Archive for 2019

An accident occurred Friday evening at 8:30 on Highway 32 fourteen miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Pontiac G6 driven by 24-year old Steven Hoffman of Anderson, was traveling westbound and traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. Hoffman suffered minor injuries and was transported to Salem Hospital. Hoffman was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Pontiac was totaled and towed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will meet tonight at 7:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board will immediately go into closed session to discuss real estate before reopening the meeting and hearing Deloris Gray Wood with the Old Middle School Committee and the committee’s recommendation on what to do with the building. Bids will then be heard on based on her recommendation. After the consent agenda, the board will discuss Resolution #2019-9 that authorizes the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Second Sight Systems for water meter replacement and matters relating to those replacements. The board will also discuss Bill #3411 that will amend the annual budget for the City of Salem that shows additional income and expenses in certain categories. The board will also discus Bill #3412 that would amend Chapter 215 of the Municipal Code that deals with nuisances including nuisance abatements and administration fees. Under old business will be the discussion of the dumping of port-a-potties in the Waster Water Treatment Facility with Black’s A-1 Septic. LLC. At this time, the board will canvass the election results of the April 2nd Municipal Election and declare the results official in Resolution #10-2019. The board will then thank outgoing aldermen Dr. Haydn Powell and Chad Heithold for their services and welcome new East Ward Alderwoman Rachel Hinderliter and West Ward Aldermen Kevin James. The board will reorganize before continuing the meeting and hearing City Administrator Ray Walden’s report. City Attorney William Camm Seay will then discuss the intricacies of nuisance violations and present information to the board. The board will then discuss Resolution 11-2019 which would authorize the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Central Tank Coatings for an additional $150,000 in repair work to the water sphere tank on South Wines. The meeting will then be adjourned. The Salem Board of Aldermen meeting is open to the public except for the initial closed session for real estate.

Intercounty Electric congratulates local high school juniors in the area that participated in their Co-Op essay contest in February. Winners that will be going to Washington D.C. include Katrina Parks of Salem, Sam Lavely of Licking, Connor Wilson of Houston and Patrick Hawkins of Summersville. Other students won a trip to Jefferson City as part of the CYCLE program and that includes Baillie Joyner and Hannah Tillery of Licking, Jaekan Moss of Houston, Michelle Doyle of St. James, Sydney Neseth and Nicholas Stark of Summerville.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for April 4th through April 7th. On Thursday afternoon, the 4th, at approximately 4:28, an officer was conducting an investigation of a suspicious person in the 400 block of West Rolla Road. The investigation led to the arrest of a 33-year old male of Salem for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and on an active arrest warrant from the State of Missouri. The suspect was incarcerated pending a warrant application and on the active arrest warrant. On the afternoon of April 5th at approximately 3:53, an officer was dispatched to the area of Third Street and Missouri in reference to a domestic disturbance. The investigation of the report revealed a 56- year-old female of Salem had assaulted a 36- year-old male of Wentzville, Missouri. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect who was referred to prosecution. On the morning of April 7th at about 11:06, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 47-year-old male of Salem for driving without a having valid license. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and was released. Just a few minutes later at approximately 11:15, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1800 block of South Oak in reference to a disturbance. The investigation of the report revealed a 29-year-old female of Salem had assaulted a 33-year-old male of Salem. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect for assault and disorderly conduct. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 573-729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies the county received in April. She said the General Revenue Fund received $105,219.98 which is $18,893.94 more than last year’s figure of $86,326.04. She said the LEST funds received were virtually identical to the General Revenue Funds with the exception of a few cents. Year-to-date, those funds are up over $1,190. Williams stated the Road and Bridge Department Fund received $48,661.70 and that is up from the 2018 figure of $38,903.55 which is more than $9,700. Year-to-date that fund is up $5,999.02. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust Fund received a total of $194,449.18 which is up from $153,474.22 from last April. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5130, 5600 and 6485, while only grading would be done on county road 6490. He also said materials would be added to county road 5170 and that a crew would be replacing tires on dump truck #123. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3193, 3195 and 3330 while only materials would be added to county road 4380. Larson went on to say that grading would be done on county roads 2530, 2540, 2550 and 3195. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending a Workforce Investment Board Caucus today. He said all three commissioners and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley attended the Missouri Association of Counties meeting in Jefferson City on Monday. He said the meeting was a pretty good one with a lot of topics discussed. Also at the meeting, Sarah Massengale from the Dent County Extension, Liz Gruendel from the Salem Area Community Betterment Association and Jenna Deeson from Living the Dream Real Estate were in attendance to discuss the placement of picnic tables on the courthouse lawn for the community to use for lunch or to just take a break. Massengale said she had visited with over 30 businesses along the courthouse square and on 4th Street and no one was opposed to the idea and many liked the idea. Massengale they would like to place three tables on the lawn in the shade. The tables will be made by the Sheltered Workshop and be painted turquoise. After some discussion about trash and care of the tables, the commission approved the placing of the tables on the lawn for a trial basis this year. They would revisit the situation around the first of the year. Sheriff Bob Wells came to the meeting to discuss bids for prisoner meals. There was one bid received and it was for $6.00 for each hot evening meal from Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell. That bid is good from April 15th through January 1, 2020. The commission also approved the request of Sheriff Wells to purchase a 2019 Chevy Crew Cab Pickup on the state bid which is being offered by Don Brown Chevy of St. Louis. The board also approved the request of Sheriff Bob Wells to seek sealed bids for the lease/purchase financing of the vehicle for two and three years. Those bids will be opened on Monday, April 22nd at 10:00 in the morning. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened Wednesday night at 9:20 in Maries County on Route Z about three miles west of Highway 28 that took the life of a Belle man. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 Harley Davidson, operated by 40-year old Jason Roberds of Belle, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck the ditch, overturned and struck a large hay bale. Roberds was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:50 by Maries County Deputy Coroner Leo Kloeppel. Roberds was wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. There was moderate damage to the Harley Davidson.

The 2019 Business Expo will be held tomorrow morning from 9:00 until noon at Salem Community Center @ the Armory, located at 1200 West Rolla Road. Numerous businesses will be advertising their products and services as well as offering promotional and giveaways items. There are four star giveaways this year and they are provided by A-1 Tech of Rolla, Town & Country Bank, Your Community Health Center, and Salem Bowling Center. The 2019 Business Expo is open to everyone and it is FREE! The Business Expo is organized by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.