Local News – Monday, June 12th, 2023

The draft fiscal year 2024-2028 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) was presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Wednesday. The draft five-year program includes funding from General Revenue that was passed by the Missouri General Assembly. A 30-day public review and comment period has now begun. The draft fiscal year 2024-2028 STIP lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies for fiscal years 2024-2028 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2028) and reflects the transportation needs of communities across the state. Those projects in the STIP for Dent County include a scoping engineering project on Route TT for bridge improvements over Crooked Creek in the next two years, the bridge replacement on Highway 19 South over Gladden Creek at an expected cost of $1,827,000 in the 2024 fiscal year, pavement improvements to Route K from Highway 19 to Route KK as well as on Route J from Highway 72 to Highway 32-72 at a cost of $2,071,000 in fiscal year 2025, upgrades to pedestrian facilities on Highway 32 to comply with the ADA Transition Plan at a total cost of $1,991,000 that will begin in fiscal year 2025 with the engineering and right-of-way purchase followed by the construction beginning in fiscal year 2026; the bridge improvement on Route B over Dry Creek at a cost of $1,330,000 in the 2026 fiscal year, and the bridge improvement on Highway 19 over Spring Creek for $231,000 in fiscal year 2027. The proposed program is available for public review. The program is also available on MoDOT’s website: hwww.modot.org. Those interested in offering comments can contact MoDOT by email to STIPcomments@modot.mo.gov or by calling customer service at 1-888-275-6636. The formal comment period ends July 6th, 2023. Following the public review period, the comments will be presented to the Commission. The Commission will review the comments and the final transportation program before considering it for approval at its July 12 meeting.

Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said there will be no Dent County Commission meeting this morning due to a lack of a quorum. He reported by phone on Friday on the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting he attended Thursday afternoon at the MRPC offices. Larson said there was a lot of discussion about one of the projects in Dent County scheduled in the state draft STIP plan in the next fiscal year and that is the Gladden Creek Bridge. Initially there was talk the bridge would be closed and those who use Highway 19 would have to be rerouted. MoDOT has found that the cost of improving the other state and lettered highway routes that would have to be used due to the bridge being closed would cost over a million dollars. Larson said an alternative being considered by MoDOT would be to build a one lane temporary bridge over the creek near the old bridge that would use stoplights to control traffic on the bridge. He said nothing has been finalized at this time by MoDOT and would he find out more at the next TAC meeting. The next commissioners meeting will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Chamber Business Expo will be held on Saturday from 9:00 until noon at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center Parking Area at the intersection of Highway 32-72 and 19. Anyone who is a chamber member can receive a FREE ten foot wide by six foot deep space and a second space is only $25.Deadline for booth entry will be tomorrow. Forms are available at the chamber office or e-mail Chamber Director Tabitha Utley at chamber@salemmo.com and she can send you one. If you have questions, call 729-6900 to get the answers.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meet Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the board is expected to review and approve the minutes of the May meeting before hearing the financial report, approving bills, and reviewing the budget and calandar. After the monthly reimbursement report, any old business will be be heard then the hearing of any new business which would be brought before the board. Fire Chief Brad Nash will make his report to the board and the date will then be set for the July meeting before adjourning. The meeting next Tuesday evening will be open to the public.

A one vehicle accident happened Thursday afternoon at around 5:15 in Phelps County on County Road 3120 three miles west of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Ford Focus being driven west of 51 year old Eric Sparks of Rolla, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Sparks, who was wearing a seat restraint, was transported by St. James ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The Ford was removed from the scene by D&D Towing with moderate damage.

Join Tana Kettner & Terrie Welch this Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 – 8:30 at the Creative Arts Center for a Barn Quilt Class. Participants 13 and up are welcome. In this two-day class, you will draw your own quilt block design on a sanded and primed 2’x2′ piece of plywood, and paint it with house paint with crisp edges. When you finish, you can take it home! The $55 cost covers both nights, with all supplies included. Register online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under Programs for the Creative Arts Center.

Missouri State Parks values the tremendous contributions and sacrifices made by members of the military and their families. To show its appreciation to active service members, Missouri State Parks is participating in the Blue Star Museums program, which offers free admission to the nation’s active-duty personnel and their families. The Blue Star Museums program is a collaborative effort of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, U.S. Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums across the nation. Anyone currently serving in the military and their families can receive free admission to museums and historic sites that are part of the Missouri State Parks system by showing their military ID. The 2023 program begian on Armed Forces Day, and will end Labor Day, Monday, September 4th. In addition to the Blue Star Museums program, Missouri State Parks also offers a military camping discount. Active-duty military and veterans alike receive a $2 discount year round at state parks campgrounds. The military discount will be given to retired, veteran and active-duty military personnel, as well as family members of active-duty military personnel, by showing a military or veteran identification. More information on both these programs can be found by visiting mostateparks.com.  Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.