Local News – Thursday, April 9th, 2020

A one vehicle accident happened Tuesday evening around 8:30 in Dent County on Route ZZ about two miles south of Jadwin. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2000 Ford Mustang driven by 19-year old Caleb Mischiara of Salem, was traveling northbound when he ran off the right side of the road. The Mustang struck two trees and the driver and a passenger, 20-year old Ian Hutchings, also of Salem, were ejected from the vehicle. Both occupants, who were not wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident, were transported by private conveyance to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The Mustang was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

The Phelps County Public Housing Agency (PHA) office is now closed to the public. In an effort to reduce COVID-19 exposure, PHA staff are using extra precautions to reduce person-to-person contact for the foreseeable future. Until further notice, walk-ins or unscheduled appointments will not be accepted. The PHA encourages everyone to try to conduct business by phone, email, mail, or fax to the extent possible. Current tenants and landlords are asked to call ahead to schedule an appointment, if absolutely necessary, at 573-265-4200. All re-certifications will be done on time and will be completed by mail or email. Staff will be limiting one-on-one contact and will meet in person only as a last resort. Paper applications can be picked up at MRPC, #4 Industrial Drive, St. James, both at the back door and front foyer. Completion of the application must be done off site. To request that a paper application be mailed to you, please call 573-265-4200 or email pha@meramecregion.org. Completed paper applications can be dropped off at the drop box located in back of the building or may be mailed to Phelps County PHA 4 Industrial Drive St. James, MO 65559. Staff will be completing inspections in a timely manner, however, they will be accomplished in a different manner than in the past. Landlords and tenants will be advised of the new procedures, if an inspection is needed. For more information, call 573-265-4200 or email pha@meramecregion.org. Additional information can also be found at the MRPC website. MRPC provides staffing to the Phelps County Public Housing Agency that provides rental assistance to over 750 low-income families in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps (outside the city limits of Rolla) and Washington counties.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol announces that the Patrol is extending the suspension of all written and skills-based driver road testing at all locations until April 15, 2020. This includes operator, commercial driver license, andmotorcycle testing. In addition, the Patrol is extending the suspension of all salvage inspections at all locations and all bus inspections until April 15, 2020. This does not affect local businesses that are the providers of safety and emission inspections for the public and may continue to be open for services depending on their circumstances. The Patrol is monitoring the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and will update the public on testing and inspections as more information becomes available. The Missouri State Highway Patrol appreciates the public’s cooperation in this effort to ensure public health and safety.

The Missouri Department of Conservation announces it will offer Missourians the state’s first elk-hunting season in modern history starting this fall. At its April 8th meeting, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved the issuance of five permits for hunting bull elk for the 2020 season. Four general permits will be for the public and one permit will be reserved for qualifying area landowners. Missouri’s first pending elk hunt comes after years of restoration efforts of the once-native species by MDC and numerous partners and supporters. For this first elk season, the Conservation Department has designated a nine-day archery portion running October 17th through the 25th and a nine-day firearms portion running December 12th through the 20th. The five permits will be for bull elk and will be valid for both portions. All permits will be assigned through a random-lottery drawing. A $10 application fee is required for those applying for the general permits. Qualifying landowners will not be required to pay the $10 application fee when applying for the landowner permit. Those selected for each of the five permits must pay a $50 permit fee. The Conservation Department will limit the random lottery to one application per-person, per-year with a 10-year “sit-out” period for those drawn for a general permit before they may apply again. If selected for a landowner elk permit, qualifying landowners will not be required to wait 10 years before again applying for a landowner elk permit. Qualifying landowners may apply once each year for a general elk hunting permit and for a landowner elk permit but are eligible to receive only one permit annually. General permits can be used in Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon counties, except the refuge portion of Peck Ranch Conservation Area. General permits are nontransferable.The landowner permit is also nontransferable and may only be filled on the landowner’s property in the counties mentioned. To apply for an elk permit, applicants must be Missouri residents at least 11 years of age by the first day of the hunt. Those selected to receive a permit must have their hunter-education certification or be exempt by age (born before January 1st, 1967) before they may purchase the permit. All applications must be completed online or at a local vendor. You may apply for the random elk-permit lottery starting May 1st and lasting through the 31st online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through a permit vendor. The Department of Conservation gathered public input on elk hunting during 2018 and 2019 at several public meetings in communities around the elk restoration zone and through online public comment periods.