Archive for 2021

A four-vehicle accident happened Sunday afternoon at 4:30 in Franklin County on Interstate 44 near the 257.4-mile marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Honda CRV was improperly stopped on the interstate blocking the eastbound passing lane. At that time, a 2019 BMW X3 being driven by 65-year-old Roland Dolle of Eureka and a 2005 Jeep Wrangler being driven by 38-year-old Jason Savage of Salem, were both traveling east in the passing lane. The accident occurred as the front of the Wrangler struck the rear of the BMW. Then a 2021 Volvo Conventional semi being driven by 22-year-old Robin Singh of Clovis, California, struck the right side of the BMW. The BMW then struck the rear of the Honda. Savage suffered serious injuries and was taken by Meramec Ambulance Service to Mercy Hospital St. Louis. The Jeep, BMW, and Honda were totaled and all three were removed by Patriot Towing. No damage was reported to the Volvo Conventional.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge provided the commissioners her monthly report. She reported on the one state lead where the company asked the state to provide them with the ten best certified sites and Salem was included in that selection. Burbridge since then has provided the company with more additional information which was requested. She said the first three houses of the Voluntary Demolition Program have been removed and she has seven other homeowners interested in the program. She is working now with Archer Elgin to perform the letting out of bids. She said people can now vote on the Strong Communities Award the Salem R-80 Construction Trades program is up for. The public voting will end Friday and everyone can vote once a day. To vote, you must go online to www.fhlbdm.com/award. The program already received $3,000 for being a finalist. Burbridge also reported the unemployment rate for Dent County dropped to 3.7% in August, but the workforce has shrank from 6,204 to 6,123 people. Livestock Specialist Eric Meusch came in to update the commission on Extension programs. He said the Beef Days was a tremendous success held in September. He also said coming up Thursday at Wurdack Farm will be the FFA Education Day for FFA students in the surrounding school districts. On Friday, Wurdack will be hosting a Field Day and people still have time to sign up for that by contacting Dusty Walter at 573-999-1514. Meusch also said Wurdack will host a Whole System Management course later this month that may become a statewide school on those interested in artificial insemination. He went on to say the Dent County Extension has filled the position created in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation to deal with the feral hog problem in the area and his name is Kevin Crider who was raised in Shannon County. He was working as a feral hog trapper with MDC. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated work crews will be rebuilding Dent County Road 6220. Mobray said the road will be “passible” but be cautious in your travels over that road. The work crews will be hauling in dirt, replacing a culvert and then re-rocking the road. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported one of his district workers will be helping with the project on county road 6220, while the other workers will be rebuilding a low water crossing on Dent County Road 4030. Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he attended the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board meeting Tuesday and they reviewed and scored 11 grant applications to reduce solid waste going into landfills as well recycling. He said one of the applications came from Dent County. He said about $300,000 was requested and there is around $180,000 available. They will meet again next Tuesday to work on awarding the projects. Skiles stated he, Commissioner Mobray, Dent County Clerk Angie Curley, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams and Dent County Lieutenant Lenny Pabin attended the ARPA meeting last Wednesday at the MRPC to hear from Attorney Travis Elliott on what the funds can be used for. Elliott made a few recommendations concerning the fund and prepared some draft policies for the distribution, but said the counties need to wait for the final ruling from the US Treasury before acting. Skiles also said he attended the CCAM Executive Board meeting last week and they discussed legal issues concerning Senate Bill 53. He said the whole board will be meeting this week to discuss it further. The commission then heard from John Hickman from HIC Insurance concerning health insurance. The courthouse will be closed on Monday for Columbus Day so there will be no commissioner meeting Monday.

An accident happened Sunday night at about 10:30 on Highway C in Texas County about five miles north of Licking. The report from the highway patrol states that a 1985 Honda MC being operated by 28-year-old Brendan Woodall of Licking, lost control and was ejected from the vehicle. Woodall, who was not wearing a safety device, suffered serious injuries, and was taken to Mercy Hospital in Springfield by an air ambulance. The Honda sustained minor damage and was removed by a private party.

The Rose Holland Trout Derby, which was held this past weekend, was a huge success. There were 764 tags sold for Saturday’s fishing and 434 for Sunday. There were 10 lunkers caught and local anglers catching lunkers included Kevin Sunke of Rolla and Tad Headrick of Salem. Fifty-four tagged fish were caught and registered. The total raised for the American Heart Association was $12,415. The Current River Cruisers Car Show on Friday raised $1,046.00 for the derby.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Thursday at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board heard from Skip Dahms requesting a street closure on Fourth Street between McArthur and North Henderson for October 9th for a Kids Fall Carnival. This was approved. Also approved was Bill No. 3492 an ordinance amending the annual budget beginning July 1st, 2020 and appropriating funds from the Electric, Sanitation and Airport Fund. This bill increases the total anticipated revenue from $12,860,186.00 to $13,544,506.27, the anticipated expenditures from $12,791,822.00 to $13,476,139 and the Intergovernmental Transfers from $2,197,462.00 to just over $2.4 million dollars. The fund adjustment for the Electric Fund was due to the February weather event; the Sanitation Fund was due to a corrected billing cycle and the Airport Fund was due to a grant awarded for an airport project spanning fiscal years. City Administrator Ray Walden reported the City Wide Yard Sale will be held Saturday with maps being available at the City Administration office as well as local convenience stores. Fall clean up weeks will be October 11th to the 15th, and citizens that have questions about what can be placed curbside can call 1-800-926-3953. City offices will be closed on Monday, October 11th in observance of Columbus Day. The board approved the Trick and Treat hours being held on October 31st from 6:00-8:00 in the evening. Mayor Kim Steelman reported the filling of the City Clerk and Finance Director positions are moving along with an announcement soon. She is suggesting the city get a text alert service that citizens can subscribe to that would create another form of communication. She is working with Code Enforcement Officer Jarrod Brown on updating some policy and ordinances and will bring suggestions for changes to the board. Public Works Director Mark Nash updated the alderman on several projects. The city crews will be filling and sealing cracks on city streets the next couple of weeks. Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge gave an update on the Federal Home Loan Bank project through Riverways Federal Credit Union, that will rehab 25 homes. It will be announced in December. She is optimistic about this grant due to recent contact with the funder. The Bank of Salem sponsored the Federal Home Loan Bank $15,000 project for the Salem R-80 Construction Trade program and the winner will be determined by online voting that will open October 4th. There have been three homes that have participated in the Demolition Program with another seven homeowners that have expressed interest in participating. The Aldermen then each gave a report on items that staff needed to look into. Steelman reminded the board that when contacted by citizens they should direct them to contact the appropriate city department. The board approved applying for a Law Enforcement grant for $7,500 to install lockable gun racks in the patrol cars. The board then went into closed session.