Archive for 2018

TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO PAY ANY 2015 DELINQUENT REAL ESTATE TAXES!!! Dent County Collector Dennis Medlock wants to remind anyone who still has delinquent real estate taxes from 2015 that you will need to pay them IN FULL by THIS FRIDAY during regular business hours from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. If you fail to do so, then on July 1st, the taxes from 2015, 2016 and 2017 will be declared due by August 24th, 2018. If not paid by then, your parcel will be sold at the Delinquent Tax Sale that will be held August 28th, 2017. Check payments will no longer be accepted so you will need to pay with cash, cashier’s check, money order, debit or credit card. If you are not sure this applies to you or you do not understand how the system works, you need to call the Dent County Collector’s Office immediately so that it can be explained to you. This is very important so do not put it off any longer. Call the Dent County Collectors Office at 573-729-3911 with any questions you may have or stop by the Dent County Courthouse. Also, after July 1st, there will be an additional $25 per parcel added to the tax bill to pay for advertising costs in the Salem News. Remember, only the taxes for 2015 need to be paid IN FULL by Friday to give you another whole year to pay the other outstanding years.

The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of May. During the month, they wrote five equipment repair orders, 27 summons to appear in court, 20 warning tickets, and 24 traffic tickets. The Salem Police Department investigated ten accidents, six assaults, one report of counterfeiting, three reports of disorderly conduct, three reports of domestic assault, two reports of domestic violence, and one endangering the welfare of a child while also serving eight fugitive warrants and seven city warrants. The Salem Police also investigated two driving while being intoxicated reports, five driving while having a license revoked or suspended reports, two reports of leaving the scene of accidents and four reports of lost or stolen license plates. The department went on to investigate two reports of missing persons, one report of possession of a controlled substance and five reports of possession of drug paraphernalia. There was one investigation of property damage, two reports of resisting or interfering with an arrest, 11 reports of stealing, one towed vehicle, one trespassing report and one report of a violation of an order of protection. The police department received 1,419 calls for service during the month and handled 81 walk-ins to the station. They spent 22 hours in court testifying and ten hours as court bailiff. The Salem Police Department drove a total of 8,413 miles and arrested 38 males and 13 females during the month of May.

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Champion Tree program is celebrating a half-century of tracking Missouri’s biggest known trees. There are more than 130 specieson the list, ranging from a scarlet oak stretching 15 stories tall to a winged sumac with a trunk just over three inches in diameter. In 1968, MDC first released a list of the biggest known trees throughout the state. The goal was to find the biggest specimens of Missouri’s native trees, share them with the public, and encourage the hunt to continue. The Champion Tree Program has provided a showcase for some of Missouri’s most impressive trees and can be found in our backyards and farms, city parks, state parks, and conservation areas. To celebrate the anniversary of the Missouri Champion Tree Program, MDC encourages Missourians to get outside this summer and discover big trees. There are six champion trees in our area. In Reynolds County, there is one Champion Tree and that is the Carolina Buckthorn on private property. Phelps County has two champion trees: a Butternut tree and Red Maple and they are both in the Woodson Conservation Area. Dent County has three champion trees in the borders. The Champion Black Cherry tree and White Oak tree are both on private property, but the Champion Short-Leaf Pine can be seen at the Blackwell Cemetery. If you are interested in visiting champion trees, the Conservation Department has assembled a list of 38 champion trees located on public land you can see. That list is available at www.mdc.mo.gov.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released some reports. On Monday, June 18th, deputies responded to a theft report from Route AC. It was reported that three Sinclair signs were stolen from the residence. This report is stillunder investigation. On Wednesday, June 20th, deputies responded to Dent County Road 5330 for a report of theft. Reported stolen was a head catcher and four coral panels. This report is currently being investigated. Later that same day, deputies responded to the 17000 block of Highway 72 in reference to a domestic disturbance. After an investigation, it was discovered that a rock was thrown through a car window. This report is still under investigation. On Thursday June 21st, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the Mobil parking lot in Salem. The driver, a 30-year old Salem man, was arrested for driving while being intoxicated. He was fingerprinted, issued a summons, and released. On Friday, June 22nd, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 72 near County Road 3180. The driver, a 19-year old Salem man, was arrested for possession of marijuana. He was fingerprinted, issued a summons, and released. If anyone has information about an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

