Local News – Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021
The opening day of the catch-and-keep trout season began yesterday morning at 6:30 at Montauk State Park. There were 1,603 adult trout tags and another 190 youth tags sold as of 4:00 Monday afternoon. A number of lunkers were caught during the day with the largest being a 5 pound, 5 ounce rainbow by Cameron Frederick of Mountain Grove. There were two rainbows caught that weighed in at 5 pounds, 2 ounces. They were caught by Justin Waneka of Rolla and Eldon Kaufmann of Perryville. The largest trout caught by a woman on opening day was a brown trout reeled in by Morgan Elliott of Valle Mines that weighed in at four pounds even. The catch-and-keep season will be in effect until October 31st.
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. At the meeting, Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance due to an illness. District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray was named acting presiding commissioner for the meeting. He recognized Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge who presented her monthly report. She updated the commission on some of her ongoing projects and mentioned that one Dent County business received funding through the CARES Revolving Loan Fund through the MRPC. She mentioned updates continue on the new Salemmo.com website and that the county domains are functioning. She also stated she is working on the Voluntary Residential Demolition Program and working on a draft Memorandum of Understanding between the city and Salem R-80’s Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed. Burbridge said Moonlight Madness will return on June 12th to downtown Salem on 4th Street. She said she also received an email stating she did not need a Habitat Study for the Indiana Bat at the certified Site in the Industrial Park, but tree clearing still can’t be done until November. In the road report, Mobray stated work is being done on a wheel bearing on tractor #8, and tires are being replaced on the Durapatcher. He reported work was being done on Dent County Road 5615 and workers will be checking the roads for damage from the weekend rains that were much heavier in the southern part of the county. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2500, 2510 and 3510 while materials will be added and grading done on county roads 3140 and 3180. Larson indicated materials only would be added to county road 2530 and brush would be cut on county road 5300. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to register to vote for the April 6th Municipal Election will be March 10th while absentee voting is going on now at the courthouse. Curley said the testing of the voting equipment will be at 9:00 on Mach 23rd at her office. She reported she attended the MAC Conference Board meeting last Wednesday in Jefferson City and then met with legislators Senator Brown and Representative Copeland as well as Secretary of State Ashcroft. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles texted in that he met with Senator Brown and Representative Copeland and asked them to inquire to the Division of Taxation in the Department of Revenue to get a better explanation as to why the county is being penalized its sales tax receipts for two and a half months. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the CART Taxes that were received the last week in February. This year, the county received $56,542.44 while last year they received $57,927.57. That comes to $1,385.13 less than 2020 and year-to-date, the CART taxes are down $2,406.99. Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer came in to let the alderman know that about ten percent of people used the Assessor Portal. The next commissioner meeting will be Monday, March 8th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
The Dent County Fire Protection District board of directors will be meeting this evening at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda the board will review the minutes of the February meeting before hearing the financial report and the approval of bills. Next will be the calendar review and the monthly reimbursement report. The board will then hear any old or new business and various reports before going into closed session if needed. The date will then be set for the April meeting before adjourning.
Grace Harbor will be having a color run/walk Saturday, March 13th sponsored by Salem United Methodist Church. Registration will be from 8:30 to 9:00 with a 10:00 start time. Proceeds from the $25 entry fee will go this worthy cause. Each participant will receive a bottle of water. For more information you can call 573-247-7062.