Archive for 2019

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday night at the City Hall Council Chambers after a nuisance workshop and a Planning and Zoning Commission hearing and meeting. The board approved the request from Grace Community Church to close Water Street from Franklin Street to the end of their parking lot on September 15th from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM, and again on October 30th from 4:00 until 9:00 PM for community outreach events. Gary Brown, the Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, reported on their hearing and meeting where the commission recommended allowing a conditional use permit for the Saucy Chook Pub at 206 West Fourth Street submitted by A. J. Schafer and Tina Cook. The alderman approved the conditional use permit. City Administrator Ray Walden reported on the nuisance workshop held prior to the meeting where the current nuisance ordinances were reviewed. Walden said Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge was working on the final Economic Development Plan but has been sidetracked by a death in her family. Walden said interviews would be held soon in an effort to find a new Park and Recreation Director. He told the board SACBA announced the Community Betterment Judges would be in town September 10th with a presentation from 8:00 until 9:45 in the north room of the ONCRC. The event is open to the public and businesses are encouraged to use their billboards to welcome the judges. The Salem Community Center@The Armory had 4,037 participants in their August programs. Walden said the city is reviewing all the services that are currently being offered in the city administration building. They will review and evaluate those services for security purposes. Walden also said he would like to have the City Comprehensive Plan finalized for the next budget year that includes a number of different project inputs. The board approved the holding of the First Baptist Church Fall Festival Spectacular on October 5th that will include the street closings of West First Street and North Grand from 7:15 to 8:15 for a fireworks display. The board approved Bill #3428 for the mayor to execute an agreement for construction services with H.W Lochner, Inc.; approved Bill #3429 that allows the mayor to execute an agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for work at the Salem Municipal Airport, and they approved Resolution 22-2019 for the execution of MoDOT documents related to the Salem Municipal Airport State Block Grant. The board approved the Fall Clean-Up Week to be October 7th through the 11th and approved City Clerk Mary Happel to attend the annual LAGERS meeting to be held in Springfield on October 24th and 25th. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem Community Center@ The Armory and Your Community Cares Rural Health Coalition is hosting an Opioids and the Workforce Conference on Tuesday, September 10th in Salem from 9:30 in the morning until 4:45 in the afternoon. At a time when workforce development is cited as a top concern for businesses, an individual who fails a drug test for the first time is as likely to be terminated; leaving a shortage of workforce. In addition to higher absenteeism and lower job productivity and performance, the workforce has additional costs for health care expenses for injuries and illnesses. It is essential that employers understand the science of addiction, it’s prevalence among working adults, and how they can be connected to the prevention, treatment and recovery communities to support their employees. Employers may save up to $2,607 per worker annually by assisting and supporting employees with treatment according to the National Safety Council. Speakers will assist businesses in building solutions to the opioid epidemic in their workplace and community. At the same time, this provides an opportunity for individuals to gain or retain the employment they need as part of their recovery. employment they need as part of their recovery. The conference will feature local businesses and persons with lived experience that recognize the value of seeking treatment and supporting recovery and will be broken out into three sessions. The first session will define the crisis of opioid use and why its impact on the workforce matters along with the economic impact of addiction on individuals, businesses, and the community; the second session will describe examples of pathways of treatment and steps that can be taken to bring people in recovery successfully back into the workforce; and the third session will include a discussion on how businesses should be a recovery friendly workplace. They will discuss and review examples of administration guidance that provide a second chance concept in hiring and retaining employees. For more information or to register for the conference please contact Sherry Lea at 573-729-8163 or e-mail her sherry@salemcommunitycenter.org.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Annual MRCA/URA Semi-Pro Labor Day Rodeo was a big success over the weekend with large crowds each night at The Commons. The event is a major fundraiser for the Chamber. Winners this year from the rodeo include Tyler Davidson in Bareback Riding, Cody Payne in Calf Roping, Shane Wesley in the “over 40-years of age” Calf Roping, Trey Watts in Saddle Bronc Riding, Dakota Mayberry and Tyler Triplett in the Team Roping competition, Rachel Schroeder in Barrel Racing and Alvin Detweiler won the Bull Riding Competition. Congratulations to all those who participated in the rodeo and the chamber thanks everyone who attended the event.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a number of reports. On Wednesday the 21st, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 4210. During the traffic stop, a 32-year-old Salem woman was arrested for driving while having her license revoked or suspended, a 1st offense. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. The next day, deputies received information that a 34-year-old Salem woman was in the 200 block of South Grand Street. Deputies were advised that the woman had an active warrant through Dent County. Deputies traveled to the area and located the woman who was arrested and transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Department Jail where she was incarcerated. On Friday the 23rd, deputies conducted a traffic stop in parking lot of Wal-Mart and a 19-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 1st offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Department where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. The next day, Saturday the 24th, deputies received information of a vehicle which was traveling at high rates of speed and causing a traffic hazard. The reporting party said the vehicle was traveling on Highway 68 towards Salem and was almost to the city limits. Deputies traveled to the area and located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on the Wal-Mart parking lot. During the course of the traffic stop, a 40-year-old Lonedell man was arrested for Driving While Being Intoxicated and possession of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid of 10 grams or less. The driver also had a prior drug offense and a felony driving while having their license revoked or suspended. The man was transported to the Dent County jail and incarcerated. If you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 573-729-3241.