Congratulations to Salem Middle School 8th grader Denise Stoner on capturing 2nd in the State in the MSHSAA Middle School/Junior High Sportsmanship Essay Contest. Stoner won the local competition, then took 1st place the South Central District Championship before her entry captured the state runner up award. Principal Scott Roberts believes this is the highest any Salem Middle School student ever received in this competition. Roberts also saluted 7th grader Alana Lilly for receiving a runner-up award in the Local competition.

The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell indicated that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2440, 5510, 5520, 6225, 6370 and 6400. He went on to report brush would be cut on county roads 4220, 6180 and 6610. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5240 while only grading will be done on county roads 2050 and 3180. Larson did say brush would be cut on county roads 3260 and 3280. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending the Central Region Workforce Investment Board Caucus meeting in Jefferson City on Wednesday. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley indicated the last day to register to vote for the August election will be July 11th. Bids for carpeting the courtroom and adjoining rooms at the courthouse were opened at 10:00 and two bids were received: one from McCalls out of Rolla and the other was from Toman’s Inside Story. The board went with the bid from Toman’s Inside Story for the 28 ounce Shaw Camden Harbor Carpet that includes labor and installation for $9,647.51. 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 City of Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting at the City Hall Council Chambers Monday afternoon. Mayor Brad Nash was unable to attend the meeting. Alderman Haydn Powell called the meeting to order and City Administrator Ray Walden went over the proposed budget numbers for 2017-2018 fiscal year. He said total revenues are expected to be $13,247,725 and the expected expenses should come to $13,170,229. After some discussion, the board approved the 2017-2018 fiscal year budget, and then passed Bill #3391 adopting the annual budget for the City of Salem. The board conditionally approved the trailer court license application for the trailer park at 101 North Park provided the work continued on the project and it passed the inspection. The board then set the public hearing to determine sewer rates for Monday, July 30th at 6:00 prior to the Board of Aldermen meeting that evening. The alderman then went into closed session to discuss contracts.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Wednesday evening, June 13th, at approximately 8:14, an officer located a 34-year old female of Salem in the 600 block of South Sligo who had an active arrest warrant from Phelps County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending extradition. Early Saturday morning, June 16th at approximately 1:41, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 38-year old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Later that same afternoon at about 1:56, an officer was detailed to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. That investigation led to the arrest of a 38-year old female of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $47.28. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Tuesday, June 19th at about 3:20 in the afternoon, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to property damage. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown scratched the paint on a silver 2010 Ford Edge that was parked in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The value of the damage was approximately $100.00. The report is under investigation. Then on Wednesday morning, June 20th at approximately 8:42, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to a forgery. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown stole a Missouri tax return check and cashed it for $302.00. The report is under investigation. The next morning at about 1:43, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of an 18-year old male of Newburg for the possession of marijuana. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.

A webinar was held Monday afternoon at the Salem Community Center@The Armory concerning the county considering becoming a part of the St. Louis County Prescription Drug Monitoring Program on line system. Emily Varner from the St. Louis County Health Department discussed the program with doctors, pharmacists, the Dent County Commissioners, police personnel and others. She said there are three types of users: providers, dispensers and delegates. Medical and pharmaceutical personnel get direct and full access to data while dispensers have the ability to request data, but have no direct access. The delegates have restricted or limited use and those groups would include law enforcement agencies, state boards and juvenile officers. Varner explained once an account is created, providers can get prescription information for up to the previous 24 months on Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances. They would submit a report daily to the PDMP so the files can be updated. The program has a multiple provider alert when a patient gets prescriptions from three or more prescribers AND used three or more pharmacies within a six month period. Hospital inpatient prescriptions are excluded from the program. Enforcement of the program through providers is up to the individual jurisdictions, but St. Louis County has instituted penalties of up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine or both. Varner said the more counties that join in the program, the more complete the information is. The cost to have Dent County join the PDMP is $264.10. Some pharmacists asked for more information including a copy of the contract and user agreement and no decision was made at the meeting.

