Archive for 2020

The Dent County Commissioners met Tuesday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. At the meeting, Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge was in attendance to present her monthly report. She said a couple of new businesses have opened and the unemployment rate in October for Dent County is back to where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, but there were about 240 less people looking for work than in September. She said the certified site application at the industrial park may be delayed as the US Fish and Wildlife Services recommended getting an Indiana Bat habitat survey done before proceeding further. This could delay this project by a year or more. She said there will be a Business@Breakfast meeting to be held from 7:00 to 7:45 on Thursday, January 14th to discuss the MRPC’s CARES Revolving Loan Fund. More information can be found by calling the Dent County Extension office at 729-3196. She also asked the commission to re-appoint two members of the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board and they are Salem R-80 Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed and Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas. Also in attendance was Lori Plank who was inquiring about the CARES Act money and how much money remained. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said it looked like over $230,000 was left as of the last awarding of applications, but that did not include applications already submitted. Plank said she hadn’t heard from anyone at the MRPC and Skiles said that if they need more information, they would be in touch. He reminded Plank that the MRPC was doing this for numerous counties in the Meramec Region and to just be patient. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4090, 4215 and 5615 while materials would be added to county roads 5130 and 5150 as well as on county road 5400 where a crossover pipe was installed and the rock settled. Purcell also said brush would be cut on county road 5610. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2160, 2190 and 5330 while brush would be cut on county roads 4020 and 4030. Larson also said service would be done on county truck #12. Commissioner Skiles said he attended an Industrial Development Board meeting last Wednesday where they heard from a manager of the Steelville Telephone Exchange about the broadband Internet expansion in northern parts of Dent County and near Boss. He also said he would be attending by conference call a meeting of the Ozarks Rivers Solid Waste Management District Full Council meeting today. Then on Thursday, he will be attending by Zoom the Transportation Advisory Committee to present transportation priorities to MoDOT for the local area. He also said the county received a letter from the attorneys about the opiod lawsuit and they will be in touch with the commission in the near future. Skiles said three CARES Act applications were received and will be reviewed by the commission. Skiles also discussed with the commission setting the date of January 11th at 10:00 as the due date for the request for proposals for the assessment of needs at the courthouse and that was approved. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley continues to work on the 2021 county budget and the commission needed to sign off on the contract between the county and Pictometry International Corporation to provide video services for the Dent County Assessor’s Office. The next meeting will be next Monday at the courthouse and it will be open to the public.

An accident happened in Dent County Sunday around noon on Highway 19 just north of Route B. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Ford Escape driven north bound by 71-year old Shirley Donovan of Salem, was stopped to make a left turn when the Ford was struck from behind by a 2004 GMC Sierra driven north bound by 52-year old Harold Mendenhall of Salem. Mendenhall failed to see that the Ford had stopped in front of him. Donovan suffered moderate injuries and was transported to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Everyone was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford sustained extensive damage while the GMC had moderate damage. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 15,425 deer during the antlerless portion of the firearms deer season, December 4th through the 6th. Top harvest counties were Callaway with 438 deer harvested, Morgan with 377, and Osage with 352. The 2019 antlerless-portion harvest total was 10,597. Dent County had 135 deer checked along with 94 in Phelps, 153 were checked in Texas County, 210 in Shannon County and only one was taken in Iron County. Archery deer season continues through January 15, 2021. The alternative methods portion runs December 26th through January 5th, 2021. You can find more information on deer hunting from MDC’s 2020 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where hunting permits are sold and online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that young hunters ages 6 through 15 harvested 3,899 deer during Missouri’s late youth portion of the 2020 deer hunting season, November 27th through the 29th. Of the 3,899 deer harvested, 1,433 were antlered bucks, 520 were button bucks, and 1,946 were does.

The Salem Christmas Committee wants to congratulate the winner of the 1st Annual Business Window Decorating Contest for this year’s Christmas season. For the 2020 year that business was A Look Aground located at 101 West 4th Street in Downtown Salem. They received a $250 cash prize for their efforts and a banner stating they took 1st place in this year’s window decorating contest. The committee wanted to thank all those businesses who participated and looks to have even more businesses next year enter the contest!

Starting today, the City of Salem Administrative Offices at 400 North Iron Street will reopen to the public in a limited capacity. While the remodel project is not complete, Mayor Brad Nash and City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to reopen the utility office at the location for the public’s convenience while the remaining remodel tasks are completed, including widening the drive-up lane which is expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks. The after-hours drop box for utility payments has been relocated from the west side of the building to the north end near the drive-up window. Customers will be asked to social distance and members of the public needing services other than utilities are asked to call 729-4117 to make appointments until the renovations are completed. Anyone feeling ill is asked to call the office at 729-4117 to see if their needs can be met without coming in. Business hours for the utility office are 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon Monday through Friday. While most aspects of the facility will be operational, the full renovation project is not expected to be completed until early next year due to a supplier issue with some of the materials. Mayor Nash and Administrator Walden appreciate the public’s patience while offices were operating out of the council chambers during the remodel.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will meet this evening at the City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00. At the meeting, the board will hear bids for assorted electric and water meters. and also bids for a number of needed materials for the city hall auditorium/theater including ceiling tiles, a sound system, safety lighting and lighting controls. Following the consent agenda, the board will hear a report from Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission Gary Brown from the meeting held on November 30th where a request for a conditional use permit at 407th East 4th Street for a meadery was heard. The board will also hear a report from City Administrator Ray Walden about a new office policy and they will also receive updates on current city projects. The board will hear Resolution 20-2020 which would authorize the mayor to execute a four-year memorandum of understanding between the city and the Salem R-80 School District that would allow the city hall to be used during an emergency situation for the rest of the current school year and to be reviewed and the end of the 2024-2025 school year. The board will then go into closed session to discuss contract and personnel before adjourning. The meeting is open to the public.

