Archive for 2021

As more Americans plan July 4th celebrations, the Division of Fire Safety is reminding Missourians to put fireworks safety first this Independence Day. Public fireworks displays not only offer the best sights, they are the safest, and Missourians will have more options than last year, when many displays were canceled because of the pandemic. Remember, within the city limits of Salem, the discharge of fireworks is legal for individuals 18 years of age or older, or those under the supervision of a parent, guardian or person 18 years old or older between the period of July 1st and July 6th. By ordinance, those discharging fireworks may only do so between the hours of 8:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night except on July 4th when the hours shall be 8:00 in the morning until midnight. Only Class 1.4G fireworks in unmodified form shall be discharged. Fireworks sales at seasonal retailers are legal in Missouri starting June 20th and lasting until July 10th. Please keep in mind that July 4th is not only the busiest day of the year for fireworks, it is the busiest day of the year for fires. About 40 percent of Independence Day structure fires are the result of fireworks, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Across the U.S. in 2018, fireworks started an estimated 19,500 fires, including 1,900 structure fires, 500 vehicle fires and 17,100 outside and other types of fires. These fires caused five deaths and $105 million in direct property damage, according to NFPA. About 250 people go to emergency rooms each day with fireworks-related injuries in the 30 days around July 4th. Missourians who choose to use consumer fireworks should only use fireworks in a large open space that has been cleared of flammable materials, make sure to have a garden hose or a bucket of water nearby in case of a fire, only light fireworks one at a time; never try to re-light fireworks that have malfunctioned, and dispose of fireworks by soaking them in water and leaving them in a trash can. For questions or concerns about firework safety, firework rules, or firework dealers can contact the Division of Fire Safety at (573) 751-2930.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will meet tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory for a special meeting where a new West Ward Alderman will be appointed, a Resolution #18-2021 authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement between the city and United Health Care for employee health insurance, and Bill #3483 adopting the annual budget for the next fiscal year 2021-2022 will be discussed. The meeting is open to the public.

Are you turning 65, retiring, or becoming eligible for Medicare because of a disability? If so, there is an excellent opportunity for you to participate in the free Medicare Virtual Fair today from the comfort of your home or office that will help you navigate through the complexities of Medicare. CLAIM, the official State Health Insurance Assistance Program for Missouri since 1993, is helping residents sign up for Medicare by promoting this national virtual event from 2:00 to 6:00 TODAY. This virtual event’s goal is to teach residents about Medicare–and all its parts–and to assist people in making their initial enrollment decisions. The CLAIM volunteers provide unbiased counseling and assistance at no cost for all participants. Those interested in taking advantage of this free opportunity to receive advice provided by Medicare experts are encouraged to pre-register prior to the event online. You may log-in at www.shiphelp.org and follow the easy-to-follow steps found on the “Welcome To Medicare” information on the website. The CLAIM call center will be open and available to take telephone requests for individualized counseling after the event, too. Staff will also be providing assistance via the event’s chat function. All CLAIM services are free, unbiased and confidential. CLAIM averages around 300 volunteer counselors and 180 community partners throughout Missouri who provide local Medicare counseling in their communities. Funding is providing by the Administration for Community Living with oversight by the Department of Commerce & Insurance.

