Archive for 2020

As of Tuesday morning, March 17th, the City of Salem Administration Building has posted a sign on the front door of the building that indicates the lobby is currently closed in response to the coronavirus. The sign mentions using the drive-through or drop box to make utility payments. You can call the office at 729-4117, e-mail administration@salemmo.com, or visit the City of Salem Facebook page for all other needs.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a meeting Monday at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the consent agenda, the board heard from Public Works Director Mark Nash about Fire Hydrant Saver Equipment that can save the city the cost of replacing three to five fire hydrants a year. The bid from Schulte Supply, Inc of Edwardsville, Illinois, was for $12,155.24. The bid was approved by a 3-2 vote with Mayor Brad Nash breaking the 2-2 tie vote thatn was caused when Aldermen Nash and James voting for the purchase and Alderwoman Hinderlighter and Steelman voted against it. In the Planning and Zoning Commission hearing and meeting, Chairman Gary Brown brought the results to the alderman of the vote taken on two proposed bills before the Board of Alderman meeting. The results were three votes for and three against to recommend to the aldermen to approve the proposed bills. The City Attorney said the aldermen may override any recommendation or non-recommendation by the committee with at least a 2/3rds majority vote as per current city ordinances. After the consent agenda, City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to remind everyone to use good hygiene, wash your hands and stay home if you are feeling ill. The board approved Bill #3439 that approved establishing rules for licensing domestic wineries within the city of Salem and the zoning of those establishments by a 3-1 vote with Alderman Nash voting against the bill. The board also approved Bill #3440 that approved establishing rules for licensing microbeweries, microwineries and meaderies within the city limits of Salem and the zoning of those establishments by a 3-1 vote with Alderman Nash voting against the bill. The board approved Bill #3441 that will annex the land between Southtown Furniture and Tiny’s Automotive owned by the Charles and Janet Cunnngham Trust by a 4-0 vote. The board approved the re-appointment of Rose Kinerk to the Salem Housing Authority Board of Commissioners for another four-year term effective February 16th, 2020. The board also approved leaving the MPR Pool Insurance Group for property and liability insurance coverage before going into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released reports for March 6th and 7th. On Friday, March 6th, a deputy traveled to an apartment on Odom Drive in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 22- year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. Finally on Saturday, March 7th, deputies responded to a residence in the 6500 block of East Highway 32 for a report of a 46- year-old Salem man who was in possession of a firearm and was acting erratic. While deputies were enroute to the residence, further information was received that said the man was now holding two subjects at gunpoint inside the residence. Deputies arrived on scene and set up a perimeter around the residence. After a short time, the Salem man walked out of the residence and surrendered himself. The man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail. He was charged with the unlawful use of a weapon, subsection 4 –exhibiting, unlawful use of a weapon, subsection 11 – possession of a weapon with a felony controlled substance, plus harassment in the 1st degree, armed criminal action, kidnapping in the 3rd degree, possession of controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana and/or synthetic cannabinoid, and the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The Salem man is currently being held on a $100,000 cash or professional surety bond. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information about an investigation.

With an increasing number of school closures around the state in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Missouri Department of Conservation announces that it must cancel its Missouri National Archery in the Schools (MoNASP) virtual state tournament. MDC MoNASP Coordinator Eric Edwards added that all teams and student archers who competed in a state-qualifying event will be eligible to pre-register for the National Archery in the Schools (NASP) national championship and will be placed in their tier based on their highest score in a state-qualifying tournament that took place this season, including the current virtual qualifying tournament listed at nasptournaments.org. The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) national tournament is scheduled for May 7-9 in Louisville, Kentucky. Edwards added that schools will only be eligible to have one team qualify for nationals. He says if you were an individual shooter, your high score will count. If you were part of a team, your individual score for the national-tier setting will be the score you shot when your team posted its highest score.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it has cancelled most public events and programs at its nature centers, shooting ranges, and other locations around the state until April 15th. The cancellations are effective immediately and include scheduled hunter education classes, nature center programs and events, shooting range programs and events, and landowner workshops. MDC scheduled managed hunts, mentored spring turkey hunts, and native plant sales at nature centers will continue as planned. All conservation areas remain open to the public. MDC offices, nature centers, and shooting ranges also remain open under normal operating hours. According to MDC, the cancellations are in effect immediately to protect the safety of the public amid ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns. People can contact their local MDC office, nature center, or shooting range with questions on specific events or programs.

