Archive for 2021

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Monday at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the board heard from Noah Wills who has purchased eight homes in Salem in the last year to renovate and he is being charged a utility deposit of $200 at each location. He says that he understands that he has to wait a year to get the deposit back. He is asking that the board consider establishing a possible a one-time non-refundable deposit of $350 that would cover any or all properties that he would purchase. Alderman Kevin James, President of the Board who served as Mayor in the absence of Mayor Brad Nash, said this would have to be taken in front of a committee before the aldermen would hear their recommendation. Jim and Mary Williams discussed with the board their water bill at their rental property at 309 West 4th Street that for the months of October through December showed usage of 177,856 gallons. The city had replaced a leaking seat on a meter and that possibly caused additional water problems as Williams showed with documentation from those who repaired the leaks. The board approved crediting the Williams’ utility account for 165,856 gallons of water. Jan Cunningham addressed the board about the property they own at 1805 South Main known as Tiny’s Automotive. The Cunninghams annexed the property into the city last March and had been told city utilities would be run to their business in the form of a two-inch water line and six-inch sewer line. This work was to be done last year. Cunningham said she has been told there is an issue with Archer-Elgin, the hospital expansion and the engineering of the project. Alderman James requested that the city hire different engineers and get this project done ASAP. The board approved a request to hold a parade from Country Mart to the Salem High School for graduating seniors. Public Works Director Mark Nash discussed with the board about getting a new compact tractor and UTV for the Park and Recreation Department. The aldermen asked Nash to take the request to the Park and Recreation Board for their input and any recommendation they may have for the aldermen. City Administrator Ray Walden told the board that the city is required to have an emergency response plan for their water system in place by the end of June. He said their utility provider, the Missouri Public Utility Alliance, has partnered with HDR who has put together a tool kit that will make the city compliant for a cost of $4,700. The city had asked Archer-Elgin for an estimated to put the plan together and it was closer to $14,000. The board elected to go with the tool kit. After the consent agenda was approved, Walden explained during the extreme cold days in the month of February, citizens helped greatly in reducing their energy use. Even with energy conservation methods, the City of Salem used about six times more electric than normal while many cities used hundreds times more electric to meet the needs. This led to a large shortage of natural gas and higher prices. The city will have options to pay MPUA for the electric charges in payments over 24 months, all at once or an initial large payment with the balance due over 24 months. This will be determined once they have received the final amount due from MPUA. The city will then have a meeting to discuss how they will pass those increased costs on to the public. Walden said the airport board will be meeting March 18th at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory, and the Salem Park and Recreation Board will be meeting on Monday, the 22nd at a time and place to be determined. The meeting was then adjourned.

