Archive for 2020

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages Missouri’s travelers to make smart choices for a safe Independence Day holiday. The state’s wide variety of recreational opportunities is a great way to celebrate our nation’s freedoms. But, no matter what you plan for the long weekend, you can’t go wrong if you choose to follow all Missouri traffic and boating laws. It is also important to observe social distancing and other CDC guidelines related to the coronavirus, and stay home if you are ill. During the 2019 counting period, 15 people were killed and 457 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,109 traffic crashes. Over the 2019 July Fourth holiday, troopers arrested 162 people for driving while being intoxicated. Of the injuries suffered last year during the Independence Day holiday, 58 people were seriously injured in traffic crashes in Missouri. Of the 73 people killed or injured, 18 were involved in a crash where there was at least one substance-impaired driver. The 15 fatalities included three motorcyclists, one ATV occupant and 11 vehicle occupants, with 80% of the 11 vehicle occupants being unbuckled. The 58 serious injuries included two pedestrians, 11 motorcyclists and 45 vehicle occupants with 65% of those being unbelted. In 2019, there were nine boating crashes, which included four injuries and zero fatalities. Three people drowned during last year’s July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 13 boating while being intoxicated arrests in 2019. The 2020 counting period for the Independence Day holiday will be from 6:00 tonight until 11:59 Sunday night, July 6th. The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) and Operation Dry Water over the July Fourth holiday weekend. Operation Dry Water specifically targets impaired vessel operators. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri roadways and waterways to enforce traffic and boating laws, and offering assistance as needed. Missouri’s boaters are asked to do their part by remaining alert for other boats and swimmers, and being courteous on the water. With more boats on the water, it is even more important to pay attention when operating your vessel. Never operate a vessel if you’ve consumed alcohol. Boaters need to be aware that it is illegal to discharge fireworks from a vessel. Leave all fireworks in a safe place on shore. Anyone needing assistance or who witnesses criminal activity while traveling on Missouri’s roadways or waterways can contact the nearest Highway Patrol troop headquarters by calling the Patrol Emergency Report Line at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. Motorists may call 1-888-275-6636 to check for road construction along their travel route.

The Impact 100 Dent County, a committee of the Dent County Community Foundation, has two grant opportunities for the 2020 grant making cycle for not-for-profit organizations. The first grant represents a broad base of categories including parks and recreation, arts, education and community development. This grant will be awarded to the not-for-profit organization chosen by the Impact 100 committee on July 16. A short presentation will be required of the not-for-profit representative at the ceremony. The second grant to be awarded is a restricted grant with only applications related to health initiatives allowed for this grant. These two grants are $3,000 and $4,000.00 respectively. A not-for-profit organization can only apply for one of the grants. These applications are due July 10. If you have any questions, please call Mary Beth Cook, the Dent County Community Foundation coordinator at 573-453-6091. The Impact 100 Dent County is a giving circle, money from this effort is returned to our community to enhance the lives of citizens.

