Local News – Thursday, August 10th, 2017

A near drowning occurred at Fugitive Beach about five miles south of Rolla on Phelps County Road 5285 on Tuesday afternoon at about 2:42. According to the highway patrol report, 19-year old David Jackson of St. Louis submerged and did not resurface. A life guard pulled him from the water and the subject was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.

The City of Salem Park and Recreation Board met at the Salem Community Center@The Armnory Wednesday evening. Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon updated the board on the concrete work being done around the concession stand at the city park ball fields to remove the rocks that were there and make the area more handicapped accessible. The city workers have completed the south side where the softball field is and are working to complete the other side by the high school opening day for softball next Friday. The board was given a schematic engineering drawing of the new All-Inclusive Playground and as soon as some final details are resolved, work will begin on the ground work this month. The application for the grant for the splash pad recirculation system was not approved and Parks and Recreation Board President Stan Podorski said that there is money in the budget to cover that cost that was set aside for pool repair. The renovations to the pool will be paid for from another source. Lydon and Podorski went over the results of a pool tour they went on to Licking, Rolla, St. James and Cuba. They noted the positives and negatives of each pool so that the improvements to the Salem pool will be better utilized for the money involved. They also asked the board if they have any ideas to please submit them for the planning process. Lydon went over the work the Scenic Rivers Industries has done this summer including repairing the wood bleachers and painting the Al Brown storage and concession building. They are now replacing 17 picnic tables in the park, repairing 13 others and also replacing the boards on the teetor-totters at the Carol Midyett Park. Lydon updated the board that once the concrete work is done at the City Park, the concrete crew will move to Al Brown Fields to construct a stairway to the field as well as a handicap ramp. They will also be building the new field level concession stand and finish creating a concrete walkway from the north field to the practice area. Lydon said flag football will be held this year from October 7th through the 28th at the Al Brown Fields. Sign ups will be held at the Salem Community Center@The Armory for boys and girls from the 1st through the 6th grades with registration staring August 21st and lasting until September 8th. The cost per child is $25. Lydon says he is exploring creating a co-ed volleyball league this fall, but is still working on the logistics. He also showed the board some "Thank You Salem" signs that will be placed at the work areas in the park that thank the people of Salem for their passing of the 3/8ths of one cent sales tax and how their money is being put to work. The signs will be 5 foot by 10 foot each. Podorski discussed the new city policy on fundraising, donations and sponsorships for individuals or groups that want to work with the City of Salem to raise funds or provide gifts to the city. Podorski also updated the board on the soccer fields and that some preliminary work is just starting with the grass being cut and discussion on proper field care. He said he and Lydon would measure the fields for the best layout and will begin to mark where they will go. In other business, Podorski mentioned that in the tour of the pools, they did not find one pool providing healthy foods for their patrons. He asked the board for permission to work with Healthy Dent County in finding a way to bring that option to the Salem concession stands in the future. That request was approved. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Salem Police Department has released a number of reports. On Sunday evening, July 30th at approximately 5:32, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department reference a burglary from a residence in the 500 block of South Jackson. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown took items valued at $829.00 from a residence. The report is under investigation. On Monday, July 31st at about 9:14 at night, an officer located a 21-year old male of Salem at Wal-Mart who had two active arrest warrants from the City of Salem and St. James. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrants and incarcerated pending a court appearance. On Tuesday, August 1st at about 8:30 in the morning, an officer located a 32-year old male of Salem in the 400 block of South Warfel who had an active arrest warrant from the State of Missouri. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. That afternoon near 3:30, an officer was sent to a residence in the 400 block of West Gibbs reference a burglary. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown entered a residence and took a game console, games and a video valued at $585.00. The report is under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Once again the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a semi-pro rodeo, sanctioned by MRCA/URA and produced by Outlaw Rodeo Productions this Labor Day weekend. On September 2nd and 3rd beginning at 7:30 each night at The Commons on Highway 72 North, you can watch the spirit of the Old West come alive with events such as team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and the all-time crowd favorite, bull riding! Advanced tickets are available at The Bank of Salem, Town and Country Bank, Riverways Federal Credit Union, Progressive Ozark Bank and the Salem Chamber office at 200 S Main. Prices are $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 5-11. If you have any questions, or would like to become a vendor or sponsor, contact Tabatha at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at (573) 729-6900.