Archive for 2021

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the consent agenda was approved, City Administrator Ray Walden reported that a workshop will be held to review funding for the Wasterwater Treatment Plant on Monday, January 11th at 7:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Training for city employees that will edit the new website is being conducted with the new site being active soon. The materials for the renovation work at the City Administration Offices would be in this week and look for the work to be completed soon with an open house to follow. The City offices will be closed on Monday, January 18th for MLK Day with the next Alderman meeting being held on Tuesday, January 19th. Public Works Director Mark Nash stated the new meters and modules have been ordered with a change file from Next Grid expected soon. Alderman Kevin James suggested an explanation being posted explaining the two billings that went out in December. Walden mentioned that after the October billing cycle goes out, the will have a better idea of a timeline to send out a press release. Citizens are encouraged to contact the city administration offices for questions regarding their billing. The board then went into closed session to discuss litigation.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports from late November into early December. On Monday, November 23rd, a deputy began an investigation regarding a violation of an order of protection. The deputy discovered that a 44-year-old Viburnum woman was the reported victim. She gave a brief statement of what had occurred and this investigation is ongoing. On Friday, November 27th, a Missouri Department of Conservation Agent contacted the Dent County Sheriff’s Office to report an abandon vehicle on Dent County Road 5220. Deputies traveled to the location and during the course of the incident, it was discovered that the vehicle was stolen from Phelps County the day prior. The vehicle was towed and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office was notified. On Saturday, November 28th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Route B and Highway 72. During the course of the traffic stop, a 42-year-old Salem man was arrested for operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Later that same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 119 and Route E. During the course of the traffic stop, a 44-year-old Salem man was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Wednesday, December 2nd, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the Walmart parking lot. During the course of the traffic stop, a 21-year-old Salem woman and a 24-year-old Salem man were arrested for possession of a controlled substance. The man and woman were both transported to the Dent County Jail where they were incarcerated. On Friday, December 4th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 6500 block of Highway 68 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 40-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

University of Missouri Extension will hold a Soils and Crops Conference on-line using Zoom to reach farmers with updates on crops and forages Tuesday evening, January 12th from 7:00 until 9:00. There will be no cost to participate in the conference. Topics featured in the conference include Sudden Death Syndrome in Soybean presented by Kaitlyn Bissonette, Plant Pathologist, Weed Control Update for Row Crops and Forages by Kevin Bradley, Extension Weed Scientist and Nitrogen Management for Cool Season Grasses by Gatlin Bunton, Field Specialist in Agronomy. All speakers are MU Extension specialists. The conferences are structured to provide both the row crop and forage producer with education designed to address topics relevant to their farm. To register for this event call the Franklin County University Extension Center at (636) 583-5141. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link to participate.

The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) wants the public to know that you can take a stand for your land and combat illegal dumping. Late fall and late winter are the best times for identifying illegal dumps and they encourage anyone to report illegal dumping activities. The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) provides surveillance camera services as a courtesy to cities and communities. To make a request, contact Jill Hollowell at the Meramac Regional Planning Commission by calling (573) 265-2993. This project is funded by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is extending the deadline to January 15th for landowner enrollment into the Missouri Outdoor Recreational Access Program. MRAP provides incentive payments of $15 to $25 per acre and habitat improvement financial assistance to participating landowners in return for allowing public access to their land for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Participating landowners can choose the recreational activities allowed on their property by selecting one of the following MRAP access types: all access hunting and fishing, small game and turkey hunting, youth only hunting and fishing, archery hunting, fishing only, or wildlife viewing. Offered lands must meet minimum eligibility requirements such as being 40 contiguous acres in size or 5 contiguous acres for wildlife viewing access types or 1 pond acre for fishing-only access types. MRAP properties must also consist of at least 20% quality wildlife habitat which includes native grass fields, crop field buffers, or managed woodlands to be eligible for the program. For information on how to apply to the MRAP program, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/Zcs.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles presented former District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell with very nice plaque in honor of his 12 years of service to the county. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge was in attendance to present her report for the month of December. She said page editor training would be held this Friday and next Thursday that will include a rep from each department of the city and county for the new website. She also said she will asking the tourism tax committee for funds to help with new “Welcome to Salem” signs with the new logo imagery. She also said a new sign would be put up at the City Administration Building with the new logo imagery as well. Burbridge said the city did not get the FHLB grant for the “Welcome Home Program” as they fell short by 1.7 points. Riverways Federal Credit Union visited with the FHLB reviewer to see where improvement can be made. Burbridge said it will take consensus from the city on resubmitting the application with additional viewer input. Burbridge talked about the “Love Thy Neighbor” program as they will be holding an informational meeting Thursday night at the First Baptist Church on McArthur at 6:30. This is a church-based volunteer program that provides assistance to residents for maintenance and repair. Everyone is welcome to attend. Burbridge will also be holding a Business @ Breakfast on Thursday, January 14th from 7:00 until 7:45 in the morning to discuss the MRPC’s CARES Revolving Loan Fund. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated a downed tree was removed from Dent County Road 5530, while other roads were being checked for downed limbs and trees. Mobray also reported that workers would be cleaning out road pipes that are stopped up. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said a downed tree was removed from a road this past weekend and other roads were being checked for downed trees and limbs. Larson said pipes would be cleaned out while signs at some low water crossings need to be replaced. Larson went on to say that a low water crossing near Boss would be worked on and that grading would probably be done Tuesday. Commissioner Skiles revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 over the Christmas break which was why he missed last Monday’s meeting. He said the county will be working on the budget for 2021 and no bills can be paid until it is approved. The tentative budget will be ready the afternoon on January 15th for the public and a budget hearing has been set for January 25th at 10:00 in the commissioner’s office. Skiles also said he received a letter from the Missouri Department of Conservation that the PILT payment for 2020 was not made due to some language in House Bill 2019. Payment will be made once the court makes a declaratory judgment on the bill to clarify the language. Last year, the PILT money received by the county from the Conservation Department was $3,865. At the last meeting, Tod Kinerk and Tabitha Utley from the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce were in asking for an increase in funds in the 2021 county to go from $750 to $5,000 due to increased expenses. No decision was made. Sheriff Bob Wells also came in to visit with the commission about the payment of jail doctor bills for two months that would need to come out of the 2020 budget and the commission approved those bills. The next meeting will be held Monday, January 11th 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 this evening at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda the board will review minutes of the December meeting and then hear the financial report and approve bills. The board will then go over the 2021 budget before the calendar review and hearing the monthly reimbursement report. Old and any new business will be heard before various reports are given. The date will then be set for the February meeting before adjourning. The meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District board of directors is open to the public.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has provided these preliminary statistics related to the New Year’s holiday weekend. Four people died in traffic crashes during the 78-hour counting period from 6:00 PM New Years Eve until 11:59 Sunday, January 3rd. Troopers investigated 458 traffic crashes, 97 traffic crash injuries, 4 fatalities and 135 DWI arrests. During the 2020 30-hour New Year’s counting period, there were 323 traffic crashes with one person killed, 140 injuries and 58 DWI arrests. There were no boating crashes or drownings over the 2021 New Year’s holiday counting period.

