Local News – Thursday, November 4th, 2021

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at 6:00. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the board voted to go into closed session to discuss policies and procedures because of prior commitments of Joe Weber. After spending 13 minutes in closed session, the board returned to open session. During the review of the policies and procedures, the board agreed that changes would be sent to Joe Weber by the end of the month. After the suggested changes were incorporated into the policies and procedures, they would then be reviewed at the December meeting. Minutes from the October meeting were then reviewed and approved as presented. The bills were then reviewed and approved with an ending balance as of October 31st of $132,613.87. Yearly reimbursements will be distributed at the December meeting. The budget was reviewed, and it was noted that the finance committee will meet next Tuesday, November 9th, to work on the 2022 budget. The monthly reimbursement report was presented to the board from the new software indicating fire calls made by each firefighter and the reimbursements. The board asked that the reports be titled so they could be distinguished between the monthly and yearly figures. Chief Brad Nash will correct these for the December meeting. The board also asked for the spreadsheet that had been presented before as it had good information from previous years. In old business, it was reported that Ladder Truck #81 is out of service and being repaired. The new software still needs work to get all facets of the system operating. Chief Nash is working on getting bids for the repair of the concrete in front of the building and other areas. It was noted that Truck #88 is back in service after having the carburetor replaced. In new business, Mike Godi discussed the toy drive and the need for a place to store toys as they are purchased throughout the year, and especially this year as there may be a shortage of toys nearer Christmas time. Discussion was held on the history of how the toy drive came to be housed at the fire station. In reports to the board, Chief Nash reported that the old fire truck cannot be sold as it must be returned to the city. The date for the next meeting was set for December 7th at 6:00 at the fire station. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital and the Columbia Vet Center are teaming up to provide area Veterans with services such as Veterans Health Administration enrollment, and counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma. Through use of the Mobile Vet Center (MVC), a 37-foot-long mobile resource unit, bereavement, marriage, and family counseling also are available. Additional resources for Veterans through the MVC include VA benefits information and suicide prevention referrals. The Mobile Vet Center will in Rolla from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon this Saturday, November 6th, at Veterans Memorial Park located at 575 Southview Drive in Rolla. The customized MVC vehicle is equipped with confidential counseling space to extend access to VA services to Veterans, servicemembers and their families — especially those living in rural or remote communities. The MVC also provides readjustment counseling and information resources to Veterans to assist them in the difficult transition between military and civilian life. For more information, call (573) 814-6206.

Tickets for the Healthy Dent County 3rd Annual Casino Night Fundraiser are on sale for the event that will be held this Saturday at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Tickets are available for $50 per person or $85 per couple which provides you with $10,000 of gaming money for each person for this fundraising event for Healthy Dent County. You will find game tables much like the ones you will find in a real casino, as well as professional dealers to run the traditional games such as craps, roulette and black jack. This year there will be a private poker room for Texas Hold ‘em. At the end of the evening, prizes are drawn after those attending exchange gaming money for tickets. Guests are asked to come dressed in Western-themed attire and receive an extra $1,000 in gaming money. They expect a nice crowd to attend this year’s event. Prizes include Blues Tickets; Apple Watch; $200 Country Mart card; Hammock with stand; wine barrel; Bissell Crosswave Vacuum; Air Fryer; gun; mini vacation; gift certificates to local and area businesses. Tickets are available at Salem Community Center @ the Armory or online at https://tinyurl.com/CasinoNightHDC2021. For questions, please call 729-8163.

Staff members at Current River State Park invite the public to take a wild twist on traditional holiday favorites in their Baking Wild workshop with Kirsten Alvey-Mudd from 8:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon this Saturday or Sunday. In this class, participants will learn new ways of baking holiday cookies and breads, as well as learn how to make new punches for upcoming holiday gatherings. Participants can take home the goodies made and the recipes used. Participants should bring paper for notes and a jump drive, which is optional, to save the PowerPoint presentation, good walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing, lunch, water bottle, and a container to take goodies home in. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Connie at 573-751-1224 or connie.weber@dnr.mo.gov. The public is strongly encouraged to follow social-distancing guidelines and be proactive in protecting themselves and others. Current River State Park is located on Highway 19 about 23 miles south of Salem and approximately 15 miles north of Eminence. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Salem Public Library invites patrons to send a Letter to a Soldier. Patrons may send letters to American soldiers stationed overseas. Paper, pencils, and crayons are on top of the “mailbox” located in the Children’s Section. Write your letter at the library or take it home and return it. The library will mail letters so that these brave men and women will receive them in time for Christmas. Thank you to the American Legion Walker-Roney Post 99 Ladies Auxiliary for assisting with postage for this project. Call 729-4331 for more information.