Archive for 2021

In the Dent County 42nd Judicial Court proceedings held on Wednesday, June 2nd in front of Judge Megan Seay, Wayne Quick of Salem, was sentenced to serve four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections under Revised Statues of Missouri 559.115 as requested by Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley for failing to register as a sex offender and for failing to register a social media account. The defendant requested to be placed on probation, but the request was denied by Judge Seay.

The Salem Park and Recreation board will be meeting tonight at 7:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, 1200 West Rolla Road. After the roll call and a review of the minutes of the previous meeting, Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois will give the 2020 Alice Lou Craig Municipal pool report along with the new weather closure policy as well as reporting on the 2021 baseball, softball, and T-ball programs. After the budget review and approval, the board will discuss the LSFC soccer field grant and accept resignations along with election of a new president. Any other business may then be brought before the board before adjournment. The meeting of the Salem Park and Recreation board is open to the public.

A series of road, trail, and bridge projects are underway for eight locations within Ozark National Scenic Riverways to repair damage from the devastating 2017 flood that destroyed many features and facilities along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers. Repair work began in May and is expected to be completed prior to the summer of 2022. The length of time needed to complete work at each site is dependent on the complexity of the repairs, weather, and river conditions. Each of the projects could result in slight disruptions to normal activities if roads, trails, or nearby areas need to be temporarily closed to ensure the safety of visitors and workers. The projects will begin at different times, with some running concurrently. Repair of roads and asphalt has begun in the Pulltite Campground and at Baptist Landing. Additional road repairs will be completed at Powder Mill Campground and along Peavine Road near Big Spring. Trail repairs are planned for the Lower Welch Spring trail and the River’s Edge trail near Big Spring Campground. Work to replace the footbridge on the Alley Spring hiking trail has begun and is expected to take approximately two months. The previous wooden bridge is being replaced with a more sustainable steel bridge that is several inches higher than the original, to reduce the chance of future flood damage. Wood fascia and accents will match the aesthetic of the Alley Spring historic district. Replacement of the nearby pedestrian bridge over the Jacks Fork River is also planned but has not yet begun. Once that project is underway it is expected to last approximately five months. The new pedestrian bridge will be constructed at the same height as the adjacent vehicle bridge on Highway 106, with fewer piers in the river so that it is less visually intrusive than the previous bridge. These flood recovery projects are being coordinated with the Federal Highway Administration and its Emergency Relief for Federally-owned Roads Program, which has provided funding, planning expertise, and project oversight for the repairs. For updates on project timelines or temporary closures associated with these repairs, please visit the park website at nps.gov/ozar, visit the park’s Facebook page, or call (573) 323-4236. Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.

The Missouri Department of Conservation invites the public to get hooked on fishing through its Free Fishing Days June 12th and 13th. During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in the Show-Me State without having to buy a fishing permit, trout permit, or trout park daily tag. This is an annual event that takes place statewide during the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June. Aside from not needing permits, other fishing regulations remain in effect during Free Fishing Days, such as limits on size and number of fish an angler may keep. Special permits may still be required at some county, city, or private fishing areas. Trespass laws remain in effect on private property. All other fishing regulations are also in effect. Learn more about fishing in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing.

The Missouri State Parks invites the public to participate Learn2 Paddle kayaking classes offered at select parks this summer. The program is for anyone who wants to experience kayaking but is not sure where to start. It is also perfect for those who want to get out on the water but don’t own a kayak. In the Salem and Dent County area, the Current River State Park will host two-hour kayaking classes this Friday from 1:00 until 3:00, July 10th from 10:00 until noon, and on August 6th from 1:00 until 3:00. The Missouri State Parks will provide the kayaks, paddle, life jackets and instructors. Participants must be at least 10 years of age. Children 14 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the entire program. Participants should be comfortable around water. All Missouri State Parks rules and regulations apply. This is a family-oriented program; alcohol and tobacco products are not allowed while participating in the Learn2 Paddle program. The class registration fee is $5 per participant; registration is required. For registration information, visit mostateparks.com and click on their Learn2 button under Topics. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