The City of Salem Annual Budget for their next fiscal year approved at the special board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday night that began July 1st, shows expected revenues of $12,860,186 with expected expenses of $12,791,822. Capital projects expected to be done in the next fiscal year came to $3,039,984. To keep the budget conservative due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the budgeted sales tax figures for general revenue, the capital improvement fund and the park and recreation department were approximately 90% of what was received in 2019-2020 fiscal year. There are two payments scheduled in the next fiscal year totaling about $500,000 for the Certificates of Participation funding for the sewer plant upgrade and other utility projects. Those payments are allocated proportionately from the electric, water and sewer funds. Also, a 2% cost of living adjustment was made for staff along with a 2% merit increase pool, plus personnel levels are expected to remain the same as the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The Board of Aldermen also approved to continue to fund the service agreements with the University of Missouri Extension, the Dent County Museum, Healthy Dent County and the Salem Area Community Betterment Association. City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to thank the citizen committees, mayor, aldermen and staff for their hard work, efforts and thoroughness during the budget process for their efforts with a special thanks going to City Clerk Mary Happel.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways, in partnership with the Ozark Riverways Foundation and Current River State Park, will be offering free paddling clinics each Sunday starting July 5th and lasting through August 9th at the Current River State Park. These free clinics are open to ten participants per program and pre-registration is required. Participants will need to provide their own personal flotation device & lunch. Paddlers will meet at Current River State Park at 10:00 in the morning for one hour of dry land basic skills, followed by instruction and paddling practice on the lower lake. Students will have the option to continue instruction on the river in the afternoon, paddling approximately four miles from Current River State Park to Round Spring. Instructors for this clinic are certified by the American Canoe Association. Topics to be covered include canoe and kayak equipment, rescue techniques, basic paddle strokes and maneuvers, and river safety. Kayaks and paddles will be supplied by Current River State Park. All participants are encouraged to practice safe social distancing and to wear appropriate face coverings if desired. Kayaks and paddles will be sanitized before and after the clinic in an effort to promote good hygiene. This is an open-air event. For more information or to register for one of the sessions call the Round Spring Visitor Center at 573-323-8093.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting Tuesday evening at the Salem City Hall Council Cambers. At the meeting, the board approved remodeling the city administrative office to turn the utility office counter around as well as install glass and a door. The bid of 16,041 from Total Security System out of Fowlerville, Michigan was approved to provide the Level 3 door and Bullet Resistant Glazing was approved, as was the bid from Prock Operations doing business as For Your Convenience out of Rolla for the laminated millwork, Level 2 Armorcore, countertops, fabrication, installation and delivery for $29,978. The board then approved Bill #3452 that adopted an annual budget for the City of Salem for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1st, 2020 and ending June 30th, 2021. The budget, submitted by City Administrator Ray Walden, showed anticipated revenues of $12,860,186 and anticipated expenditures of $12,791,822 with intergovernmental transfers of $2,197,462. The proposed budget was approved without changes by the board unanimously. City Clerk Mary Happel reported that two of the three trailer courts have submitted their applications for license renewal. Those two were the Finest Place on Truman and the trailer court owned by central Missouri Investments on Pershing. Building Inspector Jared Brown reported to Happel that each of the trailer courts needed to have some minor repairs done, but he felt confident the work would be done quickly. Another trailer park on Park Street did not submit their application for renewal. The Salem Public Library Board was short a person after Sarah Swindell resigned and Mayor Brad Nash appointed Liz Condray to replace Swindell. The board approved the appointment. The board discussed the setting of the airport hanger rates for the next year. The first discussion centered on the fact that all of the board members of the Airport Board are renters of the hangers and the board felt that was a conflict of interest in the setting of the reasonable rates as at market value. It was asked when the terms of some of the members of the boards were up and Mayor Nash said some were up. The chair of the Airport Board, Rachel Hinderliter, made a motion requesting the current rates be used from July 1st, 2020 until December 31st, 2020. She said she plans on holding some meetings to discuss the hanger rates once Mayor Nash finds residents to serve on the board. The board approved setting the rates for those six months. The meeting was then adjourned.

A one vehicle accident happened Monday night shortly before 11:30 in Phelps County on Route F about four miles east of Highway 72. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2000 Ford Ranger being driven westbound by 17-year old Kolby Flathers of St. James, struck a donkey in the roadway. Flathers and a passenger, 19-year old Pacey Hopwood of St. James, were both transported by ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla for the treatment of minor injuries. Both occupants were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Ford sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing.

The Salem Police Department reports that between the dates June 12th and June 19th and there were a total of 142 calls for service. Officers with the Salem Police Department conducted 32 traffic stops for various traffic violations with three of the stops resulted in summonses being issued. On Friday, June 12th just after 4:30 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to the 1400 block of South Gertrude for a report of a trespasser. After an investigation, the trespasser was found to have an active warrant for his arrest out of the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. As a result, the 31-year-old Salem man was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Later that same night at approximately 11:40, an officer was dispatched to the 600 block of East Gibbs for a report of an assault. It was reported that two intoxicated males had shown up at the residence arguing about issues between the parties. During an argument one of the males struck the resident in the eye. The resident wished to pursue charges on the incident and reported that the male had fled the residence prior to law enforcement arrival. This incident is still under investigation. On Wednesday, June 17th at approximately 4:52 in the afternoon, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department for a report of a stolen bicycle. It was reported that a black 24 inch ladies “Retro” bicycle was taken off the deck of a residence on Key Lane. The bicycle was valued at $100. This incident is under investigation. And finally, shortly before 8:00 on the evening on Friday the 19th, an officer was dispatched to the 1100 block of West Franklin Street for a report of a civil dispute. It was reported that during the dispute a 37-year-old Salem female had struck the victim in the face. The victim wished to pursue charges for domestic assault. Further investigation led to the 37-year old woman being arrested and later released on a summons to appear in court. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

A two vehicle accident happened Saturday evening at 6:20 on Interstate 44 near the 193.2 eastbound mile marker. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 1997 Ford Ranger being driven by 30-year old Codie Kruger of Rolla, hydroplaned stopping across the highway and was then struck by a 2021 International school bus being driven by 24-year old Floyd Celestine of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kruger suffered serious injuries and was transported by St. James ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla. Both drivers were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Ranger was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. The bus sustained moderate damage and was towed by I-44 Towing.

