Local News – Monday, July 24th, 2017
The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday night at the District Administrative Board Room. Superintendent John McCulloch announced the open house for William Lynch Elementary will be on Monday August 14th from 5:30-6:30, and that same evening at the Upper Elementary from 6:30-7:30. The open house at the High School will be on Tuesday, August 15th from 4:30-6:00 followed by the open house at the Middle School from 6:00-7:30. McColloch said the football field bathroom and locker room project will be rebid in October. He said an HVAC unit is out above the band room and bids are coming in for a new unit, plus an issue with some bricks at William Lynch will be fixed prior to school starting. McColloch said the new Tech Center in the high school library is close to completion and everything should be done in plenty of time for the start of school. The board approved the bid for milk from Hiland Dairy, the bread bid from Bimbo (Sara Lee), the food and supply bid from US Foods, the bid for fuel from County Fuels, and the pest control bid from Integrity Pest Solutions. They also set the tax rate hearing for August 17th at 5:50 p.m., to be followed by the regular August Board meeting. The board approved for Durham Transportation to provide bus services for the Early Childhood Special Education students, and approved the 6-12 Chromebook policy/handbook. In closed session, the board agreed to hire Lauren Prugh as a Kindergarten teacher before the meeting was adjourned.
The City of Salem Board of Alderman will conduct their regular meeting tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers located 202 North Washington beginning at 7:00 pm. During the hearing of persons, Randy League will be requesting the closing of streets around the courthouse for Saturday, September 9th for the annual car show and arts & crafts festival conducted by the Midwest Blue Oval Club. In bids, the city requested bids for a Kubota Zero Turn Mower for the Cemetery; the city also requested bids for 2 servers and a copier for the administrative office and all bids will be presented to the Board. City Clerk Mary Happel will present a trailer court license for the Board’s approval in unfinished business. City Administrator Ray Walden will then report on various current and future projects as well as discuss the city holiday pay policy and also discuss a policy on fund raising for city departments. Mayor Brad Nash will then present his report. During the introduction and reading of bills and resolutions, Bill #3335 an ordinance required in order to purchase property from the Wanda L. Parks Trust for a runway protection zone; Bill #3336, an ordinance to amend Ordinance #3333, changing the monthly commercial manufacturing averaging from 400,000 to 350,000 gallon of water per month and Bill #3337 an ordinance to authorize the Mayor to execute a contract between the City of Salem and MFA Cooperative Association for the sale of property will be presented to the Board’s approval. In new and miscellaneous business, the Board needs to call for a public tax rate hearing in order to set the tax rate for the year 2017 and the Salem Police Department will be requesting approval to apply for a LLEBG Grant. The Board may then vote to go into closed session to discuss real estate, contracts and personnel. The regular meeting of the City of Salem Board of Alderman is open to the public.
The Salem 4-H and FFA Livestock Auction was held Saturday at The Commons. A total of 104 animals were auctioned off including a pen of rabbits, two pens of chickens, one market goat, nine market lambs, 67 market hogs and 24 market steers. The auction brought in a total of $189,366.50. Top buyers at the auction this year were the Bank of Salem who purchased 12 animals comprised of seven hogs and five steers; Phil-Mart who purchased ten animals made up of one lamb, six hogs and three steers; Intercounty Electric who bought seven hogs; Town and County Bank and Jadwin Lumber who each purchased five animals comprised of one lamb, three hogs and one steer; Smith Valley Angus who bought five animals made up of three hogs and two steers; Salem Livestock who purchased four animals broken down into one lamb, two hogs and one steer; and Phelps County Regional Medical Center who bought two hogs and two steers. There were 47 different buyers on the initial sale and there were 11 resales with their proceeds donated to the Love Pack Backpack program, the 4-H Chapters in Dent County, Salem FFA and 4-H Council. The proceeds from the resales totaled $4,246.90.
An accident occurred at 6:25 Saturday morning in Jefferson County on southbound Route V just north of Brittany Lane that took the life a DeSoto resident. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer driven by 22-year old Katherine Knox of Desoto was traveling southbound and traveled off the right side of the roadway. Knox then overcorrected and the Chevy Blazer overturned. Knox was pronounced dead 6:39 by Valle Ambulance District personnel and the body was transported to the St. Louis County Morgue and Schaefer Mortuary. A passenger, 21-year old Alonzo Moore, III of Salem suffered minor injuries and was taken to St. Anthony’s Medical Center by the Valle ambulance. No one was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet Blazer was totaled and removed from the scene by T and T Towing.
Have you thought about having an art party for kids or adults as birthday party? It’s a perfect mix and the Salem Area Arts Council can accommodate up to 20 people for a party which would be led by a professional artist and would also include all the materials and a pitcher or two of lemonade. Group rates are available! For more information, call or text the Salem Area Arts Council at 573-247-0279 or you can e-mail saac@embarqmail.com.