Archive for 2020

Your World Today and KSMO Radio want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and the very best for 2021. Because of New Year’s Day this Friday, Your World Today will not be published.

An accident happened in Pettis County at 8:48 Wednesday morning on Route H just south of Cherry Tree Lane that took the life of a St. James man. According to the highway patrol report, 23-year old Collin Oetting of St. James was driving a 2005 Chevy Silverado northbound when he failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the right side of the roadway. The vehicle struck an embankment and came to rest in a creek on its top. Oetting was pronounced dead at the scene by Pettis County Deputy Coroner Brian Morley at 8:59. Oetting’s body was transported by the deputy coroner to the McLaughlin Funeral Home. Oetting was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevy Silverado was totaled and removed from the scene by Don’s Towing of Sedalia. The highway patrol was assisted by the Pettis County Sheriff’s Department.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to make good decisions regarding their New Year’s celebration. No one wants to start 2021 with a traffic crash or DWI arrest. The 2021 New Year’s 78-hour holiday counting period is from 6:00 this evening and ends at 11:59 Sunday night, January 3rd, 2021. During last year’s 30-hour New Year’s holiday counting period, one person died and 140 people were injured in 323 traffic crashes. Thus, a person was killed or injured every 12.8 minutes during that time frame. If your plans to welcome the new year include alcohol, remember that 2021 will be more difficult if you are arrested for driving while intoxicated or involved in a drinking-related traffic crash. If you’re driving, don’t include alcohol or illegal substances in your plan. If you plan to drive this New Year’s, remember to buckle up and make sure all your passengers do the same. Pay attention, obey all traffic laws, and when in doubt, yield the right-of-way. Be sure to use your turn signal to communicate your intentions. Before you travel, check road conditions by calling 1-888-275-6636. Allow extra time during inclement weather or consider staying home. Remember: Missouri law states if you’re using your windshield wipers, your headlights must be turned on.