Mayor Brad Nash and Board of Aldermen President Kim Steelman postponed Monday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting due to the passing of Alderman Kenny Nash this past Sunday, June 6th in what Dent County Coroner Ben Pursifull described as a lawnmower accident. Nash was a dedicated servant to the City of Salem and dedicated many years to serving our community through the City Electric Department, the Board of Aldermen, and several other community organizations. He loved Salem and he will be greatly missed by those that worked and served with him. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this time.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Leann Kahn was in to speak with First District Commissioner Wes Mobray about the gate across Dent County Road 4128. According to Mobray, the Rushing’s said the gate was to be removed by June 7th and Kahn was in to show pictures that the gate was still there and was closed over the weekend. Mobray said he would speak with the Rushing’s about the removal by phone to see what the issue was. In the road report, Mobray said materials would be added and grading done to Dent County Road 5510, while only grading would be done on county road 5220. Mobray reported brush would be cut on county road 5600 and that Grader #38 was down with a transmission problem and the county was waiting on John Deere to send someone down to repair the problem. He went on to say work crews replaced a crossover pipe in the Union Hills Subdivision and a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated grading would be done on county roads 2580 and 2613, and work was going to be done on dump truck #124. He went on to report work crews would be removing materials from the ditches on the Golf Course Road to help with drainage. This project was started last week and should be completed this week. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported on May 25th he attended a broadband meeting at the Salem Community Center@The Armory hosted by the MRPC. They discussed the service maps which are outdated, and they need better mapping so improvements can be made. Skiles said he attended an insurance consortium meeting where they discussed the United Health Care current coverage and that the insurance claims were doing well. Skiles went on to say he attended the Northeast Regional Commissioners Association meeting and the hot topic at the meeting was Senate Bill 53 dealing with the increase in county sheriff’s pay being associated with a federal judge’s salary. Skiles suggested putting a letter together from the Dent County Commissioners to ask Governor Parson to veto the bill and the commissioners approved the request. He also said the general public can comment on SB 53 and how it will affect their own county’s budget as the increase to local sheriff’s pay would come directly from the counties funds and no funds will be coming from the state. People interested on commenting on SB 53 should go to https://governor.mo.gov and respond in the “Contact Us” section. Skiles said this week he will be attending a Central Regional Workforce Caucus meeting on Thursday as well an MRPC meeting in St. James. Regional Workforce Caucus meeting on Thursday as well an MRPC meeting in St. James. Skiles said he would like to discuss with Commissioner Mobray and Larson about the commissioners meeting on Mondays and Thursday again in the near future. Also during the meeting, Commissioner Mobray reported County Fuels had the low bid on 1,000 gallons of gas at $2.445 per gallon. He also said the county will let bids for 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel as well as for chip and sealing of 12 miles of overlay and another two miles of a new double coat overlay. The bids for the chip and seal work will be due in the clerk’s office at 10:00 on Monday, June 28th. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is hosting a virtual open house on passenger rail as part of the development of the 2021 State Freight and Rail Plan. The content will be live and accessible via the MoDOT webpage. The virtual open house format allows members of the public to access the materials at any time through June 16th. The public is invited to view the information about Missouri’s passenger rail network, ask questions of MoDOT and the project team and leave comments on how passenger rail service can better service the citizens of Missouri. The passenger rail component of the State Freight and Rail Plan examines each of the three Amtrak service options in Missouri that include Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner, Southwest Chief and Texas Eagle as well as the economic impact of the Missouri River Runner state-sponsored route. Open house participants are also encouraged to complete a survey designed to solicit feedback on recommendations for Missouri’s passenger rail system. The State Freight and Rail Plan identifies current and future trends to help make informed decisions on future investments in the freight and passenger rail industries in Missouri. Freight and rail plans are required documents for the state to receive federal funding for future transportation projects. There are no dedicated federal funding sources for passenger rail, so these funds are vital to the Missouri River Runner’s long-term viability. For additional information on the Missouri Freight and Rail Plan please contact Cheryl Ball, at 573.526.5578.

Governor Mike Parson signed SB 63 into law, which creates a statewide prescription drug monitoring program in the state of Missouri. SB 63 establishes the Joint Oversight Task Force of Prescription Drug Monitoring, responsible for collecting and maintaining the prescription and dispensation of prescribed controlled substances to patients within the state. This legislation will assist health care professionals in better monitoring the dispensation of opioids and other prescribed controlled substances to their patients. Similar statewide prescription drug monitoring programs have been adopted in every other state in the country. SB 63 also extends the expiration date of the RX Cares for Missouri Program to August 28, 2026.

