Local News – Friday, March 31st, 2023

The Dent County Commission met Thursday at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley appointed Commissioner Gary Larson as the acting presiding commissioner for the meeting. Deloris Gray Wood from the Dent County Historical Society was in to update the commission on the project of telling the history of the Current River “from the road.” She reported she and KSMO General Manager Stan Podorski met with the MRPC to discuss possible grants for the project that could possibly include money for roadsides and plaques to digital kiosks that would feature information about history on and around the Current River. Wood plans on writing a National Park Service grant once it opens up. She will continue to keep the commission in the loop on any future decisions or developments. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented her report on the CART monies received in March from the Department of Revenue. She said the county received $73,146.81 which is $19,343.26 more than the $54,803.55 the county received in March of 2022. Year-to-date, CART funds in 2023 are up 23% amounting to $42,131.41. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said he had three trucks getting rock to stockpile at the county shed since gravel right now is not available in Dent County. He said a work crew and grader are working on a washout on Dent County Road 5520 before the grader will move on to county road 5650 and grade it. He also said grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2410, 4080 and 4210. District 2 Commissioner Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2590 while only grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2160, 2593 and 5240. He said brush will be cut on county roads 2160 and 2350. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said her office in the courthouse would be open this Saturday from 8:00 until 12:00 noon for absentee voting, both excused and unexcused. She said the polls will be open from 6:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening Tuesday for the Municipal Election. People still have time to update their voting registration through Monday before election day in her office. The commissioners added they are actively seeking bids on 40 grader blades to their minutes from the last meeting that will be due in April 13th at 10:00 in her office. The commission discussed looking at replacing two John Deere graders this year with two new John Deere graders using the state bid. They will move forward with this once a new presiding commissioner is appointed. The commission did approve a new seat belt policy for county employees that was requested to be used by the Missouri Association of Counties to help reduce the amount of workman’s comp insurance counties are paying. At 10:00 Thursday, the commissioners received two bids for the county’s banking needs that will include electronic payments, payroll, checking and savings accounts and more. The county received bids from the Bank of Salem and Progressive Ozark Bank. The other three financial institutions in town did not submit bids. At the last meeting, the board approved alowing the Dent County Baptist Association to use the courthouse lawn on Thursday, May 4th for the National Day of Prayer. They also awarded the bids for diesel and unleaded gas to County Fuels for $2.85.5 and $2.68, respectively. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

Learn how to do kitchen knife sharpening with wets stones this Saturday from noon until 2:00 in the afternoon with Derek Turner. Students are encouraged to bring their own knives for sharpening as they will practice at sharpening stations and don’t forget to bring cardboard to cover you freshly sharpened knives. The cost of the class is $25. or more information, call or text 573-247-0651, or you can go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center.