Archive for 2019

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board accepted the letter of resignation from City Attorney William Camm Seay. Mayor Nash reported that in closed session on October 22nd, the board approved the appointment of James K. Weber as the new City Attorney with Kim Steelman making the motion and seconded by Kevin James. City Clerk Mary Happel read Bill #3435 that authorized the mayor to sign a retainer agreement between the City of Salem and James K. Weber for legal services and to become City Attorney. The bill was approved by the board. Weber was then sworn in by City Clerk Mary Happel. In the hearing of persons, Keith Plank explained to the board that he wanted to build a metal building that is 60′ by 34′ at 1000 South Pershing. He said this process has been going on over 12 weeks where he was denied a permit by Jared Brown while putting up the same type of building that was approved by Lloyd Sanderson on Babb Lane about a year ago. Mayor Nash asked Jared Brown to e-mail the new attorney as well as all the aldermen and Mr. Plank all the information that he has and Mayor Nash said a decision would be reached as quickly as possible. The board approved the bid for the electric department to purchase a 2020 Ford F-550 with a dump bed from Lindsey Ford for $44,546.00 by a 2-1 vote. Alderman Nash voted against the purchase as he said the electric department does not need that type of truck very often and it is too much money to spend with the other projects that city has going on. City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to thank former City Attorney for his years of service to the city. He said information has been sent out to everyone about the AMI metering system as both electric meters and water meters are being changed out. If people are not at home when the meters are exchanged, they are leaving a note on the door to let them know they were there. If anyone has questions, call the utility office at 729-4117. Walden said the independent auditor has finished her field work and will be preparing the report that will presented at a future meeting. He said the nuisance survey is still on line at the salemmo.com website or people can pick one up at the City Administrative Offices. He said the city would continue to receive responses until this Friday. Walden also said the city office would be closed on Monday for Veteran’s Day. The board then approved Bill #3434 to execute a supplemental agreement between the City of Salem and the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission on the TAP grant for the walking trail from the Salem City Park Pavilion #1 to the Salem R-80 Administrative offices. This was necessary as the lowest bidder did not meet the standards set by MoDOT. The meeting was then adjourned.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that young hunters ages 6 through 15 harvested 18,158 deer during Missouri’s early youth portion of the 2019 deer hunting season, November 2nd and 3rd. Top counties were Osage with young hunters harvesting 381 deer, Howell with 355, and Franklin with 351. Locally 249 deer were harvested by Dent County youth, 214 in Phelps County and 227 in Crawford County. Last year’s harvest total for the early youth portion was 13,645. Archery deer hunting continues through November 15th and resumes November 27th through January 15th, 2020. The November portion of firearms deer season runs November 16th-26th followed by the late youth portion November 29th through December 1st. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs December 6th-8th followed by the alternative methods portion December 28th through January 7th, 2020. You can get more information about deer hunting from MDC’s 2019 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where hunting permits are sold and online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov.

A two vehicle accident happened on Friday evening, November 1st at around 7:20. The report released from the Salem Police Department states that a 2015 Nissan Altima, owned and operated by Wayne Williams of Salem, was traveling south on Highway 72 and starting making a left turn onto Route J. At that time, a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado, being driven by Charles Walker of Salem, attempted to avoid the Williams vehicle and veered to the right. Williams sped up to avoid a collision with the Chevrolet but collided in the intersection. Due to the impact, the Nissan crossed Route J and ran off the left side of the roadway striking an embankment before coming to a stop. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage. Williams and a passenger in the Nissan received minor injuries and were transported by ambulance to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment. Walker and a passenger in the Chevrolet sustained probable injuries and were transported by a private vehicle to SMDH for treatment.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said grading only would be done on Dent County Roads 5100, 5105 and 6190 while materials will be added and grading done on county road 5690. He stated brush would be cut on county roads 6400 and 6410. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2050 and 2070. He also indicated brush would be cut on county road 2300. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles had nothing to report and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said work on the 2020 county budget continues. She also said the courthouse would be closed on Monday, November 11th for veteran’s Day. County Treasurer Denita Williams reported the 4th quarter payment from the Senior Citizens Funds would be made to the Salem Nutrition Site of $14,250 and to the SMTS bus service for $7,000. Dent County Collector Shannon Van Kirk wanted to let people know that tax bills would be sent out in the mail on Wednesday, November 6. Anyone who wants to pay their tax bill may do so online, by mail, by dropping their payment off in the dropbox on the courthouse lawn, or by coming by the collector’s office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. She also wanted to let the citizens of the City of Salem that if they have a nuisance violation fee imposed by the city, they must pay that fee at the City of Salem Administrative offices at the corner of 4th and Iron Streets. On some of the letters sent out by the city, they instruct you to pay the fees at the County Collectors office, but the collecting of specials assessments and fees is not part of their contract with the city for the collection of real estate and personal property taxes. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred Sunday, November 3rd, shortly after 4:00 in the afternoon in Dent County on Route FF about 4 miles east of Highway 72. According to the report released by the highway patrol, a 2014 Nissan Titan driven by 44-year old David Coleman of St. James, was southbound and swerved to avoid a deer on the roadway. Coleman’s vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a fence. Coleman received minor injuries and was taken by a private vehicle to Phelps Health in Rolla for treatment. The Nissan sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing.

