Archive for 2020

A one vehicle accident occurred early Friday around 3:30 in Dent County on Highway 32 about two hundred feet west of Route W. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2002 Hyundai Elantra being driven west by 22-year old Dylan Wisdom of Salem traveled off the right side of the highway and overturned. Wisdom was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident and was taken to Salem Memorial District Hospital by ambulance for treatment of moderate injuries. The Hyundai was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted on the scene by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department.

An accident occurred Friday evening at 7:40 in Dent County on Highway 119 about twelve miles southwest of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2014 Ford Fiesta driven by 25-year old Leon Greathouse of Salem was traveling northbound when the Fiesta experienced equipment failure and traveled off the right side of the roadway and started to skid. Greathouse over corrected and the Fiesta traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a private driveway. Leon and a passenger in the Fiesta, 21-year old Victoria Greathouse of Salem, each suffered minor injuries. Both were transported to Salem District Memorial Hospital by the Salem Ambulance. They were both wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Fiesta sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by a personal conveyance. The highway patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department.

A two vehicle accident happened Thursday evening shortly after 7:30 on Highway 72 at First Street in Bunker. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2000 Dodge Dakota being driven by 19-year old Malcolm Barton of Bunker was stopped at the intersection on First Street and failed to yield to a 2000 custom motorcycle being ridden by 66-year old Randolph Rhyneer of Annapolis. The motorcycle struck the left side of the Dodge ejecting the driver and a passenger. Rhyneer was transported by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis for treatment of moderate injuries. Both vehicles sustained minor damage. The Dodge was driven from the scene while the motorcycle was towed by Forshee Towing.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital will be phasing new changes into the current visitor policy effective today. These changes only apply to acute care, emergency room and outpatient surgery at this time. Starting today, patients will be allowed 1 visitor per day and all visitors must be 18 years of age or older. Any patients under the age of 16 may have up to 2 parental visitors per day. Exceptions will be made for end of life patients and any extenuating circumstances will always be considered. The hospital thanks you for your cooperation.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting this evening at the city hall council chambers at 7:00. Earlier that evening, the Salem Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment will be meeting at 6:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers to consider a waiver to allow parking in the 30 foot setback of a new development by Central MO Investments, LLC. Following that meeting, the board will review and approve the consent agenda. The board will then address some concerns with Ordinance #3450 regarding the regulation of food trucks, trailers, push carts and ice cream trucks will be addressed. A letter of engagement for auditing services for FY ’20, ’21, ’22, ’23 and ’24 with K DeLuca Audit Services will also be discussed. The election results of the June 2nd municipal election will be canvassed and certified and approved by Resolution #14-2020. The Oath of Office will then be administered to the elected officials that include Mayor Brad Nash, Alderman Kim Steelman and Alderman Greg Parker followed by the organization of the Board of Aldermen. The City of Salem Treasurer appointment will then take place followed by City Administrator Ray Walden’s report which will be an update on items concerning the city. The board will also hear and discuss Resolution #15-2020 a resolution approving the sale of surplus city inventory and obsolete or unusable property of the City of Salem, which will be followed by new and miscellaneous business. The board will then adjourn. The meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen and the Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment are open to the public. The Alderman meeting will be streamed live on the KSMO website on Twitch.tv at 7:00.

The City of Salem Utilities Department has processed all the remaining utility bills for residential and commercial customers. Customers that have not received a bill or that have questions about their bill are asked to contact the Utility Office at 729-4117. The timeframe for customers to indicate their preferred billing option has been extended to Friday, June 19th. Accounts not indicating their option preference by this Friday will be processed as option #3 unless other arrangements are made. The penalty date for the bills is extended to July 6th. The date for processing auto payments will be June 29th and will be considered eligible for the 5% rebate credit for those selecting option #1. Also, the City’s Public Works Department is announcing that N.B. West Company of Sullivan will be working on the nova chip overlay on a number of streets this week that includes 13 streets on the west side of town. Those include:

Dale, Beasley and Roberts from Dillworth to Phillips
Jackson Street from 32 to Roosevelt
Grand Street from International to Franklin
4th Street from Park to Grand
Acuff from McArthur to Jackson
Henderson from 4th Street to Rolla Road
International from 32 to Orchard
Phillips Street from Franklin to 32
Askins from Franklin to the end of the road
Ellis from Haskins to Park Street
Park Street from Scenic Rivers Blvd. to Rolla Road;

and four more on the east side of town. They include:

Ellis from Hickory to Pershing
Acuff from Hickory to Pershing
2nd Street from Iron St. to Pershing
Rhodes Street from Third Street to Center.

