Local News – Thursday, October 17th, 2019
The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages people to enjoy fall foliage through camping, driving tours, hiking, or even canoeing or floating. Predicting fall color can be difficult, but all regions right now in Missouri are just starting to turn colors. Normally, trees first begin changing color in the northern part of the state, then move southward across the state. This year, almost all the areas are behind their normal levels of change. Although many trees in our region like oak and hickory trees have lost some leaves due to drought stress, flowering dogwoods and black tupelos have started to show some genuine fall color, with leaves of purple and red mottled through the midstory. Virginia creeper is turning shades of scarlet and burgundy, and its vines add patches of color to the woodland floor and lower tree boles. Goldenrods are still in bloom and add lovely shades of gold and yellow to the landscape. You can look at the annual fall color update at mdc.mo.gov/fallcolor. The weekly reports include what kinds of trees are turning and some suggestions on the best places to view them in the entire state.
Healthy Dent County and Cahills Construction recently announced “A Night in the French Quarter Masquerade Ball” Casino Night Fundraiser on November 2nd at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Back for its second year, the doors will open at 6:00 in the evening with gaming from 6:30-9:30. The event features game tables much like the ones you will find in a real casino, as well as professional dealers to run the games. Tickets are available for $50 per person or $85 per couple. Event ticket holders will receive $10,000 in gambling money to play the casino games of their choice throughout the evening. Plus if you get your tickets before 4:30 this Friday, you will receive an early bonus of an additional $5,000 in gaming money. Traditional games such as craps, roulette and black jack are available, plus there will be snacks and a cash bar. At the end of the evening, attendees will exchange their gaming money for tickets to win great prizes. The grand prize is a four night stay at La Belle Maison near the New Orleans French Quarter. Other prizes will be an I-Pad, 55 inch Smart TV, three piece wicker outdoor set, St. Louis Blues Hockey Tickets and Missouri Basketball Tickets. Other drawings will be held through the night. Guests are asked to come dressed in their finest Masquerade Ball-themed attire and receive an extra $1,000 in gaming money. Tickets are available at Salem Community Center @ the Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road, Monday through Friday from 8:00 until 4:30 or call them at 729-8163. You can also buy tickets online at
healthydentcountycasinonight2019.eventbrite.com.
A beef cattle artificial insemination school will be held Friday, October 25th from 5:00 to 9:00 in the evening and Saturday, October 26th from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM at the Lincoln University Alan T. Busby Farm located at 5124 Goller Road in Jefferson City, Missouri. Classroom and hands-on practice of beef cattle insemination and methodology as well as synchronization techniques and basic reproductive anatomy will be addressed. The fee of $315.00 is due with registration and must be done online by this Friday at http://www.event.com/d/myqtb3/4W or by contacting Livestock Specialist Anita Ellis at 573-642-0755.
An accident happened in Phelps County on Route F at Phelps County Road 3550 Monday evening at 8:15. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado driven westbound by 24-year old Marco Palomar of Rolla traveled off the right side of the roadway and impacted a stop sign and embankment. Palomar suffered moderate injuries and was taken by EMS to Phelps Health. The Silverado sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold their regular meeting tonight at 6:00 at the District administrative Offices Boardroom. After the consent agenda is approved and communications, the board will hear from Superintendent John McCulloch with the September membership count and then the board will see a kindergarten presentation. After the building principals give their reports, the board will consider an LED Lighting project before going into closed session to discuss personnel. The Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting tonight is open to the public.
Gather down by the millpond at Dillard Mill State Historic Site from 6:00 to 7:00 this Friday night to hear storyteller and author Eric Mansfield present the Ghosts of Dillard Mill. Following this ghostly tale, children will get a chance to break a pumpkin piñata so be sure to bring a sack to fill with goodies. Guest should bring a chair or blanket and insect repellent. Dillard Mill State Historic Site State Park is located at 1142 Dillard Mill Road in Davisville. For more information, call 636-938-7198. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit the web at mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The Salem Marching Blue won 1st Place Overall in the Finals of the Ozark Mountain Marching Festival for the first time since it began in 1985. Salem took 1st place in Class C of the preliminary and received awards for music, visual, color guard, percussion and their chuck wagon presentation. They then took first in the finals with a score of 83.4 score and received awards for music, visual and color guard. Congratulations Salem Marching Blue!