Local News – Monday, June 17th, 2024

Nineteen art reproductions of paintings by Rudolph (Rudy) Wendelin, courtesy of Mark Twain National Forest, will be displayed this summer at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center in Salem. The Wendelin exhibit will showcase the historic artist’s iconic Smokey Bear campaign imagery that he created during his decades of service to the U.S. Forest Service, starting in the 1930s. The exhibit will be on public display at the ONCRC starting TODAY and lasting through July 12th, Monday through Friday from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon. On loan from the USDA National Agricultural Library, these replica paintings were completed from 1977 through 1995 and remain the most famous depictions of Smokey Bear. Painter Rudy Wendelin worked for the Forest Service as an illustrator beginning in 1933 and was the mastermind behind Smokey’s human-like appearance in his signature ranger hat and blue jeans. Thanks to Wendelin’s art, Smokey’s message “Only YOU can prevent wildfires” has prevailed through the generations. Jordan Mays, Community Engagement Specialist for Mark Twain National Forest helped arrange this special event and hopes it will spread awareness of Smokey Bear and his important message of caring for forests through wildfire prevention. Forest Service staff, art presentations, educational content, commemorative memorabilia, and special appearances by Smokey Bear will occur at times during the scheduled showing. The ONCRC is located at 202 S Main St in Salem. Updates about special appearances, like when Smokey Bear will be in attendance, will be shared on the Mark Twain National Forest’s Facebook page. If you have any questions about the exhibit, contact Jordan Mays at (573) 210-5393 or the Forest’s office in Salem at (573) 729-6656.

A Kids Summer Art Camp will be held Monday, June 24th to Friday, June 28th from 8:00 in the morning until noon for four hours each day. The instructors will be Tana Kettner, Danielle Norris as well as other teachers from the Creative Arts Center. This camp is for children between the ages of 6 and 16 and parents need to sign up their children by TODAY. The cost is $120 for the five days or it is $25 per day. All supplies for the week are included as well as a small snack each day. Do not let your little ones miss out on Art Camp 2024!! Your kids will get to do some amazing art projects, as well as learn valuable art skills. They cannot wait to get creative with your children and create masterpieces! The camps will feature visiting artists with special additional projects such as: tie dye, sculpture, squeegee art, watercolor painting, glass fusing, acrylic painting, paper mache, decoupage, and so much more! Parents…when checking out please add a T-shirt size to your order! All ticket sales close on June 17th to allow time to order t-shirts. All extra proceeds go towards the Arts Center fundraising goal.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new and improved Red Bluff Campground on Mark Twain National Forest will take place TODAY at 11:00 this morning at the new pavilion near the campground host’s campsite. This grand opening celebration will highlight the new and modernized camping facilities at this beautiful site. To provide the public a chance to enjoy all this site has to offer, Forest Service officials have waived all fees for camping and day-use activities at Red Bluff today. Guided tours of the site and its improvements including new campsites, showers, a dump station, additional paved loops, as well as improved electric and water will be presented to visitors immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony. In the past, flooding from storms repeatedly damaged campsites, roads, and facilities located in the floodplain at Red Bluff. Visitors are welcome to arrive earlier if they choose. Parking will be available by the old well house and by the Sitze Pavilion. The entrance to Red Bluff Recreation Area is located on Route V in Crawford County, about one mile east of Davisville. A map of Red Bluff is available on the Mark Twain National Forest’s website. Visitors are welcome to walk around and enjoy the site before and after the ribbon cutting.

The Prevention Consultants of Missouri and the Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition are inviting everyone to a Youth Mental Health First Aid Training on June 21st at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road in Salem from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. This is great training for teachers, school staff, coaches, camp counselors, youth group leadres, parents and adults who work with the youth. The course teaches you how to identlfy and understand as well as respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse use challenges among childre and adolescents age 12 through 18. The training is free but you do have to register and complete a pre-class, online module. You will need to register for the program and registration ENDS TODAY! Contact Linda Kozlowski at 573-368-4755 or e-mail her for more information at linda@preventionconsultants.org. Lunch will be provided! This training is FREE!!

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ‘live” Music Festival this Saturday at the Commons featuring the Crowe Boys from New Orleans with opening act, Devon Sutterfield from Salem and St. James. The gates will open at 6:00 and the live concert begins at 7:00. Sutterfield was featured recently on “The Voice” while the Crowe Boys have had success on the Internet with their single “Where Did I Go Wrong” and “The Simple Truth Hurts.” Tickets are available for $30 and are available at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and online at croweboys.com. There will be food trucks, a beer garden and more! To find out about the concert or tickets, contact the Salem Chamber of Commece at 573-729-6900.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth. Normal operations will resume on Thursday, June 20th.