Archive for 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Road Supervisor Jason Akins gave the report for Commissioner Wes Mobray who was not in attendance due to other commitments. Akins said crews would be replacing a crossover pipe on Dent County Road 2400 and adding material to an undermined area around a culvert pipe on county road 2410. Akins went on to say workers would be removing left over debris from tree trimming on Dent County Roads 5440 and 5450. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said a crew would be working on the spreader box on Truck #72 as the chain has been giving them problems. He said two men would be taking truck #116 with a snowplow to Knapheide in Jefferson City as the snowplow mechanism will only move one way. Larson said a crew this week would be picking up old culverts on Dent County Road 2090. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending a Public Housing Authority meeting and MRPC meeting on Thursday, and would be in Jefferson City Friday for a CCAM Executive Board meeting. He said Friday is also the day the trial will be held on the legality of how Senate Bill 53 was passed in the Cole County Court. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said work continues on the 2022 County Budget. She also wanted to remind all political entities that they must submit their final certifications for the April election in the county clerk’s office by 5:00 PM, Tuesday, January 25th whether an election is occurring or no election is needed. State Representative Ron Copeland was in attendance. He said the biggest issue being discussed was redistricting at this time as the committee has agreed on 112 of 163 districts, but 51 others are still being disputed. This may end up going to court where the judge allows the 112 to stay and will only rule on the 51 other districts or throw the whole thing out and start over. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received by the county this month. In the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund, the county received $91,064.52 and that is $34,878.01 more than the 2021 figure of $56,176.51. She said the Road and Bridge Fund received $43,938.97 and that is $19,673.71 more than the 2021 figure of 24,265.26. In the Jail Operating and Trust Funds, Williams indicated both funds received $87,816.54 which is $39,285.13 more than the figure for January of 2021. Skiles said the courthouse would be closed on Monday, Martin Luther King Day, so the commissioners will be meeting on Tuesday, January 18th at 9:00 for their regular meeting. At the meeting last Monday, January 3rd, Corky Stack with Stack Engineering came in to update the commission on the cost of the work on the outside of the courthouse. Stack estimated the total project cost to be between $570,000 and $730,000. It was also decided at the last meeting that beginning February 1st, the commission will go back to meeting twice a week on Monday and Thursdays at 9:00. The meetings were reduced to one per week in the height of the COVID Pandemic in 2020. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Tuesday, January 18th at 9:00 at the courthouse and that meeting will be open to the public.

The Creative Arts Center will be holding a four-week stained glass class beginning tonight and lasting through February 1st with Jennifer Curry. There will be two sessions to choose from: either 3:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon or from 5:30 to 7:30 at night. Learn the art of Stained Glass and create a panel of your own. All the supplies and safety equipment are included. The cost is $150 for all four weeks. For more information or to register, call 247-0651 or 247-5306, or sign up on the Salem Arts Council Facebook page.

An accident occurred Friday morning at 10:34 in Jefferson County on Highway 21 north of Grassy Lane. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Ford F150 driven by 60-year-old Steven McCarter of Salem, was traveling southbound and travelled off the east side of the roadway. The Ford overturned and ejected the driver and a passenger, 42-year-old Cheri Sturdivant of Salem. Sturdivant suffered serious injuries and was transported to Mercy Hospital South by Valle Ambulance. McCarter also suffered serious injuries and was transported to Mercy Hospital St. Louis by Survival Flight Air Ambulance. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Shank’s Towing. Safety devices were not in use at the time of the accident.

The Salem R-80 School Board of Education met Thursday via Zoom at noon to discuss changes in the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (SRCSP) at the high school. Those changes followed the suggestions of the Dent County Health Center and the CDC. The changes include the length of isolation and quarantine after exposure will be five days out of school and five days masked upon return. The board also corrected some verbiage on the test-to-stay option which is available for anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19; and under the mitigation measures, the text was changed to all staff should wear a mask within six feet of other adults which is only a suggestion, not a mandate. The meeting was then adjourned.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 at City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the board will hear the introduction and reading of bill including Resolution #1-2022 authorizing the mayor to execute and agreement between the city and Godi’s Excavating for the timber clearing for the Certified Site in the Master’s Industrial Park, and Resolution #2-2022 which is a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a one year memorandum of understanding between the City of Salem and the Board of Governors of Missouri State University at West Plains for the Adult Education and Literacy program. The MOU allows the city hall to be used for purposes of conducting activities associated with the educational programs delivered by the university for the AEL program. The board will hear and discuss Bill #3497 which would create an ordinance authorizing the mayor to act as a representative for the city in executing a tower lease agreement between the city of Salem and Wave Internet Technologies LLC. This agreement will allow for the installation of a wireless broadband access point for related equipment on a designated portion of the city of Salem’s water tower located at Tower and Condray Street effective the 1st day of February 2022 for a period of one year. Resolution #3-2022, which is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Signature Public Funding Corp., a New York Corporation, to provide for the funding of the HVAC and Maintenance Project of just over 1.5 million dollars. Reports will then be heard from City Administrator Ray Walden, Mayor Kim Steelman, Public Works Director Mark Nash, Parks and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois and various alderman reports. The board may then vote to go into closed session. The Salem Board of Aldermen meeting is open to the public.

