Local News – Friday, May 1st, 2020
Today is the first day that Missourians are able to apply for the first elk-hunting season in modern history in Missouri. The Missouri Conservation Commission has approved the issuance of five permits for hunting bull elk for the 2020 season. Four general permits will be for the public and one permit will be reserved for qualifying area landowners. Missouri’s first pending elk hunt comes after years of restoration efforts of the once-native species by MDC and numerous partners and supporters. For this first elk season, the Conservation Department has designated a nine-day archery portion running October 17th through the 25th and a nine-day firearms portion running December 12th through the 20th. The five permits will be for bull elk and will be valid for both portions. All permits will be assigned through a random-lottery drawing. A $10 application fee is required for those applying for the general permits. Qualifying landowners will not be required to pay the $10 application fee when applying for the landowner permit. Those selected for each of the five permits must pay a $50 permit fee. The Conservation Department will limit the random lottery to one application per-person, per-year with a 10-year “sit-out” period for those drawn for a general permit before they may apply again. If selected for a landowner elk permit, qualifying landowners will not be required to wait 10 years before again applying for a landowner elk permit. Qualifying landowners may apply once each year for a general elk hunting permit and for a landowner elk permit but are eligible to receive only one permit annually. General permits can be used in Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon counties, except the refuge portion of Peck Ranch Conservation Area. General permits are nontransferable. The landowner permit is also nontransferable and may only be filled on the landowner’s property in the counties mentioned. To apply for an elk permit, applicants must be Missouri residents at least 11 years of age by the first day of the hunt and have must be hunter education certified unless exempt due to age. You may apply for the random elk-permit lottery through May 31st online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through a permit vendor.
This is a reminder that free breakfast and lunches for children age 18 and under are still available at a number of locations through May 15th. These meals are available for ALL children. It doesn’t matter if you attended Salem R-80, any of the rural schools or were home schooled. The pick up locations have been reduced to three. In town meals can be picked up at the small yellow R-80 school bus at Salem Upper Elementary School at 1601 Doss Road from 10:30 until 12:00, Monday through Friday. Out of town locations will include the junction of Highways 32 & 72 and Dent County Road 4235 near the old candy striped store from 11:00 until 11:20. Meals will be served from the white Salem R-80 Suburban. This location is primarily for those living east on Highway 32/72 and surrounding county roads between Route P and Route W. The second out of town location will be the junction of Highway 32/72 and Route W from 11:30 until 11:50 where food will be served again from the white Salem R-80 Suburban. This area is basically for those living on Route W and the surrounding county roads, although food may be picked up at any location no matter where they live in Dent County.
The City of Salem Spring Clean Up weeks will be happening on your normal trash days starting the next two weeks starting with the week of May 4th and again during the week of May 11th by WCA, the city’s trash collection service. Also, the City Street Crews will be collecting yard waste beginning on Monday. That includes biodegradable bags of leaves or grass, as well as bundles of limbs, branches and twigs cut to no longer than four feet in length. Items the city will not pick up are appliances, electronics, furniture, lumber or building materials, recyclables or tires. Make sure you place your items curbside, but do not block sidewalks. If you have questions, contact the city administrative offices at 729-4811.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold special meetings Monday and Tuesday afternoon at the district administrative offices boardroom at 5:00 each day. These special meetings will be closed session meetings to discuss personnel. After the agenda is approved at each meeting, they will immediately go into closed session.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is informing the public effective Monday driver testing services will expand to include written testing for all classes of licenses and commercial driver license skills testing which will include the pre-trip, basic, and road testing however, non-CDL road testing is not included in this phase of service reinstatement. Those requiring the skills test for a CDL should note special priority is being given to applicants who have already passed a portion of the CDL skills test, applicants who had a CDL appointment scheduled prior to the suspension of testing last month, school bus operators over the age of 70 requiring annual testing, and applicants with other essential needs. When CDL applicants schedule an appointment, an examiner will review their COVID-19 form, and advise them to wear a face covering during testing and arrive in a sanitized vehicle. Applicants should wear face coverings while in driver examination facilities and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Face coverings will be removed briefly when the applicant’s photo is taken during the licensing process. The Patrol’s website will be updated with a list of designated drivers testing locations, days of service, hours of operation and phone numbers prior to Monday.