Archive for 2018

The Salem R-80 School registrations will begin this Friday and last into next week. All high school registrations will be from 1:00 until 5:00 in the lobby of the Senior High School Building. New students to the district will also register at this time based on their grade level. Seniors will be the first to register this Friday, followed by Juniors on Monday, August 6th; then Sophomores on Tuesday, August 7th and the Freshmen will register on Wednesday, August 8th. Registration for those who were unable to register on their day will be held Thursday, August 9th from 8:00 until 2:00. Registration for Salem R-80 Middle School will be held from 8:00 until 3:00 in the Cafeteria of the Middle School starting Monday, August 6th for students who are new to the area and have not been registered in any Salem school district in grades 6 through 8. Then 8th graders will register on Tuesday, August 7th followed by the 7th graders who will register on Wednesday, August 8th. Finally, the 6th graders will register on Thursday, August 9th and any Middle School student who missed registration may then register on Friday, August 10th. At the Salem Upper Elementary School, open registration for ALL students both current and new to the district will be held August 6th through Friday, August 9th from 9:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon each day. Class lists will be posted on Friday, August 10th after 3:00. The William Lynch Elementary School Open House will be held on Monday, August 13th from 5:30 to 6:30 followed by the Upper Elementary School Open House from 6:30-7:30. The Open House for the Salem Middle School will be held from 4:30 until 6:00 with the Salem High School Open House starting at 6:00 and lasting until 7:30 on Tuesday, August 14th.

Missouri State Law requires the immunization of all school children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and hepatitis B (3 doses, grades 7 – 12) unless an exemption has been signed by a physician or parent that has been filed with the school. All students must present proof of compliance with the immunization rule by the first day of school, but are encouraged to bring records on their registration day. This applies to all students, including transfer students. Starting with the 2017-2018 school year, the State of Missouri will requires all students to receive one dose of the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) and one dose of the MCV (meningitis) vaccine before entering the 8th grade. A second dose of the MCV (meningitis) vaccine is required prior to entering 12th grade. No one will start school if immunizations are not up-to-date. If you have any questions regarding immunizations, contact your school nurse, the Dent County Health Center or SMDH Family Medicine.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Sunday, July 22nd, deputies responded to the 1000 block of Dent County Road 4110 in reference to a report of a disturbance involving a firearm. It was reported that an argument occurred and a 26-year old Salem man pulled a gun and pointed it at a person. He was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon and incarcerated in the Dent County Jail. That same day, deputies conducted a traffic stop at West Roosevelt. The driver, a 23-year old Bunker man, was arrested for possession of marijuana. He was fingerprinted, issued a summons, and released. On Monday, July 23rd, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the Phil-Mart parking lot. The driver, a 35-year old Salem man, was arrested for driving while revoked. He was fingerprinted, issued a summons, and released. If anyone has information about any ongoing investigations, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

An accident happened Monday night at 7:41 in Washington County on Route Y just north of Brakefield Road. According to the highway patrol report, 58-year old Orville Crocker of Steelville was driving a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country southbound when the vehicle went off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Crocker suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Steelville Ambulance to the Washington Memorial Hospital. He was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The vehicle sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Abney’s Towing.

An accident occurred Tuesday morning at 1:45 in Crawford County that took the life of a Cuba, Missouri youth. According to the highway patrol report, the accident occurred on Route DD about one mile north of Cuba when a 2001 Honda Civic, driven by 17-year-old Brandon Santonge of Cuba, swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle causing Santonge to loose control of the vehicle. The Jeep traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. A passenger, 15-year old Colten Santonge of Cuba, was transported by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis where he was pronounced deceased at 4:22 that morning. Another passenger, 15-year old Dakota McMullin of Cuba, suffered minor injuries and was transported by North Crawford Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. According to the report, Colton Santonge and McMullin were not wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident, while Brandon Santonge was. The Honda was totaled and removed from the scene by Chris and Son.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for July 23rd through July 26th. The afternoon of July 23rd at approximately 2:21 an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of East Second Street in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown took a Mongoose bicycle valued at $100.00 from the carport of a residence. The report is under investigation. Early Tuesday morning, July 24th, at about 1:21, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of South Carty in reference to an intoxicated male threatening his mother. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 38-year old male of Salem for disorderly conduct. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and incarcerated on a 12-hour hold. That afternoon at approximately 1:10, an officer located a 41-year old female of Salem near Highway 32 and Mildred Street who had three active arrest warrants from the City of Salem. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrants and incarcerated pending a court appearance. Later that afternoon near 5:58, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of East Third Street in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown took a Honda 70cc dirt bike valued at $500.00 out of a shed. The report is under investigation. Then on Thursday morning, July 26th, at approximately 6:59, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of North Pershing in reference to damage to a vehicle. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown damaged the front fender of a white 2000 Dodge van. The value of the damage is approximately at $250.00. The report is under investigation. That same afternoon at approximately 12:24, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to two shoplifters. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 21-year old female and a 14-year old male juvenile both of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $43.48. The 21-year old female was issued a summons to appear in court and the juvenile will be referred to the Juvenile Office. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Road construction will continue in the area through August 10th. In Dent County, daylight hour work includes Highway 32 between Highway 72 and Highway 63 in Texas County where roadway microsurfacing continues. Striping and surface repair operations are scheduled for this week. One lane will be open and crews will guide traffic through the work area. The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall. On Highway 68 between Highway 32 and the Phelps County line, roadside work will take place through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area. On Highway 119 between Highway 32 and Dent County Road 6670, microsurfacing continues. Striping and surface repair operations are scheduled this week. One lane will be open. The project is scheduled for completion in the fall. Roadside maintenance will be held on a number of roads through Thursday. Those include on Route B between Highway 19 and Highway 72, on Route E between Highway 119 and Route K, on Route H between Highway 72 and Phelps County line, and on Route K between Highway 19 and the Shannon County line. Pavement patching will be done from Monday, August 6th and Thursday, August 9th on Route OO between Route O and Dent County Road 2010. In all of these projects, one lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area. Work on the Route F bridge over Dry Fork Creek, south of Route NN, continues as Route F remains closed through traffic.