As our health communities continue to assess the spread of COVID-19, Salem R-80 is receiving guidance from local and state health officials. Superintendent John McColloch stated the decision was made Monday afternoon to close all Salem R-80 facilities beginning on Wednesday, March 18 through Friday, April 3rd. Classes will be set to resume on Monday, April 6th. Classes will be in session today, March 17, so that teachers and students have time to prepare for an extended closure and allow them to prepare materials that can be sent home with students. This closure also applies to all co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and practices. Thank you for your patience as we are trying to work proactively during this time. Our primary focus is the safety and the well-being of our students, staff, and community.

According to Jody Schaefer, the Salem Senior Center Administrator, the Salem Senior Center will be suspending the daily congregate lunch meal and all activities. Schafer did say that a warm meal would be provided for clients to take home, Monday through Friday, from 11:00 in the morning until to 1:00 in the afternoon. If clients are not interested in coming to the Senior Center to pick up their meals, they may get the frozen meal delivery if they live within city limits. They will still do their normal frozen meal delivery as well. If you have any questions or need information about picking up or having meals delivered, contact the Salem Senior Center at 729-2373. Also, if there are any seniors that still need assistance, please let them know. They are there to help!

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse with Dent County Emergency Management Director Brad Nash and Dent County Health Center Administrator Kendra Mobray. They discussed their meeting on Friday with Commission Skiles, the rural fire departments, representatives from the Division of Family Services, Salem R-80 and the rural school administrators, representatives from the Salem Memorial District Hospital, representatives from Phelps Health and the Mercy Clinic and the Salem Police Department. Mobray said there are now six confirmed cases of the Covid 19 virus in Missouri, but none in the Region I area and all have been travel related so far in the state. She said the CDC has recommended that there be no gatherings of more than 50 people in any one location, and that Veteran’s Homes and nursing homes be shut down to visitors. Mobray stated the best way to avoid getting the virus is to wash your hands, keep social distancing in mind, and if you feel ill to stay home. She said masks will not help you keep from getting the virus. She said the Covid 19 virus symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath. If you have these symptoms, contact your current health provider or the health center BY PHONE. The Dent County Health Center number is 729-3106 and the Shannon County Health Center number is 573-226-3914. They will ask you a number of questions to see if you may qualify to be tested. Do NOT go to see your health provider without calling FIRST, and do NOT just go to the Salem Memorial District Hospital Emergency Room without calling first unless it is a true health emergency.

At the Dent County Commission meeting Monday, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported it was too wet to grade. Workers will be servicing county dump trucks 119 and 123, replacing downed or stolen road signs, cleaning out culverts where needed, removing a leaning pine tree on Dent County Road 5690 and cutting brush on county road 5520. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated a crew would be repairing brush cutter #6 and will be checking for washouts. Larson said the county will not be able to grade until the conditions improve and the roads can dry and the forecast this week is not optimistic for better weather. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said the commissioners attended the South Central County Commissioner Association meeting in Houston Friday. Skiles said they heard from Senator Mike Cunningham, and Representatives Davis Evans and Robert Ross. Skiles state the commissioners received an update on the per diem legislation, heard about the Conservation Department’s landowner registration, got an update on the feral hog situation and heard more on the medical marijuana issue. Skiles also said at the last meeting in closed session, the commission approved the bid by SecureTech Systems, Inc. out of Irving, Texas to provide security services for the Dent County Jail. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that absentee voting for the April 7th election continues. She recommends that voters who are ill or disabled, or who have a caretaker, to request to get a ballot by mail. This is an excused reason to vote absentee and they can call the Dent County Clerk’s office at 729-4144. You can request to have a ballot mailed out until March 25th. The clerk’s office also offers curbside voting for those who can’t make it inside the courthouse. For those who want to vote this way, please call the Dent County Clerk’s office when you are outside and they will bring everything you need to vote to your vehicle. Also, absentee voting continues for the April 7th election until April 6th at 5:00, and the clerk’s office will be open Saturday, April 4th from 8:00 until 12:00 noon for absentee voting. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their March meeting on this evening in the hospital library beginning at 6:00. After approval of the agenda and minutes of the February 18th regular meeting and March 3rd special meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations for the month of February, a Home Health report and hospital auxiliary report followed by the Chief of Nursing Report for the month by Debbie Hines. A report on the hospital foundation, plus the marketing and community perception report will be given by Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards. Hospital Administrator Lucas will discuss the Home Health Bylaw Change with the board which will then be voted on before the board hears a report from the 2021 fiscal year finance committee meeting. New purchases made by the hospital will be presented before the hospital goes into closed session. The March board meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public.