The University of Missouri Extension will host a Management Intensive Grazing School on September 26th and 27th 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 20th. For more information, please contact Rachel Hopkins, the MU Extension Ag Business and Community Engagement Specialist at 573-438-2671. To register for the Grazing School, contact the Crawford County SWCD (Soil & Water Conservation District) office in Rolla, MO at 573-364-6202.

Four people died in traffic crashes during the 2019 Labor Day holiday weekend. Last year, there were 11 fatalities. The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the following traffic events including 309 accidents, 107 injuries, 116 driving while intoxicated and made 95 drug arrests. The Labor Day Holiday boating statistics included 13 crashes, 4 injuries, 10 boating while intoxicated, 16 drug related arrests, and there were no boating fatalities. During the 2018 counting period, the Patrol investigated 257 traffic crashes, which included 119 injuries and seven of the 11 fatalities. Troopers made 113 arrests for driving while intoxicated last year. Also, over the Labor Day holiday 2018: Troopers investigated seven boating crashes involving three injuries and no fatalities; and arrested 15 people for boating while intoxicated on the state’s rivers and lakes. There were no drownings over the 2018 Labor Day holiday weekend. Troopers investigated all four of the fatal traffic crashes over the 2019 Labor Day holiday weekend.

In a press release from Dent County Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley, a jury trial was conducted in the State v. Donnie Merrell on June 19th and 20th. The defendant was charged with two counts of Statutory Sodomy in the 1st Degree involving a minor child under the age of 14. The charge was filed as a result of a disclosure to a school counselor and investigation conducted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and Missouri Children’s Division that occurred during the winter of 2016 and continued into the beginning of 2017. The charges were filed by prosecutor Andrew M. Curley on February 3rd of 2017, as a result of receiving a probable cause statement from Dent County Sheriff’s Detective Rick Letchworth. Judge Randall Head presided over the trial. The state was represented by Andrew M. Curley and James Weber. The defendant was represented by Stephen Daniels. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found the defendant guilty of one count of Statutory Sodomy in the 1st Degree. A sentencing hearing then followed on August 26th where Judge Head sentenced the Merrill to 20 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. In a statement released from the Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutor Curley indicated the victim and her family were pleased with the result and glad the judicial process was concluded. Curley also wanted to thank the sheriff’s department, the victim advocates, the victim and her family. 

A fatal accident occurred Saturday evening at 6:21 in Dent County on Route ZZ about two miles west of Jadwin. According to the highway patrol report, a 1992 Jeep Cherokee driven by 40-year old Nicholas Easton of Paragold, Arkansas, was traveling northbound on Route ZZ when he lost control of his vehicle. The Jeep overturned and Easton was partially ejected. Easton was transported to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by the Salem Ambulance and was pronounced dead at 7:55 that evening by Dr. Lambird. The Cherokee was totaled and towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem. Easton was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers beginning at 7:00. Prior to their regular meeting, the alderman will hold a workshop on the nuisance violations at 6:00 to be followed by Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing and then meeting beginning at 6:30 in regards to a conditional use request for a food establishment: The Saucy Chook Pub owned by AJ Schafer and Tina Cook at 206 West Fourth Street. The Planning and Zoning Commission will also discuss short term rentals and discuss the definition of lodging at the meeting. At the Board of Aldermen meeting, they will hear a request from the Grace Community Church to close Water Street from the end of their parking lot to Franklin Street on September 15^th from 8:00 until 4:00, and on October 30^th from 4:00 until 9:00 for community events. After the consent agenda, Planning and Zoning Chairman Gary Brown will give a report on their hearing and meeting before City Administrator Ray Walden updates the board ona number of items regarding the city, a review of the city services at the City Administration Office Building, and give an update of the City Comprehensive Plan. The board will review the request by First Baptist Church to set off fireworks on October 5^th for their Fall Fest Spectacular. The board will then review two bills dealing with the airport construction project: Bill #3428 allowing the mayor to execute an aviation project consultant supplemental agreement between the city and H. W. Lochner, Inc. for providing construction services at the Salem Municipal Airport, and Bill #3429 that allows the mayor to execute an agreement between the city and Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to extend the airport master plan and layout Project 14-066a-1 to be completed by July 31^st, 2020. The board will also hear Resolution #22-2019 to approve the MoDOT documents related to the state block grant for the construction of T-Hangers, Taxilanes and the replacement of the wind cone. In new business, the board will discuss the Fall Clean Up week that will be held in October and the Lagers Annual Meeting before going into closed session to discuss contracts and personnel. The workshop, Planning and Zoning public hearing and public meeting, and the regular Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday are all open to the public.