Archive for 2021

Happy New Year from everyone at KSMO Media and Your World Today!!!

The new year is bringing the first significant winter weather of the season. Periods of sleet, freezing rain and snow throughout the state will begin late tonight and end early Sunday that could create slippery road conditions. The Missouri Department of Transportation urges travelers to use extreme caution and consult weather forecasts in your area and along the route to your destination when making holiday and weekend travel plans. Even slight glazing of the pavement could impact travel, especially on elevated surfaces like bridges and overpasses. Slow down and allow yourself extra time if you must drive. If attending holiday parties on New Year’s Eve, consider staying at your party destination, especially if your celebration includes alcoholic beverages. You may need to stay put until the storm ends Sunday and road conditions improve. Road conditions could deteriorate rapidly wherever freezing precipitation is falling. It only takes a little bit of ice to create slippery roads. Bitterly cold temperatures are expected to follow the storm, which could further impede travel and road clearing operations. If you are involved in a crash or slide off the road, the safest thing to do is to stay inside your vehicle and wait for help to arrive. There were 60 people killed and 270 seriously injured in Missouri traffic crashes between December 10th, 2020, and January 1st, 2021. Fifteen of the fatalities and 47 of the serious injuries involved a substance-impaired driver, so if your plans include alcohol, make sure you have a safe and sober ride pre-arranged for the drive home. Consulting MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map should be the first thing you do before taking to the road. The map can be found on www.modot.org, or through MoDOT’s smartphone app, available for iPhone and Android phones. You can also find road conditions and warnings by following MoDOT on Facebook and Twitter or by calling 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) to speak with a customer service representative 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The Dent County Commissioners held a special meeting Thursday morning to pay bills for the last time until the 2022 budget is approved in late January. The commission will also be working on the numerous fund budgets that make up the entire Dent County Budget. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said the hearing scheduled in January with the Missouri Department of Revenue and the county has been rescheduled for June 9th at 9:00 in the morning. This will allow the Department of Revenue time to collect all the data they need to figure how the monies are to be repaid. Skiles also wanted to remind everyone the Dent County Collector’s Office and Assessor’s Office will be open today from 8:00 until 5:30 for those who need to pay their personal property and real estate taxes for 2021, but all the other county offices will be closed for the New Year’s holiday. Those two offices will then be closed on Monday, January 3rd for the New Year’s holiday. At the last meeting, Curt Faigle with the 100 Acre Wood Rally stated the rally this year will be March 18th and 19th. The next commissioner meeting will be held Monday, January 3rd at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meeting Tuesday evening, January 4th, at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the minutes from the December meeting will be the financial report and approval of bills. Following the calendar review the board will go over the monthly reimbursement report before addressing any old or new business brought before the board. After hearing various reports, the board will set the date for the February meeting before adjourning and going into closed session if needed. The regular meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors next Tuesday evening
is open to the public.

The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved unanimous agreements filed by parties in the natural gas rate cases filed by Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri. Ameren Missouri will increase annual natural gas revenues by approximately $5 million effective for service rendered on and after February 28, 2022. When Ameren Missouri filed its natural gas rate case on March 31, 2021, it sought to increase annual natural gas revenues by approximately $9.4 million. The last Ameren Missouri general natural gas rate case that resulted in a rate increase was in January 2011. The natural gas rate case generally reflected “non-gas” costs. “Non-gas” costs are operating and maintenance expenses in providing natural gas to customers in a safe and useful form. It also includes a return on investment in plant (such as meters, mains and service lines that deliver natural gas to your home or business). The actual cost of the natural gas is NOT a part of this rate case. The wholesale cost of natural gas is unregulated. The Public Service Commission reviews the natural gas purchasing practices of Ameren Missouri to ensure prudent decisions are made in securing natural gas supplies for its customers. Ameren Missouri serves approximately 1.28 million electric customers and approximately 132,350 natural gas customers in Missouri.

