Local News – Friday, October 7th, 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Wes Mobray stated crews would be hauling brown rock and doing patchwork on numerous county roads with the Ultimate Paving Material. He said maintenance was being done on trucks #121 and 123, and a flat tire was being replaced on one of the graders. He also said the chip and seal contractor continues to work on a number of roads in both districts. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported workers would be repairing chip and seal roads 3210 and 3220 and possibly county road 6150 if they have enough oil. Larson said a man would be hauling brown rock, and another would be screening brown rock and hauling chips to the chip and seal contractor when needed. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles spoke with the other commissioners about signing a Notice of Decision for the Lenox Rural Fire Department for the $10,000 ARPA award previously approved by the commission. The commissioners did sign the notice along with the county clerk. He also discussed with the other commissioners about the contract sent by Corky Stack from Stack Design and Construction for $507,148 to begin work on the Dent County Courthouse with Alexander Construction out of Rolla. This contract had been previously approved by the commission. The contract was signed by the commissioners and county clerk before being e-mailed back to Stack. The commission also formally approved the bid from Town and Country Bank for the lease/purchase of two graders which came to $389,244.90. The bid from Town and Country Bank received on the due date had the original lease/purchase price quoted by the commissioners for the cost of the graders which was around $381,000. The commissioners verified with Town and Country Bank the additional dollars would be added to their original bid for the proper dollar figure to do a lease/purchase agreement for the graders. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind anyone that has not yet registered to vote in the November election has through Wednesday, October 12th to do so. She also said excused absentee voting continues in her office and those voting need to have a photo ID. Skiles went on to say the courthouse would be closed for Columbus Day on Monday. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse.

While most Americans feel safest at home, research shows that three-quarters of fire deaths and injuries occur in our homes and that people are now more likely to die in a residential fire than they were in 1980. That’s why the National Fire Prevention Week, October 9th through the 15th, theme is “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.” Modern homes burn faster and hotter than older homes because of the new, lighter weight building materials are often much more flammable. The National Fire Protection Association recommends families make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities. They also recommend smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound. Families should also know at least two ways out of every room, if possible, plus make sure all doors and windows open easily. Once out of the house, families should have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet. Every family should practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night. It is also important to close interior and exterior doors to slow the spread of a fire. Closing doors cuts off the oxygen that fuels a fire and reduces the amount of smoke that spreads to other rooms. That’s why it’s recommended that people sleep with bedroom doors closed, close interior doors each time they leave the home, and close doors behind them when they escape a burning home.

The Creative Arts Center will be offering a stained glass beveled snowflake class with Jennifer Curry on Tuesday afternoon and evening. You choose one of the two workshops to attend. The class is from 1:00 to 4:00, the next is from 4:30 to 7:30. During the three-hour class you will use some basic stained class soldering techniques and be introduced to vocabulary and materials while creating a beautiful snowflake. The cost is $50 per class. If you have taken a stained class at the creative arts center prior your cost is $40. The Creative Arts Center has two easy ways to sign up for events! Call or text 573-247-0651, or go to salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Creative Arts Center.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed Monday in observance of Columbus Day. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday.