Archive for 2018

In just over a week, the renovated Alice Lou Craig Municipal Pool in the Salem City Park will re-open to the public beginning at noon on Saturday, May 26th. The pool will be open from noon to 7:00 in the evening Monday through Saturday, and from 1:00 to 6:00 on Sunday. The pool has been changed significantly even though the initial footprint of the pool has not been altered all that much. The pool now offers a zero depth entry with plenty of new features including a dual gator aqua slide, Felipe Frog Aqua Spout, Billy Box Turtle Aqua Spout, a Pools and Fall Play Center, three bubblers, two aqua arches and two jet ways. In the middle section of the pool, there is a new adjustable water basketball goal, a two flume water slide and a brand new feature that only the Salem pool has called an Aqua Zip’N. In the deep end is a one meter diving board and a 16-foot rock climbing wall. All new stainless steel gutters were installed on the pool with a “cool” to the touch grate. Those who are physically challenged will find two ADA lift chairs and a 40-foot walking assist entry into the pool from the zero-depth entry. Four huge “funbrellas” will provide some welcome shade to the area and new loungers have also been purchased to enjoy for those who want to be in the sun. The pool house has been renovated and now has an ADA family changing room, new roof with lighting, new entry way, repainted on the inside and out with a traction paint put on the floor. The concession stand will also have two serving windows for those in or out of the pool who would like to sample the new healthy menu that will be served this year. Those waiting will be shaded with the extension of the new roof inside the pool area. Admission to the pool is $4.00 for children, $5.00 for adults and $4.00 for seniors who are 62-years of age and above. Season Family Passes are available for $150 that includes two adults and two children with an additional charge of $35 per each family member above four. Pool parties are available daily from 7:00 to 9:00 in the evening and from 6:00 to 8:00 on Sundays starting at $150 per hour. Swimming lessons are also available starting June 11th as well as a Water Aerobics Class and lap swimming. To get your season pass, book your pool party, or to reserve a pavilion at the park for your family get-togethers, call Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon at 729-6290 or e-mail him at salemparks@salemmo.com. Pool parties and pavilion rentals are first come, first served.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the courthouse to discuss county business. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 4150 and 4155, while grading only would be done on county roads 4124, 4126, 5420, 5590 and if time permits, 6470. He said another man would be cutting brush on county road 6300. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3020, 3030, 3040, 3050 and 4353. Larson said grading would be also done on county road 4280 and brush would also be cut on that road as well. He went on to say brush would be cut on county road 4270 and materials would be added to Dent County Road 3160. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported on the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board meeting where they approved the grant packet for recycling that will become available around July 1st. There was a discussion on recycling prices in the United States and that it is becoming more expensive to recycle and there is even less money being given for recycled items at this time. Skiles said that on June 9th from 8:00 until noon at the Brewer Science parking lot in Rolla, there will be an electronics, appliance and tire collection. There will be charges for all types of TVs, computer monitors and tires. Skiles also reported on the County Commissioner Association of Missouri meeting in Jefferson City. He said that it appears the per diem the county gets back on prisoners is not going to change, and it also appears the legislature is going to change the juvenile age to 18. If that does happen, that will affect the costs of the juvenile court system that falls back on the counties to fund. Skiles went on to say the CCAM retreat where they put together the annual training will be held this year at Echo Bluff State Park starting July 31st and lasting through August 2nd. Terry Baker from Dent County Road 2083 came in to find out what it would take to close part of the county road that dead ends on his property. Commissioner Larson will get with Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley to get all the details of the procedures and get them to him. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

City and county officials, school leaders, emergency management agencies and interested residents are invited to attend a public meeting at 2:00 on Monday, May 21st to continue development of the Dent County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The meeting will be held in the Salem City Hall Council Chambers located at 202 N. Washington Street in Salem. The focus of this meeting will be to review the remaining draft chapters of the plan. An overview of each completed chapter will be discussed. Those in attendance will be able to suggest edits and ask questions during the meeting. The county must have an approved hazard mitigation plan in order for Dent County schools, local governments, agencies and others to access state hazard mitigation grant funds. The plan includes an assessment of natural hazards and will establish goals and action items to reduce the impact of natural hazards in the future. Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) is developing the plan in partnership with the Dent County Commission. Questions may be directed to MRPC Environmental Programs Specialist Ryan Dunwoody at rdunwoody@meramecregion.org or 573-265-2993.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will have a blood drive today at Salem Wood Products at 200 Stave Mill Road. O-Negative and B Negative blood types are at less than one day reserve, but all blood types are needed. You must weigh 110 pounds, be in good health and bring a photo ID to give blood.

An accident occurred Wednesday morning at 2:40 in Iron County on Route KK about three miles south of Bixby. According to the highway patrol report, a 1995 Ford F-150 driven southbound by 42-year old David Lunsford, II of Boss, went off the roadway, overturned and struck a tree. Lunsford suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. It was not known if Lunsford was wearing a seat restraint when the accident occurred. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Abney’s Wrecker of Viburnum.

The Salem 133rd Graduation exercises will be held Friday night at 7:00 at the Salem High School Football Field. For the Class of 2018, a total of 142 seniors are expected to receive their diplomas. At the ceremony, there will be performances by the Salem High School Band and Chamber Singers. Assistant Principal Richard Parks will present the senior Class Citizenship Awards and the best all-around Boys and Girl Award. Four Salutatorians will speak and they are Gregory Headrick, Sarah Parker, Madison Shaw, & Savanna Tuttle. Following the Salutatorian speeches, eight Valedictorians will delivery their speeches. The eight Valedictorians are Baylee Bilyeu, Nathaniel Bray, Cory Gamblin, Matthew Jessen, Richard Parks, Aubrey Schmit, Jacob Stacy, & Dawson Wynn. The A+ students will be recognized as well as those students who are entering the military. The diplomas will then be presented to the graduating class to conclude the ceremony. The 2018 Graduation exercises will be outside unless there are adverse weather conditions. If that would be the case, the exercises would be moved inside the high school gym. If you can’t make it to the commencement, you can watch it live on Fidelity Local 6 or HD 406, or you can stream the ceremony live on www.fidelitylocal6.com. You can also find times the ceremony will be rebroadcast on Fidelity Local 6 or HD 406 at www.fidelitylocal6.com.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host a special celebration of the historic Akers community on Saturday and Sunday in partnership with the Shannon County Museum and Ozark Heritage Project. Everyone is invited to attend this event, which will highlight the rich history of the upper Current River. On Saturday, a local Current River bluegrass band will provide entertainment at the Akers Visitor Center from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tiny’s Hillbilly BBQ will be on hand so that visitors can enjoy an evening meal on the banks of the Current River while listening to the music. A dutch oven cooking demonstration will be conducted as well. Participants are encouraged to explore all the nearby historic sites, including Akers Ferry, Mt Zion Church, Devils Well, Howell-Maggard Cabin and Welch Spring. Rangers will be available at Akers Visitor Center to provide information and directions for seeing those areas. On Sunday, activities will begin at 11:00 that morning with a special service at the Mt. Zion Church, located one-half mile north of Akers Ferry on Route K. At noon, everyone will gather at the Akers Visitor Center to enjoy a picnic lunch, a bluegrass open jam session with local musicians, and stories about life on the upper Current River from descendants of local families. Those with a connection to the Akers community will have an opportunity to share memories with everyone in attendance. At 2:00 Sunday afternoon, they will kick-off the 2018 Current River Canoe Race with a short paddle from Welch Spring to Akers. A brief visit to the Howell-Maggard Cabin will be included during the paddle. Everyone’s welcome to attend! For more information about this event, call (573) 323-8093.

In closed session Tuesday night, the Salem R-80 Board of Education employed Shannon Phelps to instruct Kindergarten through 5th grade music; hired Melanie Smith to teach 3rd grade; employed Tyler McConnell to teach High School English; and hired Carilee Ball as a Psychological Examiner. The board also employed Rockey Wade as a middle school football coach and Bryan Carty as an assistant varsity football coach. They also discussed a personnel issue before adjourning.

Captain James W. Remillard, the commanding officer of Troop I, announced that sometime this month, troopers assigned to Troop I will be conducting an impaired driving enforcement patrol in Crawford County. Troopers assigned to these special enforcement operations will patrol those highways where in the past a higher number of alcohol-related arrests and traffic crashes have occurred. Captain Remillard would like to remind motorists that they can report highway emergencies and serious traffic offenses to the nearest troop headquarters by dialing *55 on a cellular telephone.

