Local News – Thursday, June 28th, 2018
You have until tomorrow afternoon to get in your entry for the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem Independence Day Parade. The parade will leave from the Southwest Baptist University Salem campus at the corner of South Grand and West Franklin at 6:00 Wednesday evening, July 4th and travel to the Dent County Courthouse on the square, downtown. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the American Dream.” Those businesses, churches or organizations wishing to be a part of the parade with a float, vehicle, walking delegation, classic car, tractor, or other representative method, need to fill out an entry form from the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce office and submit it to them by Friday at 4:30 at the chamber office. You can drop off your form at the chamber office located at 200 South Main Street, send your form by fax to 729-6741 or e-mail your form to chamber@salemmo.com. All entries should be at the lineup location by 5:30. If you have any questions about the July 4th Independence Day Parade in Salem or need more information, call the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Office at 729-6900.
Pavement blow-ups are likely to become more prevalent during the summer months. They are the summer’s version of potholes, created by a combination of hot temperatures, moisture, and weakening pavement. According to Missouri Department of Transportation Central District Maintenance Engineer Jason Shafer pavement blow-ups are nearly impossible to predict. That’s why we ask motorists who come across a blow-up to not only use extra caution and slow down, but call MoDOT to report the issue. It’s also important to note that while blow ups can do serious damage to the roadway, they don’t actually explode. The blow-ups become common across mid and southern Missouri over the summer months and occur when the roadway surface expands at a crack or joint where moisture has seeped in. The crack weakens the pavement and the heat causes the pavement to buckle and warp. Most blowups occur in the late afternoon or early evening. Missouri Department of Transportation crews will monitor state routes during the summer months for possible problem areas and will make repairs as soon as possible. Motorists can call MoDOT’s toll-free customer service center at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) to report pavement blow-ups.
As people celebrate this summer, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds everyone to be extremely careful with fireworks, campfires, and other sources of fire that could cause a wildfire. Don’t light fireworks in any areas where the sparks could ignite dry grass, leaves, or other potential fire fuel. Always have an approved fire extinguisher and an available water supply to douse sparks or flames. Wet the area around where fireworks are being discharged. Fireworks are legal in the City of Salem and in the county, but they are not allowed in Conservation Areas. When it comes to outside burning, don’t even attempt to burn when it is windy and the humidity levels get too low. Dry grass and high temperatures mixed with low humidity and wind will make a fire nearly impossible to control. Before you burn, contact the Salem Police Department or the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and let them know your intentions so that if they receive a call from neighbor or passerby they know what you are doing. A person who starts a fire for any reason is responsible for any damage it may cause. Wildfires can also start when dry fuel, such as grass, comes in contact with catalytic converters. Think twice before driving into and across a grassy field. Never park over tall, dry grass or piles of leaves that can touch the underside of a vehicle. When driving vehicles off road, regularly inspect the undercarriage to ensure that fuel and brake lines are intact and no oil leaks are apparent. Always carry an approved fire extinguisher on vehicles that are used off road. Be sure to clear a generous zone around fire rings. Be sure to store unused firewood a good distance from your campfire. Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other flammable liquid to start a fire. Keep campfires small and controllable. Keep fire-extinguishing materials, such as a rake, shovel, and bucket of water, close. Extinguish campfires each night and before leaving camp, even if it’s just for a few moments. Call 911 at the first sign of a fire getting out of control.
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways and the Shannon County Museum will host a Celebration of the River Community at Round Spring on Sunday, July 1st, at the picnic pavilion located next to the spring branch. Families with a connection to the Round Spring community are invited to bring family pictures and artifacts to share with others attending the event. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with displays of local family history. Bring a picnic dinner and join us at the pavilion for an evening meal at 7:00 p.m. At 8:00 p.m. we will show several short films about the Current River area produced by local film makers and featuring people in our river community. Many of the films were recently shown at the Ozark Streams Film Festival to a standing room only crowd. Current and former members of the Round Spring community will join the reunion to share memories from earlier days on the Current River. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/ozar or call 573-323-8093.