A one vehicle accident happened Tuesday morning just after 3:00 in the morning in Texas County on Highway 17 about four miles north of Houston. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2008 Ford Focus being driven by 34-year-old Joshua Miller of Licking, crossed the centerline, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a utility pole. Miller suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital to be flown to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A passenger in the vehicle, 33-year-old Tawnisha Dasalla, also of Licking, was transported by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The report went on to state that Dasalla was wearing a safety restraint, while Miller was not. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Jays Towing.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance due to a prior commitment and Commissioner Gary Larson was named acting Presiding Commissioner for the meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented to the commission the CART funds received by the county. She said the county received $64,777.46 and that is $24,454.22 more than last June. She also said year-to-date, the CART funds are up $40,689.46. She went on to say she transferred $103,292.25 from the County School Fines Fund to all the local school districts based on the appropriate share as determined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. These funds are accumulated from basically July through June and come from court fines, tickets, weapons auctions held by law enforcement, and other monies collected from legal penalties. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 4110 and 4120. He also said crews would be out checking road signs and cleaning out pipes as needed. District 2 Commissioner Larson indicated that a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. He did say that a crew was patching some chip and seal roads using the ultimate paving material. Larson went on to report crews would be servicing truck #122. He wanted to let the public know numerous county road signs have been stolen, knocked down or damaged lately, especially in the Howes Mill and Boss areas. This is especially dangerous if an emergency vehicle needs to find a person and the emergency service personnel are not familiar with the roads in that area which could be a matter of life and death. This could also jeopardize someone’s safety if they are being threatened or the home is on fire. The county already has surpassed its budget for signs this year and would appreciate the public being aware and reporting anyone they see damage or stealing the road signs. To report the theft or damage of signs, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241. Larson also said he would be attending a Dent County Tourism tax meeting once a date has been determined. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she would be attending a South Central County Clerk’s Regional Meeting at West Plains on Thursday. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

A couple of other items occurred at the Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting last Thursday not reported in our story Friday. The Board of Education committee assignments that were changed for the 2021-2022 school year were Bernie Sirois with the CSIP program and Holly Erway in Health Services. The board also agreed to move the July meeting to Tuesday, July 20th at 6:00. In closed session, the board employed Steven Taylor as a High School counselor, Kalie Jay was moved to the specialist column on the salary schedule, and a $500 stipend was approved for Shelia Adamick, Traci Wulff, and Brenda Hanning. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Community Development Block Grant program has awarded the City of Steelville a grant for $495,788 to help renovate the community building and bring it up to code per ADA requirements. Interior and exterior improvements to the Steelville community building will address ADA accessibility, improve environmental efficiency, improve security, and prepare the building for enhanced emergency use. The ADA improvements will include accessible restrooms, parking, ramps, sidewalks and three entrances. Additional improvements include LED light fixtures, a high-efficiency HVAC system, kitchen remodel with energy-efficient appliances, roofing, gutters, the addition of an emergency generator and automatic transfer switch for building and well, and a security system with card access and cameras. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $630,988 with difference coming from the city and in-kind donations. Archer-Elgin will be doing the engineering work on the project. Steelville was one of 38 recipients sharing in some $15.8 million in CDBG projects that were just announced. The MRPC assisted the city in writing the grant and will serve as the grant administrator.