A special meeting of the City of Salem Board of Alderman has been called by Mayor Brad Nash this afternoon at the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington to discuss calling a public hearing on sewer rates, adopting the 2018-2019 Budget, consider Ordinance #3391, an ordinance adopting an annual budget for the City of Salem beginning July 1st, 2018 and appropriating funds pursuant thereto, and consider trailer court licenses. The Board will vote to go into closed session to discuss contracts. With the exception of the closed session, the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred Friday morning at 6:45 on Route KK about five miles north of Bunker. According to the highway patrol report, a Nissan Altima driven by 18-year old Desiray Cowan of Bunker, was traveling southbound when the Nissan traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Cowan suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to Salem Memorial District Hospital. Cowan was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Nissan Altima was totaled and towed from the scene by Hills Metals & Motors.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met on Monday, June 18th for their regular monthly meeting. Administrator Kendra Mobray told the board she attended the June 4th commissioner’s meeting and had a long discussion about joining St Louis County’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. After a follow-up meeting that included pharmacists that discussed enforcement and costs, Mobray scheduled an informational webinar about the PDMP with St Louis County Health Department is scheduled for this afternoon at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory. Pharmacists and physicians have been invited to attend to get more information. Mobray reported that Naloxone has been distributed to the Salem Police Department through the Department of Health and Senior Services MORE Project. On June 14th, first responders from Dent County Fire Protection District and park rangers from the National Park Service received training on Naloxone administration. She also said outpatient lab services were provided to 35 clients in May. Administrator Mobray said there were ten diseases from tick bites investigated in May: nine Reports of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever along with one case of Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Other diseases investigated were one case of Legionellosis and two cases of Salmonellosis. The board also approved a conflict of interest policy be added to the Dent County Health Center Administrative Manual. Mobray informed the Board that several students have been in for required school immunizations. The Dent County Health Center currently bills most insurance companies and offers state vaccine for uninsured, underinsured, and Medicaid clients. Vaccinations are available daily without an appointment. For additional questions on what immunizations are needed, please call the Dent County Health Center at 729-3106. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the District Administrative Offices. Superintendent John McColloch updated the board on improvements to the campus that includes typical summer work including the waxing the floors, various painting projects, and adding an office to the white house. Some new doors for the Upper Elementary and High School are also being considered as the old ones are beginning to rust out. McColloch told the board he is working on developing a facility master plan during the 18-19 school year. McColloch also reported on the success of summer school. The Upper Elementary ended with 178 students and William Lynch ended with 94 students. At the high school, approximately 25 students completed drivers’ education during summer school. McColloch went on to assign the Board of Education committee assignments for the 2018-2019 school year. Holly Erway was assigned to CSIP, Drew Whitaker was assigned to Federal Programs, the A+ Programs were assigned to Larry Maxwell, Dustin Howard was assigned to Safety, Technology was assigned to Chris Heavin and Health Services was assigned to Carrie Snider. After the building principals gave their reports, the board voted to accept the 2018-2019 budget that showed total revenues at $12,870,000 while the expenses came in at $12,845,000. The board approved the resolution for the WADA 5% transfer from Fund 1 to Fund 4 in the amount of $374,962 for the purpose of facility improvements. The board went on to approve Board Policy BBFA that deals with the conflict of interest policy with members of the Board of Education, and they approved adopting a resolution for the Dent County Multi-Jurisdiction Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. The board also approved 2017-2018 budget revisions before accepting the surplus property bid for school bus#15 from Jadwin Canoe Rentals in the amount of $1,821.00. The board accepted the retirement of High School Physical Education instructor Diana Bermudez before going into executive session where the board employed Derek Freeman as a High School physical education instructor, middle school football coach, and an assistant varsity track coach. The meeting was then adjourned.