Archive for 2022

Healthy Dent County is partnering with the University of Missouri Extension, the Salem Memorial District Hospital, Four Rivers Community Health Center, Community Care Centers, and the Dent County Health Center to host a Health and Wellness Expo this Thursday, October 13th from 4:30-7:30 pm. This event will be held at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. This is a free community event to showcase local healthcare providers and professionals as well as wellness vendors. Participating exhibitors will bring knowledge and information that is of interest to everyone. Over 40 vendors will be attending the event including the Salem Memorial District Hospital, local doctors’ offices, local chiropractors, dentists, eye doctors, pharmacies, and many health and wellness providers. Each vendor will have free giveaways and door prizes. This event is for everyone of all ages. Bring a canned good or non-perishable food item to donate to receive tickets to win a gift card. You will get one ticket per item, so the more you donate, the more your chances increase to win prizes. All donations will be given to the Sacred Heart Food Pantry and Grace Harbor Shelter. For more information, call 729-8163 or e-mail jackie@salemcommunitycenter.org.

The City of Salem Board of Alderman will be holding their regular meeting this evening at 6:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington Street. After roll call, the board will hear from Steve Evrard to discuss water and water meter issues, then Lisa French has some questions for the board. In new and miscellaneous business, “Welcome Home” bids received on two properties will either be approved or rejected. The board will hear a request for the Certified Site final payment. They will also discuss LWCF Soccer Complex grant funding and hear a report on the LAGERS annual meeting. In the reading of bills and resolutions, the board will discuss Resolution 34-2022 authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement between the city and the Meramec Regional Planning Commission for membership services. The board will discuss Resolution No. 35-2022 that would authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement between Welch Construction, the City of Salem, and Dan and Barb Evans for property on Rolla Road. The board will discuss Bill #3522 that would authorize the mayor to sign change order No.1 between the city and Energy Solutions Professionals, LLC for a reduction of EMC #6; and Bill No. 3523 amending Chapter 135, Article 1 of the code of ordinances for the city pertaining to the duties and procedures for the city to purchase goods and services. Temporary City Administrator Sally Burbridge, Mayor Greg Parker, Public Works Director Mark Nash, Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois and the alderman will then give their reports before the board goes into closed session. The meeting this evening is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports from early October. On October 2nd, deputies responded to the 14000 block of South Highway 19 for a reported burglary. During the investigation, it was determined that a person or persons unknown entered a home forcibly and caused other property damage. The investigation is ongoing. That same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at West Highway 32 and North Highway 19. During the stop, the driver was found to have an expired driving privilege. The man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail, where he was processed per departmental procedure and released on traffic citations. On Monday, October 3rd, a 26-year-old Salem woman came to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and reported a person or persons unknows had stolen a swimming pool from her address in the 1900 block of North Highway 19. The investigation is ongoing. On Wednesday, October 5th, deputies responded to the 200 block of Dent County Road 5085 on a call of a disturbance. During the investigation, a 58-year-old Salem man was arrested for Peace Disturbance, a 1st Offense, and then transported to the Dent County Jail. The suspect was processed per departmental procedure and released on a criminal citation. If anyone has any information regarding an on-going incident, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The Salem Area Community Betterment Association will be holding a fund raiser this Friday night and it will be in a “Family Feud” format pitting a group of lenders against a group of real estate agents each representing a different company in the first match. The event will be held at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. Scheduled to participate for the “Lenders” family are Josh Gordon from Town and Country Bank, Dalton Connell from US Bank, Kala Sisco from Riverways Federal Credit Union, Jason Jones from Progressive Ozark Bank, and Allie Fleener from the Bank of Salem. Those expected to make up the “Real Estate Agent” family are Aleesha Elwood from Elwood Real Estate, Becky Wilson from Century 21 South Central Realty, Megan Midyett from United County Real Estate, Michael Homeyer from VIP Properties and Amy Quick from Living the Dream. The second game will be comprised of individuals from those attending the event. Your host for the event will be Jarred Brown. Individual table seats are available for $20 each or you can buy an individual general seat for $10. You can buy your tickets at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce or at the Salem Community Center @The Armory. Tickets for the event can also be purchased online which will include a service fee at salemcommunitybetterment.com. The doors will open at 5:30 Friday night and the game will begin at 6:30.

