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The Dent County Commissioners held their meeting Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road reports, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell and District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that due to the latest storms producing lots of wind and rain, all roads leading to the cemeteries would be rechecked out, cleared (if necessary) and patched in time for the upcoming holiday weekend. Purcell also reported that a brush cutter would be in for repair, and chip and seal roads in his district would be repaired. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he would be attending a meeting in West Plains Thursday afternoon to meet with Kevin Keith from MoDOT as well as representatives from other counties regarding the reorganization plans of MoDOT. Dennis Hayman was in attendance to present the commission with updated plans for the replacing of the used grader blades, and to speak with Dent County Clerk Angie Curley regarding the use of community service workers for replacing the used grader blades to mark where the Trail of Tears crosses Dent County roads. Ken Beck stopped by the meeting to discuss repairing Dent County Road 3260 located out Highway 68 off U Highway as numerous 18-wheeler trucks have been using the road and it needs to be repaired. It was reported that both District 1 and 2 share the use of the lone dura-patcher in the county alternating weeks, but the road would be taken care of. Purcell then reported that he would be attending a Region I Homeland Oversight Committee at the MRPC in St. James. Purcell will be attending a Resource Conservation & Development meeting in Houston on Wednesday, June 8^th. The courthouse will be closed on Monday, May 30^th due to Memorial Day. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be held on Thursday, June 2^nd at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse and it is open to the public.

Safety is a top priority for The Doe Run Company, both for employees on the job and as the company supports surrounding communities. That’s why Doe Run’s Buick Resource Recycling Division (BRRD) recently donated a dozen full-face respirators to the Dent County Sheriff’s Department. The new safety equipment, worth $3,000, will shield officers during investigations that could involve chemical fumes. According to Sheriff Rick Stallings, Dent County officers will be more protected when they investigate methamphetamine labs or similar situations. He thanked Doe Run for their generous gift and concern for the safety of the officers. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Missouri had more than 1,900 meth lab investigations in 2010. Respirators (like those donated by Doe Run) safeguard on-the-scene police officers from exposure to airborne chemicals, particularly in confined spaces. Earlier this year, the Doe Run Buick Resource Recycling Division made another significant contribution to Dent County when division employees donated more than $4,000 in school supplies, food and clothing to local elementary students.

The fourth Saturday in May marks the opening of squirrel season in Missouri. Hunters may pursue gray and fox squirrels from May 28 through February 15, 2012, with rifles, shotguns or archery equipment. The aggregate bag limit is 10 squirrels and the possession limit is 20. “Aggregate” means hunters may harvest any combination of fox and gray squirrels so long as they do not exceed 10 squirrels total in one day. If hunters bag a daily limit two days in a row, they will have a possession limit of 20 squirrels. After that, they must eat or give away some squirrels before going hunting again in order to stay within the possession limit. Hunters also may take squirrels with cage-type traps, as long as they label traps with their full name and address, or their Conservation number. Squirrel traps also must have openings measuring 144 square inches or less, for instance, 12 inches by 12 inches. Hunters must attend their traps daily. Lonnie Hansen, the Missouri Department of Conservation’s resource scientist in charge of squirrel management, explained that squirrel numbers in the Ozarks are somewhat dependent on acorn production while squirrels have a more diverse and dependable food base in northern Missouri thanks to agricultural crops. As a result, squirrel populations are more stable there, and hunting is uniformly good from year to year.

The 2010 Annual Water Supply Quality Report for the City of Salem water supply is now available and there were no negative results detected during the year. It was also reported that there were no violations during the 2010-year. A copy of the 2010 Annual Water Supply Quality Report can be read at the City of Salem Administration Building, Salem Public Library and the KSMO Radio Studios.

The fourth Saturday in May marks the opening of catch-and-keep black bass season in Missouri Ozark streams for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. The Ozark-streams season runs from May 28 to February 29, 2012. Black bass fishing and possession is open year ‘round for impoundments, and areas of the state other than the Ozarks. While the daily limit on black bass in most of the state’s waters is six with a possession limit of 12, there are many lakes, rivers and streams with special daily limits, as well as different length limits.  It is important for anglers to know the specific black bass fishing regulations for the areas they will fish. More information is available in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s 2011 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations available from permit vendors and online at www.MissouriConservation.org.

Discover the wonders of the sky above us at a night sky-viewing program on Saturday, May 28^th at Onondaga Cave State Park near Leasburg. Sponsored by the East Missouri Dark Sky Organization and Missouri State Parks, the night will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the program “Viewable Objects in the Night Sky. Following the program, visitors are invited to look at distant objects in the night sky through telescopes provided by the East Missouri Dark Sky Organization.  This event is free and open to the public.  Reservations are not required. This program is the first of three night sky programs at the park, with future ones planned for August 27^th and September 24^th. Onondaga Cave State Park is located seven miles southeast of the Leasburg exit off of Interstate 44 on Highway H.  For more information, contact the park at 573-245-6576 or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946.  For more information about state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

Sports [TOP]

Nine members of the Salem Tigers track teams will participate at the State Tournament in Jefferson City on Saturday. Representing the Tigers are Stetson Hanning, Stone Chen, Jared Shorey, Jacob Kettner, Kevin Presley, Jared Patterson, Morgan Jessen, Dex West and Jennifer Herndon. Good Luck Tigers!!!

The St. Louis Cardinals had the day off Thursday and will be back in action tonight starting at 7:05 as they will be in Colorado. You can hear the game tonight on KSMO.

Vladimir Guerrero's run-scoring single in the bottom of the 12th inning lifted the Baltimore Orioles over Kansas City, 6-5, at Camden Yards.Melky Cabrera had a two-run single for the Royals, who have lost five in a row. Chris Getz and Alex Gorodon had RBI singles in the game. Starting pitcher Jeff Francis surrendered five runs on nine hits, walked one and fanned four over six frames. Louis Coleman tookthe loss and is 0-2 on the year. The Royals will be at Texas tonight.

Obituaries   [TOP]