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 2:45 in Pulaski County on westbound Interstate 44 near the 160.2-mile marker. The report from the highway patrol states that 2006 Chevrolet Malibu being driven by 24-year-old Daniel Switzer of St. Louis traveled off the left side of the interstate and struck the cable barrier sending debris into the eastbound lanes. The debris struck a 2013 Freightliner box van being driven by 26-year-old Dalton Crum of Rolla. Both drivers suffered minor injuries and were transported by EMS to Phelps Health Hospital for treatment. The Freightliner was able to be driven from the scene with minor damage. The Chevrolet had extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Jacks Towing.

The Dent County Health Center has released the new Covid-19 quarantine guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Infection. The CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others. Therefore, people who test positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others. To find out more information about the new COVID-19 quarantine guidelines, check out the Dent County Health Center’s website or Facebook page.

The Salem Police Department has released an accident report from Thursday, December 9th. According to the report, a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, owned and operated by Gerald Nickles of Salem, was in the turn lane facing west on Highway 32 at the intersection of Askins Street. At that time, a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, owned and operated by Austin Wulff of Salem, was traveling eastbound on Highway 32 nearing the intersection of Askins Street. The Nickles attempted to turn his vehicle left into the Walmart parking lot and failed to yield to the Wulff vehicle. Wulff’s vehicle’s front bumper collided with the passenger side bed and door of the Nickles vehicle. Gerald Nickles suffered minor injuries and was transported to Salem Memorial District Hospital, while Wulff suffered no injuries. The Nickles’ vehicle sustained extensive damage, while Wulff’s Silverado sustained moderate damage. Both pickups were removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The Dent County Sheriffs’ Department made a traffic stop on Christmas Day in the 1000 block of Highway 32 East. During the course of the stop, a 38-year-old St. Clair woman was arrested on a warrant out of Jefferson County. A 32-year-old St. Louis man was also arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended. Both subjects were transported to the Dent County Jail where the man was issued a summons and released, while the woman was incarcerated on the warrant.

Filing for the municipal offices for the City of Salem ended Tuesday. There are four candidates for mayor: Skip Dahms, Stephanie Skiles, Greg Parker and Bill Parsons. The only candidate running for East Ward Alderman is the current alderwoman, Kayla Sisco. Two candidates are running for the unexpired West Ward Alderman term of the late Kenny Nash and those candidates are Tod Kinerk and Shannon Riley. There are also two candidates running for the full West Ward Alderman seat and they are Kyle Williams and Catherine Dent. The municipal election will be April 5th, 2022.

The American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive at the New Harmony Church main gym on Highway 32 West on Wednesday, January 5th from 2:00 until 6:00. Currently, the Red Cross still experiences dangerously low inventory not seen in more than a decade. All who come to give blood in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a getaway to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. As an extra thank-you from the Red Cross, those who come to donate will also be automatically entered to win a home theater package and a $500 e-gift card. To register for the blood drive, call 1-800-733-2767 to schedule your appointment.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to make good decisions regarding their New Year’s celebration. No one wants to start 2022 with a traffic crash or DWI arrest. During last year’s holiday, 94 people were arrested for driving under the influence. During the 2021 New Year’s period, six people were killed and 389 injured in 1,247 traffic crashes in Missouri. The 2022 New Year’s holiday counting period begins at 6:00 tonight and ends at 11:59 Sunday evening, January 2nd. If your plans to welcome the new year include alcohol, please designate a sober driver or utilize a ride share service or taxi to ensure you arrive home safely. The roadway is no place for a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you kill or injure someone, you’ll pay the price for the rest of your life. If you plan to drive this New Year’s, remember to buckle up and make sure all your passengers do the same. Pay attention, obey all traffic laws, and when in doubt, yield the right-of-way. You can check road conditions by calling 1-888-275-6636. Allow extra time during inclement weather or consider staying home. Remember, Missouri law states if you’re using your windshield wipers, your headlights must be turned on. Don’t forget to call the Patrol’s Emergency Assistance Number (800) 525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone if you witness criminal activity or experience an emergency.