An accident occurred Monday evening in Phelps County on eastbound I-44 at the 181.2 mile marker. According to the Highway Patrol Report a 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora, driven by 23 year-old Bethany Ferguson of St. James, traveled off the right side of the roadway causing it to overturn. As a result Ferguson and the passenger, 40-year-old Brandt Wilson, also of St. James, were both ejected from the vehicle before it came to rest. Ferguson suffered serious injuries, while Wilson suffered moderate injuries. Both individual were transported to Phelps County Regional Medical Center by Phelps County Ambulance. The report stated that neither person was wearing their safety restraint. The Oldsmobile was removed from the scene by C & C Towing.

The Salem Police Department has released more reports. On Saturday, May 5th, at approximately 11:47 in the morning an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of West Dent in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown took a kayak and paddle valued at $450.00. The report is under investigation. Then on Monday, May 7th, at about 4:28 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of South Tower in reference to a domestic assault. That investigation revealed that a 37-year old male of Salem had assaulted a 30-year old female of Salem. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect for fourth degree assault. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for a warrant. That night at approximately 9:47, an officer attempted to stop an all-terrain vehicle near Rolla and Hickory. After a pursuit of the all-terrain vehicle, it was stopped and the driver located near Highway 32 and Hickory Street. The driver was taken into custody for driving while having his license suspended and numerous traffic violations. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. On Tuesday morning, May 8th, at 6:21, an officer located a 34-year old female of Salem near Park and Third Street who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and released to the Dent County Sheriff’s Department. That afternoon at approximately 1:00, an officer was dispatched to Country Mart in reference to a bad check. The investigation of the report revealed a 38-year old female of Salem cashed a fraudulent check for $2,240.70. The report is under investigation. On Wednesday, May 9th, at 4:26 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 23-year old male of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $17.97. 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 any information regarding an investigation ongoing or previously mentioned.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Tuesday night at the District Administrative Offices. Principal Kriste Crocker wanted to remind parents that pre-school enrollment for today is full and there some spots open for the Thursday enrollment. Call the school at 729-6611 and children must be three years of age by August 1st to be a part of the Tiger Tots program. Also the kindergarten graduation will be at 10:00 this Friday morning at the City Hall Auditorium. Upper Elementary Principal Melanie Wisdon reported her summer school classes are full at 30 students each with a waiting list of about 13 students. Middle School Principal Scott Roberts congratulated Makayla McBride for winning the SMS Art Show’s Student Choice Award, Teacher and Staff Award, and the Principal’s Choice Award with her work entitled “Night Water.” High School Principal Marty Anderson said 51% of the students were exempt from finals this year, that there were only two fights all year after Salem averaged 10 per year for the last five years, and he said there will be a Workkeys Platinum Wall initiated at thew high school. Anderson reported that Mackenzie Whitaker will be the next Board of Education Student Liaison for the 2018-2019 year. The board approved the appointment of Drew Whitaker as Treasurer of the Board. The board approved to continue to be a partner of Healthy Dent County with a $10,000 contribution and approved the Professional Development Plan. Superintendent John McColloch stated that Salem will again qualify for Community Eligible Provisions which means that all kids will eat free again next year. Meal prices suggested for adults were $2.25 for breakfast and $3.75 for lunch and they were approved by the board. The board approved a preliminary budget that included $12,803,264 in revenues and $12,781,624 in expenditures. Increase in expenditures included about $27,000 for insurance, $6,000 for increased bandwidth and $115,000 for the construction trades program that is privately funded which means it is an “in and out” fund. Not part of the budget was the $400,000 cost for the new locker room at the football field. The board approved the purchase of a 2019 Thomas 77 passenger school bus for $88,470, and approved putting bus #2, some projectors, two TV’s and more into the surplus to sell. The items will be advertised in the Salem News and be put on the salemr80.org website. McColloch did a study on the base salary over the last ten years and found that from 2009-2015, the base rate only went up $250, and in the last two years, the base has increased $1,000. To stay competitive with other districts, McColloch recommended a raise of $350 to the base salary for the 2018-2019 year and that brings the starting salary to $31,600. Support staff will also see about a two percent increase in salary, and these raises will cost the school district about $100,000 in additional payroll. The board approved the bank bid from the Bank of Salem, and approved the bid from CDW for 520 Chromebooks for $230.97 per Chromebook for a total of $120,104.40. The board accepted the resignation of special education teacher Sara Reed from William Lynch before going into closed session.