News – Thursday, November 14th 2024

The Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting on Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the Old Auditorium. The agenda and consent agenda were approved, with an amendment to the former to remove a bill regarding sewer service fees. The board approved several items, including the purchase of a new 2025 half-ton Chevy Crew Cab pick up truck for $41,233.00, from Ed Morse Chevrolet, for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, for the buyout of a lease for a John Deere Loader, for $84,411.71,  and a contract for an annual Laserfiche cloud subscription for $5,900.00 allowing the City to store their digitized documents on a Cloud server. Financial Director Stacy Houston presented a request for the mayor to sign documents related to a $3.73 million ARPA grant the city received to install a new well, well house, and water tower. The total project cost is $3.768 million, with the city providing a $38,000 match. The board approved this request. The board also approved a resolution for the April 8, 2025 municipal election and heard first readings of bills related to the water tower construction project. Mayor Parker appointed Michael Letchworth as the new Eastward Alderman. Sally Burbridge provided updates on ongoing construction on 4th Street and possible grant applications. Mayor Parker stated the upcoming Christmas parade will be held on December 7th. Line up will begin at 5:00 and spots will be based on a first come first served basis, with the exception of the first six, that will be reserved for the Color Guard and the American Legion. Public Works Direct, Steve Paine, gave updates on the different utility crews, the Fire Hydrant Repair Project, as well as the ongoing flood cleanup at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Board then adjourned the meeting to closed session. 

The Missouri Department of Conservation will close its regional offices during opening weekend of firearms deer season, the 16th and 17th. Staff will be available at CWD mandatory sampling stations or at the Missouri Department of Conservation Call Center at 573-751-4115. The public can also submit questions via the MO Hunting app feedback form. Find mandatory sampling locations in the 2024 Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information Booklet. All Department of Conservation offices will return to regular operating hours on Monday the 18th.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has announced that the winter catch-and-release trout season at Montauk State Park in Dent County and Maramec Spring Park in Phelps County has been postponed due to flood damage. Both parks remain closed following heavy rainfall earlier this week. MDC’s winter catch-and-release fishing season is set to run now through February 10th, but with Montauk and Maramec Spring closed, fishing will not be allowed at those locations until they reopen. When the season resumes, fishing hours will be from 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon daily at Maramec Spring Park and on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays at Montauk State Park. For more information about winter fishing opportunities in Missouri visit mdc.mo.gov.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that hunters checked 1,857 turkeys during the firearms portion of Missouri’s fall turkey season, October 1st-31rd. Top harvest counties were Gasconade with 51 birds harvested, Osage with 48, and Cedar with 46. Harvest totals in our area include Crawford with 36, Dent with 38, Iron 8, Maries 34, Phelps with 40, Shannon with 10, and Texas County 38. For current fall firearms turkey harvest results by county, go online to MDC’s website at mdc.mo.gov. Hunters harvested 2,220 birds during the 2023 fall firearms turkey season. MDC Turkey Biologist Nick Oakley said that a very warm and dry October likely impacted turkey and hunter behavior. When it’s 80 degrees and windy, the birds may not be in their usual haunts and hunters aren’t as interested in literally sweating it out to find birds. Fall archery turkey hunting continues through November 15th and resumes November 27th through January 15th, 2025. Get more information about fall turkey hunting at mdc.mo.gov.

On November 12, Sheriff Bob Wells and Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley presented a check for the sum of $294.00 to Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams to be placed into the general revenue fund for Dent County. The money is the result of efforts by law enforcement involving the seizure of firearms possessed in connection with the arrest by Missouri Conservation Agent Jason Midyett and prosecution of Frank Gorman for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on November 11, 2023. In addition to the criminal conviction, the seizure and sale of the firearms is authorized by Missouri law as a punishment and deterrent to persons that illegally own/possess firearms. This money will be used for the benefit of the local community.

The Creative Arts Center in Salem will hold a “This or That” Fall Paint N’ Sip class on Friday, from 6:30 to 9:00 in the evening with Danielle Norris. Guests may bring their favorite beverages and snacks to this event. The class is open to those 13 years of age and older. The cost of the class is $25 and all supplies are included. There must be at least six people sign up to hold the class. To sign up, visit the SACBA website, click on “Programs” and on the Creative Arts Center.