Archive for 2020

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports for May 1st. On that Friday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the Route H and Highway 72 intersection. During the course of the traffic stop, a 35-year-old Salem man was arrested for having active warrants through the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office and Scott County Sheriff’s Office. The man was transported to the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office where he was incarcerated. Later that same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the Route C and Dent County Road 2190 intersection. During the course of the traffic stop, a 30-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. If anyone has information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

Medicare wants to remind you that scammers are using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to steal your Medicare Number, personal information,
and money. And they’re using robocalls, social media posts, and emails to do it. Remember, if anyone reaches out to get your Medicare Number or personal information in exchange for something, you can bet it’s a scam. To help prevent Medicare fraud, be on the lookout so you can stop scams before they happen. Some of the recent Coronavirus scams to watch include robocalls offering you respiratory masks they’ll never send also social media posts fraudulently seeking donations for non-existent charities, or claiming to give you stimulus funds if you enter your bank account information. Other scams are offering fake testing kits, cures, “immunity” pills, and offers for protective equipment. Visit Medicare.gov/fraud for more information and tips on preventing Medicare scams and fraud.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol wants people to know effective Monday driver testing services expanded to include written testing for all classes of licenses and commercial driver license skills testing which will include the pre-trip, basic, and road testing however, but non-CDL road testing is not included in this phase of service reinstatement. In our area, the Troop I complex at 1301 Nagogami Road in Rolla will be giving written tests from 8:00 until 5:00, Monday through Friday. Motorcycle driving tests may be taken Monday through Friday from 8:00-4:30 when the pavement is dry. For more information, call 368-2345, extension 3973. The Salem satellite site at this time is not open. Those requiring the skills test for a CDL should note special priority is being given to applicants who have already passed a portion of the CDL skills test, applicants who had a CDL appointment scheduled prior to the suspension of testing last month, school bus operators over the age of 70 requiring annual testing, and applicants with other essential needs. When CDL applicants schedule an appointment, an examiner will review their COVID-19 form, and advise them to wear a face covering during testing and arrive in a sanitized vehicle. Applicants should wear face coverings while in driver examination facilities and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Face coverings will be removed briefly when the applicant’s photo is taken during the licensing process. To make an appointment about your CDL, call 573-368-2345.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held two closed session meetings this week to hold interviews to find a new superintendent to replace John McColloch who will be leaving the district June 30th to go the Washington School District. On April 27th, the board in closed session review applications for the position and schedule the appointments. In the Monday closed session meeting, two candidates were interviewed by the board for the superintendent position and another candidate was interviewed Tuesday evening at the closed session meeting. There was also a personnel issue that was discussed during the Tuesday evening closed session meeting.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley reported on two cases this week. In the first case held Tuesday in front of Judge Megan Seay in Crawford County, Brandon Inman of Salem pled guilty to the possession of methamphetamine and also endangering the welfare of a child. He was sentenced to 11 years under RSMO Section 217.362 and is put in the long term drug treatment program. In the second case Wednesday in Dent County in front of Judge Seay, Kurtis Hodge of Salem, who was on probation for assault in the 2nd degree, had his probation revoked and was sentenced to seven years under RSMO Section 559.115.

The City of Salem Spring Clean Up week will be held again next week on your normal trash day by WCA, the city’s trash collection service. You can put out an unlimited amount of trash curbside. WCA also does not take yard waste. If you have any questions about the trash they will take, call WCA at 417-851-1900.

The City of Salem Annual Water Quality Report has been released and there were no violations that occurred for the calendar year 2019. All levels of contaminants found were lower than required by government regulations. If you would like to see the City of Salem Annual Water Quality Report, a copy can be found at the City of Salem Administration Building at 4th and Iron Streets, at the Water Department Office or at the KSMO Radio studios.

Beginning Saturday, May 9th, Ozark National Scenic Riverways will expand their access. Park concession operations and outfitters will be authorized to open for business at their discretion, as they are able to meet CDC guidelines. Some float concessions may opt to remain closed as they adapt their business practices to implement CDC guidelines to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Camping on gravel bars while engaging in multi-day floats and dispersed camping along the Ozark Trail while engaging in multi-day hikes will be allowed. The spring branch hiking trails at Big Spring and Alley Spring will reopen, as well as the staircase into Devils Well. Restrooms at many river access points and day use areas will continue to be open as they have been and park rangers are available to answer questions by phone at (573)-323-4236, from 8:00 in the morning until to 4:30 in the afternoon, seven days a week. With public health in mind, these facilities remain closed at this time. All campgrounds and designated campsites will remain closed but are expected to reopen on May 22nd, with the exception of group campsites. All picnic pavilions and group campsites will remain closed but are expected to reopen on June 5th. Restrooms and showers are expected to reopen May 22nd, although there will be short closures to accommodate rotations for cleaning and disinfecting in accordance with CDC guidelines. All visitor contact stations, including the Alley General Store and Van Buren Visitor Information Center will remain closed until further notice. While a number of areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, including the guidance in the Show Me Strong Recovery Plan. If you wish, check out the Ozark National Scenic Riverways amazing virtual tours, images and kids activities at any time. These tours are perfect for people who are still home schooling or not traveling at this time. Check out https://www.nps.gov/ozar or visit @ozarkriverways on Facebook. For additional information, please call (573)-323-4236. Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website www.nps.gov and social media channels.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports it has completed its monitoring and testing efforts for the 2019-2020 chronic wasting disease surveillance year. From those efforts, MDC reports it has confirmed 46 new cases of the deadly deer disease. These new findings bring the total number of CWD cases in the state to 162. The Department of Conservation has tested more than 137,000 deer since the first cases of CWD were found in free-ranging deer in Missouri in 2012. The 46 new cases were found in the 11 different counties. They were three cases in Adair, six in Franklin, one in Jefferson, eight in Linn, eight in Macon, two in Oregon, two in Perry, one in Polk, ten in Ste Genevieve, two in Stone, and three in Taney County. Previously this season, the Department of Conservation confirmed 25 of the 46 new cases of CWD in Missouri from nearly 29,000 tissue samples collected from white-tailed deer and submitted for disease testing. Most of the tissue samples were taken from hunter-harvested deer.

The James Foundation has reopened Maramec Spring Park to a limited number of visitors (maximum of 250 people at one time) effective Monday. There will be no admission to enter the park and daily trout tags are currently waived until May 16th.The campground and bathrooms pavilions, museum, cleaning station, and café will remain closed. For more information, visit the Maramec Spring Park website at maramecspringpark.com/. Daily trout tags, along with a fishing permit, unless exempt, will be required beginning May 16th for fishing at all four trout parks including Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Salem, Roaring River State Park near Cassville, and Maramec Spring Park near St. James. MDC hatchery staff will resume stocking the parks on May 15th to provide angling opportunities prior to May 16th. State Parks will begin to reopen retail operations in parks leading up to May 16th. For more information, visit Missouri State Parks website at mostateparks.com/. Daily trout tags at Bennett Spring State Park, Montauk State Park, and Roaring River State Park are $4 for adults and $3 for those 15 years of age or younger. The daily limit at these three parks remains four trout per day. The pilot program at Maramec Spring Park remains in effect. The daily trout tag at Maramec Spring Park is $5 for adults and $3 for anglers 15 years of age and younger. The daily limit at Maramec Spring Park remains five trout per day.