Archive for 2017

The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of July. During the month, they wrote 15 equipment repair orders, 14 summons to appear in court, 20 warning tickets, and 13 traffic tickets. The Salem Police Department investigated 16 accidents, two assaults, one burglary, one counterfeiting report, two reports of disorderly conduct, one dog bite, four reports of domestic violence, two reports of driving while being intoxicated and/or drugged, two reports of driving while being intoxicated, three reports of driving while having a revoked and/or suspended license, one endangering the welfare of a child report, and one report of harassment. The department also investigated one leaving the scene of accident report, one lost or stolen license plate report, one report of a missing person, three reports of property damage, 11 reports of possession of a controlled substance, two possession of drug paraphernalia reports, two reports of the delivery or distribution of a controlled substance, one report of stalking, one report of statutory sodomy, three reports of resisting and/or interring with an arrest, four tampering reports, 21 reports of stealing, four reports of a towed vehicle, and one 96 hour commitment. The police department received 1,282 calls for service during the month and handled 95 walk-ins to the station. They spent 26 hours in court testifying and ten hours as court bailiff. The Salem Police Department drove a total of 7,866 miles and arrested 28 males and 15 females during the month of July.

An accident occurred Friday morning at 4:45 in Phelps County on Route F about four miles north of Highway 72. According to the highway patrol report, a 2003 Ford Escape, driven by 53 year-old Sherry Patton of Rolla, traveled off the roadway and overturned striking a fence and a tree. Patton suffered moderate injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps County Regional Medical Center. She was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by C and C Towing of Rolla.

The University of Missouri Extension will host a Management Intensive Grazing School September 27th through the 29th at the MU Hugo Wurdack Research Center near Cook Station. The three-day program will include guest speakers covering the topics of grazing system layout and design, watering systems, fence systems, soil fertility, livestock nutrition, and forage growth and quality. Guests include District Conservationist NRCS Melinda Barch, Wurdack Farm Manager Brent Booker, Dent County MU Extension Livestock Specialist Ted Cunningham, Washington County MU Extension Ag Business Specialist Rachel Hopkins, Franklin County MU Extension Agronomy Specialist Matt Herring, and Mark Kennedy, a grassland consultant from the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council. Additionally, extensive farm tours will be included to allow participants to receive training on grazing system utilization. The cost of the three-day school is $135 per person or $215 per farm couple. This fee includes the cost of meals, resource books and other handout materials pertinent to the course. Space is limited for this program, and registration is based on a first-paid, first-served basis. Full payment is required by the registration deadline of September 21st. For more information, please contact Ted Cunningham at the Dent County Extension office at 573-729-3196, or visit www.extension.missouri.edu/dent.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) is beginning work on updating the Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Coordination Plan for the Meramec Region. The first community meeting to begin identifying needs in the Meramec Region will be at 9:30 in the morning on August 29th at the MRPC offices located at #4 Industrial Drive in St. James. The plan, originally drafted in 2008 and updated in 2013, identifies public transit needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults and people with low incomes in the Meramec Region and outlines strategies to fill those needs. MRPC was contracted through the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to update the plan, which is updated every five years. The meeting will cover a review of the planning process, a discussion on community involvement and assistance, and will begin the service inventory and needs identification process. Identifying the needs will be a critical part of the process, and we want to include all transit providers as well as those who utilize local transit services. Please RSVP to Anne Freand or Linda Carroll at 573-265-2993 to ensure enough materials are provided for all attendees. If you need special accommodations to participate in the meeting, please contact MRPC at least one week in advance. For more information on the update of the Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Coordination Plan, contact Anne Freand with MRPC at 573-265-2993.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at 9:00 for their regular meeting in the Dent County Courthouse. James Sapaugh was in to discuss the potholes on the chip and seal at the end of Route ZZ on the way to Cedar Grove. District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell noted that FEMA has classified the flooding in the area as a 500-year flood event and it has prevented his crews from getting to work on that roadway. Purcell said the road would be fixed this fall. In the road report, Purcell said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2470 and 2480. He asked drivers on Dent County Roads 4110, 4120, 4210 and 4180 to be exceptionally cautious since grader operators are sloping the shoulders to improve drainage before chip and seal upgrades start on these roadways. He noted that this is a very slow process so caution is advised. Purcell went on to say that brush was being cut on Dent County Roads 5160 and 5170, plus a man was stockpiling base rock at the road and bridge shed. He noted that Monday evening he attended the Tourism Committee meeting where they approved proposals for the Rose Holland Trout Derby and the Blue Oval Club Rally, plus two reimbursement requests. Purcell wanted to encourage those involved with events that would be of economic benefit to Salem and Dent County businesses to apply for Tourism Tax dollars. Applicants need to obtain the guidelines and then follow them to the letter. Purcell noted that the events making application must be of community benefit in order to be considered. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that he was working with a very short crew and that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6160 and 5240. He noted that his brush cutter would be finishing up on county road 3030 and starting on county road 3020. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that on Tuesday he and Commissioner Larson attended the Guys Night Out Committee meeting in preparation for the event, which will be the evening of September 26th from 5:00 to 7:00. He added that later Tuesday he attended the GRO meeting and that group have a variety of projects in the works, but right now they were concentrating on improvements to 4th Street. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that on Tuesday she was in Jefferson City attending an election reform meeting with Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, his office staff and a number of legislators. The group is working to identify outdated election laws, looking at updated technology, and changes that can be made to improve the election process. Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley was in to discuss a railroad right of way request in Crawford County and some other issues. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and it is open to the public.