The Dent County Fire Protection District board of directors will be meeting Tuesday, July 7th, at 6:00 PM at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and call to order, the board will review minutes from the May meeting then hear the financial report and approve bills. The board will then review the calendar and hear the monthly reimbursement report before addressing old and new business. The board will then hear various reports before setting the date for the next meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5130, 5490, 5550, 5630 and 6580. He also reported the crew would be performing a full service on brush cutter #8. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2330 while only grading would be done on county road 5320. He stated brush would be cut on county road 4290 and a man was going to Springfield to get oil for the chip and seal repair. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported all three commissioners attended a discussion on the CARES Act last Wednesday hosted by the MRPC with Missouri Association of Counties Attorney Travis Elliott explaining parts of the CARES act as well as a couple of auditors based upon the current interpretations. Skiles said there are still questions on the business grants to be awarded, but he feels the commission is getting closer to getting the needed answers to develop a process for those businesses to apply. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the voting equipment at the courthouse will be tested on July 22nd at 9:00 in the morning. She said the last day to register to vote in the primary will be July 8th. She said absentee voting is going on now and people can request a ballot by mail through July 22nd. Voters will have to decide which party they want to vote for between Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Constitution or a non-partisan ballot. She also said now is a great time to update your voting information if you have moved or had a name change. The commissioners then opened bids for the lease/purchase of two new patrol vehicles from the state bid from Don Brown Chevrolet. Bids were received from Town and Country Bank, the Bank of Salem and Progressive Ozark Bank. The board elected to go with the bid from Progressive Ozark Bank on $84,000 with three annual payments with an interest rate of 2.50% with a $100 lease preparation fee. Nick Smith from Septagon was in to go over some items in the jail with the commissioners including a drainage problem near the jail. Later in the meeting, Bonnie Prigge and Kelly Sink from the MRPC came in to discuss what the commission wanted to do in regards to the business grant portion of the CARES Act. Prigge handed out a sample of a program from Washington County for the commission to review. The commission discussed requirements that would need to be met, plus a limit on the amount of dollars a business can receive and what expenses would be eligible for the program. Kelly Sink will review the discussion and forward a draft of the Dent County CARES Small Business Relief Program for the commission to review before releasing the details to the public. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday, July 6th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Bonebrake Center of Nature and History is planning a three-day camp for children from the ages of 7 to 12 years of age on Wednesday, July 8th; Thursday, July 9th; and Friday, July 10th at the Bonebrake Center. The camp will be from 9:00 in the morning until 3:30 in the afternoon culminating with an activity for the whole family and friends on the evening of Friday, July 10, starting at 3:30. The cost is $75 for the three days, and scholarships are available to those families who feel the fee would be a hardship. Enrollment is limited to no more than 20 children, so contact us soon. The Bonebrake Discovery Camp is an outdoor educational camp providing children with an enthusiastic experience of the outdoors, coupled with art and cultural programs. All are designed to nourish and strengthen, as well as enrich, the growing child. They will have opportunities to participate in scavenger hunts, learn about Missouri cougars, turtles, and skunks, identify very small pond animals, learn how to “felt,” and have a visit from Captain Meriwether Lewis, as well as learn to fly fish and use a real cane fishing pole harvested from the Bonebrake Center property! In addition, the children will decorate a tee shirt, play games, and create a personal journal, and maybe eat a couple of popsicles. Care is taken by the instructors and counselors to provide for the children a rich environment that bring nurturing, guidance, and cooperation where discovery and creativity will flourish. We are moving forward hoping that the Covid-19 virus will be contained by the time Bonebrake Discovery Camp rolls around. Regardless, reasonable health precautions will be taken. Please call the Bonebrake Center at 729-3400 for more information or to register.

Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources, has announced an expanded reservation window for campgrounds, increasing from a six-month period to a 12-month period. Beginning at 7:00 this morning, campers can reserve a campsite at Missouri State Parks one year prior to arrival date to better allow for planning for visitors and staff. Reservations are required at most campgrounds and park-run lodging prior to arrival, and can be made up until 7:00 p.m. CST the day before arrival. Campers are encouraged to make reservations online at www.icampmo.com. Mike Sutherland, Missouri State Parks Director, said that the one-year camping reservation window will better allow large groups traveling together to book in advance. As of today all campers, such as the anglers who camp at the trout parks year after year, can begin making their reservations for the 2021 season. Visit mostateparks.com to find a park close to home and to check for individual park advisories before heading to the park. If you have questions regarding Missouri State Parks, contact us at moparks@dnr.mo.gov. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.