Local News – Thursday, December 2nd, 2021
The final Dent County Toy Drive & Salvation Army Angel Tree Sign Up will be held this afternoon at the Salem Community Center at the Armory located at 1200 West Rolla Road in Salem. The sign-up time is from 3:30 to 5:30. Parents or Guardians of Dent County children must bring proof of child’s age, proof of their residency such as a utility bill, the child’s birth certificate and report card. The child must live with the adult that signs them up. Masks are required and no children are allowed to be present at the time of registration.
Businesses or organizations still have time to sign up to be a part of the “Light up the Park 2021” at the Salem City Park starting this Saturday night and lasting through December 31st. Contact Melissa DuBois at 729-6290 or e-mail her at salemparks@salemmo.com to reserve your spot. The lights and displays will go on nightly at dusk and remain on until around 11:00 at night. The “Light Up the Park” is free for the public’s enjoyment. The Salem Park and Recreation Department asks that you enter the park from Route J and exit through the north gate of the Salem City Park onto Park Street. The second part of the Light Display is off of Park Place Drive near the Pavilion. Remember to shut your lights off when driving through the park and Christmas music will be available 24/7 at 97.5 FM courtesy of KSMO Radio.
North Wood R-IV School is having their annual food drive through December 10. All proceeds go to local food pantries. They have partnered with local businesses this year to expand their mission beyond North Wood R-IV School patrons. Their local business partners are Bank of Salem, Town and Country Bank, Country Mart, Dollar Tree, Phil-Mart, American Legion Walker-Rooney Post, Beehive Florist, Casey's, Main Street Cafe, and Salem News. Items can also be dropped off at the Northwood R-4 School during the day. Local businesses have boxes for your convenience to drop off your cans or non-perishables. They are very proud of their families, students, and staff for being able to sponsor this food drive for the last 18 years. Help them fight hunger in our community and share the gift of giving! For more information, please call Northwood R-4 School at 729-4607, and ask for Stacy Smith.
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 187,967 deer during the November portion of firearms deer season from November 13th through the 23rd. Of the 187,967 deer harvested, 101,501 were antlered bucks, 16,435 were button bucks, and 70,031 were does. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 4,144 deer harvested, Texas with 4,050, and Howell with 3,244. Dent County had 3036 deer checked, Crawford County had 2731 deer harvested, Reynolds County saw 2301 deer tagged, Phelps County harvested 1953 deer and Shannon County had 2461 deer checked. Last year hunters checked 177,769 deer during the November portion of firearms deer season. MDC reported two firearms-related hunting incidents during the November portion of the firearms deer season with both being non-fatal and self-inflicted. Missouri’s archery deer and turkey season continues through January 15th. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs December 4th through the 12th followed by the alternative methods portion December 25th through January 4th.
A Children’s “Old-Fashioned Christmas” will be held this Saturday morning from 10:00 - 11:30 at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History located at 601 N. Hickory. Children will make their own ornaments and decorate the Christmas tree the “old-fashioned” way. This activity is most appropriate for children in grades Kindergarten through the 6th grade. Families are welcome. Reservations are requested but are not required. Call 729-3400 or email moonshadowmomentsllc@gmail.com. The cost is $3.00 per child or $5 for a family. Adults can attend for free!
The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance is reminding those Missourians with MEDICARE and their caregivers that open enrollment ends Tuesday, December. 7th. Those who have not yet made their plan selections for 2021 are encouraged to contact CLAIM. CLAIM provides free and unbiased help from certified counselors. Consumers can arrange one-on-one phone counseling by calling 800-390-3330 or visiting missouriclaim.org. Even though in person counseling is not available at this time, CLAIM counselors are experts at providing quality service by phone to those who need their assistance. Consumers with complaints or questions about insurance can call the department's Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390 or visit insurance.mo.gov.