Archive for 2021

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Representative Ron Copeland had requested a large copy of the Dent County Amendment 2 Resolution for his office and Sheriff Bob Wells and the Dent County Commission presented Copeland with a copy. He went on to update the commission on a number of state legislative issues currently being discussed. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge brought in her monthly report for March of 2021. She says that a number of counties are working toward the development of an area economic development region for a number of Ozark counties including Phelps, Dent, Maries, Pulaski, Texas, Howell, Oregon, and possibly two others to strengthen bringing economic development to the area to benefit everyone. Currently Dent County numbers are linked into the demographics of Jefferson City and Columbia. The group is meeting monthly and they hope to have the state recognize their group in the near future so they can apply for grants or other assistance that one county alone could not do, but as a group, they could easily accomplish. Burbridge said another Dent County business received CARES RLF funding and she thought there were at least two more applications out there. She said things are looking better to provide low-cost housing as the SHA flipping for community renewal sold their first house, the 2nd one is listed and another home for renovation has been purchased. She said she sat in on a webinar concerning the American Rescue Plan and they indicate in their discussion that cities have a plan in place once it is determined how the funds will be used as to what major investment would have the biggest impact on the economy. Still all hypothetical at this time. She wanted to remind everyone that the Business at Breakfast will be held Wednesday morning at 7:00 at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory on hiring veterans and military retirees. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5390, 5580 and 6470 while brush would be cut on county road 5690. Mobray said a man would be working on chip and seal road repairs. District 2Commissioner Gary Larson stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3200, 5330 and 5333 while only grading would be done on county roads 6130 and 6160. Larson said brush would be cut on county road 2570 and pipes will be cleaned out under the bridge on county road 3220. Larson indicated a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repairs. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he was in Jefferson City Thursday to testify in opposition to House Bill 554 that stated the counties that had passed a use tax would have to place the issue on the ballot again if the bill passed. He said he would be attending a transportation Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday as well as an MRPC External Relations Committee meeting and regular MRPC Board meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the Municipal Election will be held from 6:00 this morning until 7:00 tonight and she wanted to remind everyone don’t forget your voter registration card or ID. Curley submitted the assessor’s contract for mapping maintenance from Ronald T. Schwartz for $100 per month. The Dent County Commission approved to amend the budget for the loss of the sales tax revenues in General Revenue, LEST, Road and Bridge Fund, and the two jail funds as well as for the FLAP project monies. The budget hearing will be May 17th and the amended budget will be available to the public on May 6th at the clerk’s office. Jeff Banderet from Great Rivers Engineering brought in plan updates on the FLAP projects for the paving of the Tan Vat hill on Dent County Road 6670 that could be completed as early as August, and the low water crossing and road work on Dent County Road 5610 which could take longer. The Commissioners then went into closed session to hear from Anderson and Associates as well as Stack Engineering about the work that need to be done at the courthouse including stages, time frame, costs and more. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting it is open to the public.

An accident occurred Saturday evening at 7:05 in Crawford County on Center Point Road about four miles east of Steelville that took the life of a Steelville man. According to the highway patrol report, a 2018 Kawasaki Teryx, driven by 56-year-old Richard Livesay of Steelville, ran off the south side of the roadway and struck a tree. A passenger in the Kawasaki, 57-year-old James Smith, was pronounced deceased at 9:51 that night at Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur by Dr. B. Wojcik. Livesay suffered serious injuries and was also transferred to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur by Air Ambulance. The report stated that neither Smith or Livesay were wearing safety devices at the time of the accident. The Kawasaki was removed from the scene by Miles Towing.

The City of Salem has announced that utility bills were mailed Monday, April 5th for usage from December 10, 2020 through January 9, 2021. Autodrafts will be processed April 12, 2021. Anyone that has questions about their bill or has not received their bill by Friday, April 9, 2021 is asked to contact the utility office at 729-4117.