An enrollment specialist with the Veteran’s Administration will be at the Walker-Roney American Legion Post #99 on Highway 32 West from 9:00 until 12:00 noon TODAY! Anyone wanting to ask questions about or become enrolled in VA healthcare should attend. This event is open to all veterans.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated with the rain received on Sunday, grading will be done on Dent County Roads 5400, 5420, 6380, 6410, 6600 and 6620. He also said brush would be cut on county road 2410. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported his district did not get the same rainfall and grading would be done on county road 2050 if there is enough moisture. He did say materials would be added to Dent County Road 2240 and brush would be cut on county road 2270. He went on to report that a tree would be removed on county road 2055 and that a crew is still working on the low water crossing on Dent County Road 5300. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported on the Region IHomeland Security Oversight Committee meeting held last Thursday and said they reviewed and approved four grants in the amount of $63,938.99. This Thursday, Skiles will be attending a CCAM Board of Directors meeting to begin work on the 2019 Commissioner annual training that is held in February. Skiles said there was a vacancy on the MRDC board at the Meramec Regional Planning Commission and asked Commissioner Larson to fill that opening. He agreed to accept the appointment. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wants to remind everyone that this Wednesday will be the last day to have a ballot mailed out. Absentee voting continues through Monday at 5:00 at her office and that includes this Saturday when the Clerk’s Office will be open from 8:00 until noon. She wants to remind everyone that this is a PRIMARY election and everyone who votes will have to chose a party affiliation or cast a non-partisan ballot. On Tuesday, August 7th, the polls will be open from 6:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. For more information about absentee voting, verifying your voter information or mailing out a ballot, contact the Dent County Clerk’s Office at 729-4144 or stop by the courthouse. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Health Center will be closed today from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm due to a death of a family member in our DCHC family. The Health Center apologizes for any inconvenience.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a public hearing on proposed new sewer rates at the City Hall Council Chambers Monday night. John Hambacker addressed the board and was concerned about those who water gardens or use water that does not go into the sewer system. City Administrator Ray Walden showed Hambacker a “deduction” meter that measures the water used for services like gardening, pools, etc. where water is used that will not go into the city sewer system. The gallons on the “deduction” meter will be credited from the sewer bill provided the meter is not tampered with each month it is in use at the sewer rate that is in effect at that time. Those temporary “deduction” meters are available at the city utility office and there is a $120.00 deposit on the meter. Hambacker was also concerned about the amount of unbilled gallons of water such as the water used by MoDOT and other sources. Walden said the city could look into metering devices for the fire hydrants where thewater is taken to determine how much is actually being used that could possibly be billed by the city if the aldermen so desire. No one else spoke at the public hearing. After the public hearing, the alderman held a special meeting. The board approved Bill #3392 approving the proposed new water and sewer rates. The water rates for residents and businesses in the city limits will have a $6.00 base with a $5.39 volume rate per 1,000 gallons. For a manufacturer that uses more than 350,000 gallons a month, there is still a $6.00 base rate with a $3.47 volume rate per 1,000 gallons. For those residents and businesses who use city water and are outside the city limits, the base rate is $12.00 with a volume rate of $6.78 per 1,000 gallons. The sewer rates approved for residents and businesses include a $6.00 base rate with a $5.65 volume rate per 1,000 gallons. Other sewer rates apply to those outside the city limits on city utilities that include a $12.00 base rate and volume rate of $5.65 for every 1,000 gallons. There is also a rate for those who use their own water but have city sewer. The board also approved Bill #3393 that creates a School Resource Officer at the Salem R-80 School that will work at the school during the school year, and for the Salem Police Department when school is out. The board went on to approve Bill #3394 concerning electric rates. This bill says the rate increase or decrease in electric rates will be determined by comparing charges to the city from July through June by their wholesale supplier without the necessity of a vote of the Board of Alderman. Nothing in the bill prohibits the board enacting different rates for electric services at any time the wholesale supplier increases or decreases rates. The meeting was then adjourned. These new water and sewer rates will go into effect for the bills that will be sent out in August.