An accident occurred Friday evening at 6:21 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about two miles south of Edgar Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Ford Fusion driven by 52-year-old Kimberly Carnes of Edgar Springs, was stopped and attempting to make a left turn when a 2014 Toyota Tacoma driven by 52-year-old Donnette Carney of Rolla struck the rear end of the Fusion. Carney suffered serious injuries and was transported by Phelps Air Ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia. She was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. Carnes was not injured in the accident. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage. The Toyota was towed by C&C Towing and the Fusion was by Ron Dishman’s Towing.

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 of the project. Starting today, a contractor working for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will begin resurfacing and widening the shoulders of Highway 68 in both counties. This work is expected to take up to several months to complete and will require daily intermittent lane closures with flaggers to guide motorists through the work zone. Crews are also currently paving Dent County Route F. Flaggers are in place to guide motorists through the Route F work zone. Once this work is complete, crews will begin resurfacing Dent County Route HH near Salem. This 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) or visit www.modot.org/modot-central-district.

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, 2021. Juliana Bermudez will discuss with the board utility bills at 705 West Acuff that were previously discussed in January of 2020. After the consent agenda is reviewed and approved, the board will hear and discuss Bill No. 3477 which would create an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a Contract Change Order No. 10 between the City of Salem and Smith & Edwards Construction, Inc. for the Highway 19 South sewer extension. City Administrator Ray Walden will also update the board on Finance and Capital Improvements. The Board of Alderman will then go into closed session pertaining to hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of employees. The regular meeting of the Board of Alderman is open to the public.

The City of Salem has reported that utility bills for electric and water consumption from February 8th, 2021 through May 15th, 2021 have been processed and mailed. In addition to consumption-based charges, the bill reflects three months of base charges for water, sewer, and trash if applicable. All unpaid balances, including those from prior payment plans and any debits or credits from differences between budgeted and actual for those on budget billing, have been included in the listed balance due. The Salem Board of Aldermen approved a rebate of 5% of the charges for water and electric usage from February 8th through May 15th for customers paying the listed total balance due on the bill by June 20th. The rebate will be processed as a credit on the customer’s account and reflected on the next bill. Customers who have set up their account on autopayment and drafts will be contacted to confirm their payment preference. Customers should note penalties and service disconnects for non-payment will resume July 1st. Customers can avoid interruption of their service for non-payment by bringing their account current or making payment arrangements by July 1st, 2021. Going forward, utility bills will be based on meter reads the 15th of each month with the bill for consumption from May 15th through June 15th being processed in early July of 2021. Information about available assistance with utilities is included with the bill and is also available from www.salemmo.com. Anyone who has not received their bill by Wednesday, June 10th, should contact the utility office. Customers wanting to set up a payment plan or to ask about budget billing can contact the utility office at (573) 729-4117.

The Missouri Department of Transportation bridge crews will be begin doing routine bridge maintenance on Highways 19 and 8 over Whittenburg Creek starting this week. Crews will close one lane in each work area from 6:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon starting today and lasting through Thursday, June 17th. MoDOT appreciates the patience of motorist traveling through the work area. Drives are advised to watch for workers on the road and obey all traffic signs. This 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) or visit www.modot.org/central.

The Department of Conservation will offer four separate classes during a one-day women’s only clinic highlighting the fundamentals of shotgun and handgun shooting. Courses are set for June 19th, from 9–11 AM, from 12:00–1:30 PM, from 2-3:30 PM, and from 4-5:30 PM at the Rolla Shooting Club in Rolla. Beginner Handgun Class is designed for women and girls age 16 and older; those age 16 to 17 may participate with a parent or guardian who is also registered for the workshop. Girls age 16 to 17 may attend the women’s-only classes with a parent or guardian who is also registered for the workshop. The minimum age to participate in Beginner Shotgun Shooting is 12; but participants age 12 to 17 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian that is also registered for the class. Spots are limited for all classes; registration is required by June 18th. A waiting list will be made available for courses that are full. For more information, email Dwight Warnke at Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov.The Rolla Shooting Club is located at 13950 County Road 3240 in Rolla.