Archive for 2019

The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Wednesday, October 9th at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Interim Park and Recreation Director Don Smith reported on the success of the softball, baseball and T-ball program this summer with the assistance of Jared Patterson with the baseball, softball and T-Ball program, and Melissa DuBois with the Summer Camp as well as the concessions at the Little League Concession stand and swimming pool. He also wanted to thank Eric Wood for all the work he did at the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Swimming Pool this summer with the personnel scheduling and maintenance. Smith reported there were some electrical improvements made and there were some lights replaced at the pool, a new fence and railing was installed on the concrete at the Little League Concession stand area near the creek, a new timer was installed at Al Brown Fields, additional gravel was taken to parking area at Pavilion #2, repairs were made to the two inch water line at the pool and new fireplace grates were added at Pavilion #1. He said the co-ed softball league had six teams this year compared to four last year and that was run by Greg Sanders. Smith discussed with the board the timing of the winterizing of the splash pad and the board suggested October 15th before it gets too cold. He also said the spotlights on the Salem City Park entrance sign have been vandalized and he would like to use rope lighting on the sign and the board concurred. Park and Recreation Board President Stan Podorski provided the park board with a summer program direct cost report that showed that the Park and Recreation Department lost a total of $10,624.70 from operations of the swimming pool, Summer Camp and the Baseball program. Most of this came from increased labor costs that had to be incurred due to the late spring resignation of Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon as additional positions had to be created to run the programs. Podorski recommended a review of all summer program operations to see where some direct labor costs can be reduced. This would be done once a new Park and Recreation Director is in place and has had time to get acquainted with the position. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem Police Department has release a number of reports for the period of October 3rd through the 7th. On Thursday night, October 3rd near 11:47, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The stop led to the arrest of a 30-year-old male of Mount Sterling, Missouri for driving while being intoxicated and driving while having his license revoked. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. The next morning at approximately 7:30, an officer was dispatched to the Mobil Convenience Store in reference to a theft of fuel. The investigation revealed that a female driver of a dark colored Ford car pumped fuel valued at $28.01 and left without paying. That report is currently under investigation. Later that night at approximately 8:54, an officer was dispatched to Jackson and Eighth Streets in reference to an intoxicated male acting violent and causing a disturbance. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 39-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. During the evening of Saturday, the 5th at approximately 7:20, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation during the stop led to the arrest of a 61-year-old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated and driving while having his license revoked. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. Finally, on the morning of the 7th, at approximately 11:39, an officer located a 37-year-old female of Salem in the 200 block of West Third Street, who had an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Time is running out to get your ticket for this year’s MRPC 2019 Annual Awards Dinner and Banquet that will be held Thursday evening,
October 24th at the Stonebrooke Center in Waynesville. Judy Apperson of Healthy Dent County was nominated by Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles to be awarded, while William S. Jenks III of Rolla, nominated by MRPC board member John Butz. The public is invited to attend the event in Waynesville. A reception will be held beginning at 5:30 and dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the program and awards presentation to follow. This year marks the MRPC’s 50th year of service. The deadline to get your ticket for the event is TODAY and they cost $30 per person. For reservations, contact MRPC at 265-2993.

City Administrator Ray Walden has announced that Melissa DuBois will become the new City of Salem Park and Recreation Department Director effective November 7th. DuBois, who has been serving as the District Wellness Coordinator for Healthy Dent County, helped the Park and Recreation Department this summer by coordinating the Opening Day Festivities for the baseball/softball and T-Ball program this year at the city park after the departure of former Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon in late April. She also ran the City Park Summer Camp program this past summer and was also in charge of the concession stands at the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Pool and the Little League Concession stand.

An accident occurred in Greene County Thursday evening at 5:30 on Highway 160 about one mile north of Springfield that resulted in injuries a Salem resident. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2007 Hyundai Accent driven by 27-year old Raymond Hornback of Springfield, struck a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze from behind that was being driven by 20- year old Danna Cooksey of Springfield. This caused the Cooksey vehicle to collide with the rear of a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado being driven by 34-year old Joshua Dennis of Salem. Dennis was taken to Mercy Hospital in Springfield for treatment of moderate injuries. The Silverado was driven from the scene. According to the report, all involved were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident.

Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley released these reports from the cases heard in front of Judge Megan Seay Friday in Dent County for the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court. Curley reported that Jeffrey Chumbley of Salem pled guilty to the felony charges of possession of methamphetamine and suboxone, and also pled guilty to the felony charge of endangerment of a child as a result of the possession of the drugs. Chumbley received a ten year suspended execution of sentence with five years of probation and parole. He had no prior criminal history prior to these charges. Curley went to report that Jeffery Dallas of Salem pled guilty to the felony charge of possession of hydrocodone. He was on probation for possession at the time of the offense. He was sentenced to five years in the Department of Corrections. Curley also reported that Jessi Dawn Tyler of Salem pled guilty to the felony charge of possession of methamphetamine. She received a suspended imposition of service with the emphasis on getting substance abuse treatment.

A two vehicle accident happened Wednesday morning, October 2nd, at 11:18 at the intersection of Missouri 32 and 72. According to the report released from the Salem Police department, a 2008 Jeep Liberty being driven by Desirae Hickernell of Salem was traveling east on Highway 32 and was making a left turn on to Highway 72 when she failed to yield to a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt being driven by Megan Luebbert of Salem. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage and were removed from the scene by Schwartz Towing and American Muffler Towing. All involved in the accident refused treatment after being evaluated by ambulance personnel.

The city of Salem is hereby giving public notice that a public meeting will be held by the Planning and Zoning board of commissioners this evening at 6:00 in the city hall council chambers at 202 N. Washington Street for all interested parties to be given an opportunity to be heard on the matters of meadering as well as short term rentals. The meeting is open to the public and was called by Gary Brown, Chairman of the planning and zoning commissioners for the City of Salem.