Archive for 2020

Tuesday night at the Salem R-80 District Administrative Offices in a special meeting of the R-80 Board of Education, Superintendent John McColloch submitted his resignation effective July 1st and it was accepted by the board. McColloch has served as R-80 Superintendent for five years and will be moving on to be the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations at the School District of Washington. The board then went into closed session to discuss personnel.

The Dent County Sheriffs Department has released reports on their activities from March 29th through April 5th. On Sunday, March 29th, a deputy spoke to a 39-year-old woman at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office who was the reported victim of a violation of a full order of protection. Suspect information was obtained from her and the deputy began an investigation. Then on Thursday, April 2nd, the deputy met with a 43-year-old Salem man at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The man was arrested for harassment in the 1st degree and a violation of a full order of protection. The man was incarcerated at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and that same day, he posted bond and was released. On Wednesday, April 1st, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of Dent County Road 2110. During the course of the traffic stop, a 31-year-old Salem woman was arrested for operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license, a 1st offense. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Friday April 3rd, a deputy traveled to Dent County Road 6080 for a report of littering. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered a large number of tires in a creek. That report is still under investigation. Later that same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 3500 block of South Highway 19. During the course of the traffic stop, a 20-year-old Salem man was arrested for Blood Alcohol Content. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Finally on Sunday, April 6th, a deputy traveled to the Salem Memorial District Hospital because a subject in the emergency room was acting aggressive. Upon arrival, the deputy arrested a 19-year-old Salem man for Assault in the 4th degree. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If anyone has information on any ongoing investigation, call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

Missouri law prohibits individuals and businesses from price gouging — raising prices on necessities during an emergency. Missouri Attorney General Schmitt and Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley advises consumers to watch out for and report large increases in prices, including on gas, water, food, hand sanitizer, medical masks, soap, over-the-counter medicine and other necessities. The public is asked to report any and all instances of price gouging or other COVID-19 related scams to the Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline by calling 1-800-392-8222 or by filing a complaint online with attorney general’s office: https://ago.mo.gov. Instances of crime will continue to be investigated and prosecuted in Dent County. The Dent County jail will continue to house inmates accused and convicted of serious crimes. Efforts are being made by Sheriff Bob Wells, Dent County Prosecutor Curley, City Prosecutor James Weber and local judges to prevent the introduction of any symptomatic inmates that have been recently incarcerated in jurisdictions with COVID confirmed cases. Criminal Court proceedings are being conducted with social distancing and additional preventative measures.

Southwest Baptist University is adjusting its admissions process on all campuses including the Salem campus during the COVID-19 global pandemic, including making applications test optional. Darren Crowder, dean of enrollment management says prospective students may have concerns about not having access to information needed to complete an application, and we are removing those barriers. With ACT and SAT canceling spring testing dates, we may have applicants who have yet to take one of these tests. As a result, SBU is making these temporary amendments to the application process for undergraduate students. Test scores are not required at this time. Scholarships and other financial aid will be awarded. However, to potentially improve academic scholarship eligibility, students may elect to take the online Classic Learning Test or CLT also high school GPA scores may be self-reported. Additionally, the University is offering individual online visits for as long as in-person visits are suspended. Group visit events are cancelled for the remainder of the academic year, but the Admissions Offices are working to develop online experiences for these events. Admissions counselors remain available to visit with students and their families and help walk them through the admissions process and they are available by phone, email or social media. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu or you can call the Salem Campus at (573) 729-7071.

Time is running out to get a variety of low cost native tree and shrub seedlings from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking. Right now they are offering residents a variety of those low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife food and cover. Orders are being accepted through April 15th which is next Wednesday. The Department of Conservation has extended the seedling shipping timeframe through the end of May. According to MDC, the shipping season typically winds down in early May after nursery staff has shipped millions of seedlings to schools, landowners, and MDC staff for planting all over the state. Since the precautionary measures were4 put in place to decrease the spread of COVID-19, the nursery has been closed to the public and they have plenty of seedlings left. Order your seedlings online: mdc.mo.gov/seedlings, or fax an order form to 573-674-4047. Contact the nursery at 674-3229 or email them for an order form: StateForestNursery@mdc.mo.gov. You can take a virtual tour of the nursery are available at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zey.

