Archive for 2019

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night for their regular meeting. Mayor Brad Nash was unable to attend so Alderwoman Kim Steelman ran the meeting. The board approved a request from the Salem United Methodist Church to temporarily close Doss Road on Halloween night for their trunk and Treat event. The board approved the low bid recommended by Lochner for the construction of the taxilanes at the Salem Municipal Airport for a total of $496,850.90 that includes the use of asphalt instead of concrete. This is more than the original estimate approved by MoDOT and the city will have to pay more of the 10% that is due from them. City Administrator Ray Walden said the Request for Proposals for the 1st phase of the Downtown Project has been posted. He also said the position of Chief of Police has been advertised in advance of Chief Keith Steelman’s retirement in February. Walden said the City Wide Yard Sale will be held October 5th and the Fall Clean-Up Week will follow on October 7th through the 11th on your regular trash day. Walden said he was looking for the next date for a nuisance workshop and it will either be October 7th or 21st. He said the Water and Sewer Department will be changing water meters in the near future as part of the new AMI system. He said residents will be given advance notice before that change happens. The Board approved Bill #3430 that will allow Mayor Brad Nash to sign an amendment to the State Block Grant agreement with the City of Salem and the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department to allow for an increase in funds to be provided by the grant and the city for the taxi-lanes at the airport. The board also adopted Resolution #23-2019 that adopts the Salem and Dent County Missouri Economic Development Strategy as prepared by Sally Burbridge. The document was prepared for the city with Dent County as a partner. The board then voted to go into closed session.

With the archery deer hunting season now going on and with the firearms portion coming in November, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants hunters, landowners, and others to know key information about chronic wasting disease, or CWD. MDC is continuing its efforts this fall and winter to limit the spread of CWD in Missouri deer by finding new cases and slowing its spread to more deer or more areas. CWD is a deadly, infectious disease in white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family that eventually kills all animals it infects. There is no vaccine or cure. CWD is spread from deer to deer and through the environment. MDC has found 116 cases of CWD in Missouri since 2012 out of more than 100,000 deer sampled so the disease remains relatively rare in the state. There have been no reported cases of CWD infecting people, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends having deer tested for CWD if harvested in an area known to have the disease. The CDC also recommends not eating meat from animals that test positive for CWD. For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov/cwd under Human Health Risks. MDC has a CWD Management Zone of counties in or near where CWD has been found. The 29 counties of the CWD Management Zone for this season are: Adair, Barry, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Hickory, Howell, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Macon, Mercer, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Polk, Putnam, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Warren, and Washington. See the included map image. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.

The University of Missouri Extension will host a Management Intensive Grazing School September 26-27 at the MU Hugo Wurdack Research Center near Cook Station. The two-day program will include guest speakers covering the topics of grazing system layout and design, watering systems, fence systems, soil fertility, livestock nutrition, and forage growth and quality. Additionally, extensive farm tours will be included to allow participants to receive training on grazing system utilization. The cost of the two-day school is $135 per person or $175 per farm couple. This fee includes the cost of meals, resource books and other handout materials pertinent to the course. Space is limited for this program and registration along with full payment is required by September 20. For more information, please contact Rachel Hopkins, MU Extension Ag Business/Community Engagement Specialist at 573-438-2671. To register, contact the Crawford County SWCD (Soil & Water Conservation District) office in Rolla, MO at 573-364-6202.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading and ditch work would be done on Dent County Road 5480 while brush was going to be cut on county road 2400. He said most his crew would be working on the low water crossing on Dent County Road 5480 that is closed to ALL traffic and probably will be until next Monday. Crews are recapping the old low water crossing and pouring concrete on the Highway 119 side. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that brush was going to be cut on Dent County Road 4480, while materials will be added and a pipe will be installed on Dent County Road 2510. Larson said that two men were working on Loader #3 as they putting in a new starter. He said another man would go to Springfield for another load of oil for chip and seal repair work that will be done Wednesday. Presiding Commissioner Skiles wanted to thank Linda Shelton, the Salem FFA Chapter and all the sponsors that made the annual Beef Days possible at The Commons last Thursday. It is still one of the most popular events for 3rd graders and FFA members alike and it is very educational to the young students. Skiles also said he attended the Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s External Relations Committee meeting where tickets are now available for the MRPC Annual Recognition and Awards Banquet that will be held at the Stonebrook Center in Waynesville on October 24th. Tickets are available for $30 per person and Judy Apperson of Dent County will be honored. For ticket information, call the MRPC at 573-265-2993. Skiles also said they discussed state legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Skiles said he would be attending the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board meeting to score the recycling and solid waste reduction grant applications. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for September 5th and 9th. At approximately 11:35 Thursday morning, the 5th, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of East First in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed a 24-year-old male of Florissant, Missouri took a wood furnace and a lawnmower valued at $1,700.00 from the yard of the residence. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect who was incarcerated pending an application for a warrant. Then at approximately 7:01 that night, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of East Fourth in reference to a domestic assault. The investigation of the report revealed a 27-year-old male of Salem had assaulted a 70-year-old male, a 59-year-old female and a 4-month-old infant all of Salem after becoming enraged. The suspect also assaulted an officer while being apprehended. The suspect was taken into custody for domestic assault, endangering the welfare of a child and 4th degree assault. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. A little over an hour later, at about 8:11, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 35-year-old female of Marshfield, Missouri for stealing, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. Then on Monday afternoon, September 9th, at approximately 1:15, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to a stolen trailer. That investigation of the report revealed a trailer valued at $1200.00 that had been stolen in May from the area of Park and International was located and recovered in Licking by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The investigation is ongoing. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host special programs and school reunion activities at the historic Button Rock School and historic Cortoreva School site on September 21st from 11:00 Saturday morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. Park rangers will be on hand to share the history of one-room schools in Shannon County. Former students and teachers invite the public to join in these events, which will include potluck lunches at both sites beginning at 12 noon for all that would like to bring a dish to share. Visitors are encouraged to bring old pictures, a covered dish or sack lunch, and folding chairs. Former students will share their tales from yesteryear and reminisce about school days spent near the Current River with former teachers. All are invited to these free events to learn more about the many one-room schools that once dotted the Current River landscape. For more information about the historic school reunions, contact Ranger Josh Chilton at 573-226-3945.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors meeting scheduled for tonight has been postponed. No rescheduled date has yet been announced.

