Local News – Friday, March 20th, 2020

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. County office holders Shannon VanKirk, Collector, Assessor Jamie Homeyer and County Clerk Angie Curley discussed with the Commissioners guidelines to keep the public and their staffs safe from the COVID-19 virus. They, along with the Commissioners, are discouraging people from coming in to their offices without first calling to get information, directions about a problem, et cetera. In addition to phoning, the commission encouraged communicating by electronic media if available. VanKirk noted that taxes can be paid electronically or can be left in the drop box on the southwest corner of the Courthouse lawn. She said that if it’s something that needs immediate attention, just call her office at (573) 729-3911. Homeyer said that individuals needing to turn in assessment forms can leave those in the drop box as well or they can be mailed in, plus her office will schedule an appointment if you absolutely need to see her. If the assessment form has been lost, call her office at (573) 729-6010 and one will be mailed. To contact Curley’s office call (573) 729-4144. District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency has closed their offices, plus Head Start Centers, to the public in order to protect the health and safety of staff. He noted that the Missouri Job Centers remain open and accessible. Purcell noted that any individuals that are adversely affected by current events including utilities, employment, housing, etcetera, should contact their local county SCMCAA Outreach Office. The Outreach Office phone number for Dent County is (573) 729-3500, Reynolds County is (573) 663-2855, and Shannon County is (573) 325-8271. Both Purcell and District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that due to excessive moisture grading was on hold until some drying occurred. Their crews are cleaning pipes, culverts and crossovers, plus checking for downed limbs. They noted that the Road and Bridge Department realizes there are pot holes, washboards, and ruts needing attention, but current conditions just won’t permit it. Larson said they hoped to get some gravel spread today. Purcell also reported that at Monday’s Tourism Committee meeting, three reimbursement proposals were submitted and approved, one event proposal was submitted and tabled, and four event proposals were submitted and approved. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that Tuesday he attended the COVIC-19 conference call at the Dent County Firehouse conducted by Governor Mike Parson. At that time, there was 15 confirmed cases in Missouri. Angie Curley said the April 7th Municipal Elections have been postponed until June 2nd due to the COVID-19 virus and that absentee voting continues until June 1st at 5:00 pm. The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed out is May 20th. Curley said if there are questions call her office at (573) 729-4144. She noted that current elected municipal office holders remain in office until the June 2nd election returns are certified. Bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment, and the Road and Bridge Department was seeking phone bids for 7,000 gallons of diesel. Bids were opened for 96 Cat and 48 John Deere grader blades. Bids were submitted by Erb Equipment, Viebrock Sales and Services, LLC, and Woolf Diesel Repair. The low bid of $12,369.60 from Viebrock Sales was approved 3-0. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it has cancelled most public events and programs at its nature centers, shooting ranges, and other locations around the state until April 15th. The cancellations are effective immediately and include scheduled hunter education classes, nature center programs and events, shooting range programs and events, and landowner workshops. MDC scheduled managed hunts, mentored spring turkey hunts, and native plant sales at nature centers will continue as planned.

Due to the rising number of school closures amidst the Coronavirus concerns, Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District has moved the deadline for submitting projects from March 20th to April 10th. Entries for all categories which includes trash art, hand-drawn poster and graphic arts poster may be dropped off at the county clerk offices at the nearest courthouse or at Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), located at 4 Industrial Dr., St. James. If submitting five or more projects, contact MRPC to arrange transport. The Ozark Rivers Earth Day contest is a poster and trash art competition open to all students in grades kindergarten through 12th in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. Homeschool students meeting these criteria are eligible and encouraged to participate. The graphic art portion of the contest is also open to post-secondary students. This year’s theme focuses on protecting the planet and reducing the use of single purpose plastics, such as straws, bags and cups. Students have the opportunity to participate in multiple contest categories, including posters (hand-drawn and graphic arts), and re-purposing recyclables and trash into three-dimensional pieces of trash art. All art entries should echo the theme of the contest and an underlying solid waste reduction theme to rethink, refuse, reduce, re-purpose, reuse and then recycle. First and second place contest winners will each receive prizes, provided by sponsor donations. Honorable mention projects will also be recognized. All prizes will be earth-friendly, with the first prize valued at $30, second prize valued at $10 and honorable mention prizes valued at $5. Full contest rules are available at www.ozarkrivers.org.

Captain Eddie A. Blaylock, the commanding officer of Troop I, announces that some remote driver examination locations in Troop I will be temporarily closed. The driver’s license testing sites scheduled in Cuba, Salem and Vienna will be closed through April 1st, 2020. Please visit the Patrol website to determine the nearest open testing location. The website includes the station location and hours of operation. The written test will be available at Troop I Headquarters each Friday from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. No road tests will be given. When entering the driver’s license examination building, please come to the window and sign in. Only applicants will be allowed in the testing area.