Local News – Thursday, June 13th, 2024

The Dent County Fire Protection Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the fire station. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the minutes from the May meeting were approved as presented with the correction of one misspelled word. The financial report showed an ending balance of 196,301.72 as of May 31st. Bills, payments, and statements were then reviewed along with the budget and 2023-2024 budget comparison. The monthly reimbursement report showed a total of 15 calls for the month of May bringing the total year to date to 143. The department responded to five accidents during the month, two fires, two calls described as other, one public service call, one HazMat, one medical call, one agency assist, one alarm, and had one call that was canceled. In old business the board tabled the repair, sealing, and restriping of the parking lot while waiting for bids to come in. In new business, Chief Floyd asked the board to sell some of the district equipment that he feels is surplus and no longer needed. The board will look at a list of the items and decide at the July meeting. In his report to the board, Chief Floyd stated the he believes the district needs to put in for new radios for trucks and handheld units and that he would like to get more SCBA gear as the money becomes available. The Chief also brought information on grants through Fire House Grants. A discussion was held and several avenues will be investigated to determine the best possible route to take. He also reported that on June 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, firefighters would be going to school at Fenton Fire to be trained in firefighting techniques. The date was set for the July meeting to be held on Tuesday evening July 9th at 6:00 at the fire station. That meeting will be open to the public. The board then went into closed session to discuss personnel before and adjourning.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council are accepting nominations for the 2024 Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence. The annual award recognizes communities, institutions, businesses, organizations and individuals that make significant and long-lasting efforts to care for trees in their communities.The Arbor Award of Excellence shines the spotlight on anyone who has improved trees in their community. Any significant program, project, or event that contributes to the care or maintenance of trees could qualify for an award. Winners receive a framed award, a full registration scholarship to the MCFC conference in August, an extra ticket to the award banquet during the conference, a community forestry reference book, and a $50 gift card. Nominations are due by Monday, July 15. For more information and nomination forms, visit mdc.mo.gov.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting today at noon at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 Westy Rolla for the purpose of discussing a no interest loan from the Capital Improvement Fund to the Airport Fund to help pay for the T-Hangar project expenditures. The expected amount to be be borrowed will be $700,000 with $200,000 coming in th fiscal year 2024 and $500,000 from the fiscal year 2025 budget. The amount loaned by the Capital Improvement Fund will be paid back when the city receives the grant reimbursement from MoDOT that will go to the Airport Fund. The meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Community Garden will host a Growing Green Educational work shop tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Garden behind the Salem Methodist Church. The workshop will be on bees and pollinators. There is no cost to attend and you do not have to have a plot at the community garden to attend. You may want to bring a lawn chair with you to be more comfortable. For more information, call Charlie Grimm at 573-368-9902 or the Dent County Extension at 573-729-3196.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new and improved Red Bluff Campground on Mark Twain National Forest will take place at 11:00 Monday morning, June 17th, at the new pavilion near the campground host’s campsite. This grand opening celebration will highlight the new and modernized camping facilities at this beautiful site. To provide the public a chance to enjoy all this site has to offer, Forest Service officials have waived all fees for camping and day-use activities at Red Bluff for June 17th. Guided tours of the site and its improvements including new campsites, showers, a dump station, additional paved loops, as well as improved electric and water will be presented to visitors immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony. In the past, flooding from storms repeatedly damaged campsites, roads, and facilities located in the floodplain at Red Bluff. A two-part project was undertaken, starting a few years ago, to remedy this situation. The recently completed Phase 1 of the project involved moving all overnight camping facilities to higher ground; and it incorporated modernized amenities such as more electric sites, a shower house, and a dump station for visitors with RVs. Phase 2 will focus more on the areas in the floodplain. The Great American Outdoors Act provided a large part of the funding for the work at the site. Continuing to utilize this and other funding sources to improve the recreation experience of visitors to national forests is very important to the Forest Service. Visitors are welcome to arrive earlier if they choose. Parking will be available by the old well house and by the Sitze Pavilion. The entrance to Red Bluff Recreation Area is located on Route V in Crawford County, about one mile east of Davisville. A map of Red Bluff is available on the Mark Twain National Forest’s website. Visitors are welcome to walk around and enjoy the site before and after the ribbon cutting. Red Bluff Recreation Area is a great place to fish, hike, or just admire the views. Large, red bluffs on the opposite side of Huzzah Creek, gravel bars along the creek, vistas from the upper loops, and verdant surrounding forests all provide a backdrop for a very relaxing experience. People like to float on and play in the Huzzah Creek during the heat of summer.

This Friday night from 6:00 until 8:00 at the Creative Arts center, “Paint with DAD, This or That?” with Danielle Norris. What a great way to spend some quality time with your dad! Kids, bring your dad and grandpas out for a fun night of painting together! You have the choice of two different pictures. The artist will take you step by step through the whole process! Register online at SACBA website. The cost is $20 for dads and $5 for kiddos attending with an adult. For kiddos attending separately, it’s $10. At least six people need to sign up with no more than 20 permitted.