Local News – Monday, October 10th, 2022
Drought conditions across the state are worsening under continued warm, dry and sometimes windy conditions and are not expected to improve soon, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The department is asking for the public’s assistance, encouraging people to submit reports about drought conditions in their local area. Drought-related information for a specific area can be easily completed and submitted via an online survey to the national “Condition Monitoring Observer Reports” service. Drought conditions expanded this week from 82% to 94% of Missouri impacted. Drought intensity also increased, with 30% of the state now experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions. The drought’s primary impacts are to agriculture and barge traffic during the harvest. A variety of helpful online resources are available at dnr.mo.gov/drought. The one-stop drought information website features current drought-related news, a series of Missouri drought maps and current condition reports, the U.S. Drought Monitor, Missouri’s Drought Plan and other resources, including information on past droughts. Again, if you have information such as reports or pictures about the drought in our area, please submit them online at:
Condition Monitoring Observer Reports.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports from late September. On Tuesday, September 27th, a deputy responded to the 8800 block of Route K for a reported property damage incident. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that a person or persons unknown had caused damage to the victim’s well. The investigation is continuing. Later that day, deputies responded to the 2600 block of Dent County Road 3220 for the report of a theft. During the investigation, it was determined that a 32-year-old Salem man was responsible for stealing, including the theft of a firearm. The investigation continues and the suspect was arrested and placed on a 24-Hour hold at the Dent County Jail. On Friday, September 30th, a Salem woman came to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and reported some forged checks had been written on her mother’s account. Deputies initiated an investigation into the matter, and it was determined this incident had actually occurred in Texas County. All the information was forwarded to the Texas County Sheriff’s Office for additional follow-up. If anyone has any information regarding an on-going incident, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.
A one vehicle accident happened Friday night just after 8:20 in Phelps County on County Road 3000 at County Road 3190. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 Ford Taurus being driven west by 20-year-old Kasum Olmit of Rolla crossed the center line, then overcorrected and travelled off the right side of the road and overturned. Olmit suffered minor injuries and was taken by Phelps Health ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital. The Taurus was totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing. Olmit was placed under arrest by the highway patrol for driving while intoxicated and careless and imprudent driving. The highway patrol was assisted on the scene by the Phelps County sheriff’s office, the Rolla rural fire department, and Phelps Health EMS.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites landowners, land managers, and contractors to harness the power of prescribed fire to both achieve their land-management goals and benefit native plants and wildlife through the updated training — Prescribed Burning for Missouri Land Managers. Prescribed burning mimics the historical occurrence of fire that shaped our plant communities, but it is conducted under a prescription of specified environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, fuel moisture, wind speed and direction. Landowners, land managers, and contractors can become certified prescribed burn managers by attending a prescribed burn workshop in Columbia at the Bay Farm Research Facility on October 14th or 15th from 10:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon after the applicant completes a self-paced three-hour online prescribed burn course. There is a $25 fee for the online course. Learn more from MDC about prescribed fire, prescribed burn certification classes, field exercises, and more at mdc.mo.gov.
The City of Salem Utility Committee will be meeting Wednesday evening at 6:15 at the Salem Community Center@the Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. Committee members will review the most recent utility financials and the current utility work report and discuss feedback from the recent experience with Excelron. Credit and debit card fees will then be discussed before adjournment. The meeting of the Utility Committee Wednesday is open to the public.