 until 7:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road in Salem. At this meeting, the students from the Center for Community Studies will present a variety of vision sketches based on the information gathered from the first meeting that dealt with community visioning as well as the discussion with those interested in the community that were present. These “What If” ideas are intended to create discussions and broaden the community’s awareness of potential improvements. Come and bring your friends as people of all ages are encouraged to attend and participate in the visioning process for your city. At this meeting, those attending will hear the various vision strategies explored by the students before informal one-on–one discussions with the students occurs to review their ideas. Finally, their will be a group discussion of the likes and dislikes pertaining to what was seen and the chance for the group to provide advice or feedback for further development. If you live in or near Salem your ideas are welcome. This is the second of four public visioning meetings that will take place between now and May as the city kicks off this year long collaborative visioning process to improve the community. Snacks and coffee will be provided during the sessions. This event is sponsored by the City of Salem in partnership with University of Missouri-Extension and Center for Community Studies, Hammons School of Architecture, Drury University.
The State Funeral for World War II Veterans has announced the appointment of eight distinguished leaders to the Missouri Board of Directors. They are Joe Driskill of Jefferson City, Paul Schuerenberg of Poplar Bluff, Joseph Podorski of Chesterfield, Gary Grigsby of Warrensburg, Dave Pace of Salem, Paul Pryor of Boss, Samuel Paul Winfield of Salem, and Billie Krewson of Licking. These members will serve with Missouri State Chairman, Richard LaBrash of Salem and Bill McNutt, the co-founder and chairman of the State Funeral for World War 2 Veterans, in the effort to convince the President of the United States to designate a single state funeral for the last Medal of Honor holder from World War 2 as a final salute to the 16 million men and women who served in our nation’s armed forces from 1941-1945. Petitions are available all over the City of Salem, Dent County and surrounding counties. If you would like to join this effort to salute our Greatest Generation, please sign a paper petition or go online to www.worldwar2salute.org where you can sign a petition online.