Due to the Covid-19 guidelines recommended by the Center for Disease Control, the Salem Memorial District Hospital are no longer allowing visitors in the hospital until further notice. Also, no patient visitors are now allowed to attend patient visits at SMDH Family Medicine until further notice.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5630, 6410 and 6420 while only grading will be done on county road 6490. Purcell went on to say brush would be cut on county roads 6240 and 6245. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3200 and 4290 while only grading would be done on county roads 2200, 2370 and 3180. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he has been attending a number of COVID-19 meetings including Friday when the Governor issued the state’s “stay at home” order. Essential business need to stay open but non-essential businesses may remain open if they can adhere to the enforcement guidelines established by the CDC. For more information on what those guidelines are, contact the Dent County Health Department at 729-3106. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that absentee voting continues for the June 2nd election. Call her office and someone will come to your vehicle at 729-4144. People have until May 20th to request a mail out ballot. The commissioners approved Resolution 1 that is sent to the Missouri Ethics Commission which they do every two years. Curley said she balanced with the assessor and collector on all collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of March. Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells was in to report the Dent County citizens would not need a letter of permission to be out during the “stay at home” order. He said he can only speak for Dent County and not any of the surrounding counties, but feels most sheriffs are leaning this way unless a quarantine situation would arise. The commissioners opened bids for culverts from Viebrock Sales and Service, and Metal Culverts, Inc. This was an item the commissioners had budgeted at $17,000. The low bid of $18,452 was from Viebrock. The commissioners unanimously approved the bid from Viebrock. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The City of Salem is canceling the spring community-wide yard sale typically held the first weekend in May. Lots will not be available to rent in the city administrative offices building parking lot. Individuals conducting yard sales must observe the maximum gathering of ten
(10) people and social distancing guidelines as required by the State “stay at home” order.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 2,712 birds over the past youth weekend, April 4th and 5th. Top harvest counties were Miller with 74 birds checked, Franklin with 62, and Callaway and Sainte Genevieve with 60 each. in the area, there were 43 birds checked in Texas County, 35 more in helps County, 32 in Dent County, 22 in Crawford County, 16 in Reynolds County and 14 more in Iron County. Young hunters checked 2,546 turkeys during the 2019 spring youth weekend. The regular spring turkey season remains open as scheduled and runs April 20th through May 10th.

Spring weather typically brings an increase in outside projects that may require digging or excavation work around your home or business. Before you start digging on any project, the Missouri Public Service Commission reminds homeowners and businesses to call 811 or 1-800-DIG-RITE (344-7483) or go online to place a locate request at www.mo1call.com so that underground utilities can be marked. Whether you are planting a tree, building a deck or completing a large project, Missouri law requires anyone digging underground to call 811 or 1-800-DIG-RITE at least three working days before excavation begins. The call will be taken by the Missouri One Call Center, which then notifies all relevant utilities in the project area. During this three day period, the utilities will mark the approximate location of their underground lines, request additional information or advise you that they do not have facilities at the excavation site. Hitting an underground line can cause serious injury, it could disrupt service to you and other customers and it could potentially result in fines and repair costs. For more information, please go to Missouri One Call at www.mo1call.com.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night at the City Hall Auditorium. Public Works Director Mark Nash talked about using Nova Chips on many city streets, but many can only be chipped and sealed as they can’t handle the machine that lays the chips. He said it may be advantageous to do the work in the next fiscal year and add the money from this year to it to get more bang for the city’s dollar. The alderman asked for a list of the streets that can be Nova Chipped and another of the chip and seal roads and then their priority. After the consent agenda, Gary Brown reported on the Planning and Zoning Meeting and they recommended to not grant a waiver to allow parking in the front 30 foot setback at a new development. This will now have to go in front of the Board of Adjustment for Planning and Zoning. City Administrator Ray Walden said the city continues to work with the Dent County Commission, health department and emergency management to take precautions necessary for the safety of city workers, staff and the citizens. He said utility bills will go out Friday and people should have them by next Wednesday. Starting in May, every electric meter and most water meters will be read by the AMI system. He said Maggi Construction who was awarded work on the city’s TAP grant has begun work at the city park by the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Walden said he is moving forward with the 4th of July Celebration at this point and will be buying fireworks. He also said people interested in the Park and Recreation summer programs should go to their Facebook page. Walden explained about the Energy Loan Program presented by the Department of Natural Resources that is a low interest loan to improve the lighting in the city to all LED lighting with a guaranteed payback in 15 years in buildings, street lamps and at the city parks The board approved Bill #3445 that lets the mayor execute an agreement with McKinstry Essention LLC to provide a detailed engineering study at a cost of $7,500 to prepare the application for the program before April 17th. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Health Center and local county and city officials are working together as a result of Governor Parson’s “Stay At Home” Missouri Order that goes into effect at 12:01 tomorrow morning and will last until 11:59 Friday night, April 24th. Agency leaders will continue to plan and discuss to coordinate within Salem and Dent County to help prevent and protect citizens from the spread of the COVID-19 virus, while also protecting the constitutional rights and economic interests of the community. They understand that this pandemic is difficult physically, financially and emotionally for all citizens. They ask for your continued patience in following the “Stay at Home” Missouri Order and appreciate the sacrifices citizens are making. Among other guidelines, the Order requires all individuals and nonessential businesses in the state of Missouri shall avoid gatherings of more than ten people and shall maintain a distance of six feet apart except for family members; all public and charter schools must remain closed for the duration of the Order; and nothing in this Order shall prohibit daycares, child care providers, or schools from providing child care for working families in accordance with CDC guidelines. The Order does not prohibit Missourians from accessing essential services such as grocery stores, gas stations, doctor’s appointments after confirming an appointment with your doctor, pharmacies, banks, getting carry-out food or engaging in outdoor recreation, provided that social distancing is maintained and other necessary precautions are taken and maintained to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Essential workers, services and sectors include, but are not limited to healthcare workers and caregivers; law enforcement, fire fighters, and first responders; government operations; mental health and Social Service workers; pharmacy employees; workers supporting groceries, pharmacies and other retail sales of food and beverage products; restaurant carryout and quick-serve food operations and food delivery employees; farm workers; electricity and utility industry employees; critical manufacturing employees providing medical supply chains, energy, transportation, food, and chemicals; petroleum, natural and propane gas workers; transportation and logistics workers; communications and information technology employees, and banks. A special thanks to community members who have donated their time and talent to create handmade masks. Hundreds of masks have been distributed to local healthcare providers, nursing homes, and businesses. Businesses or volunteers needing guidance on fabric mask distribution may contact the Dent County Health Center at 729-3106. More information on the CDC’s recommendation regarding the use of cloth face masks, as well as a instructions to make a homemade mask can be found at the CDC website: www.cdc.gov.

