Local News – Wednesday, December 7th, 2022
The Rural Hospital Group (known as RHG) will be holding a strategic planning meeting with the Salem Memorial District Hospital Thursday morning at 8:30 at the conference room of the Crossroads Inn and Suites at 1200 South Main Street. All members of the SMDH Board of Directors have been invited to participate which constitutes this being considered a public meeting. The public is invited to attend any part of the meeting that is not closed to the public in accordance with Chapter 610 of the Revised State Statutes of Missouri.
Filing for the two positions on the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors is now underway at the Dent County Fire Protection District Building. Filings will be held now through December 27th by appointment. Call for your appointment between the hours of 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon at 729-3250. The two board positions that are open are a two-year term and the other is a six-year term. These filings are for the April 4th Municipal Election in 2023.
‘Tis the season to be giving. This holiday season, give a gift back to the environment by being mindful about how you celebrate. Americans typically generate the largest amount of waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s
Day. As you plan your holiday events and gatherings, add a bit of “green” to your party theme. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources shares these tips to maximize your holiday cheer while also being environmentally friendly: As you choose gifts for friends and family, consider making them yourself. Create homemade snow globes with old glass jars or fill them with cookie and cake mixes for a sweet treat. Repurpose meaningful t-shirts to make a cozy quilt. It’s estimated that more food enters landfills than any other single material in our trash. Adjust your recipes to fit the number of guests. This will leave less left-overs and reduce waste. If you do have food waste, compost as much as possible. If you’re pining for a cut tree, shop at a local tree farm. Buying locally means traveling fewer miles, which creates fewer emissions for a healthier environment. Also, consider a Missouri-native potted tree that can be replanted outside after the holidays. When stringing decorative lights, opt for LED, which have a longer life and use less energy than regular lights. Use a timer that automatically turns lights off and on. Finally, when the parties are all over and it’s time to tidy up, save wrapping paper and bags for use on next year’s gifts. If you bought a cut tree, it can be chipped and used for mulch, or it can be turned into habitat for fish or other wildlife. With a little creativity and planning, you can help alleviate unnecessary waste in our landfills, save money and have a tree-mendous holiday! For more information on recycling, reuse and composting, contact the department’s Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401, or visit dnr.mo.gov.
The Creative Arts Center will be offering a Wheat Weaving Christmas Angel Ornament class with Suzanne Douglass this Thursday from 6:00 in the evening until 8:00. Come join us in celebrating the Christmas season by creating a beautiful old fashion traditional Christmas Angel decoration. The cost is $25 and all supplies are included. They will also offer a Rope Broom making class with Wayne Douglass Thursday from 6:00 in the evening until 8:00. In the days of wooden ships and sails, sailors made things with what they had. By using a bit of rope, they made a nice brush for cleaning up small mess. Join Wayne Thursday evening as he walks you through the steps of creating your own rope broom. The cost is $20 and all supplies are included. The Creative Arts Center has two easy ways to sign up for events! Go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center to register or call or text 573-247-0651.
Memories of cookies and cider, sleigh rides, homemade gifts and ornaments, and warm gatherings of friends and family are all part of the spirit of Christmas in the Ozarks. An “Ozark Christmas Celebration” will take place at Alley Spring this Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening. Bring the family to see the Old Red Mill decked for the holidays. If you arrive before dusk, the holiday decorations near the mill and stunning backdrop of Alley Spring in the winter provide the perfect setting for a holiday photo you can cherish for years. After dark, lanterns will light the pathways to the mill where you can visit with old friends and new, sing Christmas carols by candlelight, and munch cookies with hot drinks. You can even make a simple holiday ornament to take home. Warm up your singing voice and dress warm for the festivities. Alley Spring is located six miles west of Eminence on Highway 106. For more information, please contact Ranger Josh Chilton at 573-226-3945. This holiday event is conducted in partnership with the Ozark Riverways Foundation, Shannon County Museum Association, Dent County Historical Society, and the Ozark Heritage Project.
The 2nd Annual “Santa Paws” is coming to The Commons! The Dent County Animal Welfare Society will be hosting a pet adoption event this Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon Saturday and from 1:00 until 3:00 on Sunday. Bring the kids and get pictures with Santa as well as the Grinch and play with beautiful puppies looking for homes. There will be a bake sale if you need a snack! If you have any questions about adopting or about supporting the Dent County Animal Welfare Society, call 729-3556.