Governor Mike Parson requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approve a major disaster declaration for Missouri to provide federal assistance to a total of seven counties, including two in the KSMO listening area. This is in response to the severe storms and deadly tornadoes that swept across the state on the evening of December 10th, resulting in extensive destruction. Governor Parson is requesting public assistance for Iron and Reynolds counties in our area. If approved, agencies may seek federal assistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs, including repair and replacement costs for damaged buildings, bridges, roads, and other public infrastructure. The joint preliminary damage assessments, conducted by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), FEMA, and local officials estimated a total of more than $27 million in damage to public infrastructure and emergency response costs eligible for federal assistance. Both state and county thresholds set by FEMA must be met in order for a county to be included in the request for Public Assistance.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening in the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington Street. The board approved Bill # 3496 to create an ordinance amending Chapter 700, Article 1 of the Code of Ordinances pertaining to the disconnection of services. In a nutshell, the city will not shut off anyone’s electric for the non-payment of utility bills including residential tenants of an apartment building if the National Weather Service local forecast calls for temperature to be above 95 degrees or be 105 degrees with a heat index for the following 24 hours, or if utility personnel will not be available to reconnect utility service in the succeeding day or days. The bill goes on to read the city will not shut off utility services on any day the National Weather Service local forecast predicts the temperatures to be below freezing or if utility personnel will not be available to reconnect utility service in the succeeding day or days. This had been recommended for approval by the Utility Committee. The board also approved Resolution #38-2021 that authorizes the filing of an application for an engineering grant with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for the Clean State Revolving Fund Program under the Missouri Clean Water Act. The resolution allows Mayor Steelman to execute the application and provide any information deemed necessary by DNR for the application, sign all documents and furnish assurances as may be required. The grant amount is $50,000 and there is a 20% local match which is $12,500 which has been budgeted under the engineering services for Wastewater Treatment plant improvements. The application of the grant was recommended by Jeff Medows from Archer-Elgin Engineering at the Utility Committee meeting. City Administrator Ray Walden reported the filing for the municipal election of the four elected positions in Salem ended Tuesday and there were four people who filed for mayor, two for each of the west aldermanic seats and one person filing for the single east ward aldermanic seat. He said the sales tax collections to date have stayed true to the budget or may be even a little higher. Walden discussed how People Centric, a consulting group out of Springfield, Missouri, is updating position descriptions as well as working on future planning updates for the city. He also stated the City of Salem Administrative Offices Friday will be closed in honor the New Year’s Day holiday. Mayor Kim Steelman mentioned that she along with Administrator Walden, Public Works Director Nash, Police Chief Joe Chase and City Clerk Tammy Koller will all attend a meeting with the insurance broker to discuss additional options dealing with city employee benefits as that has been one of her priorities. Public Works Director Mark Nash reported the electric department has been checking insulators and pole attachments to alleviate blinking in the city, plus change out poles if needed. He said the water and sewer department has had two fix two water line breaks, plus have been flushing and checking pressure on some fire hydrants. He went on to say the new fence at the water and electric department on Wines Street has been installed. Nash said the street department has been able to patch some of the water and sewer line digouts in the streets and they have placed concrete blocks in front of the damaged bridge on 2nd Stree. He also said the street department is taking off the roof over the truck shed for the street department for the rafters to be replaced. Alderman Greg Parker thanked the people for their recycling efforts over the holidays, Alderman Bolerjack went over the Utility Committee meeting minutes and Alderwoman Sisco wanted to thank the city employees, especially those at the city administration building. The board then went into closed session.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has weatherization assistance available to increase energy efficiency and improve the health of your home. The department’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is critical to meeting heating and cooling needs of Missourians with low-incomes, especially as many seniors and other vulnerable households’ shelter at home due to COVID-19. WAP makes homes more energy efficient, safer, and healthier. To apply for assistance, clients should contact their local weatherization agency which is the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency. In Dent County, the number is 729-3500. A single person with a maximum income of $25,760 is eligible and a home with two residents must have a maximum income of $34,840 to qualify. Local weatherization agencies can provide further information about maximum family income and other details regarding program eligibility. Properly insulating and sealing air leaks can help many homes save as much as 30% in winter heating costs. Home weatherization not only saves homeowners money and leaves them with a more comfortable living space, but it also reduces the pollution associated with generating energy used for heating. For more ways to weatherize visit dnr.mo.gov/energy/weatherization or contact the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy at 855-522-2796.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state closed on Friday, December 31st, in observance of New Year’s Day. Normal operations will resume on Monday, January 3rd, 2022.