Archive for 2020

A special waste collection for residential and farm electronics, appliances and tires will be held on Saturday, May 16th from 9:00 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon at the Salem construction parking lot at the corner of 3rd and Grand Streets. The collection is for household items only as no materials from businesses will be accepted and the collection is open to residents from Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. To minimize personal contact, those bringing items to the collection are asked to stay inside their vehicles and assistants will unload items. Stoves, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, and other appliances will be collected free of charge. Free electronics also include computer components, laptop computers, keyboards, hair dryers, VCR/DVD players, cell phones or anything that runs on a cord or battery. Oil and gas must be removed from tanks of any items such as push mowers, weed eaters, etc. Fees on certain items will be collected. The fees are $25 for CRT TVs over 27 inches and wood console TVs, $20 for CRT TVs under 26 inches, $15 for flat screen TVs, $10 for all computer monitors and refrigerated appliances with Freon. Fees for tires are as follows: $2 each for passenger tires, $7.50 each for semi-truck tires and $35 each for tractor tires. For more information on items accepted or the fee structure, please contact Jill Hollowell at MRPC at 573-265-2993 Ext. 109 or at jhollowell@meramecregion.org. The city of Salem and Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), with funding through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD), are offering the May 16th collection.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Thursday, April 23rd shortly after 9:00 in the evening, officers were dispatched to the 100 block of North Macarthur for a report of an unresponsive female. A 37-year-old Salem female was pronounced dead at the scene by Dent County Deputy Coroner Ben Pursifull. During the investigation, two subjects, a 41-year-old Salem man and a 34-year-old Salem woman, were arrested for outstanding warrants. The 34-year-old woman was also found to be in possession of a controlled substance. A probable cause statement was forwarded to the Dent County Prosecutor. Both subjects were incarcerated in the Dent County Jail. The death is still under investigation while waiting for toxicology results. On Friday, April 24th at 8:32 in the evening, an officer conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Highways 19 and 32 for no taillights or license plates. As a result of the traffic stop it was found that the driver, a 27-year-old Salem man had a suspended driver’s license and was arrested and issued a summons for driving while having their license suspended. On the morning of April 25th at around 1:20, an officer was dispatched to the 700 block of east Hunt Street for the report of a domestic disturbance. During the investigation, a male was found to have an active warrant for his arrest out of the Phelps County Sheriffs Office. The male, a 33-year-old Salem man, was arrested on the active arrest warrant and transported to the Dent County Jail for incarceration pending extradition. Later that same evening just after 9:00, an officer conducted a traffic stop near the Fourth Street Mall on a vehicle not having taillights. As a result of the stop it was found the driver had an expired driver’s license. The driver, a 36-year-old Salem woman, was arrested and issued a summons to appear in court for driving with an expired license. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released the following reports. On Monday, May 4th, a deputy traveled to a residence on North Macarthur Street to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 36-year-old Salem man was arrested for having active warrants through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. Also on the 4th, a deputy traveled to the parking lot of Salem Memorial District Hospital for a report of a theft. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a 43-year-old Salem man was the reported victim. Total value of the property stolen is approximately $60.00. This report is still under investigation. Then next day, Tuesday May 5th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 1000 block of Route Z for a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a 34- year-old Salem man was the reported victim. This report is still under investigation. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information about an ongoing investigation.

Elephant Rocks State Park is now open to the public with social distancing measures in place. While the park will be open for day-use, capacity will be monitored closely in order to prevent overcrowding. If a park is nearing capacity, gates or parking lots may close temporarily. All visitors must remain diligent and come prepared to enjoy the outdoors responsibly by following the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Governor Parson that includes keeping a minimum distance of six feet between you and others, come prepared and carry hand sanitizers, soaps, wipes and water; avoid touching your face, handshakes and hugs; cover your mouth and nose with your elbow when you cough or sneeze, pack out what you pack in, and most importantly, stay home if you are sick. All visitor centers, park offices, tours, programs, group camps, enclosed shelters, playgrounds, pools and beaches remain closed.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received by the county in May. Her report showed that in May of 2019, the General Revenue sales tax and Law Enforcement Sales Tax was $64,433.28 while this year the county received $67,856.66. That is a $3,423.88 increase comparing May of 2020 and May of 2019. Year-to-date, the county has received $19,503.81 less than for this time last year in General Revenue and in the LEST fund. The Road and Bridge Department received $31,197.82 this May while last year during May the county received $28,523.33. That is an increase of $2,674.49 for the month and that fund is down year-to-date $6,565.79 which is a 3.56% reduction. Each jail fund received $62,366.48 from the collections in May, but that month-to-date total for each fund is up from last May which was $59,665.68 and year-to-date, each fund is $14,916.37 down from last year. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk came in to report that she had two abatements for the commissioners to sign and also reported the collections for the county are up in 2020 over 2019. For April, she said the county collected $78,986.64 in personal property and real estate taxes. She said three or four of the clients came in and paid their back three years of taxes they owed with their stimulus money sent to them by the federal government. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 4220 and 6570. He went on to say brush would be cut on county roads 6170 and 6320 and a crew would be replacing downed or missing county road signs on county roads 5600 and 5380. District 2 commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3240, 3250, 3270, 3273 and 3275, while materials would be added and grading done on county road 2530. Larson said brush would be cut on county roads 2110 and 2115. Presiding Commissioner Darrel Skiles said he would be attending an Ozark Solid waste Management District Executive Board meeting Tuesday and Thursday he would be attending MRPC Committee meetings as well as the MRPC regular meeting that evening. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley was doing poll worker training, but left her report that said July 8th would be the last day to register to vote for the August Primary. Absentee voting for the June 2nd Municipal Election continues and that she balanced with the collector and assessor on all collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of April. Also at the meeting, Tyler Stewart with the State Highway Patrol was in and discussed with the commission that tractor trailer trucks are being routed by GPS down a county road off Highway 68 to the Charcoal Plant. He says there is a low water bridge that will not hold up much longer. Commissioner Larson will check it out. Mike Elliott from Town and Country Insurance came in to discuss replacement insurance on the buildings. The commission agreed to raise the replacement on the buildings. The Courthouse was raised by an an additional $350,000 and the Judicial Building was raised an additional $250,000. The Commission approved and signed the 2020 Division of Social Services agreement and also agreed to sign a lease agreement between the County and Russell House for office space in the Judicial Building Annex for $220 per month. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday, May 18th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Senior Class of 2020 will be having a parade this Friday night, May 15th starting at 7:00 which was to be their graduating exercise. The parade route will begin at Center Street & Iron Mountain Road where the graduating seniors will travel to East Fourth Street and travel west to MacArthur, shifting to West Third Street and concluding at the High School on Tiger Pride Drive. Everyone in the community is encouraged to show your support of the 2020 Senior Class by decorating your homes & businesses on the parade route to show your support of these young people. Plus feel free to set up your chairs on the sidewalks or celebrate these young people’s achievement from your vehicles while maintaining social distancing measures. The Salem R-80 Board of Education did approve to hold the 2020 graduation exercises at the Salem High School Football Field on Friday, June 5th at 7:00. A limit of five tickets per graduating senior was also set by the board for the event with alternative date of June 6th should there be inclement weather.

The Salem Airport Board of the City of Salem will hold a meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@the Armory. At the meeting, the board will be updated on the airport lights, new hangar project, proposed hangar lease rates including the former Domeyer hanger, get updated on the gate opener, be updated on the contracting out the fuel service, receive an update on the airport courtesy car and also discuss the 2019-2020 airport financial report and discuss some 2020-2021 budget considerations. Any new business will be addressed before the meeting is adjourned. The meeting is open to the public. Adherence to the social distancing requirement will be enforced.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that turkey hunters checked 38,730 birds during Missouri’s 2020 regular spring turkey season from April 20th through May 10th. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 899 birds harvested, Callaway with 699, and Texas with 660. Young turkey hunters also harvested 2,724 birds during the 2020 spring youth season that was held April 4th and 5th, bringing the overall 2020 spring turkey harvest to 41,454. Last year, young turkey hunters harvested 2,546 birds during the spring youth season and hunters harvested 36,249 during the regular spring season for a 2019 spring season total harvest of 38,795 birds. Harvests in the counties in our area included Phelps with 628 birds checked, Dent with 488 birds taken, Crawford with 458 birds harvested, Shannon with 331 birds checked, Reynolds with 245 turkeys taken and Iron with 208 birds harvested. There was one report of a non-fatal hunting incident during the 2020 spring turkey season. It involved one hunter mistakenly shooting another hunter.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting this evening at 6:00 at the district administrative offices. After approval of the agenda, the Board will move in to closed session to discuss personnel.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education Saturday morning in a special meeting of the board voted unanimously to employ Dr. Lynne L. Reed as the new Salem R-80 School District Superintendent with her duties to begin on July 1st. Reed had been the superintendent of the Newburg R-II School District for the last five years, and prior to that was the elementary principal and director of special services in the Steelville School District from 2006-2015. She was an elementary principal in the Rolla School District from 1998-2003. Reed, who has lived in Phelps County almost all her life, will replace John McColloch who resigned last month as he was hired as the Washington school district’s new assistant superintendent of finance and operations. McColloch served as the Salem R-80 Superintendent for five years after being the assistant superintendent for five years. McColloch was also the Salem Junior High principal for five years before accepting the assistant superintendent position.

An accident happened Saturday night at 11:30 in Reynolds County on Route N near Lesterville that left two men with serious injuries. According to the highway patrol report, a 2011 Infiniti driven southbound by 58-year old Daryl Black of Farmington, intentionally struck two pedestrians in the road and left the scene. Suffering serious injuries were 21-year Brantley Mathes of Black, Missouri and 44-year old Chris Whitbey of Middle Brook, Missouri. Mathis and Whitbey were both flown by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Black was later arrested at 12:32 early Sunday morning and was charged with felony driving while being intoxicated leading to a serious physical injury, a felony for leaving the scene of an accident with physical injuries, and a felony for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage exceeding $1,000.00. Black was placed in the Reynolds County Jail on a 24-hour hold.

An accident occurred Saturday evening at 11:30 in Dent County on Route B about nine miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 33- year old Megan Johnson of St. Louis, was traveling eastbound and swerved to miss a deer. The Malibu the traveled off the right side of the road and struck a tree. A passenger in the Malibu, 41-year old Christopher Null of Park Hills, suffered serious injuries and was flown to the Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur by Air Evac. The driver, Megan Johnson, suffered minor injures as did an 11-year old juvenile from Park Hills, and they were both transported to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by Salem Ambulance. Johnson and the juvenile were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident; however Null was not wearing a safety restraint. The Malibu was totaled in the acci dent and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem.

A one vehicle accident happened at 3:20 Saturday morning in Phelps County on Phelps County Road 8110 about a quarter of a mile north of Rolla. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2014 Ford Focus being driven by 19-year old Kenneth Pankey of Rolla was southbound when the vehicle became airborne over a hill and traveled off the left side of the road where the Focus struck a creek bed and overturned. Pankey suffered serious injuries and was transported from the scene by the Phelps Health Ambulance to the Phelps Health Hospital before being transported by air ambulance to the University Hospital in Columbia. Two passengers in the Focus, 17-year old Dakota Triska and 18-year old Zolboo Munkhjrgal, both of Rolla, were transported by ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla for treatment of minor and moderate injuries. The Ford Focus was totaled and removed from the scene by C & C Towing. Only Dakota Triska was known to be wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

A two vehicle accident happened Sunday, May 3rd shortly before noon at the intersection of Highways 19 and 32. According to the report from the Salem Police department, a 2005 Ford F-150 being driven by Brayden Ferguson of Salem was traveling east on Highway 32 andhad a flashing yellow light when he failed to yield and struck a 2013 GMC Sierra being driven by Roy Feiste of Frohna, Missouri causing the camping trailer being towed by the GMC to slide into a traffic pole before coming to a rest. Ferguson had minor injuries while a passenger in the GMC received serious injuries. All vehicles involved sustained extensive damage in the accident. The Ford and GMC were both towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

Lodging, retail and food operations at Echo Bluff State Park have resumed and they will be operational in a limited capacity. Echo Bluff takes great pride in maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. They have taken additional measures to create all their cleaning and hygiene protocols developed in consultation with State, local public health authorities and the CDC. This includes all recommended cleaning and sanitation guidelines in all accommodations and public areas. All Park staff will wear masks and all food servers will also wear gloves at this time. They will continue to adjust food and beverage service with current food safety recommendations and ask that you help by practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently and adhering to all state regulations and requirements.

The Salem Public Library is proud to offer you best-selling and classic eAudiobooks and eBooks available 24/7 to keep your mind active. You can browse the collection, place holds and check out using your library card. You can then transfer the titles to your computer and many mobile devices. Patrons are encouraged to call 729-4331 to get more information.