Archive for 2017

This month, Intercounty Electric co-op members will be receiving a check from Intercounty Electric as they return over $1 million to members in the form of capital credits to members who had service in 1999, and another $600,000 will be returned to members from the transmission patronage capital owed to the Intercounty Electric from Sho-Me Power for the year 1995 which are now being paid back. To better understand what capital credits are, it is important to know that an electric cooperative operates on an actual cost basis. Cooperatives annually “allocate” operating revenue remaining at the end of the year to each member, based upon the member’s total purchase of electricity. Later as the financial condition permits, these allocated amounts, capital credits, are retired. Capital credits represent the most significant source of equity for Intercounty. Since a cooperative’s members are also the people the co-op serves, capital credits reflect each member’s ownership in, and contribution of capital to, the cooperative. If you have any questions about your capital credits, please contact member accounts by calling (866) 621-3679.

Early Wednesday morning the St. Louis County Police Department arrested Justin P. Giller, a wanted person out of Phelps County. Law enforcement received information on his whereabouts and responded to the 200 block of Etta Avenue in St. Louis. Upon arrival, Giller was located inside a vehicle near the residence and was taken into custody and transported to the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. Giller is charged with felony resisting/interfering with an arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm, the possession of burglary tools, and felony stealing. His bond was set at $250,000. Giller is suspected of burglaries, felony stealing, and numerous automobile thefts in Phelps, Dent and Texas counties. Additional warrants are expected after further investigation. The charges Giller was arrested for are only accusations and they are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Monday morning, November 27th at 9:36, an officer was dispatched to the Salem High School in reference to a drug violation. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of an 18-year old male of Salem for possession of marijuana. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Later that day at about 1:47, an officer was sent to the Salem High School in reference to property damage. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown broke two windows valued at $300.00 out of the school van. The report is currently under investigation. A few hours later at 5:20 that evening, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 29-year old male of Salem for driving while having his license suspended. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. That evening at approximately 7:14, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to a stolen license plate. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown took a permanent trailer plate from a trailer. This report is under investigation. On Tuesday, November 28th at 4:00 in the afternoon, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 300 block of South Park in reference to damage to a vehicle. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown broke the front windshield and two side glasses valued at $600.00 out of a 2010 Hyundai. The report is under investigation. That same evening at about 8:59 an officer was sent to Walmart in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 21-year old male of Salem for stealing merchandise. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.

An Ozark Christmas Celebration will take place at Alley Spring on Saturday, December 9th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The historic Alley Mill, Storys Creek School and General Store will all be decorated in the holiday fashion. Ole Saint Nick himself might even stop by for a cookie or two and join in the festivities. Alley Spring is located six miles west of Eminence, Missouri, on State Route 106. An Akers Holiday Celebration will be held at the Mt Zion Church on Sunday, December 10th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Bring your favorite holiday treat and enjoy refreshments, music and a short program about past holidays along the Current River. Mt. Zion Church is located approximately one-half mile north of Akers Ferry on State Route K in northern Shannon County. These free events are sponsored in part by the park’s cooperating association, Eastern National. Eastern National bookstores will be open to offer holiday gift ideas for visitors looking for special Ozark gifts. For more information, call (573) 323-4236.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday evening in the City Hall Council Chambers. The board heard from City Attorney William Camm Seay on the Planning and Zoning Hearing and Meeting concerning the annexation of property into the city limits. The property in question is approximately 9.5 acres of land On Highway 32-72 West adjacent to Wal-Mart owned by the Inman Living Trust with Max and LaWanna Inman, trustees. There was no opposition to the property coming into the city and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended annexing the property into the city limits and zoning it commercial. The board of alderman approved the recommendation and an ordinance will be brought before the board at the next meeting for the annexation. City Administrator Ray Walden gave a report on the CDL Policy and the differential pay. He received requests from the alderman for clarification of some issues and will bring the issue back up at the next alderman meeting. Walden then expressed that the auditor who performed the city audit would like to give a report to the board, but was not going to be available for the next regular scheduled meeting. Walden said in order for the auditor to be in attendance, and also for the ordinance for the land annexation to be voted on as it must take 14 days after passage by the board to be on the agenda, he recommended the next Board of Aldermen meeting be held on Thursday, December 21st at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers. The alderman agreed to the date change. Walden also said the city offices would be closed on December 22nd and 25th for the Christmas holiday. Mayor Nash had nothing to report. In bills over $3,000, the alderman approved the bill from Information Technologies, LLC for the quarterly software maintenance payment for the reporting system for the city for $5,449.50, approved the bill from Compass Minerals for road salt for $5,461.18 that replenishes the city’s salt supply to about 95% of capacity, and also approved the purchase of rock from Capital Quarries for $3,285.70 for various city projects to be done. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office released some reports. On Monday, November 27th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at Phil-Mart in Salem. As a result of the stop, a 26-year old Salem man was arrested for driving while being intoxicated. He was fingerprinted, issued a summons to appear in court, and released. On Tuesday, November 28th, deputies traveled to a residence on Route WW to attempt to locate an individual with a warrant. Deputies located the 64-year old Salem woman and she was taken into custody without incident. She had a Dent County warrant for hindering prosecution and unlawful possession of a firearm. She was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail on a $20,000 cash only bond. On Thursday, November 30th, deputies traveled to a residence on South Gertrude in Salem in an attempt to locate a 55-year old Salem man with a warrant. He was located and taken into custody without incident. His warrant was for manufacture of 35 grams or less of marijuana and he was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail on a $10,000 cash only bond. On Saturday, December 2nd, deputies responded to the 19000 block of Highway C for a possible trespasser. Deputies were able to locate the 41-year old St. Peters man and he was found to have misdemeanor warrants from several agencies. He was taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. If you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation, call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

In response to requests received from the public, Missouri State Parks is extending the public comment period on the future of a proposed state park in our area from December 4th through January 5th. The property, which has not been developed and is currently closed, is the Jay Nixon State Park in Reynolds and Iron counties. Representatives from Missouri State Parks will be present at the public meeting to provide information about various aspects of the properties and to receive input from the public about the future of the properties. The public meeting for the proposed Jay Nixon State Park will be held Thursday, December 7th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park at 148 Taum Sauk Trail in Lesterville. Beginning December 4th, people will be able to submit comments about the park through an online survey they can access by clicking a button on the Missouri State Parks website at mostateparks.com.