The Salem R-80 Art Department 2021 Art Calendars are in and are ready for purchase. For the past eighteen years, Salem High School art students have shared the beauty of our local landmarks and life in the Ozarks through selected drawings in our annual calendar. By doing this, we wish to showcase the work of these students, and encourage artists of all ages to pursue their love of drawing the landscapes and people that make up our heritage. This calendar cover, drawn by Lara Stevens, features Michael Helm, a well-known and much-loved local artist, volunteer, and teacher. Helm was not only a local artist around the area, but was also a well-known volunteer, most notably as Santa for the annual Trees and Trains exhibit in Salem. Helm passed away January 4, 2020 in Salem at the age of 61, leaving a legacy for the Ozarks to be passed on for generations. Calendars are available for sale at The Salem News, The Salem Public Library and the Salem High School via any of the individual art students for $10 each. This year’s artists include: Lara Stevens, Allison Parker-Lewis, Nathan Pyle, Alivia Faith LaJoie, Rachel Sheffield, Faith Pace, Jordan Schneider, Selena Hall, Wyatt Thomas, Kyra Oby, Macey Jarrett, Dylan Seabaugh, Ethan Wilson-Webber, and Mickayla Schlicker. The art instructor for the 2021 Calendar project was Tana Kettner.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol wants to remind motorists that when adverse weather conditions are in the forecast, you should check road conditions before driving to help determine if the trip can be completed safely. Consulting the Missouri Road Condition Report (1-888-275-6636) or MoDOT’s Road Condition Map at traveler.modot.org/map/ will provide the most current road condition information available. If conditions dictate, avoid driving on Missouri’s roadways. If you must travel, make sure your vehicle is completely clean from snow and ice, use your headlights to increase visibility, and reduce your speed when the roadway appears wet or snow is present. Remember: Missouri law states if you’re using your windshield wipers, your headlights must be turned on. During inclement weather, please adjust your speed to the conditions. Do not use cruise control and increase your following distance. It is next to impossible to stop quickly on snow-covered or slick roads. Allow extra driving time for you to reach your destination at a slow, safe speed. If you choose to travel in inclement weather, keep your fuel tank at least half full. Having an ice scraper, battery booster cables, blankets, extra coats, gloves, water, non-perishable food, first aid kit, flashlight, small shovel, and a bag of sand or cat litter in your trunk can help in an emergency. It only takes one traffic crash to close a roadway for several hours. Being prepared is critical. Before you travel, make sure your cell phone is fully charged and keep it with you. Do not use your cell phone when you are driving; park your vehicle well off the roadway or in a parking lot before placing a call. The Missouri State Highway Patrol emergency number is 1-800-525-5555 (or *55 on a cellular phone). If you are involved in a crash or slide off the roadway, stay inside your vehicle with your seat belt on. The safest course of action is to contact law enforcement by cell phone and remain inside your vehicle. When remaining in your vehicle, place it in park and turn off the engine. Understand the signs of hypothermia and frostbite and how to prevent them. Create a plan to handle the chance of getting stranded.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, the superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reported on the preliminary statistics related to the Christmas holiday weekend. In the 78-hour counting period from Christmas Eve at 6:00 in the evening until 11:59 Sunday night, December 27th, five people died in traffic crashes. Troopers investigated 175 traffic crashes with 55 injuries and five deaths. There were a total of 62 driving while impaired arrests made. Last year during the 30-hour Christmas counting period, there were 278 traffic crashes statewide. In those crashes, three people were killed and another 111 were injured. During the 2019 Christmas holiday, troopers arrested 20 people for driving while impaired. There were no boating crashes or drownings over the 2020 Christmas holiday counting period. Two traffic fatalities occurred in the Troop A Lee’s Summit area; while there was one traffic fatality that occurred in the Troop C in the Weldon Spring area; Troop F in the Jefferson City area, and Troop G in the Willow Springs area.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Sunday afternoon, December 13th, at approximately 2:45 an officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Pershing and Center streets for expired registration. During the traffic stop it was found the driver had an active warrant for his arrest. As a result, a 41-year-old Salem male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. That night at approximately 10:15 an officer was dispatched to Walmart for a report of trespassing. It was reported that a male subject had been in the store for hours and following and harassing customers. After being asked to leave the store the male subject became very agitated and belligerent and refused to leave the store. As a result, a 36-year-old Salem male was arrested for trespassing. The male subject resisted arrest and continued to be belligerent. The male subject was transported to the Dent County Jail and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the application of warrants. Finally on Monday night, December 14th, at approximately 9:05 an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of east Roosevelt for a report of a theft of a firearm. It was reported that between the hours of 3:00 in the afternoon and 9:00 that night a gun was taken from his vehicle that was parked at the premises. The firearm was described as a Savage .243 valued at $500. This incident is still under investigation. Contact the Salem Police at 573-729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance due to illness. First District Commissioner Dennis Purcell acted as presiding commissioner for the meeting in Skiles’ absence. In the road report, Purcell stated that a call was received for a downed tree on Dent County Road 5440. Workers went out and removed the tree as well as some burnt couch springs that were at the scene. Purcell said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5630, 6370 and 6500 while brush would be cut on county roads 5630 and 5650. Purcell went on to say that with wintry weather in the forecast, the crews will be checking out the snow removal and salt spreading equipment. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson expressed his deep sorrow for the loss of District 2 Road Supervisor Sam Gorman who passed away Christmas day. A friend to everyone, Gorman will be missed by all that knew him. Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 3300 while only grading would be done on county roads 3310 and 4280. He went on to say brush would be cut on county road 4040. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she would continue to work on getting the 2021 budget prepared for the commissioners as work on the budget would begin next week. She wanted to remind everyone the Dent County Collector’s office will be open extended hours this week from 8:00 until 5:30 daily through Thursday for those who want to pay their real estate or personal property taxes in person. You can also mail in your taxes, but they MUST be postmarked by December 31st to avoid any penalties. You can also drop off your payment in the drop box at the southwest corner of the courthouse lawn before January 1st. Payment of taxes can also be made online by following the instruction on your tax bill. There is a fee to pay your taxes online by ACH, debit or credit card. It was noted with President Trump’s signing of the latest economic COVID-19 incentive package, the CARES Act deadline has been extended to December 31st, 2021. Three CARES Act applications were mailed to the commissioners for their approval and they were from the Dent County Health Center for $9,579.30, Oak Hill R-1 School for $13,630.06 and Green Forest R-2 School for $1,516.17. The meeting Monday was the last meeting for 1st District Commissioner Dennis Purcell who will be stepping aside after serving 12 years as a commissioner for newly elected 1st District Commissioner Wes Mobray. Mobray will be sworn-in this Thursday afternoon to his new position. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday, January 4th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Service Unit of The Salvation Army would like to announce that they have successfully surpassed their $35,000 goal during this year’s Christmas Kettle Campaign. The total raised was $35,410.13 to date. Along with the monetary donations received this year, 208 local children were adopted at the Angel Trees located at Wal-Mart. The local Salvation Army Board would like to thank everyone who made monetary donations and/or who adopted an angel. They also extend their greatest appreciation to the dedicated volunteers that took time out of their busy holiday season to ring the bells at the kettles. The community’s continued generosity will be distributed through- out 2021 to those less fortunate in Dent County.

A one vehicle accident happened Sunday afternoon just before 4:00 in Phelps County on Phelps County Road 3010 just north of Route BB. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt being driven by 17-year old Gabriel Buell of Rolla, traveled off the right side of the road. Buell overcorrected causing the vehicle to overturn in the roadway before sliding off the left side of the road and coming to a stop. Buell, who was wearing a safety restraint, was transported to Phelps Health for treatment of minor injuries. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing.