Archive for 2021

At the Dent County Commissioners meeting Monday, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported she visited with the Missouri Department of Revenue, Taxation Department in regards to the county not receiving their sales tax distribution during the month of February. Due to an error in the state taxation department, Dent County was credited with the sales tax of an entity not in the county. The error overstated the amount of sales tax received in each county fund. To make up for this error, the state will not be sending the county any sales tax receipts for the months of February and March as well as part of April due to this miscalculation of sales tax by the state. It was noted that the Missouri Department of Revenue did not inform the county of this error until the county treasurer inquired why they hadn’t received any sales tax funds for February.

An accident occurred in Dent County at 6:50 Monday morning on Dent County Road 2150 about seven miles east of Edgar Springs. According to the Highway Patrol report a westbound 2017 Dodge Ram, driven by 35-year-old Devin Kuczynski of Salem, struck a patch of ice, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Kuczynski suffered minor injuries and was transported to the Fort Wood Hospital by a private conveyance. The Dodge sustained moderate damage and was driven from the scene.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met for their regular meeting Thursday, February 18th at the Health Center. Administrator Kendra Mobray updated the Board on the current Covid-19 status in Dent County. Mobray said that to date there have been 946 confirmed cases and 176 probable cases that have been investigated. At meeting time there were 3 confirmed active cases and no probables. Twenty-five deaths have been confirmed and she noted that confirmation of deaths through the Bureau of Vital Records can take several weeks so the numbers are reported as deaths are confirmed. Mobray noted that the current seven day positivity rate for the Dent County is 1.25%. She went on to say that the Health Center is working closely with SMDH to secure vaccine for Dent County. A large mass vaccination clinic was held at the Dent County Commons on February 11th and 12th. Mobray thanked the Maxwell family for the use of the Dent County Commons and also thanked The Bank of Salem for providing food and refreshments to the staff, plus thanks went to Chilton Oil Company for keeping the heaters supplied with propane. The help provided by the Salem Memorial District Hospital, the Missouri National Guard, State Emergency Management Agency, and the Jordan Valley Community Health Center made the event a huge success. She went on to say that three other vaccine clinics have been held at the Dent County Fire Station for individuals that qualify in Phase 1A and Phase 1B, Tier 1 and Tier 2. One more first dose clinic is scheduled for February 25th. Scheduled clinics in March will be for booster doses and information will be released to the public through Facebook and local media outlets as additional vaccine opportunities arise and more tiers are opened by the State of Missouri. Mobray said that to date 2,310 vaccines have been administered through the vaccination sites. Mobray said the season-to-date total of reported influenza cases remains at one. The Board then approved the expenses for January. During review and discussion of the financial report the Board voted to increase the monthly payment on the 1010 E. Scenic Rivers property. The next regular meeting of the Trustees was set for March 18th at 5:00. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Saturday, February 6th at about midnight, an officer was conducting an investigation of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Ellis and Park Streets. From the investigation, contact was made with a vehicle matching the description given. A traffic stop was conducted and contact was made with the driver. Located in plain view while speaking with the driver was a clear baggie that later field tested positive for methamphetamine. As a result of the stop, a 26-year-old Salem man was arrested and taken to the Dent County Jail on a parole absconder warrant. On Friday night, February 12th at approximately 9:20, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle at Highway 32 and Water Street for driving with no headlights. Contact was made with the driver and signs of impairment were present. The driver of the vehicle was asked to take a series of standardized field sobriety tests. As a result, it was found the driver to be driving while being intoxicated. The driver, a 22-year-old Salem male, was arrested and released on a summons to appear in court. Contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the courthouse. At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated that a crew would be out checking roads for downed trees and branches. He went on to say service would be done on truck #21 and the Durapatcher would also be serviced. He said another crew would be working on Tractor #8. Mobray reported that he attended the Bunker Board of Aldermen meeting that was held Sunday night. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated that workers would be doing maintenance in the shop and on trucks #68, #69, #116, #122 and #124. He said another crew would be out checking some roads for slick spots and that they are repairing the compressor on the maintenance trailer. Larson stated that he and Commissioner Mobray attended a Superintendent’s meeting at Green Forest R-2 to discuss establishing a snow route. Larson said State Representative Ron Copeland was also at the meeting to hear concerns from the superintendents and discuss with them current issues going on legislatively. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he attended TAC meeting last week where he said there will be some changes to the BRO bridge replacement program. He said he also attended the external relations committee meeting and the MRPC plans to have a Awards Dinner and Banquet in October. On Wednesday, Skiles said he and county clerk Angie Curley will attend the MAC legislative committee meeting and then board meeting. He also said he plans to attend the Industrial Development Authority Board meeting Wednesday at 6:00. Dent County Clerk Curley wanted to remind everyone that absentee voting for the April Municipal Election begins today at the courthouse. Remember, you must have a valid reason to vote absentee. She will also be sending out a temporary polling location letter to 18 people who would normally vote for the R-2 school board at R-3 school, but due to R-3 not needing a board election, those people can vote for the R-2 board candidates at the Dent County Courthouse for this election ONLY. At the last meeting, Collector Shannon VanKirk came in with the monthly turnover for collections of $232,272. There was a refund and the commission signed the monthly turnover book. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday, March 1st at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Recently, an issue regarding the publication of semiannual financial statements was brought to the attention of the Board of Aldermen. In response, the Board of Aldermen is directing the semiannual financial statements for the time periods of January 1, 2019 thru December 31, 2020 to be published in the Salem News. Further, the City of Salem will be seeking an independent third-party to conduct an investigation into this matter.

