Local News – Thursday, February 7th, 2019
The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the Dent County Fire House. After approval of the consent agenda, the bills for the month of January were reviewed and approved. The budget was also reviewed and it showed the general revenue balance at the end of January of $246,294.72. Fire Chief Brad Nash reported the University of Missouri will hold an Alternative Fuel Vehicle Response class at the fire station with all local fire departments invited to participate. The monthly reimbursement report was presented with a total of 21 calls for the month bringing the year to date total of calls to 36. Fire Chief Nash informed the board all the new heaters had been installed and are now operational. Nash said the heating project is now completed. The next meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection Board of Directors will be held on Tuesday, March 5th at the Dent County Fire House.
The City of Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge released her monthly report for the month of January. In her report concerning new economic prospects, an aerospace and food manufacturing business showed interested in Dent County, but the current available space in Salem and Dent County did not match these industries requirements. A couple other prospects were provided with green space properties to see if they meet their needs. Burbridge showed there were two leads for starting a business or locating a building in Salem along with her working with a local company to possibly expand their business. Burbridge said there were a couple of projects that were still active and she continues to work on them. She reported Salem and Dent County now has 14 buildings and 14 land sites listed on the LOIS listings. Burbridge reported on the new City of Salem Facebook Page that was launched on January 22nd. The page will be used to provide daily messages, alerts and reminders along with other pertinent city news. Burbridge is working on an Economic Development Strategic Plan and has developed four chapters. Four more chapters will be worked on at the February workshop that will be held on Thursday, February 28th at 5:30 at a location to be determined. Burbridge continues to attend community functions and other meetings in her efforts to collect local data to be used in creating strategic plans. For more information about the upcoming workshop on February 28th, call 729-2428 or e-mail Sally Burbridge at economic@salemmo.com.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) invite Missouri public, private, and home-school students in grades K-8 to help fight litter in the Show-Me State -- and to have creative and educational fun -- by participating in the 2019 "Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free" trashcan-decorating contest. The annual contest is sponsored by MDC and MoDOT as part of the state's "No MOre Trash!" statewide litter campaign. Schools may submit one entry in each competition category: K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Entries are judged based on creativity, adherence to contest rules, and effective use of theme and logo. First-place winners from each competition category receive $200 awarded to the sponsoring schools. All first-place winners are then eligible for a grand prize of a trophy and $600 awarded to the sponsoring school. There is no entry fee for the contest. Participating school groups must submit a completed entry form online with up to three photos to nomoretrash.org by Friday, March 15. Contest rules, entry forms, logo, past contest entries and winners, and information can also be found at nomoretrash.org.
Have you made your appointment for the free tax filing assistance provided by the Volunteers from the AARP Foundation at the Salem Community Center@The Armory? All dates in February are now full and March is starting to fill up so don’t wait if you want to use these free services. Currently, appointments are still available from Friday, March 8th through Friday, April 12th. Items you will need to bring with you to have your tax returns prepared include: Proof of identification such as a picture ID; Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents; or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration. You should also bring birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return. Also needed are wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc from all employers; year-end Social Security Statements showing total SS received and Medicare payments; and interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099). For Direct Deposit, you will need to bring with you a blank check or deposit slip. For more information or to schedule an appointment, stop by the Salem Community Center @ the Armory is at 1200 West Rolla Road or call them at 729-8163.