Local News – Monday, February 14th, 2022
Missouri State Parks will be launching an enhanced online reservation system beginning at 7:00 TOMORROW. In order to complete the upgrade, Missouri State Parks will NOT be accepting new reservations, changes or cancellations until Tuesday morning. This includes online reservations at icampmo.com, phone reservations through the call center and reservations made at a state park or state historic site locations. State parks and historic sites will be open under normal, off-season operations during this time. The new reservation system will offer many new features including the ability to buy and send Missouri State Parks eGift Cards. Interactive park maps and multiple photos to preview campsites. Easy-to-use search function, showing results up to 70 miles from your search area. The ability to reserve shelters online and the ability to sign up for tours online. As part of the new reservation system, there will be a $2 decrease in reservation fees for reservations made online and a $.50 decrease in reservation fees for reservations made through the call center. Beginning Tuesday morning, making an advanced reservation for campsites and group tent areas will result in the following nonrefundable reservation fees, $6.50 for reservations made online at icampmo.com and $8 for reservations made through the call center at 877-422-6766. Same-day reservations for campsites are accepted and do not incur a reservation fee. For reservations made with an arrival date beginning Sunday, January 1st, 2023, camping rates will increase $2 per night for basic and electric campsites; and $3 per night for electric and water 50 AMP and sewer, electric, and water 50 AMP campsites. For questions related to these changes, email moparks@dnr.mo.gov or call 800-334-6946. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
An accident occurred Saturday afternoon at 1:25 in Phelps County on County Road 8360 about a mile and a half west of Highway 63. According to the highway patrol report a 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup driven by 50-year-old Sheridan Blackwell of Rolla, was traveling westbound and traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Blackwell suffered serious injuries and was transported to University Hospital in Columbia by Air Ambulance. He was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Dodge sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by C&C Towing.
Healthy Dent County is planning to begin another Project RISE program that will empower individuals and offer support as they strive to lead their families out of poverty. The goal is to have a new cohort of families begin this spring. This program will address root issues keeping families in poverty and work toward developing strategies to overcome these challenges and sustain long-term change. Project RISE will help provide the tools and resources to solve-problems, create new habits and provide a forum for networking and creating healthy dialogue with mentors, experts and others who have found ways to achieve additional success. Families accepted in the program will work on reducing debt, improving credit scores, increasing income, strengthening confidence and gaining hope. Only 4-7 families will be selected for this two-year program, and they must meet these requirements: must have stable housing; they must reside in Dent County; and most importantly, the participants must be ready, willing and open to make changes to find new opportunities. To make this project a success, Healthy Dent County will work with social service agencies, churches, health care and employment specialists and community leaders. The wealth of knowledge from these professionals will be invaluable to improving the lives of these families for generations to come. Ms. Lacey Walker, Administrative Professional with Healthy Dent County, will serve as the coordinator for this program. There are a number of ways you can partner with Healthy Dent County on this project that includes referring families, volunteering to help make a presentation at one of the 16-weekly classes, sponsor a weekly meal by providing food or donating $150, or by sponsor a family by donating $250. All donations to Healthy Dent County are tax deductible. For more information on Project RISE or to determine a family’s eligibility, please contact Lacey Walker at 729-8163 or e-mail her at lacey@salemcommunitycenter.org.