With the increase in demand for the recreational use of public lands with over 21.1 million visitors at Missouri State Parks and an increase in visitors of over 40% in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways operated by the National Park Service, the Missouri State Parks has proposed to the Missouri State legislature to improve their facilities in 22 state parks that would include a total of 28 projects. In our area, those would include six new cabins at Echo Bluff State Park for three million dollars, a new campground loop with 32 sites along with a new shower house at Montauk State Park for 2.1 million dollars, and a 9.9 million dollar investment in the Current River State Park that would include six new full service two bedroom cabins by the lake, rehabilitation of the existing lodge originally built back in the 1930’s that would include replacing the dormitory wing, upgrading the kitchen as well as the dining room areas, and also making some structural improvements to the structure. These improvements would be paid for by the issuance of revenue bonds that still have to be approved by the state legislature. These bonds would be paid back by the fees incurred by the public for the use of the facilities.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital will be providing COVID-19 vaccinations for those who qualify in Phase 1A and 1B, Tiers 1 and 2 this Thursday at the Dent County Firehouse. You MUST set up an appointment by calling the Dent County Health Center at 729-3106.

An accident occurred Thursday afternoon at 4:35 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about three miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a southbound 2010 Toyota Prius, driven by 23-year old Allysa Jackson of Edgar Springs, ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a sign and a fence. Jackson suffered minor injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Toyota sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Big Boys Towing.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the high school library. At the meeting, Superintendent Lynne Reed saluted all the R-80 board members for Board Appreciation Week. Reed reported the January Membership numbers were updated to include 1038 R-80 district students and another 293 rural school students for a total of 1,331 students. Reed went on to say that she has been talking with numerous insurance brokers in an attempt to get better insurance numbers for the next school year. She also discussed with the board a request from the Northwood R-4 district for help with a band instructor for two hours. Reed conferred with High School Principal Marty Anderson and said Salem could drop the guitar class and second chance band class that would allow the Assistant Band Director Anderson to help out the Northwood School. Reed indicated Northwood would pickup 2/7ths of Anderson’s salary the rest of the year. Reed also wanted to thank the maintenance as well as custodial staff for their work in clearing the walks and drives at the Salem R-80 schools. She also brought up that two bus leases will come up for at the end of the school year and the district may want to purchase busses instead of leasing them. All the building principals gave their reports before High School Vocal Instructor Elaine Russell discussed an annual trip to compete in the national choir competition. Russell said the only national competition this year would be April 14th through 19th in Orlando with very stringent requirements. Anyone that goes must be tested for COVID-19, plus temperatures will be taken twice each day. Russell said the Salem hospital said they would work with the school in getting the students, chaperones and families the tests they need within a 24-hour turnaround. She went on to say the USA Tour bus also has their rules that the group would have to abide by including required wearing of masks at all times. Russell said her survey of choir families showed seven said yes, nine said no and five were flexible. The board discussed this at length and then voted 5-1 to allow the trip to occur provided that there was no COVID-19 outbreak in Dent County and enough families want to attend. Superintendent Reed announced she had created a policy and a form for community members who wanted the board to address an item or who needed to speak to the board on an issue. Reed suggested creating a time limit if a community member addressed the board and the board agreed to five minutes while also approving the policy and form. The board also approved the continuation of co-op football, track and cross-country with R-80 and the rural schools for the next school year. The board accepted the resignation of transportation director Bob Moreland, high school science teacher Emily Atkinson, high school English teacher Janet Roach and library para-professional Vicki Lawson. They also accepted the retirement of technology director Jim White. These will all be effective at the end of the current school year. In closed session, the board approved extending the contracts of middle school principal Rich Parks, upper elementary school principal Melanie Wisdom, and high school principal Marty Anderson through the 2022-2023 year. They also approved extending high school assistant principal Clay Moody through the 2022-2023 year, extending elementary school principal Dr. Herman Blau for two years through the 2022-2023 year, and also extending the contract of Jodi Heavin through the 2022-2023 year. The board went on to offer contracts to Brooke Roger as the high school business teacher and to Eric Meyers for high school English. The board also approved moving Janelle Frederick to the administrative assistant salary schedule with a 10-month position. The meeting was then adjourned.

On Saturday, the City of Salem Board of Alderman held a special meeting called by Aldermen Kevin James Greg Parker. They approved Bill # 3474, creating an ordinance instituting an employee voluntary leave donation policy. This policy allows employees to voluntarily provide assistance to coworkers by donating leave hours to employees in critical need of leave due to a serious health condition of the employee or a member of the employee’s immediate family. The board then discussed Ordinance # 3436 regarding the canceling of meetings. The original ordinance states that Alderman and other city meeting will be cancelled if the Salem R-80 School cancels classes due to weather. The intent was to give the Mayor and Alderman the possibility of canceling meeting due to weather if the need arises. The ordinance should read that the meetings may be canceled at the discretion of the Mayor and Board President and not will be cancelled. The ordinance will be placed on the next regularly scheduled meeting agenda for further discussion. The board then went into closed session to discuss Attorney/Client Privilege.