Drought conditions across the state are worsening under continued warm, dry and sometimes windy conditions and are not expected to improve soon, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The department is asking for the public’s assistance, encouraging people to submit reports about drought conditions in their local area. Drought-related information for a specific area can be easily completed and submitted via an online survey to the national “Condition Monitoring Observer Reports” service. Drought conditions expanded this week from 82% to 94% of Missouri impacted. Drought intensity also increased, with 30% of the state now experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions. The drought’s primary impacts are to agriculture and barge traffic during the harvest. A variety of helpful online resources are available at dnr.mo.gov/drought. The one-stop drought information website features current drought-related news, a series of Missouri drought maps and current condition reports, the U.S. Drought Monitor, Missouri’s Drought Plan and other resources, including information on past droughts. Again, if you have information such as reports or pictures about the drought in our area, please submit them online at:
Condition Monitoring Observer Reports.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports from late September. On Tuesday, September 27th, a deputy responded to the 8800 block of Route K for a reported property damage incident. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that a person or persons unknown had caused damage to the victim’s well. The investigation is continuing. Later that day, deputies responded to the 2600 block of Dent County Road 3220 for the report of a theft. During the investigation, it was determined that a 32-year-old Salem man was responsible for stealing, including the theft of a firearm. The investigation continues and the suspect was arrested and placed on a 24-Hour hold at the Dent County Jail. On Friday, September 30th, a Salem woman came to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and reported some forged checks had been written on her mother’s account. Deputies initiated an investigation into the matter, and it was determined this incident had actually occurred in Texas County. All the information was forwarded to the Texas County Sheriff’s Office for additional follow-up. If anyone has any information regarding an on-going incident, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday night just after 8:20 in Phelps County on County Road 3000 at County Road 3190. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 Ford Taurus being driven west by 20-year-old Kasum Olmit of Rolla crossed the center line, then overcorrected and travelled off the right side of the road and overturned. Olmit suffered minor injuries and was taken by Phelps Health ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital. The Taurus was totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing. Olmit was placed under arrest by the highway patrol for driving while intoxicated and careless and imprudent driving. The highway patrol was assisted on the scene by the Phelps County sheriff’s office, the Rolla rural fire department, and Phelps Health EMS.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites landowners, land managers, and contractors to harness the power of prescribed fire to both achieve their land-management goals and benefit native plants and wildlife through the updated training — Prescribed Burning for Missouri Land Managers. Prescribed burning mimics the historical occurrence of fire that shaped our plant communities, but it is conducted under a prescription of specified environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, fuel moisture, wind speed and direction. Landowners, land managers, and contractors can become certified prescribed burn managers by attending a prescribed burn workshop in Columbia at the Bay Farm Research Facility on October 14th or 15th from 10:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon after the applicant completes a self-paced three-hour online prescribed burn course. There is a $25 fee for the online course. Learn more from MDC about prescribed fire, prescribed burn certification classes, field exercises, and more at mdc.mo.gov.

The City of Salem Utility Committee will be meeting Wednesday evening at 6:15 at the Salem Community Center@the Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. Committee members will review the most recent utility financials and the current utility work report and discuss feedback from the recent experience with Excelron. Credit and debit card fees will then be discussed before adjournment. The meeting of the Utility Committee Wednesday is open to the public.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Wes Mobray stated crews would be hauling brown rock and doing patchwork on numerous county roads with the Ultimate Paving Material. He said maintenance was being done on trucks #121 and 123, and a flat tire was being replaced on one of the graders. He also said the chip and seal contractor continues to work on a number of roads in both districts. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported workers would be repairing chip and seal roads 3210 and 3220 and possibly county road 6150 if they have enough oil. Larson said a man would be hauling brown rock, and another would be screening brown rock and hauling chips to the chip and seal contractor when needed. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles spoke with the other commissioners about signing a Notice of Decision for the Lenox Rural Fire Department for the $10,000 ARPA award previously approved by the commission. The commissioners did sign the notice along with the county clerk. He also discussed with the other commissioners about the contract sent by Corky Stack from Stack Design and Construction for $507,148 to begin work on the Dent County Courthouse with Alexander Construction out of Rolla. This contract had been previously approved by the commission. The contract was signed by the commissioners and county clerk before being e-mailed back to Stack. The commission also formally approved the bid from Town and Country Bank for the lease/purchase of two graders which came to $389,244.90. The bid from Town and Country Bank received on the due date had the original lease/purchase price quoted by the commissioners for the cost of the graders which was around $381,000. The commissioners verified with Town and Country Bank the additional dollars would be added to their original bid for the proper dollar figure to do a lease/purchase agreement for the graders. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind anyone that has not yet registered to vote in the November election has through Wednesday, October 12th to do so. She also said excused absentee voting continues in her office and those voting need to have a photo ID. Skiles went on to say the courthouse would be closed for Columbus Day on Monday. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse.

While most Americans feel safest at home, research shows that three-quarters of fire deaths and injuries occur in our homes and that people are now more likely to die in a residential fire than they were in 1980. That’s why the National Fire Prevention Week, October 9th through the 15th, theme is “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.” Modern homes burn faster and hotter than older homes because of the new, lighter weight building materials are often much more flammable. The National Fire Protection Association recommends families make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities. They also recommend smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound. Families should also know at least two ways out of every room, if possible, plus make sure all doors and windows open easily. Once out of the house, families should have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet. Every family should practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night. It is also important to close interior and exterior doors to slow the spread of a fire. Closing doors cuts off the oxygen that fuels a fire and reduces the amount of smoke that spreads to other rooms. That’s why it’s recommended that people sleep with bedroom doors closed, close interior doors each time they leave the home, and close doors behind them when they escape a burning home.

The Creative Arts Center will be offering a stained glass beveled snowflake class with Jennifer Curry on Tuesday afternoon and evening. You choose one of the two workshops to attend. The class is from 1:00 to 4:00, the next is from 4:30 to 7:30. During the three-hour class you will use some basic stained class soldering techniques and be introduced to vocabulary and materials while creating a beautiful snowflake. The cost is $50 per class. If you have taken a stained class at the creative arts center prior your cost is $40. The Creative Arts Center has two easy ways to sign up for events! Call or text 573-247-0651, or go to salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Creative Arts Center.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed Monday in observance of Columbus Day. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday.