Local News – Tuesday, May 9th, 2023
The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District announced that 24 Dent County students were honored with first and second place awards as well as honorable mentions in the 32nd Annual Earth Day Poster, Trash and Graphic Art contest. This year’s contest theme was “Rescue Earth’s Resources: Become a First Responder for the Planet.” Winners from Dent County included Kindergarten students Ellie Milam from Oak Hill R-I who took Second Place Poster Art; while Levi Delmain from North Wood R-IV and Zolla Oller from Oak Hill R-1 received Honorable Mention in Poster Art. Students from 1st Grade who were winners were Rylan Wicklund from Oak Hill R-I who took Second Place in Poster Art while Jackson Bibbs and Bristol Hayes from North Wood R-IV as well as Ashton Poor from Oak Hill R-1 received Honorable Mention for Poster Art. Second graders who were honored were Riley Rector from Northwood R-IV who took 2nd Place in Poster Art while Jessa Barnes and Randi-Lynne Elliot from Northwood R-IV as well as Ava England from Oak Hill R-1 received Honorable Mention in Poster Art. Two third graders from Dent County were honored as Raylan Pace from North Wood R-IV captured Second Place in Poster Art while Bristol Williams from Oak Hill R-I received Honorable Mention in Poster Art. In the fourth grade, students Brantley Corkell and Orion Massengale from Northwoord R-IV both received Honorable Mention for Poster Art. Four fifth graders from Northwood R-IV received honors and they included Liam Moore who won First Place in Trash Art while Anna Cato and Aspen Norris each received Honorable Mention in Trash Art. Weston Tackett received Honorable Mention for Poster Art. Riley Combs, a 6th Grade student from North Wood R-IV captured First Place in the Poster Art category. Two seventh graders from the Salem R-80 Middle School were honored in the contest as Olivia Hardin-Metcalf from the Salem R-80 Middle School won First Place in Trash Art; while Kylee Smith received Honorable Mention for Trash Art. Kiara Kelley, a 7th Grader from Oak Hill R-I, received Honorable Mention for her Poster Art submission. An eighth grade srtudent from Oak Hill R-1, Jhonine Maralit, captured First Place in the Poster Art category. Dent County students were under the direction of teachers Angela Dingess from the Salem R-80 Middle School and Rachel Privett for North Wood R-IV and Oak Hill R-I. The contest required participants to re-purpose trash into three-dimensional pieces of art or create posters (hand drawn or graphically designed), based on the year’s theme. There were 573 entries from 15 schools in the district and one home school group. The contest was open to students from kindergarten through the 12th grade, home school, college and university students who reside or attend school in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties.
An accident happened in Dent County Sunday night at 8:55 on Dent County Road 5610 about three miles west of Bunker. According to the highway patrol report, 18-year-old Aaron Pogue of Ellington, was driving an unknown year Yamaha Grizzly 450 when he attempted to turn around in a roadway. The Yamaha went off the road and down an embankment. Pogue got pinned underneath the Yamaha and suffered serious injuries. He was airlifted by Phelps Air to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. Pogue was not wearing protective safety equipment at the time of the accident. The Yamaha was totaled and will be removed by the owner.
The City of Salem Public Water Supply Annual Water Quality Report has been released and there were no violations that occurred for the calendar year 2022. All levels of contaminants found in the water were lower than required by government regulations. If you would like to see the City of Salem Annual Water Quality Report, a copy can be found at the City of Salem Administration Building at 4th and Iron Streets, at the Salem Water Department Office or at the KSMO Radio studios.
The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting this evening at City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington. In the hearing of persons, David Lytle of Light in the Woods Promotions will be asking the aldermen about the closing of streets around the courthouse square for the annual Summerfest on June 17th from 10:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. The board will review bids on some #2 U.G. primary wire, brass fittings for water lines, LED street lighting, and wire for electrical upgrades and services. City Treasurer Stacey Houston reports that DNR has approved the engineering portion of the Waste Water Improvement Phase 2 project the city has received a Five Million Dollars grant on. Once the mayor signs the Financial Assistance Agreement, the city will be able to submit expense reimbursements for the engineering expenses. The board will then hear reports from various city officials. The board may then vote to go into closed session before adjourning. The meeting tonight will be open to the public.