Archive for 2020

The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Tuesday, August 11th at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. After the roll call and approving the agenda, Salem Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois explained the Spring Soccer Program that was moved to the summer at the last Park Board meeting, was cancelled due to lack of available coaches as well as the heat. It was also coming right off the baseball, softball and T-Ball program which started late this year. She currently has her staff contacting parents of those who signed up if they want a refund or want a credit to use for a later sports season. Dubois said signups for Flag Football and Cheerleading is going on now though August 28th for boys and girls in 1st through 6th grades. She also is looking for program sponsors or sports banner sponsors for flag football. Dubois said the attendance at the pool most of the summer has been very good except for the cool week in August. She said the concessions have been up and everyone has done a good job of staying in their “family units” in the pool area. She said there have been 17 pool parties to date with nine remaining. She also said there have been 31 pavilion rentals this year. She reported there were 27 teams with 119 games played during the summer, baseball and T-Ball leagues with NO rainouts. She reported everything went fairly smooth even with the request of social distancing and asking people to spread out to watch the games. Dubois said a pre-inspection meeting on the LWCF Soccer Field Grant this year was held by phone where the application was reviewed and corrections made where requested. The state liked the application and forwarded it to the federal government for their review. A decision on the application is expected to be made in September and announced in October. Dubois said all six basketball goals are now installed at the Salem Community Center@The Armory gym. New electric for the wench motors and the floor separation curtain also still needs to be installed along with the new floor. It is hoped the gym will be ready for basketball season. A fall softball league is planned at Al Brown Fields and Dubois is looking at possibly holding more tournaments. Park Board President Stan Podorski reported the TAP grant for a trail from Pavilion #1 to the Salem R-80 Administrative Building is now complete. He mentioned there have been a number of modifications to the original plan as the trail goes along Route J to the Salem Community Center@The Armory, down the hill on the north side of the driveway to the ball fields, across the bridge where people can walk to the park entrance road for a handicapped parking area to the east, or go north and end up at Billy’s Playground and splash pad as well as two handicapped parking spaces in front of the bathroom area by the pavilion. The TAP grant is an 80%-20% grant with MoDOT paying the 80% and it took almost four years to be completed. Podorski pointed out drainage work was done to the field behind the Armory in the southwest corner where there has always been a water problem by Maggi who did the TAP grant work. That project was paid for out of the Capital Improvement Fund. Podorski also reported that the Park and Recreation sales tax receipts for the last three months have continued to come in over last year’s tax receipts and he appreciates everyone buying local during the COVID-19 pandemic and the huge amount of tourists that have come through the area since spring contributing to those numbers remaining up. The meeting was then adjourned.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the results of the Driver and Vehicle Safety Division’s 2020 annual school bus inspection program. Missouri’s 2020 school bus inspection results are as follows. Upon initial inspection 10,539 buses were rated as “approved,” while 1,030 were rated as “defective” and 259 were rated as “out-of-service.” Those buses found defective require repair within 10 days. Buses placed out-of-service require correction of the component(s) prior to further usage. In Dent County 100% of the buses presented for inspection by Dent-Phelps R-3 and Salem R-80 were rated as “approved.” Green Forest R-2 had five of seven buses approved with one bus being “defective” and one “out of service.” Northwood R-IV had four of six buses “approved,” while one bus was “defective” and one bus was “out of service.” Oak Hill R-I had two of five buses “approved,” two buses “defective,” and one bus “out of service.” Missouri school bus inspection results are a matter of public record. Individual school district results for 2020 and school bus inspection criteria, including a listing of Missouri’s out-of-service criteria are available on the Missouri State Highway Patrol Website.

Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley reported on two cases heard on Tuesday August 11th in Crawford County in front of Judge Kelly Parker in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court. In the first case, Dekota Brege of West Plains had his probation revoked for failing to register as a sex offender for the second time which is a Class E Felony. He was sentenced to four years in the Department of Corrections. In the second case of the day, Curley reported that Timothy Vance of Salem pled guilty to felony stealing charges from Roberts-Judson Lumber Company and for the possession of methamphetamine. Vance was sentenced to ten years in the Department of Corrections.

