News – Tuesday, October 28th 2025

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board meeting will be held this evening at 7:00 at the hospital library. At the meeting after public comments are heard, the board will hear a report from Chief Executive Officer Brooke Bollman and the Chief Financial Officer who will provide the statistical summary of operations for the month of September as well as presenting the monthly financials for board approval. The board will also hear the Chief of Nursing, Human Resources and Quality Improvement-Risk Management reports. In new business, the board will discuss and approve cardiopulmonary equipment as well as emergency department equipment. The board may then go into executive session. The Salem Memorial Hospital Board meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson was not in attendance due to a prior commitment and Deputy Clerk Melissa Piatt appointed Jimmy Williams as temporary presiding commissioner for the meeting. KSMO Media’s Stan Podorski reported the MRPC Awards Banquet held Thursday went well with Dent County Clerk Angie Curley receiving a Community Services Award. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said brush would be cut on county roads 5520 and 5530, while other crews will be checking roads and doing shop maintenance. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported workers will be replacing the tires on Grader #37 and servicing County Truck #82. Williams indicated grading will be done in the White River Trace area and crews will be checking other roads for damages from the rain. Williams also wanted to report that Dent County Road 2070 will be closed until at least Thursday after crews last week had to replace a low-water crossing. This will give some time for the concrete to cure. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

With fall here and as winter nears, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds people that Missouri’s estimated 1,000+ black bears are focused on fattening up and can spend up to 20 hours a day foraging for food. This can lead to conflicts between bears and people, pets, and property. MDC reminds Missourians to be BearWise. MDC Furbearer Biologist Nate Bowersock said it is important that people remove or secure bear attractants from their property, such as bird feeders, trash, barbeque grills, pet food, and food waste. Bowersock went on to say that Black bears are super-focused on finding food in the fall. The quest for calories keeps bears active and foraging up to 20 hours a day. When the eating is good, a bear can put on two to three pounds a day. By hibernation time, many bears will have added about four inches of fat and gained between 20% and 50% of their summer body weight. This annual feeding frenzy is called “hyperphagia” and is driven by bears’ ticking biological clocks counting down to hibernation, when most bears in colder climates retire for the winter and live off the fat they’re working so hard now to accumulate. He said that keeping areas free of food attractants and letting bears find natural foods is in everyone’s best interest. If you see a bear, let the animal be and enjoy the sighting, but be sure to not offer it any food. Bowersock added that intentionally feeding bears can be dangerous because it makes them comfortable around people and can lead bears to cause significant damage to property while searching for food. He noted that when bears lose their fear of humans, they could approach people in search of food or may become defensive of the food sources they find near people, which could lead to conflict. When this happens, the bear cannot be relocated and has to be destroyed. A fed bear is a dead bear. MDC offers the tips to avoid attracting black bears to possible food sources. Be sure to store garbage, recyclables, and compost inside secure buildings or in bear-proof containers. Keep grills and smokers clean and store them inside a building. Don’t leave pet food outside. Feed pets each meal and remove the empty containers. Refrain from using bird feeders in bear country from April through November. If in use, hang them at least 10 feet high and 4 feet away from any structure. Keep in mind that even if a bear cannot get to the birdseed, the scent could still attract it to the area. Use electric fencing to keep bears away from beehives, chicken coops, vegetable gardens, orchards, and other potential food sources. Keep campsites clean and store all food, toiletries and trash in a secure vehicle or strung high between two trees. Do not keep food or toiletries in a tent, and do not burn or bury garbage or food waste. Black bears are generally a shy, non-aggressive species. Follow these tips when outdoors in bear country to avoid unwanted encounters. Make noise, such as clapping, singing or talking loudly, while hiking to prevent surprising a bear. It’s best to travel in a group if possible and keep dogs leashed. Be aware of the surroundings. If there is evidence of a bear, such as tracks or scat, avoid the area. Above all leave bears alone! Do not approach them, and make sure they have an escape route. For more information on how to be BearWise and to report a bear sighting, visit mdc.mo.gov/bearwise. 

A Cyanotypes 101 class will be held this Saturday morning from 10:00 until 12:00 noon with M Emilia Barbose at the Creative Arts Center at 202 South Main Street. Come enjoy the magic of cyanotypes in both paper and fabric supports as the distinct “blueprints” will emerge in front of our very eyes. At least three people aged 18 and older need to sign up for the class which will be limited at 12. The cost is $35 which includes all the supplies. To sign up, go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center. Are you needing a gift for a birthday, or a thank you? You can now get gift certificates from the Creative Arts Center. Simply fill out the informational form here sacba.org/event-details/digital-gift-certificate, then you may either print it or have it emailed directly to your recipient. The card is worth $25 and can be used towards any class or event now up to December 30, 2026.