Archive for 2017

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their tax rate hearing Thursday evening at 5:50 with only the Salem R-80 Board of Education, building principals and assistant principals and the media present. Superintendent John McColloch explained the tax rates and with reassessment, the operating tax levy came in at $2.40 per $100 assessed valuation, but the state minimum operating tax levy for schools is $2.75 per $100 assessed valuation. McColloch also explained the debt service rate and that the school could raise the rate to $0.70 per $100 assessed valuation, but McCulloch stated the voters voted in a tax rate of $0.45 per $100 assessed valuation and that the school is able to pay back their debt with that tax rate. Superintendent McColloch recommended a continuation of the $2.75 operating levy and a $0.45 debt service levy for a total tax rate of $3.20 per $100 assessed valuation for the district. The regular R-80 board meeting followed with Superintendent McColloch stating the start of school got off to a smooth start with the exception of getting all the bus routes right, but he said that should all be corrected by early next week. Assistant Superintendent John Smith reported that 17 new teachers attended the New Tiger Training on August 10th and 11th led by Tina McKee and Christy Leathers. He said this was an exceptional group with a mix of experienced teachers along some new to the profession. McColloch said the MSBA Annual Conference will be held October 5th through the 8th at Tan-Tar-A and he said for the first time since he has been superintendent, all the board members have signed up to attend. McColloch also said there is some structural problems with the William Lynch Elementary Building with the large bricks above the windows becoming loose. He said a structural engineer will be at William Lynch next week to assess the brick situation. Each building principal gave their report. Kriste Crocker said enrollment at William Lynch was comprised of 70 pre-kindergarten children, 86 kindergarteners and 90 first graders for a total of 246 children. Principal Melanie Wisdom of the Upper Elementary School said as of Friday, they had 35 new students enrolled and 17 current students transfer to other districts. Principal Scott Roberts of the Middle School said enrollment at the middle school currently stands at 217 students. Roberts stated 16 students dropped while 19 new students were added. The student breakdown is 71 sixth graders, 66 seventh graders and 80 eighth graders. High School Principal Marty Anderson reported the current enrollment at the high school is 602 students but that will probably go down a couple of students in the first couple of weeks. The board approved the 2016-2017 Annual Secretary of the Board Report that showed a combined fund balance from Funds 1 and 2 of $3,033,033.29 and Fund 4 for capital projects at $1,471,902.65. McColloch said the cost for educating a student at Salem R-80 is $8,297.52 while the statewide average is approximately $11,000. The board also approved the 2017 tax rate of $2.75 operating levy and $0.45 debt service levy for a total of $3.20 per $100 assessed valuation. The rate is the same as last year. The board went into closed session where they employed Karen Pace for high school math and also Lynette Beeson as an assistant band director. The meeting was then adjourned.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers. A number of bids will be reviewed including three bids to replace the current repeater antenna and cable for the Salem Police Department, the state bid for two police vehicles, and two bids for a used John Deere 410L backhoe loader. Proposals for residential solid waste and recycling for the city will be reviewed and discussed before a contract is awarded. Mayor Brad Nash will call for a Public Hearing in order to have open discussion on setting the property tax rate for the City of Salem for 2017. After the consent agenda, the board will hear City Administrator Ray Walden’s report that will include discussion on a old middle school consultant agreement, a fundraising project for the Salem City Auditorium and a CDL differential request. Walden’s report will be followed by Mayor Nash’s report. In the introduction and reading of bills and resolutions, Bill #3340, an ordinance levying property tax for 2017, will be read. The City of Salem Board of Aldermen meeting will be held tonight at 7:00 in the city hall council chambers and the meeting is open to the public.

A number of events will be held Monday for those who want to watch the solar eclipse. An Eclipse Party will be at the Bonebrake Center from 11:00-2:30. Glasses will be available and Moon pies will be served. Bring your lawn chairs and lunch if you would like. An Eclipse Watch will be held at Echo Bluff State Park at the Bluff Top Pavilion from 11:30-3:00. Telescopes and glasses will be available along with “eclipse mix” to eat! Also, The Ozark National Scenic Riverways will be hosting a solar eclipse viewing event at Alley Spring from 11:30-2:45. A partial solar eclipse will be visible during the entire event, with the peak eclipse occurring at 1:00. Call 573-226-3945 for more information.

An apparent suicide occurred Saturday, August 12th at the Shawnee Mac Conservation Area according to Dent County Deputy Coroner Ben Pursifull. The Dent County Sheriff’s Department contacted the Dent County Coroner’s office at about 10:30 Saturday evening to conduct a death investigation at Shawnee Mac. The investigation showed that Jacob Kenney from Salem died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The report said the body was released to the Fox Funeral Home in Licking.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold a tax rate hearing at 5:50 this evening followed by the regular board meeting at 7:00 at the Salem District Administrative Offices Boardroom. At the meeting, the board will hear from Superintendent John McColloch about Professional Development Days, the MSBA Annual Conference and receive a facilities update. The principals from all the schools will give their reports on open houses and the first days of school before the board approves the annual Secretary of the Board’s report and the discusses the proposed tax rate from the hearing held prior to the regular meeting. The board will then go into closed session to discuss personnel. The Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting for Thursday will start with the tax rate hearing at 5:50 followed by the regular board meeting at the District Administrative Office and both are open to the public.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways invites the public to attend an open house on Wednesday, August 23, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Methodist Fellowship Hall in Eminence, Missouri. The purpose of this open house is to collect information to aid in the development of a new Long Range Interpretive Plan for the park. Park rangers will be available to discuss your ideas for outreach and public programs with you which, in turn, will assist in the development of services that meet the needs of our visitors. The Methodist Fellowship Hall is located at 18228 Church Street in Eminence, approximately 2 blocks west of the intersection of Highway 19 and Highway 106. The Long Range Interpretive Plan will help guide the creation of interpretive and educational programs, outreach efforts, media, exhibits and publications for the next seven to ten years. It will help set goals and priorities for interpretation and education. As part of the process for developing a new long-range plan for interpretive and educational outreach activities at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, it is important to include input and ideas from our stakeholders and partners. Please stop by the open house to share your ideas and feedback! We look forward to hearing from the public and encourage all to visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozar or our Facebook page for further updates. For more information, please contact Dena Matteson at (573) 323-4814.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission and Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee are sponsoring a free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training on August 26th-27th at #4 Industrial Drive in St. James. Seating is limited for the class and priority will be given to individuals or groups within Region I – Crawford, Dent, Laclede, Maries, Phelps and Pulaski counties. The class aims at providing citizens within the community with skills to perform essential lifesaving functions while waiting for the professional responders to arrive following a disaster. Each class is approximately 16 contact hours and is spread over two days – Saturday, August 26th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, August 27th from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CERT has become a highly sought after course by citizens groups, corporations and school systems to train employees how to handle emergencies and disasters. Course topics include disaster fire suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology and team organization. The deadline to register is August 18th. To register or for more information, contact MRPC Senior Community Development Specialist Anne Freand at 573-265-2993 ext. 105 or via email at afreand@meramecregion.org. Funding for the training is provided by the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Missouri Office of Homeland Security.

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.