Local News – Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Grant Wilson from Congressman Jason Smith’s office in Rolla, came in to visit with the commissioners and let them know that Congressman Smith has introduced two bills in the House to rescind President Biden’s vaccine mandate, but feels the bills will not get very far in the Democrat led House. He also has written a bill prohibiting the IRS from having surveillance on bank accounts that incur a 600 or more-dollar transaction. Salem & Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge provided the commissioners with her monthly report. She indicated the Heartland Metals has now officially closed and they had 13 employees when they shut down. She said one building in downtown Bunker sold and she visited with Dr. Ouzts who is purchasing the Dent County Veterinary Clinic. She reported that she, Commissioner Darrell Skiles and Salem R-80 Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed and attended a broadband meeting at Echo Bluff last Thursday, October 28th. She said she is still awaiting the final go ahead from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to put out for bids. She also said if someone needs information on the Voluntary Residential Demolition Program to contact her at 729-2428. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray indicated service on a grader would be finished today, plus materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5510, 6420, 6497 and 6500. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6160 while only grading would be done on county roads 2515 and 2533. Larson went on to say brush would be cut on county roads 3230 and 3240. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that at the broadband meeting the previous Thursday, it was noted that better mapping was needed across the entire state for the companies interested in providing Internet services. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley gave the commissioners the Auto Insurance renewal to review and will be working on the county budget for 2022. The Commissioners voted to approve the CERF contribution by each employee to be 6% which is the same as last year. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk stated tax bills would be going out this Wednesday and that all citizens should check their bills for accuracy once it arrives. If they have questions, they should contact the Dent County Collector at 729-3911. She also said this is the perfect time to sign up for the tax installment program where individuals can make monthly payments on the 5th or 20th of each month for 10 months through an automatic withdrawal from their bank account. The final payment will need to be made before December 31st after any adjustments are made to the personal property or real estate tax bills. More information will be available on your tax bill when it arrives. VanKirk also mentioned that her office and the assessor’s office will be open on New Year’s Eve from 8:00 in the morning until 5:30 in the afternoon for those who wish to make tax payments. Payment of your taxes may be made at the collector’s office, by mail, using the drop box at the southwest corner of the courthouse square, or online. Fees will be the same as last year and will be charged on all credit or debit cards. Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer also reported the county assessment form for 2022 will not be mailed out until December 31st and her office will not accept the assessment forms at the office until January 4th or online until January 2nd. Only the collector and assessor’s offices will be open at the courthouse on December 31st. They will NOT be open on January 3rd, but the other county office will be on that day. The next meeting will be meeting Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

With deer hunting under way in Missouri, the Missouri Department of Conservation and A.T. Still University in Kirksville are asking deer hunters to save ticks they find on harvested deer and mail them to the University. The ticks will be used for a scientific research study to help better understand the statewide distribution of tick species and the human pathogens they carry. Ticks are large mites that drink the blood of humans and other mammals. Ticks can also carry and spread pathogens that cause illnesses in people. Missouri is home to three common species of ticks that bite humans: lone star tick, American dog tick, and deer tick or blacklegged tick. Deer ticks are the primary transmitters of a bacterial infection called Lyme disease. Adult ticks are about a quarter-inch long and grow to nearly double that when engorged with blood. MDC and A.T. Still University are partnering on a two-year research study to determine the presence of tick species throughout Missouri as well as the pathogens they may harbor. The study began in April and concludes in September 2022. During that time, MDC and the University are asking Missourians to mail ticks to A.T. Still University to be identified by species and life stage and tested for four species of bacterial pathogens. To help with the research efforts, people are asked to place live ticks in a plastic zip-top bag with a piece of damp paper towel or moist cotton ball, then fold the bag and place it inside another plastic zip-top bag with a completed sample-submission form. The sample-submission form is available for printing from the University website at www.atsu.edu and search for the form. People are then asked to place the bag and completed sample-submission form in an envelope and mail it to: A.T. Still University, ATTENTION: Deb Hudman — Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology, 800 W. Jefferson St., Kirksville MO 63501.

The next Festival Committee meeting will be at 5:30 this afternoon at the Salem Community Center at the Armory in the Rotary Meeting Room. The committee will be discussing Christmas Festival activities, a Taste of Salem and craft fair, plus a 5K and 10K run. The meeting is open to anyone and all are welcome to attend.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will hold a special closed session meeting to discuss litigation, contracts and personnel. The meeting will begin at 6:00 this evening and it is NOT open to the public.