Local News – Thursday, March 7th, 2024
The State Fire Marshal Tim Bean recommends Missourians use the return of daylight saving time this weekend to test home smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. At 2:00 this Sunday morning, clocks spring forward one hour. Bean also urges families to practice their fire escape plans. Safety experts recommend families practice their home fire escape plans at least twice each year. Getting into the habit of checking them when changing your clocks takes very little time and makes a tremendous difference to your family’s safety. Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a fire by one-half. About one-half of home fire deaths occur at night between 11:00 at night and 7:00 in the morning when most people are asleep. That is why it is important for all family members to be able to act react quickly and get out. Each family member, including children, should know two escape routes from every room in their residence. This information should be shared with overnight guests, too. Bean also reminds Missourians that they should have carbon monoxide alarms for their homes. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas that results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, which can be deadly if undetected. The fire marshal makes these recommends checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly by pushing the test button and replacing smoke alarms every 10 years because they lose their effectiveness over time. Install additional smoke alarms if you do not have a minimum of one alarm on every level of the home, inside all bedrooms, and outside bedrooms. Plan two different escape routes from your home and practice the routes with the entire family. Families should also select a safe gathering place outside the residence in the event of a fire. For more information on fire safety, go to https://dfs.dps.mo.gov.
Children of all ages are invited to the Owl Moon and More Story Time and Craft Collaboration this Saturday morning from 10:00 until noon to create paper owls inspired by the beloved book “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen. An interpreter from Montauk State Park will also have fun facts and more to share about owls! The owl crafts made will be loaned to the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center for display with their special Smithsonian exhibit, “Crossroads: Change in Rural America.” Please make plans to join us for this exciting opportunity at Salem Public Library in the north basement meeting space. Call (573) 729-4331 with questions.
The Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital and the Columbia Vet Center are teaming up to provide area Veterans with services that includes Veteran’s Administration health care enrollment for those who are eligible, as well as counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma through their Mobile Vet Center at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 500 South Bishop in Rolla on Tuesday, March 19th. The Mobile Vet Center will be at the Rolla Wal-Mart that day from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. The Mobile Vet Center is a 37-foot-long mobile resource unit where veterans can receive assistance in dealing with bereavement issues with marriage and family counseling also available. Additional resources for Veterans through the MVC include VA benefits information and suicide prevention referrals. The customized MVC vehicle is equipped with confidential counseling space to extend access to VA services for Veterans, service members and their families, especially those living in rural or remote communities. The MVC also provides readjustment counseling and information resources to assist Veterans in the difficult transition between military and civilian life. For more information, call (573) 814-6206.
The group called the “Concerned Citizens for Salem” is inviting the public to attend a “meet and greet” on Monday, March 11th to meet the candidates for Mayor as well as East and West Ward Aldermen who will be on the ballot on April 2nd as well as incumbent officials who will not be running in this election. The “meet and greet” will be held Monday at 7:00 at the Wilson Family Center at 1000 West Scenic Rivers Blvd. Following the introductions, there will be a question and answer session that will allow all the candidates to speak on the numerous issues concerning the public. The “meet and greet” is free and open to everyone with coffee and light refreshments provided. It is an opportunity for anyone who wants to get acquainted with the people that want to serve as representatives of the City of Salem who are on the April 2nd ballot.
The Rolla Rural Fire Protection District has released an update regarding the fire that took place on Saturday March 2nd at the 10000 block of Phelps County Road 2120. According to the Phelps County Coroner the victims of the fire were identified as Jessica Sager, age 35, Caydence Sager, age 14, and Savannah Sager, age 9. Fire Chief Hayes expressed his gratitude to the many first responders and emergency personnel that responded to the fire. At this time, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, currently no criminal activity is suspected. He asks that we keep the Sager Family in our thoughts and prayers.
The 100 Acre Wood Rally will be held Friday March 15th in Potosi and Saturday March 16th in Salem. If you would like to meet this year’s drivers, while they’re in Salem, and view the high performance machines they’ll be driving, you can do so Saturday morning at 9:30. Drivers and their vehicles will line 4th Street until their departure to the first stage at 11:40. This is a rare opportunity to meet world class, regional, and local rally sport drivers in one of the Ozark’s premiere motorsport events.