A one vehicle accident happened around 8:30 Sunday evening in Phelps County on Phelps County Road 1210 about four miles north of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Hyundai Elantra driven southbound by 20-year old Nicole Blair of St. James, crossed the centerline. The vehicle then traveled off the left side of the roadway, striking a fence and several trees before overturning. Blair, who was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, received minor injuries and was transported by St. James Ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla for treatment. The Hyundai sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Thursday afternoon, October 24th at about 3:06, an officer transported a 54-year-old male of Rolla, to the New Hope Mental Facility in Sullivan due to a mental commitment order. The next evening near 9:45, an officer located a 25-year-old male of Salem in the 100 block of East Third Street who had an active arrest warrant from Phelps County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending extradition. on Monday, October 28th at approximately 2:42 in the afternoon, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to stolen checks. The investigation of the report revealed that a female suspect had taken two checks, forged them and then cashed them for a total of $320.00. The report is under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that hunters checked 1,952 turkeys during Missouri’s fall firearms turkey season, October 1st through the 31st. Top harvest counties were Crawford and Greene with 61 birds harvested in each, followed by Laclede with 59, and Phelps with 58. Forty nine birds were harvested in Dent County. Hunters harvested 2,170 birds during the 2018 fall firearms turkey season. A wet spring and flooding during the spring and summer created challenging nesting conditions across much of the state and contributed to below average production throughout much of the state. Fall archery turkey hunting continues through November 15th then resumes on the 27th and continues through January 15th.

Congratulations to the students who represented the Salem High School Band in the 2019 District Bands on Saturday November 2. Those students were Martin Jones as the 1st Chair Contra Clarinet, Christopher McSwain as the 9th Chair Trumpet, Johnathan Stark as the 10th Chair Trumpet, Toby Hutto as the 7th Chair Clarinet and Christopher Harris as the 2nd Chair Baritone. Congratulations Tigers!

An accident occurred Sunday morning at 7:45 in Dent County on Highway 19 about ten miles north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 1989 GMC Pick-up driven by 55-year old Darwin Hayes of Salem was traveling northbound and failed to negotiate a curve. The GMC traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Hayes suffered serious injuries and was flown by Phelps Air to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Hayes was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The GMC was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

An accident occurred Saturday evening at 7:55 in Dent County on Route H about four miles west of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Chevrolet 1500 driven by 71-year old Lora Mace of Edgar Springs was traveling eastbound when he traveled off the right side of the roadway then returned to the roadway. Mace overcorrected and traveled off the right side of the roadway and then traveled off the left side of the road way and struck a utility pole. Mace suffered moderate damage and was transported to Salem Memorial District Hospital by Salem EMS. Mace was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem.

An accident occurred Friday evening at 5:35 in Texas County on Route FF about four miles west of Bucyrus. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 GMC 3500 driven by 43-year old Tracy Schafer of Salem was traveling southbound when the mirror of the GMC truck struck a pedestrian, 59-year old Daleene Wade from Bucyrus who was walking southbound. Wade suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston. The GMC received minor damage and was driven from the scene.

A two vehicle injury accident happened about 2:30 Friday afternoon, November 1st, in Phelps County in the 12000 block of Phelps County Road 2030. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2015 Cutaway Box Van driven by Jacob Oxner of Rolla, met a 2018 Ford F-250 being driven by John Dalton of Rolla traveling in the opposite direction and the vehicle mirrors struck each other. Oxner and a passenger, Jessica Robbins of Edgar Springs both sustained minor injuries and sought their own treatment. Both vehicles were driven from the scene.

Have you moved to Salem or Dent County recently? Come out to New Neighbor Night in Dent County this Tuesday from 4:00 to 6:00 at the Main Street Cafe at 508 North Main Street in Salem. At this Open House, community members new and not-so-new are welcome to
stop by and get to know our neighbors! This free welcome event is to meet and mingle, ask questions about the area, learn where to volunteer, and make new connections to residents, local leaders, and community organizations. This event is sponsored the Main Street cafe and co-sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension in Dent County. For more information, call Sarah at 729-3196.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will meet this evening at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers. After the roll call, the board will hear a letter of resignation from City Attorney William Camm Seay followed by the discussion of a new city attorney. The Board will then hear Bill #3435 that would authorize Mayor Brad Nash to sign a retainer agreement between the City of Salem and James K. Weber for legal services as well being City Attorney. After the oath of office is administered to Mr. Weber, the board will hear from Keith Plank who has property at 1000 South Pershing about adding a building on his property. Following that discussion, the board will hear bids on a Ford F-550 with a dump bed for the electric department. After the consent agenda is heard, the board will hear from City Administrator Ray Walden about on going activities in the city. The board will also hear Bill #3434 that authorizes the mayor to execute a supplemental agreement #2 to the TAP grant between the City of Salem and the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission. This will allow for the building of the trail from the Salem City Park Pavilion #1 to the Salem R-80 Administrative Offices where the letting of advertising for the project must be done by January 1st with the bid openings due march 1st with the construction award presented by April 1st, 2020. The meeting will then be adjourned.

Gary Brown, Chairman of the City of Salem Planning and Zoning Board of Commissioners, has called a meeting of the Commission for Tuesday evening at 7:00 at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory. Items of business to be considered include a conditional use permit for a beauty salon in a residence at 1400 South Mildred Boulevard owned by Noah and Melissa Shlag, and Short Term Rentals. The meeting is open to the public.