As part of its efforts to commemorate the state’s bicentennial, the State Historical Society of Missouri has launched the Missouri Encyclopedia, a freely accessible, engaging, and authoritative resource for understanding Missouri’s past and people. Visitors to the Encyclopedia’s website can explore topics like the Louisiana Purchase and Missouri-Kansas Border War and learn how these events shaped the nation and Missouri’s place within it. Biographies on the site illustrate the lives of Missourians who became movie stars, famous athletes, military leaders, politicians, and more. SHSMO executive director Gary R. Kremer says they hope that the Missouri Encyclopedia becomes the starting point for researchers who seek to learn more about the history and culture of our diverse state and its people. While the Encyclopedia is launching in conjunction with the Missouri 2021 Bicentennial, the Society plans to grow and maintain the site beyond the state’s bicentennial year. The goal of the project is to build a comprehensive online history encyclopedia that includes all of the state’s regions and time periods, and that covers a wide range of topics concerning the people, places, events, and traditions significant to Missouri and its past. To help the resource grow, the Missouri Encyclopedia is actively seeking suggestions for local and regional topics. Topics suggested to the site’s editors will be evaluated for inclusion in the online publication. The Missouri Encyclopedia is online and FREE to worldwide audiences. Visit today at missouriencyclopedia.org.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting Thursday evening at 6:00 in the High School Library for their regular meeting. After the consent agenda the Board will hear communications. Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed will give her report on a variety of issues including a Health Insurance Update, Summer School, Legislative Update, and Budget Update. Her report will be followed by Administration Reports and Board Training discussion. In new business the board will set organizational meeting date and April regular meeting date, move softball season to spring in 2022-2023, approve RFP for performance contactor, let bids for audit, approve 2021-2022 calendar and let out bids for the gym floor. The Board will hear resignations before adjourning and moving into Executive Session for the discussion of personnel for 2021-2022 including Teacher Evaluations, Probationary Contracts and Coaching Contracts. In Executive Session, the Board will address hiring recommendations for High School Assistant Principal, Administrative Intern, High School Science and School Outreach Coordinator. Salary schedule placement for a support staff member will also be addressed. The regular board meeting in the High School Library is open to the public.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. First District Commissioner Wes Mobray was not in attendance due to an illness. At the meeting, acting District Manager of the U.S. Mark Twain National Forest, Patrick Yamnik, was in to have Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles sign the engineering plan for the Cooley low water crossing on Dent County Road 5610 near Bunker. After reviewing the plan, Commissioner Skiles signed it.In the road report, Commissioner Gary Larson gave the report for both districts and said the crews are out checking roads for washouts and patching them, cleaning out pipes and removing debris where necessary. Larson said Grader #37 had a fuel filter replaced. Larson said that on Saturday, there was a report of a tree down blocking a bridge on Dent County Road 2240. A grader was brought to the scene to help remove a car that had gotten stuck. Skiles reported on his meetings last week that included the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board meeting. Skiles stated that the board approved a number of grants for recycling be closed out. On Wednesday, Skiles attended the CCAM meeting in Jefferson City before he and other board members helped with the new commissioner training. Skiles said the event was well attended and included new 1st District Commissioner Wes Mobray. That same day, Skiles said he had the chance to visit with Senator Justin Brown and Representative Ron Copeland. Then on Friday, Skiles reported that he, Commissioner Larson and Commissioner Mobray attended the South Central County Commissioners Association meeting in Houston. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind people the last day to mailout a ballot for the Municipal Election will be March 24th. She also said the absentee voting continues at her office but wanted to remind everyone that the COVID-19 virus is no longer an acceptable excuse to vote absentee. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The MU Extension empowers community leaders through their “Becoming an Engaged Neighbor” program. Through this program, people will see that making a community stronger is more than just financial gains within the community. The program shows that social capital has more value than money, and through networks and reciprocity it impacts communities more than new roads or a new business. This program will help you teach how to improve your community by improving one neighborhood at a time. The first six-week program begins Saturday, March 20th and will last through April 24th and the cost is $50. The second program begins May 20th and will last until June 24th and it also costs $50. To register for these programs, visit www.extension.missouri.edu. You can also contact the Dent County Extension Office at 729-3196 to get more information.

Dent County Coroner Ben Pursifull released suggestions from the Dent County Child Fatality Review Panel from their meetings. The announcement was the result of the panel meetings and discussion on the unfortunate deaths of two children here in Dent County. Every time there is a child fatality inside Dent County, the panel meets to discuss the circumstances revolving around the incident that took the life of a child. Their goal is to see if there is something that as a panel, and a community that can be done to prevent incidents like these from happening again. The panel is composed of individuals from several agencies that operate inside our community. At the conclusion of their meetings, they attempt to come up with solutions to prevent these fatalities from happening. Suggestions concerning the November 2020 death of a child drowned in the north part of the county after being swept away on a low water crossing included emphasizing the motto “Turn around, don’t drown,” have the Missouri State Highway Patrol educate young citizens on the dangers associated with low water crossings, and remind the public to contact the appropriate agencies if the signage at these low water crossings has been tampered with, or is not easily visible. Suggestions concerning the October 2020 death of a child from protein calorie malnutrition and severe cachexia included the reporting of suspected abuse to the Child Abuse Hotline and that number is 1-800-392-3738, that all mandated reporters receive annual training on the signs of abuse and neglect, and stronger legislation is needed focusing on the health and safety of our children, so they don’t slip through the cracks. While these suggestions are not going to solve our problems perfectly, the panel believes that they can and will help prevent the needless deaths of children inside our community. As a community, all of us can make this a safe place for children, and adults, with the help of each other. They ask for the help of all the citizens in our county to identify where there are needs, to reach out to those that can help, and help protect each other here in our community.