A one-year contract that will provide guardrail and downed median guard cable repairs in several mid-Missouri counties have been approved by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission during its meeting last Wednesday. The contract entails repairs in various locations as needed in Camden, Crawford, Dent, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington Counties. The commission awarded the contract to Collins & Hermann, Inc, which submitted the low bid of $1,171,021.74. Most of the work would require lane closures when repairs are needed. The project contract durations are from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their June meeting at this evening at 6:00 in the hospital library. After the approval of the minutes from the May 18th meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations and statistics for the month of May followed by the Chief of Nursing Report with Ashley Sullins. A report on the hospital foundation, plus the marketing and community perception report will be given by Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards. In old business, Lucas will give the board an update on the hospital expansion and renovation, the Cerner conversion, and present the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget to be considered for approval. New business may consist of the review of purchases since the last meeting and a report on the July Election of officers. The board may vote to go into closed session. The SMDH Board meeting is open to the public provided they wear a mask to the meeting.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department reported that during the week of June 14th, the sheriff’s office and the United States Marshall’s Office conducted a joint operation for sex offender compliance checks with the assistance of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Salem Police Department, the FBI, and Internet Crimes Against Children. These law enforcement organizations visited the homes of registered sex offenders in Dent County. Of the 65 registered in the county, checks were conducted on 59 homes. The remaining offenders will be completed over the next few days. A total of seven offenders were found out of compliance. Compliance Checks are conducted to ensure that registered sex offenders are following the rules and guidelines laid out in Missouri Statutes. When contact was made with the individuals, an interview was conducted, and items listed on the registry forms were compared. Several offenders had minor infractions such as not having updated license plates or incorrect phone numbers. These were corrected on the spot. A total of 11 arrests were made from the investigations during the week.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular meeting this evening at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington. In the Hearing of Persons, Randy League will request the closure of the streets around the Courthouse Square for the Current River Blue Oval Rally on September 11th. Juliana Bermudez will discuss with the board utility bills that were previously discussed in January of 2020 at her property. Also addressing the board will be Jack Stallings, Chris Hartinger, Teresa Crider and William Parsons to discuss their utility bills. After the consent agenda is reviewed and approved, the board will hear and discuss Resolution #18-2021 that would authorize the mayor to sign an agreement between the city and United Health Care for medical insurance for employees for the City of Salem over the next fiscal year, and Bill No. 3483 which would create an ordinance adopting the annual budget for the City of Salem from July 1st, 2021 through June 30th, 2022. Committee appointments will be discussed before the trailer court license applications are reviewed. In the reports of city officials, boards and committees, City Administrator Ray Walden will update the board on People Centric and items concerning the city, and Planning and Zoning Chairman Gary Brown will discuss two properties that have applied to be rezoned from commercial to industrial. The Board of Alderman will then go into closed session. The regular meeting of the Board of Alderman tonight is open to the public.

An accident occurred Saturday evening at 7:48 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about two miles north of Edgar Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a 1997 Honda LTD driven by 62-year-old Jerry Latham of St. James was travelling southbound and travelled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree causing both occupants to be ejected. Both Jerry and 61-year-old Debra Latham of St. James suffered serious injuries and were transported to Phelps Health in Rolla. Neither occupant was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Honda sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by a private party.

An accident occurred early Wednesday morning at about 6:05 in Phelps County on Route Y about three miles west of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2017 Ford Focus, driven by 27-year-old Tabitha Leek of Rolla, traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a tree and a utility pole when Leek fell asleep. Leek suffered moderate injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by D & D Recovery of Rolla. The report stated that Leek was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident.

The University of Missouri Extension will be offering a workshop to help producers learn how to use native, warm-season grasses to improve grazing and wildlife systems. The in-person workshop will be from 8:00 in the morning until 1:00 on Friday, June 25th, at the S&R Cattle Farm in Davisville, according to MU Extension agronomy field specialist Gatlin Bunton. Native warm-season grasses fill production gaps known as the “summer slump” caused by the summer dormancy of cool-season grasses. Native warm-season grasses adapt well to the climate, soils and pest pressure. During the workshop, attendees will learn how to successfully establish warm-season grasses that have high nutritive value. Bunton and MU Extension community engagement specialist Rachel Hopkins will speak about how to use warm-season grasses in grazing systems to reduce exposure to fescue toxicosis which causes losses in calving rates and weaning weights. Attendees also will learn how native grasses can offer cover for wildlife and provide erosion control. The workshop will include a tour of established fields and lunch for participants. For more information or to register, call the Crawford County Extension Center at 573-775-2135.

As part of an ongoing improvement project taking place on various roadways in Dent and Phelps Counties, work crews plan to start on the next phase next week. Starting Monday, a contractor working for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will begin resurfacing Phelps County Route K. This work is expected to take several weeks to complete and will require daily intermittent lane closures with flaggers to guide motorists through the work zone. Once this work is complete, crews will begin resurfacing Dent County Route HH near Salem. Shoulder work as well as culvert and resurfacing work on Highway 68 from Highway 19 to Highway 8 near St. James will continue into the fall. All work is weather permitting and could be delayed. For more information and updates about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636)