National Park Service Regional Director Bert Frost has announced the selection of Jason Lott as permanent superintendent of Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Lott has been serving as the acting superintendent since January following the retirement of Larry Johnson. Lott said he was very excited about joining the team at Ozark Riverways as he feels the history, folkways, and rivers of the Missouri Ozarks are a special place. He said he is looking forward to working with the communities and staff to serve at the nation’s first scenic riverway. Lott came to the area after most recently serving as the Superintendent for Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. He has been with the National Park Service since 2002. He previously served as the Superintendent for Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Arizona for three years, and as the Resources Program Manager for Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Texas for five years, where he was named the 2005 recipient of the NPS Director’s Award for Natural Resource Management in a Small Park. Lott is a twenty-year veteran with the Army National Guard, having served ten years as an enlisted soldier with a deployment during Desert Storm, and as an officer who served as a Company Commander for the 1086th Transportation Company during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Jason retired as a Captain in 2007. He and his wife, Wendy, have two children who are looking forward to exploring all the area has to offer.

A one vehicle accident happened Wednesday evening at 6:00 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about 12 miles south of Rolla. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2000 Ford Ranger being driven south by 65-year old Christine Brown of Edgar Springs traveled off the right side of the roadway then returned to the highway. The Ford then began skidding and went off the left side of the roadway where the Ranger struck an embankment, became airborne and struck a tree before coming to rest on its wheels. Brown, who was wearing a safety restraint, was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital for the treatment of moderate injuries. The Ranger sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Lucas Garage. The highway patrol was assisted by the Rolla Rural Fire Department and Phelps Health Ambulance.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages drivers to be cautious on the roads this spring and give turtles a brake! These reptiles are often hit by cars during the warmer months, but are at special risk this time of year because they are more active. Common turtles spotted crossing Missouri roads include three-toed box turtles, ornate box turtles, and snapping turtles. Turtles emerge from their burrows and begin the hunt for food and mates during warm and wet conditions, which can lead them to cross roadways, oftentimes resulting in their death. Thousands of box turtles are killed every year by vehicles. Young males make up most of the travelers, sometimes wandering as many as six miles searching for territories and mates. Females are also crossing the roads in search of nesting areas. Turtles are cold-blooded creatures and depend on external sources of heat to determine their body temperature. This explains why people see them on warm asphalt during cool, spring days. Vehicles are one of the leading factors in box turtle declines, and MDC urges motorists to be cautious and slow down when they see a turtle in the road. If helping a turtle make it safely across, check for traffic and move the turtle across the road in the direction it is traveling. Additionally, MDC encourages Missourians to leave turtles in the wild. Did you know that most Missouri turtles can live up to 30 years, but the common box turtle can live up to 80, occasionally living more than a century. For more information on Missouri’s turtles, visit the MDC online Field Guide at nature.mdc.mo.gov.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their June meeting Tuesday evening, June 16th in the hospital library beginning at 6:00. After approval of the agenda and minutes of the May 19th regular meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations for the month of May followed by the Chief of Nursing Report by Debbie Hines. A report on the hospital foundation golf tournament, plus the marketing and community perception report will be given by Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards. Lucas will then go over the COVID-19 update for the before the Board will discuss the FY’21 Finance Committee Report. Lucas will also update the board on the Hospital Expansion and Renovation. New business will include purchases since the last meeting. The board may vote to go into closed session. Due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, the June meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will be held by telephone/video conference. The meeting is open to anyone to join. For information on how to access the meeting, please email kbrown@smdh.net or call (573) 729-5917, extension 4005.