Spring weather usually means an increase in outside projects that may require digging or excavation work. Missouri Public Service Commission Chairman Ryan Silvey said before you start digging on any project, it is very important that you contact the Missouri One Call Center at 811 or 1-800-DIG-RITE (344-7483) or go online to place a locate request at www.mo1call.com so that underground utility lines can be marked. Help protect yourself, your family and your property by making sure you call or click before you begin a project that requires any digging. It’s smart, it’s free and it’s the law. If you are planting a tree, building a deck or completing a large project, Missouri law requires anyone digging underground to call 811 or 1-800-DIG-RITE at least three working days before excavation begins. The call will be taken by the Missouri One Call Center, which then notifies all relevant utilities in the project area. During this three-day period, utility companies will mark the approximate location of their underground lines, request additional information or advise you that they do not have facilities at the excavation site. Hitting an underground line can cause serious injury, it could disrupt service to you and other customers, and it could potentially result in fines and repair costs. Call before you dig. It’s free and it’s the law. For more information, please go to Missouri One Call at www.mo1call.com.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00. At the meeting, the board will get a chance to ask questions about the request for funding for the airport board. In bids, the board will hear bids on getting the runway lighting at the airport working as well as bids on the compact tractor and a UTV for the Salem Park and Recreation Department. After the consent agenda, the board will hear from City Administrator Ray Waldon on the scheduling of the City Wide pickup for extra trash on May 3rd through 7th and May 10th through the 14th. He will also discuss project updates from Archer-Elgin before updating the board on items concerning the city. In the introduction and reading of bills and resolutions, Bill #3474 will be read amending the ordinance covering the temporary city clerk, Resolution # 5-2021 authorizes the mayor to terminate the agreement between the City of Salem and Riverways Federal Credit Union for consultant services, and Bill #3475 authorizing the mayor to execute a task order pertaining to the agreement between the City of Salem and C.M. Archer Group, P.C. to perform described services on the project named Wastewater Pre-Treatment Program Engineering Report. The meeting will then be adjourned. The meeting of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen tonight will be open to the public.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is asking for assistance from the public to identify those responsible for recent vandalism at Rocky Falls. On March 31st, park rangers received a report about vandalism at Rocky Falls. They found several rocks around the area that had been tagged with a variety of symbols and words in red spray paint. The vandalism is believed to have occurred sometime between Saturday, March 27th, and Wednesday, March 31st. Rocky Falls is one of the most visited sites within Ozark National Scenic Riverways with its picturesque falls cascading over large, purple-hued, igneous rock formations. Removal of the markings is expected to be challenging and costly, as park managers strive to avoid any lasting scarring effect by the either the paint or the removal process. The National Park Service is offering up to $2,000 for information that leads to a conviction in this vandalism case. If you have information that can help, please provide as many details as you can, including the description of any vehicles or persons observed at the scene, the names of any persons responsible or involved, or any other pertinent information. To submit your information, Call or text the Investigative Services Branch Tip line at 888-653-0009, submit your report online at www.nps.gov/ISB and click “Submit a Tip,” or e-mail your tip in to nps_isb@nps.gov. You must submit contact information to be compensated by the National Park Service.

In celebration of National Library Week, the Salem Public Library will hold a “Golden Library Card” drawing. This week, ten “Golden Library Cards” will be hidden throughout the building. Visitors who find a golden card may enter it in the drawing. Please limit entries to one per family. Three cards will be drawn. Each winning card will be worth $10 in library credit for fines, faxes, copies, lamination, and book sales. If you have any questions, please call the library at 729-4331 or stop by 403 North Jackson.

An accident occurred Friday afternoon at 3:33 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about one mile south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2014 Dodge Caravan driven by 32-year-old Joshua Cullom of Rolla was stopped in traffic in the southbound lane when a 2006 Nissan Altima driven by a 16-year-old male juvenile from Edgar Springs rear ended the Caravan. After the crash occurred, the Altima caught on fire. A 15-year-old male juvenile from Rolla in the Caravan suffered minor injuries and was transported to Phelps Health by the Phelps Health Ambulance. Everyone involved was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Altima was totaled and removed from the scene by Lucas Garage. The Caravan sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene. The Highway Patrol was assisted by Rolla Rural Fire Department.