News – Tuesday, June 17th 2025

The Dent County Commission met this Monday morning at the courthouse. At the meeting, the commission was presented with an invitation to attend the recitation of the Declaration of Independence on July 2nd at noon at the multipurpose room of the Phelps County Courthouse at 200 North Main Street in Rolla by citizen Cindy Jones. She also stated that 2026 will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and she was hoping that all counties would have a similar type of celebration at their courthouses. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said no grading will be done due to the rain, so brush will be cut along chip and seal county road 4110 with the Mantis cutter. He also reported crews would be moving sand and gravel at the county road and bridge department in preparation for the new salt shed. Green stated other crews would be out checking roads for water or runoff damages. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams also said it was too wet to grade, so brush will be cut on county roads 2315, 2620, 2630, 2640 and 3220. He also indicated workers would be out checking roads for washouts. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported Mike’s Generator will be in town this week to check the county emergency backup generator at Oak Grove Baptist Church. They will check to make sure the fuel is still fresh and usable, plus also perform a full maintenance check on the operation of the backup generator. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind any Dent County business who has a liquor license needs to have their application for renewal into her office before June 30th. This Thursday the courthouse will be closed for Juneteenth and there will be no commissioner meeting. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning, June 23rd at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Area Community Betterment Association presents the Kids Summer Art Camp 2025 called “Splash into Creativity” will be held from June 23rd through June 27th from 8:00 in the morning until noon each day at the Creative Arts Center with Tana Kettner, Danielle Norris, Hannah Heithold, Nicole Curtis, Jenny Johnson and other teachers. This camp is targeted for those ages six to 16 years of age. The cost is $125 for the week of $30 per day. All the supplies for the week are included as well as a small snack each day. Your kids will get to do some amazing art projects, as well as learn valuable art skills. There will be visiting artists presenting special additional projects such as tie dye, clay hand-building, fibers, recycled art, glass fusing, acrylic painting, and so much more!  At least 12 people need to register and there will be no more than 50 attendees. Register by 12:50 Saturday morning, June 21st by going online to the SACBA website, click on Programs category and then go to the Salem Creative Arts Council link. If you have a question about any class, please email salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com

As summer approaches, the hot weather months may present challenges for many consumers who struggle to cool their homes. The Missouri Public Service Commission offers some suggestions on how to save on energy usage and reduce your bill. To aid in cooling the home make sure furniture and draperies are not blocking cooling outlets. Blocked outlets restrict air circulation, overwork the cooling equipment, and increase operating costs. Use ceiling fans to assist in cooling. In the summer, blades should rotate counterclockwise when viewed from below. Make sure the air conditioner filter is clean and replace filters as needed. Consider installing a smart thermostat, which are Wi-Fi enabled devices that automatically adjust your home’s heating and cooling, allowing for remote control and energy savings. They connect to your home’s internet network and can be managed through a smartphone app or web interface. Consider whether a time-based rate plan that adjusts electricity prices based on the time of day the energy is used is a good option for your household. For additional information on available rate plans, please contact your utility provider.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the National Deer Association (NDA) invite landowners and others interested in managing deer on their properties to join them online for a free webinar on forest and woodland management and how hunters and landowners can incorporate this into their deer management efforts. This live Zoom webinar on “Forests, Woodlands, and Whitetails” will be held on Tuesday, June 24th, at 6:00 in the evening. It will begin with a presentation from an NDA Deer Outreach Specialist followed by MDC and NDA staff answering participants’ questions. Save this link for the free Zoom webinar on “Forests, Woodlands, and Whitetails” and click on it on June 24 at 6 pm: short.mdc.mo.gov/4ya. For those who have not previously used Zoom on their selected device, click the link ahead of time and follow the prompts to install the free Zoom software. This webinar is the second of MDC’s and NDA’s free 2025 Missouri Deer Management Webinar Series via Zoom. Upcoming webinars are Wildflowers and Whitetails on August 26th at 6:00 and Utilizing Prescribed Fire for Deer Management on September 9th 6:00. Watch the previous webinar on Quality Deer Management at youtu.be/ckhMEytvync/. Learn more about deer management at mdc.mo.gov/your-property/improve-your-property/wildlife-management/deer-management