Local News – Monday, October 3rd, 2022
A double fatality accident happened Friday afternoon at around 4:20 in Texas County on Route VV about four miles south of Licking. According to the highway patrol report, the accident occurred as a 2022 GMC Sierra being driven east by 30-year-old Hayden Mercer of Searcy, Arkansas, changed lanes to pass another vehicle and struck head-on a 2003 Ford Taurus being driven west by 55-year-old Richard Strom of Licking. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene just before 5:20 by Texas County Coroner Marie Lasater. The report went on to state that Mercer was wearing a safety restraint while Strom was not. The Taurus was totaled while the GMC had extensive damage. Both were removed by Jay’s Towing.
The 59th Annual Rose Holland Trout Derby was held this past weekend at Montauk State Park with absolutely ideal weather and great attendance. The Derby raised $15,191.75 with 20 total tagged fish caught. During the derby, there were also a total of 19 lunkers caught. The Men’s Heaviest Trout caught was by Tristen Weitkamp of Troy, Missouri, and it was nine pounds and ten ounces. The Women’s Heaviest Trout, caught by Lisa Brenneke of Bismarck, Missouri, weighed in at two pounds and two ounces. The Heaviest Brown Trout caught during the tournament was a three-pounder by Jeremiah Yount of Festus, Missouri. Taking First Place in the Kids Heaviest Stringer was Brady Towry of Fair Grove, Missouri, whose stringer weighed in at four pounds and 13 ounces. Second place went to Alli Martin of Sullivan and her stringer weighed in at four pounds and nine ounces. Everyone at the park thanks all those who attended for making this year’s event a great success!!
Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wants to remind people that any voter can cast a normal excused absentee ballot now for the November General Election, but Missouri voters are now expected to show a Missouri issued photo ID when they vote. The photo will need to be an unexpired Missouri Driver’s License, an unexpired Missouri non-driver’s license, a US Passport, or an unexpired US military ID with a photo. If you do not have a photo ID, free ID’s are available for voting from the Department of Revenue. The Missouri Secretary of State Office can help you get the required documents for free. For more information on free ID’s, contact the Dent County Clerk’s office in the courthouse or go to “showit2vote.com.” Curley also said any voter can cast a no excuse absentee ballot in the Dent County Clerk’s Office between October 25th and November 7th. If you are registered to vote but do not have a valid photo ID, you can vote a provisional ballot. If you vote a provisional ballot, you can come back to your polling location on election day and show a valid photo ID and your vote will count, of if your signature matches the signature in the voter registry, your vote will count. For more information on the free photo ID, you can also call the Voter ID hotline at 866-868-3245 or visit www.sos.mo.gov.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways Superintendent Jason Lott announced the selection of new members of the park’s management team. Stacey Griffin was selected as the Chief of Administration, assuming her position on May 8th. William Terry was chosen as the Chief of Facility Management and joined the staff on August 29th. Both bring extensive experience in their respective fields, as well as proven track records of strong leadership, teamwork, and excellence in management. In addition, both have local roots and have spent years living near and enjoying the rivers. Their personal experience and passion for this national park combined with their professional backgrounds make them outstanding additions to the team. The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. William grew up along the upper Current River, in the Jadwin community, and is the son of Bill Terry, a legendary Park Ranger for Ozark Riverways. William knows the rivers firsthand and is excited to enhance the visitor experience through his understanding of the needs of the floater, boater, hiker, camper, fisherman, and hunter; all activities which he enjoys doing along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers. As a local, he’ll help the park continue to develop positive relationships with area communities. As a civil engineer experienced in working with rivers, he will help solve many long-standing issues with river access points by working to make park infrastructure more flood resilient. William brings a unique background and skillset to the park management team that will be critical for addressing the challenges of floodplain management. For more information, contact park headquarters at (573)323-4236, visit the park’s Facebook page, or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.
The Creative Arts Center will be offering a stained glass beveled snowflake class with Jennifer Curry Tuesday afternoon and evening. You choose one of the two workshops to attend this week with two more next Tuesday. The first is Tuesday 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 glass class before at the creative arts center, 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 online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center.