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 Saturday, September 2nd and Sunday, September 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, contact Tabatha at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at (573) 729-6900.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Tuesday, August 15th, deputies were notified that a 19-year old Salem man with a warrant was at Missouri Private Probation Services (MPPS) office. He was arrested and incarcerated in the Dent County Jail. That same day, deputies responded to the Corinth Baptist Church for a report of property damage. Deputies discovered several windows broken on the rear of the building and several light bulbs had been busted. This report is still under investigation. On Wednesday, August 16th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 4120 near Highway 19. As a result, a 39-year old Salem woman was arrested for driving while having her license suspended. She was fingerprinted and released with a summons to appear in court. On Thursday, August 17th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on McArthur Street near Franklin Street. As a result, a 23-year old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked. He was fingerprinted and released with a summons to appear in court. On August 18th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at Highway 19 and 32. As a result, a 39-year old Salem man was arrested for driving while having their license revoked. He was fingerprinted and released with a summons to appear in court. On Saturday, deputies were conducting a follow up investigation in reference to a theft. Deputies traveled to a residence on Dent County Road 5015 and conducted a consent search. Deputies located several items that tested positive for methamphetamine. As a result, a 54-year old Salem woman was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. She was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail. If anyone has information regarding any ongoing investigation, call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met for the regular meeting Tuesday evening at the hospital library. Chief Financial Officer Monica Gargus hosted the public tax meeting. The board reviewed the assessed valuations in Dent, Crawford, Iron and Shannon counties that came to a total of $250,544,639. The tax rate proposed is $0.192 per $100 assessed valuation. This rate is the maximum allowed by law this year. This rate will generate about $475,000 that will be used for capital purchases. The board approved the proposed tax rate before closing the tax rate meeting and opening their regular meeting. Chief Financial Officer Monica Gargus gave the statistics report that showed during the month of July there were 57 inpatient admissions with eight acute care patients. There were 1,716 outpatient registrations, 9,500 lab tests, 11 surgical procedures, 924 radiological procedures, 590 rehab treatments and 239 home health visits. For the month, the hospital gained $50,741 before taxes and had an excess of revenues over expenses of $55,380. The days in net accounts receivable jumped to 64 for the month due to some slow Medicaid payments which allowed there to be a $227,289 decrease in cash for the month. Currently the hospital has 82 days of cash on hand. Chief Nursing Officer Debbie Hines discussed the new quality improvement projects for each department with three or four departments being focused on each month. The Hospital Foundation continues to work on the Dancing with the Salem Stars program that will be December 9th and the Golf Tournament that will be held June 8th, 2018. They also approved the purchase of hospital quality patient chairs and recliners for $45,290. They raised $24,000 from last year’s events that will be donated to this cause and they asked the hospital board to cover the remainder of the balance that will be paid back from this fiscal year’s events. The board approved their request. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas reported the Emergency Room Psych Safe Room is near completion. Lucas said the hospital auxiliary will be holding their Masquerade Jewelry Sale on August 31st and September 1st and the Wreath Sales for Christmas will begin September 5th. The Fiscal Year 2019 Finance Committee appointed by Chairman A.J. Seay will be George Gruendel, Dennis Fiebelman and Sue Terry. The board was given the hospital by-laws for their annual by-law review that will be held at the September meeting. The board approved the purchase of a new Endo-Tower Printer for the Surgery Department from Synergy Medical for $1,470 and also approved the purchase of four transport stretchers to replace the old ones in the Surgery Department from Bryton for a total cost of $16,780. Administrator Lucas reported the hospital will sell their 2003 Ford Taurus, their 1995 Ford Pickup and their 1980 Ford Pickup as a truck or just for parts. Lucas also wanted to remind the board about the upcoming Health Fair at the Salem Community Center@The Armory on September 13th and 14th from 6:00 until 9:00 in the morning. It will be the final health fair this year. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem Police Department has released a number of incident reports. On Sunday evening, August 13th at 8:17, an officer was detailed to Ray Lane in reference to a vehicle leaving the scene of an accident. That investigation revealed that the driver of a 1995 Ford truck struck a 2003 Chevrolet Venture van and left the scene. After the investigation, the officer located the vehicle and driver who was a 35-year old Salem male. The suspect was taken into custody for driving while being intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Monday, August 14th, an officer transported a 26-year old Salem male from Missouri Private Probation services to the Dent County Jail due to active arrest warrants from the state of Missouri. The suspect was incarcerated pending a court appearance. Then on Tuesday morning, August 15th at 12:34, an officer located a 30-year old Salem male in the 1300 block of South Wines who had two active arrest warrants from Dent County and Phelps County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrants and incarcerated pending a court appearance. On Wednesday night, August 16th at 10:26, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation led to the arrest of a 26-year old Salem male for possession of methamphetamine and the possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for a warrant. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Ron’s Race for a Reason, honoring all local veterans, will be held on September 1st and 2nd at Flat Nasty on 1771 highway ZZ in Jadwin. There will be 2 classes of racing: Truck and Side-by-Side, and the entry fees are $25 which includes camping for one. There will be food provided by the American Volunteers, and a raffle of four Henry rifles as well as various products provided by local businesses. For the kids, Frosty the Snowman will make a special visit and it WILL snow! If you need more information, you can call (573) 729-6668.

Save the Date! Volunteers are needed! I Heart Salem will host a fall clean-up volunteer night on Wednesday, September 6th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. The location and additional details will be announced soon. September is a busy month for special events like the Blue Oval Rally as well as the Alumni Weekend and we can help our town look great for our residents and visitors! If you have any questions, just call 453-2500 or watch the GroSalem.MO Facebook page for details!