The Dent County Health Center announced Monday of a 12th positive COVID-19 Case in the county followed on Tuesday by a 13th case. The Salem Wal-Mart this past Saturday between 6:00 and 7:00 in the evening was identified as a location of possible exposure with the 13th case. Individuals at this location may be at low risk for contracting COVID-19, but should monitor for symptoms. If you suspect that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, let your health care provider know before seeking care. It is critical that your provider is aware that you may have COVID-19 prior to your arrival at a healthcare facility, and that you follow all instructions for arriving at a healthcare facility. If you have any questions, please call the Dent County Health Center at 729-3106.

At the Dent County Commissioners meeting held Monday, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams delivered to the commissioners’ information about the sales tax received in the month of August. Williams reported the General Revenue Fund and the LEST Fund each received $87,422.40 in August and that is $10,816.74 more than the $76,705.66 received in August of 2019. Year-to-date, both funds are up $41,044.12 and that comes to about a 6.53% increase. In the Road and Bridge Fund, the county received $42,175.68 and that is $5,772.90 more than the 2019 figure of $36,402.78. Year-to-date, the county Road and Bridge Fund is up $24,313.25 which would is an 8.41% increase. Williams also released the numbers for the Dent County Jail Operating fund and the Trust Fund. They both came in at $84,351.65 and that was $11,521.89 more than the $72,829.76 received in August of 2019. Year-to-date, the funds for the jail are both up $46,932.08 or about 8.10%.

An accident happened Monday afternoon shortly before 12:30 in Cole County on Highway 54 westbound at Old Bass Road. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2010 Ford Ranger being driven by 17-year old Maria Werner of Steelville, failed to yield when entering the highway and struck the side of a 2006 Kenworth being driven by 61-year old Robert Morlang of Saint Joe, Arkansas. Werner suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment. Werner was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled while the Kenworth sustained moderate damage. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Tow Pro.

The highway patrol released reports of two accidents on Monday that occurred in Phelps County. The first happened around 2:45 in the afternoon on Route Y about four miles west of Route E. A 1994 Ford F-150 being driven by 20- year old Echo Deeds of Rolla was westbound when she traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a culvert. Deeds was transported by EMS to Phelps Health for treatment of minor injuries. He was wearing a safety restraint when the accident happened. The Ford sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing. The second accident happened shortly before 10:00 Monday evening on Interstate 44 eastbound near the 193 mile marker. According to the report, a 2008 Nissan Versa being driven by 41-year old Shawn Leroux of Rolla, struck the rear of a 2009 Dodge Journey being driven by 37-year old Matthew Sherrill of Steelville. Leroux suffered moderate injuries and was transported by St. James ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Dodge sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene. The Nissan received extensive damage and was removed by Spurgeons Towing. Both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has submitted the following reports for early August. On Saturday, August 1st, a Deputy traveled to a residence in the 10,000 block of East Highway 32 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 61-year-old Salem woman was arrested for two active warrants through Dent County. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. The next day, Sunday August 2nd, a Deputy conducted a traffic stop on MacArthur Street and Hunt Street. During the course of the traffic stop, a 40-year-old Salem man was arrested for BAC – a prior offender and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia – a prior drug offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If anyone has information about an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The public and businesses are invited to take part of the Chamber Expo this Saturday from 10:00 in the morning until 1:00 that afternoon being held on the parking lot of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center parking lot at 1136 South Main Street. Sales will be allowed at the Chamber Expo, however no alcohol, tobacco, or drug related items are permitted on the property. No food sales are allowed however there will be samples and giveaways. Non members may contact the Chamber to purchase booth space and one table will be permitted for each chamber member who reserves a booth. Tents are also welcome. Participants can set up between 8:00 and 10:00 Saturday morning and must be completed by 10:00. Participants are also encouraged to have giveaways, drawings and samples. Exhibitors will not be eligible for prizes. For more information on the Chamber Expo, you may call the Chamber office at 729-6900 or e-mail them chamber@salemmo.com or visit www.salemmo.com.