Archive for 2017

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announces the results of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division’s 2017 annual school bus inspection program. A total of 12,047 school buses across the state of Missouri were inspected by Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel between the dates of February 2nd and May 5th, 2017. During the annual school bus inspection program, buses found to have no defective items are rated as “approved.” Buses having one or more defective items which do not constitute an immediate danger are rated as “defective.” Buses with any defective items which constitute an immediate danger are rated as “out-of-service.” Buses rated as “defective” may continue to be operated for the purpose of transporting students until repair is made. School districts are allowed 10 days following initial inspection to repair identified defects before being re-inspected by Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection personnel. Buses rated as “out-of-service” must be repaired, re-inspected, and placed back into service by Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection personnel prior to being used to transport students. Here is a breakdown of the area schools results: Salem R-80 had 11 busses presented and all 11 busses were approved, Oak Hill R-1 had five busses presented and three were approved, one was defective and one was placed out of service; Green Forest R-2 had seven busses presented and four were approved while three were defective; Dent-Phelps R-3 presented eight busses and one was approved, five were defective and two were placed out of service; Northwood R-4 had five busses present4ed and all five were approved; Ozark Hills State School #61 presented three busses and all three busses were approved; and Bunker R-3 had eight busses presented with six being approved and two were found defective. Salem R-80, Ozark Hills State School #61 and Northwood R-4 all earned the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence Award, obtaining an approval rating of 90% or higher with no out of service buses.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their June meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. After approval of the agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting, the Board reviewed and approved bills. After a review of the calendar of upcoming events the monthly reimbursement report was presented and showed a total of 17 calls for the month. There were three calls for structure fires, one call for a car fire, two calls for a landing zone, three calls for first responders, one call for a vehicle accident, three calls for mutual aid, one call for a meeting, one call for training and two other calls were storm related. Calls to date total 128. In old business, sealed bids were received for equipment for sale that included a furnace, a generator, a Blazer, a truck, a mower, a transfer switch and a welder. The Board approved the high bid on each item and Fire Chief Brad Nash will be notifying the winners of those bids by phone. There was no new business, but during reports, Chief Nash reported that the grants are still out and they are waiting for responses. The Board then set their next meeting for Tuesday, July 11th at the fire station beginning at 6:00.

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released an audit for the City of Viburnum that shows more than $100,000 in potentially fraudulent activities over a number of years. Dana Mayberry served as the Viburnum City Clerk for 14 years. After losing her re-election bid last year, city officials identified discrepancies in accounts that had been under her control. Mayberry admitted to stealing at least $25,000 in city funds. The mayor contacted law enforcement and the State Auditor’s Office to investigate. The audit describes an elaborate scheme that involved adjusting customer utility accounts and then destroying records and other evidence. When citizens made cash payments the former city clerk would pocket the money, and then instead of marking their accounts as paid, she would adjust the accounts to show they owed less than they actually did. The audit shows an estimated $104,000 in adjustments to 1,800 water and sewer accounts over a 7-year period. Mayberry also adjusted her own personal utility account to avoid paying for water and sewer services to her home for four years at a cost of about $4,000. Numerous records and receipt documents were destroyed, however, based on existing documents and citizen interviews and receipts, the former clerk may have also stolen several thousand dollars in court fines and property tax payments. Although the mayor and Board of Alderman ultimately requested the State Auditor conduct an investigation, their previous lack of oversight contributed significantly to the city clerk being allowed to scam the city and its citizens for years before being caught. The report outlines a series of steps the city can take to better protect public dollars going forward, including recommendations to improve accounting practices in the city and court and increase oversight of the utility and property tax system. Auditor Galloway has turned the report results over to law enforcement authorities and says her staff stands ready to assist prosecutors in any way possible to bring justice for the citizens of Viburnum.

The Salem Police Department released reports involving traffic violations, theft and theft from a vehicle. On Friday, May 26th at 8:26 in the morning, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation that led to the arrest of a 32-year old Salem male for possession of marijuana. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Sunday, May 28th at 5:09 in the early evening, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation that led to the arrest of a 29-year old Salem female for driving without a valid license. She was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Then at 5:45 that evening, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 700 block of South Carty in reference to a theft. The report revealed that a person or persons unknown took a central air unit valued $4,000 from a residence and the report is under investigation. Later that night at 9:45, an officer was contacted in reference to theft from a vehicle parked at Wal-Mart. The report revealed that someone unknown took a tablet valued $200 from a white Chevrolet Trailblazer parked in the parking lot and that report is under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any investigation ongoing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday evening at the Council Chambers. The Board heard from Alex Sellers representing the Salem Alumni Association asking to close 4th Street from Highway 19 east to Iron Street and Iron Street from 4th Street to 5th Street for their event September 23rd from 2:00 until 9:00 PM. His request was approved. The Dent County Commission was on the agenda to discuss an easement on Iron and Water Streets, but that will have to be taken in front of the Planning and Zoning Commission before it comes to the Board of Aldermen. After the consent agenda, City Administrator Ray Walden reported the city continues to pick up limbs, branches and trees from the storm and will continue to make rounds for at least the next couple of weeks. If people still have trees or branches down in their yard and can’t remove them, people can call the I Heart Salem volunteer cleanup group who will be working this Saturday for help at 453-2500. Others are being helped by the Missouri Southern Baptist Clean-Up crew. Walden said he was asked about the power restoration and if there is an order. He said one feeder that served a nursing home that did not have a generator was first and then the electric department tried to get the feeders back up that served the most people, but sometimes there were other lines down once the lines were energized that had to be repaired. Crews worked around the clock to get services back as quickly as possible. Walden said the Salem Community Center@The Armory had 4,893 participants during the month of May and that County Hazard Mitigation meeting will be held June 12th at the City Hall Council Chambers at 2:00. Walden presented an Emergency Utility Reconnect Policy that was postponed until more details can be provided after a long discussion. The board approved the Insituform Technologies Sanitary Sewer CIPP Project budgeted work up to $145,000 and approved moving the next three Board of Alderman meeting dates to June 26th that will be include voting on the proposed sewer and water rates, plus July 10th and July 24th. The board approved by a 3-0 vote executing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council for a Healthy Dent County to initiate a ten-year lease with Alderwoman Kim Shelton abstaining. They also approved the purchase of uniform shirts from Knight Apparel for City League baseball, softball and T-Ball in the amount of $3,272. Progressive Ozark Bank pays $2,000 toward the shirts. Mayor Brad Nash postponed appointing a tree commission, but did appoint Sherman Odom, Kriste Crocker and Deloris Gray Wood to the Qualification Evaluation Committee who will evaluate the qualifications for consultants for the old middle school property. The board then went into closed session.

The City of Salem Park Board will conduct a meeting, called by President Stan Podorski tonight at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory located 1200 West Rolla Road beginning at 6:00 pm. After approval of the agenda, the Board will go into closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel. The Board will then come out of closed session where they conduct the election of officers to the Board. Parks & Recreation Director Tye Lydon will then give an update on the swimming pool as well as the baseball, softball and T-ball programs. The Board will then review as well as discuss a proposed budget for 2017-2018 as well as discuss and set priorities for the next three years. Following any other business, the meeting will then be adjourned. The regular meeting of the City of Salem Park Board is open to the public.

The 20th annual Rock Swap will be held June 9th through the 11th at Missouri Mines State Historic Site in Park Hills. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the free event will be held from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Friday and Saturday and from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. The event will bring together rock hobbyists from across the Midwest. Participants will be selling, swapping or buying rock and mineral specimens, fossils, rock jewelry and other rock-related items. There is no charge for the public to attend the event. During the three-day event, there will be free admission to the historic site museum, which interprets Missouri’s mining history and displays restored mining machinery and an outstanding mineral collection. The event is co-sponsored by the Mineral Area Gem and Mineral Society and the Greater St. Louis Association of Earth Science Clubs. Visitors can experience all the park system has to offer with the Centennial Passport. Visit mostateparks.com/passport for more information. Missouri Mines State Historic Site is located in Park Hills on the south side of Highway 32 at the Flat River Drive overpass, 1.5 miles west of U.S. Highway. 67. For more information about the event, call the site at (573) 431-6226. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

The Missouri Forest Products Association (MFPA) is now accepting applications for their logging school program that will begin about October 1, 2017 at the Camp at Lake Wappapello. The school is a 10-week course held 5 days a week and students are expected to stay at the camp throughout the week and housing will be in a dormitory on the property. The logging school tuition is expected to be $5,000 which covers room, meals and instruction for the 10-week period. A maximum of 12 students per session will be accepted in to the program and MFPA will offer two sessions per year, one in October and the other in February. There will classroom as well as field instruction covering topics such as: forest management, timber harvesting, marketing and utilization. To receive additional information, application materials and scholarship opportunities contact Fred Smith at (573) 619-4494.

The Salem Area Arts Council will host a Kids Paint Party Thursday from 3:00 to 5:00 at the Old Teacher’s Closet Building. The cost is $20 per child and includes the acrylic paints, aprons, brushes, canvas and easel. Reservations can be made at the ONCRC Building or by calling or texting 247-0279 to make other arrangements.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams came in to request a transfer from the Senior Citizens Fund to holding to pay the Nutrition Center $12,500 and the SMTS Bus Service $6,250. This is the second of four payments that will be made through the year for these services. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said rains from Sunday night affected all Dent County 2400 roads. He said about 2.5 inches of rain fell in less than an hour in that area and crews are out grading, hauling materials and repairing washouts. Purcell said grading would be done on county roads 5610, 5620, 6410 and 6420, plus a driveway culvert will be installed on Dent County Road 4170. Sam Gorman, filling in for Commissioner Gary Larson who was not able to attend, reported grading would be done on county road 4437, brush would be cut on county road 4050, and rock was being hauled to county roads 3223 and 5340. Gorman said crews would be checking roads for washouts and they would also be working on a diesel fuel pump on truck #70. Presiding Commissioner Darrel Skiles said Dent County was included in the Federal Disaster Declaration for public infrastructure, but not individual reimbursement. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported June 1st was the first day for the new photo voter ID law. If you have questions about the law, contact the Missouri Elections Division at 1-866-868-3245. Also at the meeting, Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley discussed the county’s desire to utilize the right-of-ways on Water Street and Iron Street in between 5th Streets and Rolla Road for the new jail project from the city. Skiles will present the request to the Board of Aldermen. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred at 4:00 pm on Sunday, June 4th in Iron County on Highway 32 about a half mile west of Bixby. According to the highway patrol report, a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 56-year old Gail Turner of Boss was traveling westbound on Highway 32. The accident occurred as the Silverado ran off the left side of the roadway and struck the ditch. Turner suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. She was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet Silverado sustained moderate damage and was towed by Blackies Towing.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will conduct their next meeting tonight at the fire station beginning at 6:00 pm. After approval of the agenda the Board will review and minutes from the previous meeting as well as review and approve bills. There will be a review of upcoming events on the calendar and the monthly reimbursement report. The Board will then address any old of new business followed by reports on various items. The Board may vote to go into closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel is necessary and will set their next meeting. The June meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released some reports. On Monday, May 29th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at Cedar Grove. While speaking with the driver, deputies could smell of odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. A consent to search the vehicle was granted and deputies found a small plastic baggie containing marijuana, a glass pipe emitting a burnt marijuana odor, a partial box of “Great Value” sandwich bags, and a digital scale containing marijuana residue. As a result, 19-year old Brandon Mendenhall of Salem was arrested for possession of under 10 grams of marijuana. He was transported to the Dent County Jail, fingerprinted and released. On Wednesday, May 31st, deputies assisted the Missouri State Highway Patrol with a vehicle accident on Highway 19 South near County Road 6240. It was discovered that a passenger, 47-year old Jeffrey Bailey of Columbia, had a warrant for his arrest from the Rolla Police Department. He was arrested and taken to the Dent County Jail. That same day, deputies responded to the 1000 block of Highway ZZ in reference to a burglary. It was discovered that a large Craftsman rolling toolbox, two hand toolboxes, PSE compound bow, a 3-ton floor jack, a 30-gallon air compressor, and a bright orange “Bad Boy zero turn” mower with a 42″ cutting deck were missing. This report is still under investigation. On June 1st, deputies responded to the New Harmony Church in reference to a camper being damaged. Deputies discovered that a 1978 Jayco pop up camper had been damaged and vandalized. This report is still under investigation.

The Ozark Artisans Exhibit at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center (ONCRC) continues at 202 South Main. Sponsored by the Spring Creek Artisans of Salem and the Current River Artists of Licking, it will feature works by artists and artisans from the Ozarks. The beauty and resources of the Ozarks have inspired artists and artisans since settlers first came to Missouri. Here in the Salem Plateau area, we are blessed with talented individuals who are skilled in wood carving, quilting, pottery, basket weaving, engraving, fine arts and other time honored skills. The exhibit is free to the public.