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The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning.  For the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that work continues in the Bunker area on Dent County Road 5690, where a crew is removing debris and clearing the right a way.  Purcell said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5510, 6020 and 6240 and a crew would be working on widening Dent County Road 5220.  District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2010, 2020, 2025, 3180 and 3190.  Larson also said that grading would be done and rock would be hauled to Dent County Roads 3185 and 5240.  Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wanted to remind everyone that the public has until July 31^st to comment on the Ozark National Scenic Riverways General Managament Plan to change current regulations on Current River.  Anyone with questions or comments can call ONSR’s headquarters in Van Buren at 573-323-4236. Richard LaBrash with the American Legion stopped by the meeting to let the Commission know that the Legion has received a captured Russian tank to put at the post as a memorial and wanted to know if the county would be interested in donating money for the concrete pad that needs to be poured for the tank to sit on. The pad the tank will sit on requires 16 yards of concrete and needs to be poured as soon as possible, because the tank is being delivered in three weeks.  Each of the Commissioners decided to donate individually and LaBrash invited the Commissioners to be present during the dedication ceremony.  If anyone is interested in donating to the American Legion for concrete call LaBrash at 729-1394.  The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday at 9:00 a.m.

The Salem R-80 School Board met last evening in the Administrative offices. The Board first set the open house dates and times for the new school year.  Open house for the Junior and Senior High will be Monday, August 17^th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  The Upper Elementary will be Tuesday, August 18^th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and William Lynch will also be the 18^th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. In the facilities update, the William Lynch playground equipment will be arriving next week so crews will be able to start installing the equipment. Roof project supplies have arrived and work will continue as weather permits on various buildings in the district. R-80 received a score of 100% in the annual bus inspection done by the Highway Patrol for Missouri Public Safety.  The School will be holding their Town Hall meeting for discussion and questions from the public about the bond issue to be voted on in August.  The meeting will be held on Thursday, July 30^th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Old City Hall.  The board approved the bid for milk from Hiland Dairy last night.  They also went with Interstate for bread and MFA Oil for fuel.  They tabled the decision for pest control service until the next meeting. The board has agreed to give certified staff their next step in the pay scale.  Some staff are beyond the 20 year step scale, so the board agreed to give them the equivalent of the step, which is $550.  That equals out to be a 1.5% increase.  That 1.5% increase will also be applied to the support staff scale.  The board agreed to set up an online version of their board policies for a cost of $900. They also approved the A+ Partnership Plan last night. They also approved some minor random student drug testing procedure revisions.  Those in the system would not have to fill out a new form each year, and students that receive a positive test result would not have to pay for the cost of a new test. The board agreed to have a non-resident student attend with tuition payment from Northwood R-4 for another year. They also accepted the Developmental Preschool Transportation Agreement with Durham Bus Services for another year. The agreement is for five years. The board also set their tax rate hearing for August 20^th beginning at 6:00 p.m. The budget hearing will immediately follow, with the regular board meeting to follow the budget hearing. In closed session the Board of Education employed Hillary Alexander as Flag Corp Coach.

Registration for the upcoming school year for the Salem R-80 Junior and Senior High School parents will be Monday-Thursday, August 10^th-13^th, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. All seventh to ninth grade students will register in the Junior High library and tenth through twelfth grade students will register in the Senior High library. The enrollment schedule is: on Monday, August 10^th all new high school students along with 10^th-12^th grade students, all new junior high students and all 7^th-9^th grade students can register. On Tuesday, August 11^th all new high school students along with seniors and seventh grade students. On Wednesday, August 12^th all juniors and eighth grade students can register, and on Thursday, August 13^th all sophomores and ninth grade students can register.

Businesses who suffered property damage or loss from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 8^th through the 16th can register for federal disaster assistance. Registration is available by calling 1-800 621-3362 from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, or at www.disasterassistance.gov. In order to complete an application, the following information is necessary: a phone number, address of the damaged property, a brief description of damages, a Social Security number, any insurance information and a current mailing address. The counties in which residents are eligible to register for disaster assistance are: Dent, Shannon, Texas, and surrounding counties. Businesses of any size and private, non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets The U.S. Small Business Administration also sends loss verifiers to inspect damaged property of those who have submitted completed loan applications. And local building and safety inspectors may come to see if damaged structures are safe. All of these inspectors should have photo identification.

Residents who suffered property damage or loss from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 8^th through the 16th can register for federal disaster assistance. Registration is available by calling 1-800 621-3362 or at www.disasterassistance.gov from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. In order to complete an application, the following information is necessary: a phone number, address of the damaged property, a brief description of damages, a Social Security number, any insurance information and a current mailing address. The counties in which residents are eligible to register for disaster assistance are: Dent, Shannon, Texas, and surrounding counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, in addition to grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate victims for their entire loss. For those with insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered by insurance. Residents who applied for disaster assistance and are not insured can expect to hear from an inspector who will schedule a visit to look at damaged property. FEMA schedules inspections within 7 to 10 days to verify losses.

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Funeral services for Dale Louis Belflower of Anutt, age 76, will be held today at 11:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Interment will be in the Victor Cemetery in Anutt. Memorials are suggested to the Young Community Center. 

Graveside services for Blanche Wofford of Salem, age 90, will be held this morning at 11:00 at the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association. All arrangements are under the direction of James and Gahr Mortuary.

Graveside services for Patricia “Patty” Villines of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, formerly of Salem, age 51, will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the Stone Hill Cemetery in Salem. Arrangements are under the direction of the Britton-Bennetter Funeral Home in Cuba.

Memorial services for Verda Kantz Leonard of Salem, age 85, will be held Saturday at 2:00 at the Salem United Methodist Church. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Salem United Methodist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel.

Memorial services for Thomas Shatzer of Salem, formerly of Ohio, age 55 will be held Saturday at 3:00 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sandusky, Ohio. All the arrangements are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel.

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