News

On Monday, June 4^th, Dent County Deputies responded to the 10000 block of Highway 19 North for a report of a burglary in progress.  Upon their arrival, deputies discovered that a 57-year old female of Salem was the reported victim of a burglary. She stated the suspects were still at the residence and that about $750 worth of items had been taken without the owner's consent. As a result of this call, 41-year old Joseph Dale Valley of Cherryville and 37-year old Sherry Lynne Bean of Cherryville were arrested on charges of burglary in the 2^nd degree and felony stealing. Valley and Bean were then incarcerated at the Dent County Jail.  Both have $7,000 cash only bonds.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Monday morning. In the road report, District 1 Road Supervisor Rusty Chamberlin reported that brush would be cut on Dent County Road 6420 and crews would be hauling material to Dent County Roads 6220 and 6500 and also doing ditch work on those roads. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that material would be hauled to Dent County Road 4040 and brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 2240 and 3200. Commissioner Larson also said that Dent County Road 3210, known as the Hospital Road should open back up by midweek. The bridge is being replaced and the county has to create a temporary crossing for the time being. The Commission wanted to address the many calls they have received about roads that need graded because they have the washboard effect to them. Commissioner Larson said that since it is so dry, grader blades are wearing out after only five to ten miles of grading and it’s not cost effective to the county to grade roads at this time.  Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he would be attending a Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation meeting on Tuesday and a Meramec Regional Emergency Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, both will be held in St. James. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams came by the meeting to have the Commission sign off on the budgeted quarterly transfer of $18,125 from the counties holding account to the Senior Citizens Fund. The money is transferred so checks can be issued to the Salem Nutrition Center and SMTS. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday afternoon at 2:00 and that meeting is open to the public. 

On your summer camping trip, you can get away from it all and still stay connected with free WiFi in Missouri state park campgrounds. Eleven state parks campgrounds currently offer free wireless Internet access for guests and visitors and the service will be added to more campgrounds throughout the summer. Campgrounds with wireless access are located in: Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon; Montauk State Park near Salem; Roaring River State Park near Cassville; Table Rock State Park near Branson; Meramec State Park near Sullivan; Sam. A. Baker State Park near Patterson; Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park in Wildwood; Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park near Middlebrook; Onondaga Cave State Park near Leasburg; Long Branch State Park near Macon; and Finger Lakes State Park near Columbia. Most parks have full coverage in the campgrounds while others have designated hotspots with coverage. Signs will be posted in the campgrounds indicating where Internet access is located. Results from a 2010 survey indicated campground visitors wanted to stay connected while camping and that availability of an Internet connection would lead to camping more often and extending their stay. WiFi availability is just one of the amenities offered in Missouri’s 40 state park campgrounds. More than 70 percent of the campsites offer electricity. Many campgrounds include modern restrooms, hot showers, and trailer dumping stations, coin-operated laundry and firewood. For more information you can visit mostateparks.com.

The South Central Missouri 2012 Cattlemen’s Tour brought to you by Maries and Dent County and the MU Extension and will run from July 16^th to July 19^th. The tour departs on the 16^th at 7:00 am from the SC Regional Stockyards in Vienna. The first stop will be to the Southwest Research Center in Mount Vernon. Throughout their tour they will also make other stops to the Pasture Based Dairy Farm Tour in Monett, the Ratcliff Ranches in Vinita, Oklahoma, the Gray G Bar Ranch in Grainola, Oklahoma, the Stockyard City and National Stockyards in Oklahoma City, the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City National Memorial/Bricktown and the last and final stop on July 19^th will be at the Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri. Registration forms can be obtained at the MU Extension. For more information contact Ted Cunningham at 729-3196 or the MU Extension in Maries County at 573-422-3359.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem invites businesses, organizations, and individuals to participate in the community’s 2012 4^th of July parade on Wednesday, July 4^th.  This year’s theme is “America’s Past, Present and Future” and it will start at 6:00 PM. The Grand Marshall this year is Ed Gill, a lifelong Salem resident and businessman, who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Senior Grade in the United States Navy. Gill served aboard a minesweeper during the Invasion of Normandy in WWII. A one hundred dollar prize will be awarded to the best “Commercial” and “Non-Commercial” float. Get your entry form at www.salemmo.com; request a form from chamber@salemmo.com or stop by 200 South Main. Parade entry forms are due by June 26^th.  The parade route runs from the old fairgrounds to the Dent County Courthouse. No ATV’s will be allowed. Your line up position will be ready on June 29^th. For more information call 729-6900.

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