The Richmond Heights Police Department has issued an Endangered SILVER Advisory for a missing adult incident that occurred at 7720 Arthur Avenue at 5:30 Sunday morning. The missing adult is a 64-year old while male named Kevin Albrect who stands about 5′ 7″ tall, weighs about 125 lbs, has blonde or grey hair and has blue eyes. The clothing he was wearing is unknown. He is of slim build and is missing an upper front tooth and a lower front tooth. He has Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It is believed he left the St. Louis area in a white 2016 Nissan Rogue bearing MO temporary plate, 04KJNT. The vehicle was last seen 7720 Arthur Avenue in Richmond Heights. Albrecht’s wife returned to the residence and Albrecht was no longer at that location. Albrecht’s phone last pinged in the area of Rolla Missouri, but the phone has since been turned off. Anyone seeing the missing person, suspect, associate, or vehicle, or anyone having any information related to the endangered missing person should immediately dial 911 to contact the nearest law enforcement agency or call the Richmond Heights Police Department at 314-645-3000.

An accident happened Saturday morning at 8:38 on Interstate 44 at 213 mile marker than took the life of a man from Cuba, Missouri. According to the highway patrol report, 50-year old Danny Evans from Cuba was driving a 1998 Chevy Blazer eastbound when he lost control on an ice covered bridge. The Blazer traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned, ejecting Evans. Danny Evans was taken to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan where he was pronounced dead at 10:20 Saturday morning by Dr. Melissa Bradley. A passenger in the Blazer, 51-year old Tracey Evans of Cuba, was transported by the North Crawford County Ambulance to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan for the treatment of moderate injuries. The report indicates Danny Evans was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident while Tracey Evans was. The Blazer was totaled and removed from the scene by Chris and Sons Towing in Cuba.

An accident happened in St. Louis County Sunday around noon on Interstate 270 heading southbound between Highway 100 and Big Bend Boulevard that left a Rolla man with serious injuries. According to the highway patrol report, 52-year old Allen Blackmon of Rolla was driving his 2000 Buick Lesabre and was traveling in the outside lane when he traveled off the right side of the roadway. The LeSabre then struck two delineator posts and overturned. Blackmon suffered serious injuries and he was taken to the Mercy Hospital by the Des Peres EMS. The LeSabre was totaled and removed from the scene by McNamara Towing. Blackmon was wearing his seat restraint at the time of the accident.

An accident happened in Dent County at 11:05 Friday morning on Dent County Road 6150 about a quarter of a mile south of Highway 32. According to the highway patrol report, a 1987 Ford Bronco driven northbound by 20-year old Katlyn Tabor of Salem, traveled off the right side of the roadway. The Ford Bronco struck an embankment and overturned. Suffering moderate injuries was a passenger in the Bronco, 21-year old James Wallace of Salem, and he was taken by the Salem EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment. Suffering minor injuries were the driver, Katlyn Tabor and another passenger in the Bronco, 20-year old Jeremy Pilkington of Salem. They were both taken by the Salem EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment. The highway patrol report says that none of these individuals were wearing a seat restraint when the accident happened. The Bronco was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will meet this evening at 7:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the board will discuss and approve the consent agenda before City Administrator ray Walden will discuss and update the board on ongoing city projects. The board will then go into closed session to discuss litigation before the meeting is adjourned. The meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reminds motorists that Route K in Reynolds County will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert under the roadway. This section of roadway is located between Reynolds County Road 421 and Reynolds County Road 302A. Weather permitting, the work will take place today through Thursday, January 7th from 8:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon each day. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/southeast.