Archive for 2021

The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Monday night at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. After the roll call and approval of the last meeting minutes, Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois gave her report on the pool operations last year, work that needs to be done this year in the pump room, the pump for the zero-entry features as well as needed repairs to the Zipline. Dubois said opening day for the pool is planned for May 22nd. She said the pool pass rates would remain the same as last year, but there will not be a discounted early signup rate. A family season pass will be $160 for four people and each additional person would be $45. Individual passes are still $75 and pool parties remain at $150 for an hour, $200 for 1.5 hours and $250 for two full hours. She also stated that the pool pavilion can be rented for $75 and that the other city pavilions are also available to be rented. Dubois said the pool and concession stand has already been staffed and they have a waiting list of potential staff. She stated that Jared Patterson will be the pool manager this year. There will still be swimming lessons, water aerobics and lifeguard certification classes. Dubois reported there were 141 participants in the flag football and cheerleading program last fall. She said there were 53 people that signed up for cheerleading with 88 flag football participants. Dubois reported the winter basketball season also had cheerleading and attracted 179 athletes with eight teams for the 1st and 2nd graders, four teams for the 3rd and 4th graders and three teams for the 5th and 6th graders. She said there were three cheer teams from the 1st and 3rd grade, and one team for the 4th through 6th graders. This was the first time the event was held at the Salem Community Center@The Armory gym which created a bit of a challenge with social distancing. Dubois said the soccer program is now underway with practice and the games will begin next week. There are 162 participants with four age 6 and under teams, four age 8 and under teams, four age 10 and under teams and two age 14 and under teams. The Smart Soccer program was held this year with ten participants as that was all that was allowed due to COVID-19 distancing rules. This may be offered more than once per year. The summer ball registration is now underway through April 9th for $25 per child with late registration from April 10th through the 19th for $35 per child. The Park and Recreation Department would prefer you register your child online through Teamsnap which then stores all the information about your child so the next program you sign up for won’t take very long. This also helps when the coaches draft the children for teams. Dubois said the first volleyball tournament at the Community Center Gym was successful and they will be looking at more dates to do that. She said a two-week camp will be held at a date to be determined at a cost of $100 per week. There must be a minimum of 12 people to support the staff. The camp would be held from 7:30 AM until 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. She also mentioned she is looking into starting a tennis camp. At the Salem City Park, minor repairs have been made to Billy’s Playground and splash pad, and the tennis courts need some court repair. This will be discussed when the upcoming budget is discussed. The city park ball fields will be getting new yellow home run caps and the Al Brown field will be getting new pole to replace the one that blew down. A new lighting configuration will be evaluated by Musco lighting. The board approved recommending to the Salem Board of Alderman the purchase of a new John Deere 2020 compact utility tractor with the trade in of three old tractors from Heritage Tractor in the amount of $10,721.50. They also approved to recommend the purchase of a Polaris 2021 Ranger UTV from Stahlman Power Sports for $19,319 with the Salem Park and Recreation Department paying half and Capital Improvements paying the other half. Dubois then reported on the Salem Civic Theatre and said the seats have been installed as well as the ceiling tile and LED lighting. Still working on a mock-up design to get bids for the concession stand and ticket booth. She also reported on the “Light up the Park” event from last fall which was a huge success. Dubois said there will be meetings soon to discuss this year’s event. Dubois said the city is still waiting to hear back on the LWCF grant application for the soccer field although she said she received a call from the MRPC to get more detailed information a couple weeks ago. Park Board President Stan Podorski then submitted his resignation from the park board to be effective April 5th. He thanked the board for all the Park and Rec Department was able to get accomplished in the last 4 ½ years and said it wouldn’t have been possible without them. The meeting was then adjourned.