The final date for Medicare Part D open enrollment will be Monday, December 7th. Look at your health care coverage today, and see if you need to make any changes for next year. If you’re happy with the Medicare plan you have now, and the plan is still being offered next year, you’re all set. But if you’re thinking about making any changes, look at plans in your area and pick the best mix of benefits and costs that meet your needs and budget. If you are not sure you have the best plan, you are strongly encouraged to have your current plan reviewed to make sure you are enrolled in the most cost-efficient plan for your needs. Aging Best has a team of Community Options & Services professionals standing by to review plans and assist with the changes. It is very important for participants to review their plan each year as many factors can affect their current coverage. To discuss your current plan please call 800-369-5211. Once you’ve made your choice, enrolling online is easy. Easily search and compare all your coverage options at Medicare.gov.

The “Holidays at Home” will be in full gear this weekend starting today with the Christmas sale at the Country Chic Boutique and Photography store at #6 North Iron. Tomorrow will be a full day of fun with the First Saturday Market being held at the Rusty Pig at 404 East Scenic Rovers Blvd starting at 9:00 in the morning. At 11:00, A Look Aground will be celebrating their one year anniversary at 101 West 4th Street and they will be open until 8:00. The American Legion will be hosting a “Visit with Santa” drive-through at the Walker-Roney Post #99 on Highway 32 West. At 3:00, the Santa Dash will be held sponsored by Healthy Dent County at 4th Street and Highway 19. Haven’t registered yet? You can do so Saturday at the courthouse lawn prior to the dash at 2:00. The cost is $25 for students up to 18 years of age and $30 for adults. For more information, call Kelsey at 729-8163. Following the dash at 5:30, enjoy the Christmas “Parade of Lights” with the theme this year being your “Favorite Christmas Movie.” Bob and Judy Thompson will be the Grand Marshall’s and the parade will start out near SBU and wind its way to the courthouse square. Then on Sunday, the Keeping Christmas @Home Craft Fair will be held at the Salem Upper Elementary School from 1:00 to 4:00.

The winner for the Salem Christmas Committee’s 1st annual business window decorating contest for Christmas will be announced today at 4:00 on KSMO Radio and on the KSMO Facebook page. The winner will receive $250 cash and also a banner from the Christmas Committee. The winner will also be recognized on the Salem News website and Facebook page, the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page and the City of Salem Facebook Page. If you haven’t been around yet to the 22 businesses that entered the contest, here is the list again in case you missed it. Check out the windows at A Look AGround, Edward Jones Office, Shelter Insurance, the Salem Public Library, attorney-at-law Carrie Gerischer, the Beehive, the Salem License Office, the Main Street Café, the Country Chic Boutique, Duncan Family Chiropractic, Tax Masters, That Special Touch Florists, Allen’s Treasure Chest & Den, Curley and Company Salon, J & D Automotive, Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, Salem Housing Authority, VIP Properties, Century 21 South Central Realty, Dent County Vet Clinic, Progressive Ozark Bank, and Victor Plumbing. Enjoy all the hard work put in by these local businesses in celebrating the season through their decorated windows!

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released a couple of reports. On Monday, November 23rd in Dent County in front of Judge Kelly Parker, Nelson Bolster of Salem pled guilty for failing to register as a sex offender. Bolster was sentenced to 4 years in the Department of Corrections which is the maximum sentenced allowed for this crime as requested by Prosecutor Curley. On Wednesday, Kim Boyer of Salem was in Crawford County in front of Judge Megan Seay. Boyer had her probation revoked and she was sentenced to 5 years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the prosecutor.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports for Thursday, November 12th and Sunday, November 15th. On Thursday night, November 12th around 9:30, an officer was dispatched to the 800 block of North Pershing for a report of a domestic disturbance. One of the involved parties had an active warrant for their arrest. As a result, a 37-year-old Salem woman was arrested and incarcerated on her warrants. That same evening around 11:45, an officer was dispatched to a suspicious occupied vehicle at #2 Mullnack Drive. Contact was made with the occupants and it was found that one of the occupants had an active warrant for their arrest. As a result, a 21-year-old Salem man was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. On Sunday afternoon, November 15th around 1:00, an officer was dispatched to the 100 block of North Water street for a report of a stolen firearm from a vehicle. It was reported that a Kel Tec Sub gun was taken out of a vehicle parked at the residence that was valued at $400. This incident is still under investigation. That same afternoon around 1:45, an officer was on routine traffic patrol when he saw a man who he knew to have an active arrest warrant. The officer made contact with the man and the warrant was confirmed. As a result, a 41-year-old Salem man was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.