Archive for 2019

The Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, City of Salem Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge gave the commissioners an update on the economic activity during the month of June in the city and county including new prospects, ongoing opportunities and projects, marketing activities and new city business licenses that were issued. She also updated the commission on grants and explained to the commission about the medical marijuana ordinance that was passed by the city due to Amendment 2 being passed by the state and the restrictions and requirements of dispensaries and manufacturing. She talked about the historic Salem Ghost Tour hosted by Jacob Stotler that was held Friday night and drew about 300 people to the event. The next ghost tour will be held July 12th and 26th, while a special tour of McArthur Avenue will be held on Friday, July 19th. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5390 and 6660 while grading and ditch work will be done on county road 5130. Purcell stated that materials would be added and grading done on county road 5380 and brush was going to be cut on Dent County Roads 4180 and 4210. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3200 and 4285, while only grading would be done on county roads 2350, 3180, and 4283. Larson went on to report that brush was going to be cut on county roads 3030 and 3040 and backhoe would be taken out to county road 2090 to clean out some pipes. He said patch grading would be done on county road 2070 and a man would be traveling to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal patching. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he attended the Advisory Committee Meeting at the Wurdack Farm last Thursday and it was good turnout where the Dean of the Missouri College of Agriculture was there along with a number of people from the agricultural school. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that a voter canvass is underway and that people should be receiving a blue voter registration card in the mail. At the last meeting, the commission approved to allow the Salem Chamber choir to sell snow cones and Christmas ornaments on the courthouse lawn. It was also announced the Dent County Courthouse would be closed for Independence Day and also on Friday. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday, July 8th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released a number of reports. On Friday night, June 21st at about 9:37, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of South Hickory reference a domestic assault. The investigation of the report revealed a 26-year-old female of Salem had assaulted a 26-year-old male of Salem and left the residence in an intoxicated condition with children. After a further investigation, the suspect was located and placed under arrest for driving while being intoxicated, domestic assault and for endangering the welfare of a child. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and was released. Then on Saturday evening, June 22nd near 6:57, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1800 block of South Oak reference a domestic disturbance. That investigation revealed a 48-year-old male of Salem had unlawfully entered onto the property of another and refused to leave. A further investigation led to the arrest of a male suspect for trespassing. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and was released. And finally on Wednesday, June 26th at approximately 7:09 in the evening, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 33-year-old male of Salem for driving while having their license revoked and for the unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host the annual Alley Spring Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, July 6th, from 6:00 to 9:00 in the evening. This event commemorates the traditional picnic celebrations that were held at Alley Spring around the turn of the twentieth century when this area was the social gathering place for local families. The sounds of the Buzzard Run Bluegrass Band and stomping of the Country Ho’ Downers square dance group will ring throughout the valley. Free ice-cold watermelon and lemonade will be provided to visitors. The Spring Dipper from Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, will be on site dipping up delicious handmade ice cream. Bring the family and a lawn chair or lawn blanket and take part in one of the classic celebrations that define the Alley Community. Alley Spring is located five miles west of Eminence on State Route 106. For more information, phone (573) 226-3945, or visit the park’s Facebook page or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.

An accident happened Sunday night at 9:10 in Dent County at the junction of Highway 72 and Route J that took the life of a Salem man. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara driven southbound by 23-year old Megan Caesar of Salem, was stopped in the merge lane to turn onto Route J when a 2018 GMC Pickup driven northbound by 61-year old Cynthia Fruehauf of Greenbrier, Arkansas, crossed the center line and struck the Suzuki head-on. A passenger in the Suzuki, 72-year old Timothy Gibson of Salem was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead by Dr. White at 11:11 Sunday night. Fruehauf suffered serious injuries and was Air Evac’d to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Caesar suffered serious injuries as well and was Air Evac’d to the University Hospital in Columbia as was another passenger in the Suzuki, 61-year old James Gibson of Salem who also suffered serious injuries. Everyone but James Gibson was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

An accident happened Sunday afternoon at 2:20 in Crawford County on Highway 19 about six miles south of Steelville. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Hyundai Elantra driven northbound by 26-year old Rachel Farmer of Steelville traveled off the right side of the roadway. Farmer then overcorrected and the Elantra crossed the roadway where the Hyundai traveled off the left side of the road where the vehicle collided with an embankment. Farmer, who was not wearing a seat restraint, suffered serious injuries and was transported by Air Ambulance to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. The Hyundai was totaled in the accident and was removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

An accident happened in Texas County on Pigeon Creek Road about three miles north of Licking Friday night at about 10:30. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Ford F-150 driven eastbound by 17-year old Lucas Green of Licking traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Lucas suffered minor injuries and was transported to Phelps Health in Rolla. He was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and was removed later by the owner.

An accident occurred Thursday night at approximately 9:09 in Crawford County on Route V about two miles east of Davisville. According to the highway patrol report, a 1994 Ford F-150 driven by 36-year-old Jeremie Crocker of Viburnum, traveled off the right side of the roadway. Crocker overcorrected and the Ford traveled off the left side of the roadway. The truck then overturned ejecting Crocker and the Ford came to rest against a tree. Crocker suffered serious injuries and was taken by Air Evac to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. The report stated that Crocker was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Abney’s Towing.