An accident occurred Thursday morning at 11:25 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about two miles north of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Lincoln Towncar driven by 54-year-old Cathy Wisdom of Salem was traveling southbound when the Lincoln slid off the right side of the roadway on the rain slicked pavement and struck a rock embankment. Wisdom suffered moderate injuries and was transported by the Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. Wisdom was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Lincoln was totaled and removed from the scene by Tune’s Towing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00 in their regular meeting. The agenda shows that four people will be speaking to the board under the Hearing of Persons section. The first person to speak will be Noah Wills who will be discussing changing the city deposit waiting period; Jim and Maryann Williams want to speak about the water bill at rental property; Jan Cunningham will speak to the board about getting sewer and water for the property at 1805 South Main Street known as Tiny’s Automotive; and Crystal Pilkington will address the board about holding a Senior Parade starting at Country Mart and ending the high school. The board will hear and discuss two bids for a compact tractor and UTV for the Salem Park and Recreation Department before discussing bids on an Emergency Response Plan which is an EPA requirement for water systems that serve between 3,300 and 50,000 people. Following the consent agenda, the board will hear a report from City Administrator Ray Walden who will update the board on numerous city projects. The meeting will then be adjourned. The Board of Aldermen meeting tonight is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports for the beginning of March. On Monday, March first near noon, an officer arrested a man on an active warrant for their arrest after contacting the subject at the Salem Police Department. The man, a 28-year-old Salem resident was able to post bond and was released with a court date. On Wednesday afternoon, March 3rd at about 4:15, an officer was dispatched to the 100 block of East Tenth Street for a report of a suspicious male knocking on doors. Contact was made with the man and it was found that he had active warrants for his arrest. As a result, the 26-year-old Salem man was arrested and incarcerated on his warrants. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.

This St. Patrick’s Day holiday, make sure your luck doesn’t run out. Plan for a sober ride home should you choose to take part in the celebration. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety reminds motorists of the various options available to get everyone home safely. Designating a sober driver, calling a ride share, or using public transportation are just a few of those options. Remember, if you feel different, you drive different. Law enforcement agencies across Missouri will be participating in additional patrols to prevent the often-deadly consequences of impaired driving. Their message is clear: drive sober or get pulled over. Based on 2020 preliminary data, 188 people were killed in Missouri traffic crashes that involved at least one substance-impaired driver. Besides driving completely sober from alcohol and drugs, motorists are also advised to slow down, put their cellphones down while driving and always buckle up – everyone, every trip, every time. Show-Me Zero is designed to give all Missourians a better understanding of the crash problem in our state and identify specific ways everyone can help. From individuals and families to local and statewide organizations, we all play a role in making Missouri roadways safer. The plan can be viewed at savemolives.com and hits on four key messages: Buckle up. Phone down. Slow down. Drive sober. To learn more, visit the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety website at savemolives.com, or follow them on social media at Save MO Lives.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their March meeting Tuesday evening in the hospital library beginning at 6:00. After the call to order, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations and statistics for the month of February followed by the Chief of Nursing Report from Debbie Hines. A report on the hospital foundation, plus the marketing and community perception report will be given by Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards. Lucas will then go over the COVID-19 update and provide an update to the board on the Hospital expansion and renovation. He will also discuss the Conflict of Interest Policy and report on the Finance Committee Meeting. New business will consist of the review of purchases since the last meeting. The board may vote to go into closed session. Due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, the March meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will be conducted by zoom. The meeting is open to anyone to join. For information on how to access the meeting via zoom, please contact Karen Brown at (573) 729-5917, extension 4005 or by email at kbrown@smdh.net.