An accident happened Saturday afternoon in Phelps County at 5:15 on Highway 63 and Phelps County Road 6050 that left an Edgar Springs man in serious condition. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 Ford Explorer was being driven northbound by 71-year old Robert Walker of Edgar Springs when the truck went of the left side of the roadway. The Ford Explorer then overturned before the truck struck a tree and came to rest. Walker suffered serious injuries and air lifted by the Phelps Health Helicopter to the University Hospital in Columbia. Walker was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Lucas Towing of Edgar Springs.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has submitted reports for September 5th through the 7th. On September 5th, a deputy was observing traffic while sitting stationary in the Ranch Motel parking lot. While observing traffic, a vehicle pulled into the parking lot behind the deputy who observed a 39-year-old Salem woman exit the vehicle while arguing with the driver. The deputy approached the vehicle and during the course of the event, the woman was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance and the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia – methamphetamine. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and was incarcerated. Also on the 5th, deputies traveled to a residence on Dent County Road 6590 for a report of a burglary which had occurred. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that approximately $12,883.00 in firearms and currency was stolen from the residence. On September 6th, deputies traveled to the Texas County Sheriff’s Office to conduct an interview with a 34-year-old Salem man who had been arrested the day prior. As a result of the interview, a confession was given and on September 7th a warrant was issued for the Salem man for burglary in the 1st degree, a felony stealing charge of $750.00 or more, and the unlawful possession of a firearm. Bond for the warrant is $20,000 in cash or professional surety. The man is currently incarcerated at the Texas County Sheriff’s Department. Also on the 6th, deputies conducted a traffic stop near the 900 block of Dent County Road 5070. During the course of the traffic stop, a 33-year-old Salem man was arrested for two active warrants through the Miller County Sheriff’s Office. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was incarcerated on the active warrants through Miller County. He was also issued three summons for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, failure to register a motor vehicle annually and operating a motor vehicle without financial responsibility. If anyone has information about any investigation please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 573-729-3241.

The Salem Board of Alderman will hold their regular meeting tonight at 7:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the board will hear a request from the Salem United Methodist Church to temporarily close Doss Road on Halloween from 5:00 to 8:00 for their Trunk and Treat event. The board will then review two bids for asphalting or concreting of the taxilanes at the airport. After the consent agenda, City Administrator Ray Walden will update the board on city events. The board will then hear about Bill #3430 that would authorize the mayor to execute Amendment #1 to the State Block Grant A greement between the City of Salem and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for the construction of the taxilanes for the T-Hangers in Phase 1 of the Airport Project. The board will review Resolution #23-2019 that would adopt the Salem and Dent County Missouri Economic Development Strategy on behalf of the City of Salem with the County of Dent as a Partner. The board may then go into closed session before adjourning. The meeting tonight is open to the public.