Archive for 2017

The City of Salem Park and Recreation Board met Tuesday night at the City Administrative Offices. After the roll call and agenda were approved, the board went into closed session to hear three presentations from pool companies on repairing and updating the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Swimming Pool at the Salem City Park. Each company was given 30 minutes to discuss their company and explain to the board what they would do to renovate and improve the pool. No votes were taken in closed session. Upon returning to open session, the board announced they would be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory in a Special Meeting to choose the company they would like to recommend to the Salem Board of Aldermen they would like to begin negotiations with. That meeting will be a closed session meeting until a vote is taken. Other business in open session will be heard following the vote if needed. Tuesday night, Salem Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon reported there was a total of 114 kids signed up for flag football this season compared to 90 last year which is an increase of 27%. There are four 1st and 2nd grade teams and five 3rd-6th grade teams. Games will begin October 7th and run the entire month of October being played on Saturdays starting at 9:00 AM at the Al Brown multipurpose field. Lydon said youth basketball will be offered again this year starting after the flag football comes to an end. This program is for children 3-12 years of age and the cost is $25 per child. All games will be played at the Salem High School gym on Saturdays starting December 2nd. He also said adult basketball would be offered again this year for $300 per team. This league will be played on Sundays at either the upper elementary or at the High School depending upon gym availability. Lydon went over a number of improvements made in the Salem Park System and they included new trash dispensers, new picnic tables at all parks, the Teeter-totter was fixed and painted, and the swing was repaired at Midyett Park, five new benches have been built and installed at the tennis courts courtesy of the American Volunteers, the basketball court was painted Carolina Blue with help from the American Volunteers and the city will be adding the basketball markings, and the main pavilion has been painted and the fireplace cleaned along with the dedication placard. Lydon said the restrooms in the city park have new paper towel dispensers, new soap dispensers, new faucets and a new handrail installed behind toilets. The stall dividers have been removed for handicapped accessibility, workers will soon hang vinyl wall covering and new louvered bathrooms doors are on the way as well as an exhaust system. Since the bathrooms were vandalized, cameras are to be installed at park outside of restrooms and by the concession stand. Lydon also said the new splash pad for the city park will be installed on April 16th, 2018. Salem Park Board President Stan Podorski thanked the park board members, City Administrator Ray Walden and the alderman who attended the Grand Opening of the All-Accessible Playground at the city park called “Billy’s Playground in honor of Carol Perdue.” He said it was a great success and the playground has been filled with children ever since. Podorski said the handicapped ramp and stairway at the Al Brown Field from the parking lot to the field has been designed and approved and is waiting to be built. It may happen this fall but will be done by next Spring. He also reported that he and Tye Lydon measured out two full size soccer fields and marked them with flags at the property on Highway 19 south. Dirt work out there probably will not start until next year after a line of trees and a fence have been removed. Podorski said that Todd Kinerk brought an idea to him about the creation of an ATV trail in the wooded area by the Masters Industrial Park. He said some of that timber needs to be harvested and that could actually pay for a trail to be built. With no other information at this time, he said he just wanted to make the board aware of the conversation. Park Board member Kyle Williams brought to the board a request to make an improvement to the skateboard park at the City Park called a manual concrete box. He said he would try to bring a diagram to the next meeting. The meeting was then adjourned. The next Park Board meeting will be tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory and after a closed session, the meeting will be open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Thursday, September 21st, deputies conducted an investigation at a residence in the 9000 block of Highway 32 East. During the course of the investigation, baggies and a glass-smoking device were located. Both had residue that field tested positive for methamphetamine. As a result, a 22-year old Salem woman and a 19-year old Boss man were arrested and charged with the possession of a controlled substance. They were incarcerated in the Dent County Jail on $10,000 cash only bonds. That same day, deputies with the Dent County Sheriff’s Office responded to a property in the 13000 block of Route H for a report of a stolen vehicle. During the investigation, it was discovered that a blue 1974 Chevrolet hoist/dump truck was stolen off the property sometime in the past month. This report is still under investigation. On Friday, September 22nd, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 3000 block of Highway 19 South. As a result, a 29-year old Licking man was arrested for driving while having his license suspended. He was taken to the Dent County Jail, fingerprinted, and released with a summons to appear in court. If you have information about any ongoing investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports: On Tuesday, September 5th at approximately 8:34 in the morning, an officer was sent to Casey’s General Store located on Highway 32 East in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 35-year old male of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $2.66. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Saturday, September 16th at about 2:02 in the morning, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 37-year old male of Steelville for the possession of methamphetamine and driving while having his license suspended. Also arrested on the stop was a passenger, a 31-year old female of Steelville on an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The male suspect was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. The female suspect was released to Dent County Sheriffs Department. Later that morning at approximately 10:06, an officer located three people in the 200 block of North Grand who had active arrest warrants. A 26-year old male of Salem was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant from Dent County and incarcerated pending a court appearance, and a 31-year old female of Salem was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem and two active arrest warrants from Dent County. The female suspect was released with a new date to appear in court after posting bond. A third suspect, a 37-year old female of Salem was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant from St. James and released with a new date to appear in court. That same morning at about 11:51, an officer located a 36-year old male of Salem at McDonalds Restaurant parking lot who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. He was taken into custody on the warrant and released to the Dent County Sheriffs Department. On Sunday, September 17th at approximately 1:20 in the afternoon, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. That investigation led to the arrest of a 38-year old male of Edgar Springs for the possession of methamphetamine and oxycodone, and on two outstanding active warrants from Licking and Cabool. Also arrested on the stop was a 36-year old male of St. Louis on an active arrest warrant from Missouri Probation and Parole. The two suspects were incarcerated pending the application for a warrant and extradition. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Doe Run Company (Doe Run) recently created the Doe Run Nursing Scholarship Fund to support the new nursing program at Southwest Baptist University’s (SBU) Salem campus. Dr. C. Pat Taylor, the president of SBU said they were excited to be able to expand their nursing program to the SBU-Salem campus and are thankful for donors like Doe Run who are committed to investing in the education of SBU students. The $1,000 per semester scholarship will help nursing students earn their degrees closer to home, and support the medical needs of southern Missouri. The shortage of nurses in Missouri is at an all-time high, according to a 2017 report by the Missouri Hospital Association. Approximately 5,700 nursing jobs in Missouri hospitals are vacant due to a lack of qualified candidates, creating a critical need for the education of new nurses in the region. In addition to supporting the nursing scholarship, Doe Run made a gift of $3,000 to support other needs at SBU’s Salem campus. This marks the 10th consecutive year Doe Run has donated to SBU’s Salem campus, which offers programs in health sciences, business, criminal justice and education, enabling students in the region to receive a college degree locally. As part of a highly technical and scientific industry, Doe Run promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in southern Missouri. These efforts include funding scholarships and classroom equipment, offering hands-on experience through internships, and providing professional expertise to guide academic curriculum. SBU students interested in applying for the nursing scholarship can contact SBU’s Salem campus office at (573) 729-7071.