Effective TODAY, Phelps Health facilities will no longer allow cloth, reusable, or privately purchased face masks inside their facilities. Instead, staff will provide employees, patients, and visitors with disposable surgical masks at the door. This announcement comes just days after Mercy Hospital in Springfield made similar changes to their masking policy.

The Dent County Service Unit of The Salvation Army would like to announce that they have successfully surpassed their Christmas Kettle Campaign goal of $38,000. The total raised was $40,000. Along with the monetary donations received this year, nearly 200 local children were adopted at the Angel Tree that was located at Wal-Mart. The local Salvation Army Board would like to thank everyone who made monetary donations and/or adopted an angel. They also extend their greatest appreciation to the dedicated volunteers that took time out of their busy holiday season to ring the bells at the kettles. The community’s continued generosity will be distributed throughout 2022 to those in Dent County.

The City of Salem encountered a delay in the processing of utility bills due to the holidays. Bills were mailed Thursday with an adjusted penalty date indicated on the bill. We regret any inconvenience this delay may cause. Customers that haven’t received their bill by Monday, January 10th or that have any questions should call the Utility Office at (573) 729-4117.

An accident happened Wednesday afternoon at 2:25 in Dent County on Highway 32 about a half mile east of the Meramec River or about six miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2017 Ford F-150 driven eastbound by 64-year-old Michael Lanham of Bunker, ran off the left side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned. Lanham suffered moderate injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by the Salem Ambulance. Lanham was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by American Automotive and Towing.

An accident happened in Washington County on Highway 8 at Chapel Road Wednesday afternoon at 1:55. According to the highway patrol report, a 2004 Ford Explorer driven eastbound by 44-year-old Charles Missey of Potosi, struck a 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis driven eastbound by 24-year-old Kaitlynn Dutkiewicz of Steelville, from behind. Suffering minor injuries was a one-year-old baby girl who was a passenger in the Grand Marquis. She was taken by the Washington County Ambulance to the Washington County Memorial Hospital. Both drivers were wearing seat restraints and the baby girl was in a car seat. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Harry’s Towing.

You can go native with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Native trees and shrubs can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of private property. The George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes. The nursery provides mainly one-year-old, bare-root seedlings with sizes varying by species. Seedlings varieties include: pine, bald cypress, cottonwood, black walnut, hickory, oak, pecan, persimmon, river birch, maple, willow, sycamore, blackberry, buttonbush, hazelnut, redbud, ninebark, spicebush, elderberry, sumac, wild plum, witch hazel, and others. Seedlings are available in bundles of 10 or increments of 25 per species. Prices range from 34 cents to $1 per seedling. Sales tax of 6.1 percent will be added to orders unless tax exempt. There is an $9 handling charge for each order. You can receive a 15% discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Heritage Card, Permit Card, or Conservation ID Number. The nursery grows millions of seedlings each year, but some species are very popular and sell out quickly. Even if a species is listed as sold out, customers can still place an order for them. Sometimes orders get cancelled, freeing up inventory. Customers won’t be charged for seedlings unless they are available to ship. Learn more and place orders through MDC’s 2021-2022 Seedling Order Form. Find it at MDC regional offices and nature centers, online at mdc.mo.gov or by contacting the State Forest Nursery at 573-674-3229 or StateForestNursery@mdc.mo.gov. Place orders now through April 15, 2022. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery near Licking from February through May.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces that 25 troopers will graduate from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy on Wednesday, January 12th. The ceremony will take place in the Academy gymnasium at 1510 East Elm Street in Jefferson City, and the public is invited. The graduation ceremony will be live streamed on the Patrol’s Facebook page. The graduation ceremony will begin that morning at 10:00. The 112th Recruit Class reported to the Academy on August 2nd to begin the 25-week training to become a trooper. The new troopers will report to duty in their assigned troops on Monday, January 31st. In our area Elijah D. Leblanc of Anderson will be assigned to Troop I.