Local News – Thursday, June 13th, 2019

Tuesday in Crawford County in front of Judge Kelly Parker, a sentencing hearing was held for Roberto Herrera of Boss. Herrera had pled guilty in March of this year for statutory sodomy in the 1st degree with a child under the age of 12. Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley sought 25 years in the Department of Corrections for the felony charge while the defense sought 15 years. Judge Parker ruled in favor of the state and sentenced Herrera to 25 years in the Department of Corrections beginning Tuesday, June 11th.

Don’t take a vacation from safety! In 2018, there were 307 fatalities on Missouri roads in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety urge all who travel in and around the Show-Me State during the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” to buckle up, slow down, drive sober and never drive distracted. In 2018, more than half of the 107 motorcycle fatalities occurred in the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. The warm, sunny days also bring out more bicyclists and pedestrians. And last winter’s brutal weather conditions mean you’re likely to encounter more MoDOT road crews who will be repairing the damage. Just a single moment’s distraction can lead to a life-or-death encounter. Be proactive in your own safety. Of the drivers and passengers killed in 2018 traffic crashes, 62% were not wearing a seatbelt. Nelson also encourages drivers to plan ahead for summer celebrations and sporting events.

Echo Bluff State Park invites the public to an informational meeting at 1:00 this Saturday at the lodge. The public is invited to share comments about the state park and its operations. State park staff will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. Input from the public is important to Missouri State Parks. These informational meetings, which are being held in all state parks and historic sites, help create two-way communication with the public. The meetings give staff the opportunity to let people know the current status and future plans for the parks and historic sites, and they offer visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities. Echo Bluff State Park is located at 34489 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence. For more information, please contact Echo Bluff State Park at 573-751-5211. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit the web at mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Renewing Missouri hunting, fishing, and trapping permits is now easier and more convenient through the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) new online Permit Auto-Renewal service. Permit Auto-Renewal allows online permit buyers to automatically renew their permits prior to the start of the next season or permit year so they never have an expired permit when they need it most. Participation in Auto-Renewal is voluntary, and the service can only be activated by the permit buyer. Enrollment in Auto-Renewal can be done during an online permit purchase or by using the “Manage Your Account” feature. Within the “Manage Your Account” feature, users can also update their Auto-Renewal settings including payment method and enrolled permits and turn off the service. There are no additional fees for the service. Auto-Renewal will automatically charge permit buyers for their enrolled permits. Permit buyers must have a valid email address and credit card to participate. The Auto-Renewal service will send personalized email updates to participants – including initial enrollment, changes made by the buyer, 30-day and seven-day reminders of upcoming permit renewals and associated charges, and notifications of successful renewals and associated charges. Permit buyers can enroll in Auto-Renewal at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits during an online permit purchase or by using the “Manage Your Account” feature. Learn more about Permit Auto-Renewal at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/permits/permit-auto-renewal. In addition to buying Missouri hunting, fishing, and trapping permits online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits and through MDC’s free mobile apps (MO Hunting and MO Fishing), permit buyers can also purchase permits from numerous retail vendors around the state. Auto-Renewal-eligible permits purchased from retail vendors are not able to be enrolled into the service during the purchase process but can be enrolled later using the “Manage Your Account” feature.

Celebrate Flag Day at the Art Party this Friday night from 6:00 until 8:00 at the Creative Arts Center. Paint a picture and put your own special creative spin to it, then take it home to display prominently in your home or give away! This event for adults does NOT require any talent or previous experience, just a happy spirit and willingness to try. Reservations can be made by contacting the Salem Area Arts Council at 247-0279 and arranging to pay the $25 fee to reserve your spot. They will provide everything you need for the classes including the canvas, paint, brushes, aprons and easels. Bring your own personal style, your favorite beverage and they will do the rest.