An accident happened in Texas County Thursday afternoon on Highway 63 about three miles south of Houston. According to the highway patrol report, 2017 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup driven southbound by 60-year old Roger Scott of Sullivan, slowed to make a left hand turn and was struck from behind by a 1996 Ford Ranger driven by 60-year old Mark McDonald of Rolla. McDonald suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Texas County Memorial Hospital. The Ranger was totaled in the accident while the Dodge Ram sustained extensive damage. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Jay’s Towing. Both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular meeting tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers. In the hearing of persons, Randy League will talk with the board about the Current River Blue Oval Rally that will be held in Salem on September 7th. The board will then hear the bids received by the city as they are looking for a used tractor. After the consent agenda, City Administrator Ray Walden will give his report that will include setting a date for the nusiance workshop. The board will discuss Resolution #16-2019 that authorizes the mayor and the Salem Board of Aldermen to approve an agreement between the City of Salem and Dent County Collector, Dent County Commission and Dent County Treasurer for the collection of taxes due to the city for personal property, real estate and Salem Public Library. The board will address Bill #3422 that would create an ordinance that would allow the subdivision of 202, 204 and 206 West Fourth Street. The board will also address Bill #3423 that authorizes Mayor Nash to sign and execute a change order agreement between the city of Salem and Donald Maggi, inc for the old Middle School. The board will discuss trailer court licenses, give direction on the UTV requirements to City Clerk Mary Happel, and approve transformer repairs that have gone bad over the year that will be over $3,000. The board will then go into closed session to discuss contracts and personnel. The regular meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen will be tonight at 7:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The City of Salem is reminding everyone that if they would like a brick from the Old Middle/High School, they will be available at the parking lot behind the City Administration Parking lot. The City asks that those interested take only one brick per person. The bricks will be available from 2:00 until 4:00 in the afternoon.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting following a public hearing and public meeting Thursday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission Gary Brown, discussed with the board the hearing about subdividing a parcel of land located at 202, 204 and 206 West Fourth Street. This is already zoned commercial. There were no objections to the request to subdivide the property. The Planning and Zoning Commission then approved to recommend the request to the Board of Alderman for the subdividing request. Brown also spoke to the board about the proposed zoning update in relation to the passing of Amendment 2 in the state for the selling and cultivating of medical marijuana. An ordinance was prepared with the assistance of Economic development Director Sally Burbridge that the commission reviewed. They recommended to the board to go with the ordinance that was numbered #3420 with two changes being made: the first was in Section 2 under Item A that said no marijuana dispensary shall be located within 500 feet of an existing elementary or secondary school, child day care center, church or public park, not the 1,000 feet in the original ordinance; and in the same section, Item A and subparagraph 3 that says the measurement shall be made along the shortest path between the demarcation points that can lawfully be drawn on a map and not lawfully traveled by foot as stated in the ordinance. The board would take action on the request later. Burbridge then spoke on behalf of Jacob Stotler with a request to let the city close some streets during his downtown historical ghost tours that will be held every other Friday through August 9th. The streets to be closed by the police from about 8:30 until 9:30 would be 4th Street between Iron and Main Streets and also between Main and Henderson Streets, and 3rd Street between Henderson and Washington Streets. The request was approved by the board. Attorney William Camm Seay then read the entire Ordinance #3420 twice because of the suggested changes to the ordinance before the board approved the ordinance. The board also approved the 2019-2020 budget that will begin Monday, July 1st and end on June 30th, 2020. Anticipated revenues for the fiscal year are $13,604,997 with anticipated expenditures of $13,560,727. The budget was approved with a 3-1 vote as Alderman Kenny Nash voted against the budget as he was concerned with the debt being incurred by the city with their improvement projects on the Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sewer Extension. City Clerk Mary Happel presented another trailer court license application to the board that she received from Central Missouri Investments for the trailer park at 703 South Pershing. She said this trailer park had not yet been inspected but there have been very few problems with it in the past. The board approved the license on a contingent basis agreeing to award the license if the trailer park passes the inspection or makes required improvements before a deadline set at the time of inspection. Happel also updated the board on Truman Court Trailer Park that all improvements required will be made by Monday, July 1st. The board then adjourned.

Jacob Stotler will host another Downtown Salem Historic Ghost Tour tonight from 8:30-9:30. The event is free and the public is welcome to attend. Those interested can meet at the Dent County Courthouse gazebo on the square, downtown. The first tour attracted over 400 people to the event. The tour will begin with a trek through downtown, listening to the tales of the past, and tales of those from the past coming back to visit. Some unusual facts about Salem will also be described. See you there!

The deadline to nominate a Missouri veteran/active duty service member for the 2019 Missouri State Fair Military Flag Retreat is July 4, 2019. To be selected, individuals must be nominated using the form available on the Missouri State Fair website. Nominees must be Missouri residents and be available one of the eleven days of the 117th Missouri State Fair. Once a nomination is completed it can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the Missouri State Fair office. Send in your nominations now to join us in honoring our military service men and women in the first ever Military Flag Retreat Ceremony at the 2019 Missouri State Fair!