News

The Dent County Commissioners regular meeting was held Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Richard Kitchen was in attendance and asked if the Current Car Cruisers could hold their car show on the courthouse square on June 16^th. The commission approved his request. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2400, 5550, 5630 and 6410; while materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Road 6400. He also said that brush would be cut on Dent County Road 6460. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he and Sam Gorman checked the back-up generator for the emergency shelter over at the Oak Grove Baptist Church and it worked fine. He said that there was 52% of fuel remaining in the tank and wanted to know if the county should add more fuel to tank. The commission will review the size of the tank and see when it was filled last before adding more fuel. Larson went on to say that a truck would be going to Springfield to pick up oil for the Dura-Patcher to patch chip and seal roads, and that full service was being performed on grader #31. Larson reported that grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2510, 3030 and 3050. Larson attended the Council for a Health Dent County meeting on Thursday and reported that the council hired Chris Welch as the Salem Fitness Center Administrator, and that they added Laura Lucas and Frank Barnitz to the Council Board. He said that the Council is looking at hosting a Missouri Sheriff’s Training Academy which is an 11-month program, and they approved the council to hire a part-time secretary that will work more than 25 hours. Larson stated that a Community Center Committee has been formed and will meet on March 15^th, and that the council is going to offer the Babysitters Academy again this year on March 24^th to teenagers 11½ years old and over for a cost of $75 per person. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that he would be attending an Ozark Solid Waste Management Executive Board meeting today. He also presented a flyer on a free used tire collection at the Rolla Recycling Center on March 31^st from 8:00 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon. The tire collection is for residents only and no businesses will be permitted, and you must unload the tires yourself. For more information, call the Rolla Recycling Center at 364-6693. The board approved the three-year maintenance agreement with CenturyLink for the 9-1-1 system for $8,066.16 per year to be paid in monthly payments of $672.18. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind voters that the last day to register for the Municipal election is this Wednesday. She also said that the Collector and Assessor balanced on all accounts, and that the commission needs to review the delinquent personal property and real estate tax abatements. At the last meeting, Jenny Jones and Deon Knipp discussed the funding for BRO, and a contract was signed with the Department of Natural Resources on the Dent County Surveyor’s re-monumentation for 2012. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios started an official countdown clock, marking less than a year until the March 1, 2013 deadline when all federal benefit recipients must receive their Social Security and other federal benefit payments electronically. Treasurer Rios urged remaining paper check recipients to switch now and help taxpayers save $1 billion over 10 years. Currently, about 90 percent of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are being made electronically. The Treasury Department published a final rule in December 2010 to gradually phase out paper checks for federal benefit payments. Since May 1, 2011, all people newly applying for federal benefits, including Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel Management benefits and other non-tax payments, have had to choose direct deposit or the Direct Express^® Debit MasterCard^® card at the time they sign up for their benefits. Starting March 1, 2013, all remaining federal benefit check recipients must receive their money electronically. Federal benefit recipients can switch to electronic payments online at www.GoDirect.org or by calling the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center toll-free at 1-800-333-1795. Check recipients should have the following information on hand when making the switch to an electronic payment option, including the Direct Express^® card. You will need to have your Social Security number or claim number, the 12-digit federal benefit check number and the amount of most recent federal benefit check. If signing up for direct deposit to an existing financial institution account, individuals will also need the   financial institution’s routing transit number, often available on a personal check, and also the account number and type (checking or saving).

The Southwest Baptist University-Salem Campusis sponsoring the Tuesday, March 13^th Chamber Members luncheon meeting.  This meeting will be held at Southwest Baptist University located at 501 South Grand, beginning at noon. Philip Giacomelli will be speaking on new and upcoming programs as well as the formation of their new community service student organization and various other SBU related topics. There will be a drawing for the top 3 “premier” booth spaces for the Business Expo – members must be present to win!  There is no cost for lunch but please RSVP by Friday, March 9^th to chamber@salemmo.com or call 729-6900.

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