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The Naturally Meramec Consortium, a group of businesses and individuals interested in promoting tourism and small agriculture-based businesses in the Meramec Region, will meet for the first time on Monday, February 23rd at 11:00 in the morning at the White Mule Winery near Owensville. The Naturally Meramec Consortium, in its early stages of organization, is a collection of agriculture and tourism business owners who want to work together to find ways to market and use each other’s products and services. The goal of the consortium is to increase agriculture and tourism jobs as well as sales for these businesses through the creation of a regional culture of local businesses that benefit from symbiotic relationships. The MRPC is managing the consortium project, which was funded through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farmers’ Market Promotion Program and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA). Approximately 450 agriculture or tourism businesses throughout the eight-county Meramec Region were identified as potential consortium members during previous stages of the project. The Meramec Region consists of Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington Counties. The businesses identified range from wineries and breweries to pork producers to cheese makers to beekeepers and many in between. Initial meetings will take place in each of the eight counties, and the Gasconade County meeting at White Mule Winery is the first of these meetings. In addition to working together to use, sell or highlight each other’s products, the consortium will also develop additional marketing tools for its members including a brochure and an interactive website. The website will allow travelers to plot a route and will highlight member businesses along the route where they may wish to stop. Business owners who did not receive an invitation but would like to participate may contact Connie Willman at 573-265-2993 or e-mail her at cwillman@meramecregion.org. 

Residents of Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties who have household hazardous waste materials, like car batteries, CFL light bulbs, used oil or antifreeze or other toxic, poisonous or flammable products, can dispose of them free of charge, year round, at satellite Household Hazardous Waste facilities in Rolla. The Rolla facility is located at the Rolla Recycling Center at 2141 Old St. James Road. While the service is free, an appointment is necessary to drop-off materials at either location. Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD), in partnership with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), provided funding to the two cities to establish and operate the facilities. Solid waste department employees in Rolla have been trained in accepting waste and proper storage. Persons interested in using the facility can make an appointment by calling the Rolla Recycling Center during normal business hours. The Rolla number is (573) 364-6693. When you call, please be prepared to describe the types of materials and quantity of each that you wish to drop off so that staff can make arrangements to receive and properly store the materials at the facility. A substance is considered hazardous when it contains ingredients or a combination of ingredients that can be harmful to the environment and/or human health. HHW products may ignite easily, react or explode when mixed with other substances, or may be corrosive, toxic or poisonous. Each facility has established limits on the number of gallons of liquids that a household can drop off in a visit.

The Salem Police Department released reports involving an intoxicated male, an intruder, theft, a traffic violation, and loud music. On Thursday, February 5^th at 7:36 pm, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 200 block of Independence in reference to an intoxicated male causing a disturbance. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 69-year old Salem male for disorderly conduct. He was issued a summons to appear in court and incarcerated on a 12-hour hold. On Friday morning, February 6^th at 11:15, an officer was dispatched to the Salem High School in reference to a theft. That investigation revealed that a 16-year old male juvenile stole $137.00 from a wallet. Further investigation led to the detention of the juvenile who was released to his parent and the report will be forwarded to the Juvenile Office. At 3:13 that afternoon, an officer responded to a residence in the 100 block of South Pershing in reference to an intruder. The investigation of the report revealed a 31-year old Salem male was intoxicated and entered a residence. He was unknown to the residents and would not leave. He was taken into custody and issued a summons to appear in court and was later released. Later that night at 6:30, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 49-year old male of Centerville for driving while intoxicated, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was incarcerated pending an application for warrants. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

All Dent 4-H and FFA Livestock Families: The Steer weigh-in will be held 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.

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.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will hold a blood drive in Salem at Salem Wood Products at 200 Stave Mill Road this morning from 11:00 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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