Local News – Friday, May 10th, 2024

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Democratic Candidate for the 120th seat in the House of Representatives Jen Tracy, addressed a question by Gary Polk about how much money the new sales tax on marijuana would bring the county. She answered by saying in Crawford County they just opened up their first dispensary and there is no information that she can provide. Also in attendance was Jason Greene from Pioneer Forest who came by to let the commission know that Pioneer Forest would be applying for a Forest Legacy Grant for their timbered lands. He said they are the largest private land owner in Missouri as they have land in six counties. The grants would allow the Pioneer Forest to protect private forests through conservation easements or land purchases that would maintain a multitude of public benefits including the opportunities for people to hunt, fish, and camp; provide for a clean and abundant drinking water source; maintain habitat for fish and wildlife, and continue the production and sale of timber, fuel wood, and other forest products. Public access to Pioneer Forest will be protected where it currently exists. Greene said the grant will help their ecology programs and trail systems by providing funding based on the value of the amount of acres in the Pioneer Forest. He said they will be applying for the grant within a week and it could take a year or two to be awarded. If accepted for the grant, Pioneer Forest would work with the Department of Conservation on the preservation of the forests. In the road reports, both district commissioners said workers were off Thursday after being on call Wednesday for the anticipated storms. The workers were to be off Wednesday for Truman’s Birthday. Both district commissioners said they had not received any calls for storm damage. Commissioner Wes Mobray said he would be on a conference call with the MoDOT Area Supervisor to discuss repairs to the approaches to the county roads from the state highways that are not being maintained. He said he will also discuss with him the problem of semi-truck and trailers using county roads to go to the Royal Oak Charcoal plant, destroying gravel as well as chip and seal roads. The county has been asking for signage for “No Truck Traffic” from the state and they say they can’t do that. Mobray plans on showing pictures of a semi in the middle of the front yard of a resident on Route JJ by the plant. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he met with the insurance claims adjuster to go over the county buildings. Larson said there was shingle damage to courthouse roof and rail damage to the jail. He said the adjuster was also going to check the Annex and Extension building to check for damage. The county has a $2,500 deductible for damages. Larson said he expected to receive a list of the issues found from the adjuster soon. Larson also said he was named the President of the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Board at their last meeting. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk brought in the April turnover for the county and said it totaled $127,201.56 which is just about the same as it was last year. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and Healthy Dent County are teaming up to host a Second Chance Job Fair from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon on May 22nd at the Community Center at the Armory located at 1200 W. Rolla Street in Salem. The job fair focuses on employers willing to hire individuals who are justice involved or in recovery from substance-use-disorder. Employers attending include Walmart, Royal Oak and Eagle Stop, with other employers still reserving spaces to attend. The Missouri Job Center, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health and Invent Yourself, LLC will also be at the event to provide resources to potential employees. Samantha Sherman, the MRPC Senior Community Development Specialist, said that Missouri is facing a workforce shortage, and there is an untapped population with the potential to help solve this issue, if employers are willing to hire those who have been involved in the justice system or those who are in recovery. If they can connect employers with these individuals, not only does it help the employers find the labor their companies need, but we are helping these individuals find steady employment and, in some cases, breaking the cycle and stigma associated with substance-use-disorder or past justice involvement. This event is open to the public. Attendees will be eligible to win a door prize. This project is funded through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, totaling $1,000,000 awarded to MRPC in 2021. Interested employers and prospective job candidates needing information, can contact Sherman or MRPC Community Development Assistant Ann Feeler at 573-265-2993 or via email at ssherman@meramecregion.org and afeeler@meramecregion.org, respectively.

An accident happened in Phelps County on Highway 63 at Phelps County Road 6220 Thursday morning at 9:16. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Jeep Wrangler driven northbound by 27-year-old Cordell Dukes of Edgar Springs, traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail and overturned. Dukes suffered minor injuries and was transported by the Phelps Health EMS to Phelps Health. Dukes was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Jeep was totaled and removed from the scene by D&D Towing.