Local News – Thursday, June 8th, 2023
The Missouri Humanities strives to highlight the uniqueness of rural Missouri, and to showcase the bigger picture of what Small Town America really is, and why it shouldn’t be overlooked, overshadowed, or under appreciated. Each year, communities will be nominated and voted on by Missourians in their “Small Town Showcase” to become one of their annual “Featured Five” communities Each of the “Featured Five” communities will work with Missouri Humanities on a short video about their community, an hour-long podcast in a roundtable-style, a feature in their bi-annual publication called MoHumanities, and a highlight reel that will feature all five of the communities to be shown during our annual gala. Help choose which communities will be featured in the Small Town Showcase 2024 by voting by July 15th, and the five communities with the most votes will be the winners. You may vote for up to five different communities. To vote on or to read each of the communities’ nominations, go online to the mohumanities.org website and click on the “Programs” tab to find the “Small Town Showcase.”
Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) elected a new slate of officers at its May 11th board meeting. For the 2023-2024 year, Representative for the Unemployed and former vice-chairman Mary Heywood of Bourbon was elected chairman. Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin was elected Vice Chairman, Phelps County Presiding Commissioner Joey Auxier was elected secretary and Waynesville Mayor Sean Wilson was elected treasurer. Heywood replaces Steve Vogt, representative of Belle, who had served two consecutive terms as chairman. New officers assume their duties with the meeting tonight. The board also approved the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget as presented by MRPC Fiscal Officer Linda Loughridge. MRPC expects to bring in $3,651,699 in revenue and expend $3,637,800 for a profit of $13,899. Loughridge provided a breakdown of the budget, major expenses and changes by department to the board. Approximately 63% of funds come from federal sources, 23% come from local contractual sources, 11% from state sources and three percent from MRPC membership dues. The 2023-2024 budget supports 26 full-time employees and seven part-time employees. In other business, the MRPC board held a moment of silence for Board Member Gary Brown who served as the for-profit representative for Dent County and passed unexpectedly on May 1, 2023; plus they heard an update on Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District’s Trashasaurus and Earth Day efforts. Trashasaurus is a new illegal dump mascot used to bring about awareness to environmental issues addressed by Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District, the board approved the purchase of an unbudgeted plotter through an EDA CARES grant, and they heard a report on MRPC’s business loans programs, how the programs work and dollars available for lending. To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org.
The new Forest Products exhibit is now open at the Ozark Natrual and Cultural Resource Center at 202 South Main Street in Salem. Sponsored by the Salem Area Arts Council, the exhibit is open from 9:00 to 5:00 weekdays and also this Saturday from 9:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon. Also this Saturday morning at 10:00, the ONCRC will host University of Missouri Extension State Forester Frank Stelzer who will speak on “White Oak, Whiskey and Wine” where he will provide a wealth of information about Missouri’s famous forest products. The event is free and open to the public.
Want some free fun that gets family and friends outside in nature? Get hooked on fishing with the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Free Fishing Days this Saturday and Sunday. During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in the Show-Me State without having to buy a fishing permit, trout permit, or trout park daily tag. Free Fishing Days is an annual event that takes place statewide during the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June. Aside from not needing permits, other fishing regulations remain in effect, such as limits on size and number of fish an angler may keep. Special permits may still be required at some county, city, or private fishing areas. Trespass laws remain in effect on private property. For information on Missouri fishing regulations, fish identification, and more, get a copy of MDC’s 2023 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations, available where permits are sold, or online at mdc.mo.gov.
Last night the Sullivan Independent News reported the Cuba Fire Department responded to the area of Routes F and ZZ in Crawford County where a Burlington Northern Train had struck a mobile home being moved, apparently crossing the railroad tracks at a non-crossing arm railroad crossing. No injuries were reported and the mobile home sustained extensive damage following the impact. This area is west of Cuba and between Cuba and St. James.