Missouri hunters, trappers, anglers, and others can get free copies of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) updated booklets on spring turkey hunting, hunting and trapping, fishing, and the Wildlife Code of Missouri. The handy booklets have information on related permits, seasons, species, regulations, limits, conservation areas, sunrise and sunset tables, and more. MDC’s new booklets on 2021 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information, Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations, Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations, and the Wildlife Code of Missouri are available for free at MDC regional offices, MDC nature centers, and other places where permits are sold. Get booklet information online at mdc.mo.gov using the search box at the top of the homepage.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5380, 5520 and 5600 while materials will be added and grading done on county roads 2490 and 4080. He said materials would be added and brush cut on county road 5680. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Road 4340, while grading only will be done on county road 4020 and materials only would be added to county road 4330. Larson said brush would be cut on county roads 4410, 5320 and 5325. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending the Southwest Missouri County Commissioners Association meeting today. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to mail out an absentee vote will be this Wednesday by 5:00, and the last day to vote absentee will be by 5:00 Monday, April 5th. She said her office would be open Saturday from 8:00 in the morning until noon for absentee voting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the CART taxes received by the county in March. The county received $53,437.66 which is $3,269.27 more than last March when the county received $50,168.39. Year-to-date, the CART fund is up $862.28 or less than 1%. Williams also brought in the semi-annual interest on the sales tax fund. She said the General Revenue Fund and LEST Fund each received $100.81, the Road and Bridge Fund received $47.76 and the two jail funds each received $95.52. Sheriff Bob Wells brought in a Dent County Second Amendment Preservation Act document which is a resolution by the county commission and sheriff’s office to abide by the 2nd Amendment for the right to keep and bear arms. The resolution states they “desire and declare their support for these principals relating to the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States in accordance with their oath of office.” All three commissioners signed the resolution as did Sheriff Bob Wells and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley. A signed copy will be hung at the courthouse as well as in the sheriff’s office. The commission will also send a copy to Representative Ron Copeland and Senator Justin Brown. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday evening at 6:30 in Texas County on Concord Road about 5 miles north of Licking. The report from the highway patrol states that a 1999 Toyota Corolla being driven west by 32-year-old Robert Melead of Salem, failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. A 6-year-old passenger in the car suffered minor injuries in the accident. Neither the driver nor passenger were wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

A one vehicle accident happened late Sunday afternoon just before 5:00 in Phelps County on County Road 1190 east of Highway U. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2019 Factory 190 motorcycle being operated by 58-year-old John Rector of St. James was eastbound when he lost control and began to skid. The motorcycle traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned ejecting Rector. Rector suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla. According to the report Rector was not wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. The motorcycle had minor damage and was able to be driven from the scene.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education in closed session Thursday employed a number of probationary teachers from William Lynch Elementary, the Upper Elementary School, the Middle School and the Senior High School. They also employed Kaylie Jay as a speech language pathologist, Erin Wilson as a 3rd grade teacher, Janelle Wesson as a high school science teacher; Zachary Studdard as a high school science instructor, Tracy Strange as a school outreach coordinator and Branden Piatt as the administrative intern. The board also employed Tori Snitker as a high school assistant principal, moved Shelia Adamick to the 12-month administrative secretary position and added ten days to Assistant Principal Clay Moody’s contract. The board also employed coaches for the 2021-2022 school year. The coaches include Bryan Carty, Tony Edwards, Kyle Anderson and Dustin Bell as assistant football coaches, Bryson Barnes and Rich Beckett as Middle School football coaches, Darcy Reardon as an assistant softball coach, Elizabeth Hogan will be the winter and fall cheerleading coach, Courtney Smith will be the Middle School cheerleading coach, Kristen Barnes as the head volleyball and middle school volleyball coach, Bryan Carty as the head boys’ basketball coach, Andy Felkerson as the assistant boys’ basketball, Chris Kamprath as the 8th grade boys’ basketball coach, Jerry Adkins as the 9th grade boys’ basketball coach, and Calvin Malone as the 7th grade boys’ basketball. Other coaches employed were Jake Reardon as the head girls’ basketball coach, Nick Frillman as the assistant girls’ basketball coach, Derek Freeman as the head track coach, Travis Sampson, Darcy Reardon and Brian McNamee as assistant track coaches, along with Tony Edwards and Jake Reardon as assistant baseball coaches. Other coaches employed were Will Hubbs as head tennis coach, Travis Sampson as the head cross country coach, Kyle Anderson as the head golf coach, Kristi Steelman as an assistant volleyball coach, and Phillip Karr as the head softball and baseball coach. Karr was also employed as athletic director and Clay Moody was named assistant athletic director. The closed session was then adjourned.