City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to let the public know that the next utility bills are expected to be processed by April 10th. These bills will include trash charges for two months as utility bills were not processed in March. Though penalties are not being processed during the State of Emergency by the City of Salem, the bills will have a listed penalty date of May 1st. Bills paid by April 20th will be eligible the 1% discount on the electric portion of the bill. Accounts set up for auto payments will be processed on April 20th. If there are any questions about your city utility bill, please contact the city utility office at 729-4117. The City of Salem has a list of ways that people can conserve on their utility bills during the year and during the COVID 19 pandemic. You can find the list on the City of Salem Facebook page.

Aging Best (formerly Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging) is providing curbside and home delivered meals in the 19 counties we serve which includes Salem and Dent County. There are seniors and caregivers in these counties who are unable to come to the center
for a curbside meal or are afraid of having contact with someone delivering meals to their home. They want to assure seniors and caregivers that Aging Best is following the recommended safety measures to prepare and transfer the meals. For curbside meals, seniors stay in their vehicles while we bring the meals to the cars. For home delivered meals, drivers place the meals outside of seniors’ homes in a safe place of their choice. If you or someone you know needs assistance with meals, access to food or a list of available resources for other aging related needs, or if you would be interested in volunteering to deliver meals or donating supplies, please call the Salem Senior Center Administrator Jody Schaefer at (573) 729-2373.

An accident happened Friday night at 10:30 in Reynolds County on Reynolds County Road 290 about four miles north of Bunker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 29-year old Bradley Gorden of Salem was traveling westbound when the Silverado ran off the roadway and overturned. Bradley was ejected from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries. He was transported to Salem Memorial by ambulance. Bradley was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Silverado sustained moderate damage and was towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

The City of Salem Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public meeting at 6:00 tonight at the City Hall Auditorium to discuss a waiver to allow parking in front of the South Aire Annex owned by Central Mo Investments, LLC. At 7:00 tonight, the Salem Board of Aldermen regular meeting will be held also at the City Hall Auditorium. In bids, the board will hear bids to do perform nova chip, and chip & seal on a number of city streets. Following the consent agenda, the board will hear from Gary Brown from Planning and Zoning on their public meeting. City Administrator Ray Walden will update the board on city projects and then discuss the RFP for the implementation of energy saving measures at city facilities and selected capital improvements. The board will discuss Bill #3445 that would authorize the mayor to execute a detailed engineering study agreement between the city and McKinstry Essention LLC for those energy saving measures. The board will go into closed session. Both meetings are open to the public.