Local News – Thursday, December 9th, 2021
According to Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer, the 2022 Dent County Assessment Lists will be mailed the first week of January 2022. To avoid a late filing penalty, your completed assessment forms will be due in the assessor’s office by March 1st. Online filing will also be available from January 2nd through April 30th. In addition to being able to file online, there is a drop box in front of the courthouse, as well as a drop box inside the courthouse by the office door, or you may also mail your completed form back to the Dent County Assessor at 400 N Main St, Salem, MO 65560. The assessor’s office is open from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday and you may call us at 573-729-6010. If there is no answer, please leave them a message and they will return your call as soon as possible.
The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at 6:00. After approval of the consent agenda, the minutes from the November meeting were reviewed and approved as presented. Changes to the policies and procedures were then presented by Weber and Associates to the board for review. The changes will again be reviewed and discussed at the January meeting. Bills were reviewed and approved, showing an ending balance of 127,312.91 as of November 30th. A motion was made and carried to adopt the 2021 budget for the beginning of 2022 until the new budget can be completed and entered into the new software. Once that is done, it will then be reviewed and approved by the board. Treasurer Dave Wells asked the board to transfer funds to the building payment fund out of this year’s budget as per USDA guidelines, which was then approved by the board. The monthly reimbursement report was presented which showed a total of 29 call for the month including five structure fires, five brush fires, one car fire, six first responder calls, four vehicle accidents, one mutual aid, four hazmat calls, two training calls and one call listed as “other.” Total calls year-to-date for the department stands at 278 with an average cost per call of $98.20. Fire Chief Brad Nash reported to the board that Ladder Truck 81 was still being repaired. The date for the next meeting will be January 4th at 6:00 at the fire station at #2 South Main Street and the meeting will be open to the public.
You are invited to join a town hall meeting Monday, December 13th, from 11:45 in the morning and lasting until 1:00 at the Salem Community Center@the Armory, 1200 West Rolla Road. A panel of students will discuss substance use affecting teen in our community. You’ll also learn about the JAG program from local, participating students, and join a discussion about local substance use prevention programs. Lunch will be provided and registration is required. For more information or to register, please call 573-729-8163. The town hall meeting is being sponsored by Your Community Health Center, Prevention Consultants of Missouri, and Health Dent County.
Staff members at Current River State Park invite the public to create ready-to-gift Christmas cards and ornaments from 11:00 to 1:00 Saturday, December 11th. The program will start with a short history of Christmas cards and then participants will make Christmas cards and ornaments that can be given to friends or family or used to decorate their own trees. For more information, contact Connie Weber at 573-751-1224 or connie.weber@dnr.mo.gov. The public is strongly encouraged to follow social-distancing guidelines and be proactive in protecting themselves and others. Current River State Park is located on Highway 19, approximately 23 miles south of Salem and approximately 15 miles north of Eminence. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Interpretive staff at Echo Bluff State Park invites the public to pick up a new Christmas craft each Saturday throughout the month of December. Visitors can pick up a different craft bag each week and learn about nature and Missouri animals while crafting with the family. A new craft bag will be available at the front desk of the lodge each Saturday of December while
supplies last. Bags can be picked up from 7:00 in the morning until 7:00 at night. The craft bags will include deer on December 11th, mouse on December 18th and the Christmas Bird Count on December 25th. Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive between Eminence and Salem off of Highway 19 South in southeast Missouri. For more information, please contact Echo Bluff State Park at 573-751-5211.
The North Wood R-IV School food drive will end tomorrow, December 10th. All the food products they raise will be going to local food pantries. They have partnered with local businesses this year to expand their mission beyond just the North Wood R-IV School patrons. Their local business partners are Bank of Salem, Country Mart, Dollar Tree, Phil-Mart, Town and Country Bank, 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.