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Time is running out to get your tickets for the Salem Area Community Betterment Association (SACBA) Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Thursday, February 19th. The dinner will be held at The Gathering Place at the Grace Community Church starting at 6:30 p.m. The Common Grounds Bistro will cater. Tickets may be purchased at the Salem Community Center at the Armory, the Visitors Center and from SACBA board members for $20.00. The ticket deadline is Friday, February 13^th. For more information call 729-8163 or email judy@salemtcrc.com. SACBA is proud to announce there were a number of nominees this year for the Gift of Time Awards. Individuals that were nominated include Jim Boulware, Rae Pelletier, Larry Gray, Chris Thomas, Laura Wemhoener, Rachel Privett, John Strebe, Faron Teague, Bambi Holtz, Sandra Radford, John Hambacker, Dick Haxton, Bonnie Gray, Penny Shirah, Junior Hubbs and Deloris Gray-Wood. A number of organizations were also nominated for the awards and they are the Healthy Dent County Board, the Task Force for a Healthier Dent County, the City of Peace Garden Club, the Salem R-80 Art Teachers, the SHS Chamber Choir, His Place Soup Kitchen, The Lifeway Center, the Salem United Methodist Church, the Salem R-80 Band Parents and the Salem Fitness Center Volunteers. The Gift of Time awards will be presented and all nominees will be honored at the Volunteer Recognition Dinner. Again, tickets to this event that recognizes area volunteers must be purchased by this Friday!!! 

The Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee (HSOC) is accepting applications for a second grant round for FY2014 as additional funds became available. Region I anticipates having an additional $16,000 to assist in funding homeland security projects in the region, which includes Crawford, Dent, Laclede, Maries, Phelps and Pulaski counties. Agencies that applied and did not receive funding during the grant round this summer are encouraged to re-apply, but they must re-submit the application. Based on Highway Patrol Troop Area geographic boundaries, nine Regional Homeland Security Oversight Committees were created across the state to assist with this process. Ron Smith of City of Rolla Fire and Rescue serves as chair of the Region I HSOC. Tabitha Stanfast, Salem Hospital Emergency Medical Services Director, serves as vice chair. MRPC acts as the group's administrative entity and fiscal agent. Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 22, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification,business loans and other services to member communities. Applications must be submitted online at dpsgrants.dps.mo.gov, and the application deadline is February 27^th at 5:00 p.m. Questions may be directed to Lyle Thomas at (573) 265-2993.

The Phelps County Master Gardeners are hosting a Gardening Seminar, Growing Green-Learn-Plant-Harvert-sponsored by the Phelps County Master Gardeners and the Phelps County Extension Center on Saturday, March 21^st. The cost is $10 for either the morning session is from 9:00 am to noon or afternoon session is from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Classes will be held at the Havener Center-Missouri University of Science and Technology located at 1346 North Bishop Avenue in Rolla. Seating is limited, so register early. For more information, call (573) 458-6260.

Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, invites Missouri's schools to participate in the National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest. The 2015 contest is open to all Missouri fifth grade students. Students will create 11 x 14 posters that reflect the 2015 contest theme, “Bring Our Missing Children Home.” Each participating Missouri school will choose a first place winner and submit that winner to the Highway Patrol’s Missing Persons Unit no later than March 1, 2015. A completed application, found on the Patrol’s Web site, must accompany the poster. Posters shall be mailed to: MSHP Missing Persons Unit, Attn: Clara Land, Q/DDCC, P.O. Box 568, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0568. One Missouri poster will be given an overall first place award, and will then be automatically entered in the national competition. For more information regarding the National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest, please visit the Patrol’s Web site at www.mshp.dps.mo.gov [select Missing Persons Clearinghouse link, then National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest link] or call the Missing Persons Unit at (573) 526-6178. 

All Dent 4-H and FFA Livestock Families: The Steer weigh-in has been moved to this Saturday, February 14^th from 8:00 am to 9:30 pm at the Salem Livestock Barn in Salem. The steers will be weighed, wormed and ear tagged. For more information, call Ted Cunningham at the Dent County Extension Center at 729-3196.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will hold a blood drive in Salem at Salem Wood Products at 200 Stave Mill Road this Friday from 11:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. There is a Code Yellow alert for “A” negative and “O” negative blood types and that means there is less than a two-day supply of this type on hospital shelves and donations are needed. To be eligible to give blood, you must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health and present a valid photo ID.

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