Archive for 2022

The public is invited to a farewell reception for City Administrator Ray Walden Thursday afternoon and evening from 3:00 until 6:00. The “thank you” reception is to salute Walden for his 11 years of dedicated service to the City of Salem and the local community. The reception will be held at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory located at 1200 West Rolla Road in Salem and it is open to everyone.

A public hearing will be held by the city of Salem Planning and Zoning Commission, Thursday evening at 6:00 in the city hall council chambers at 202 North Washington. The purpose of the meeting is to give all interested parties the opportunity to be heard on a request by Mark Bottomley for a use permit for an Air BNB on property located at 901 North Main Street. Immediately following the close of the public hearing, the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public meeting in the city hall council chambers to either accept or reject the conditional use permit. The hearing and the meeting are open to the public.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting and tax rate hearing on Thursday, August 23rd. During the tax rate hearing documentation was shared from the State Auditor’s Office indicating the tax rate ceiling for the coming year was the same as last year at 0.0959 cents per 100 assessed valuations. After discussion the Board agreed to set the tax rate at 0.0959. DCHC Administrator Zach Moser presented the communicable disease report which included 157 COVID-19 cases for July and 70 for June, no cases of Influenza A, and no animal bites. Moser reported on the recent FDA and CDC authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine for ages 6 month and older as well as the Novavax, a COVID-19 vaccine that uses traditional vaccine technology. He said the Pediatric C19 vaccine is available at the Health Center and Walmart, and that adult vaccine is available at the DCHC and all local pharmacies. Moser also indicated that the number of tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomonas are up. Individuals who think they might be infected can call the DCHC at 573-729-3106 to set up an appointment for testing and treatment. In the diagnostics report Moser said that 157 blood draw appointments were completed and the DCHC can conduct most tests at reduced cost for those without insurance. There were 163 COVID tests during the month. COVID tests are $10 for rapid antigen test, $35 for COVID/FLU combo test, and $50 for molecular C19 Test. Most people can qualify for free testing and no doctor’s orders are required. Moser said that 104 COVID-19 vaccines were administered, plus 157 other vaccines and 16 courses of monoclonal antibodies were given. There was a total of 592 appointments during the month, 76 of which were with April Greener, NP. Assistant Administrator Roma Jones gave the environmental report and said she conducted 5 inspections and fielded 11 environmental questions. In the Administrators report Moser said that the only item left on the construction list was installation of the remainder of the new flooring, plus they are awaiting installation of the new electronic sign. He reported that the Health Center’s new nurse practitioner, April Greener, DNP, started seeing patients on July 5th and she has been wonderful to work with, plus patients seem to like her. Moser said that the Childcare Subsidies Program is still awaiting a working contract template for childcare providers before that program can be initiated and a draft contract has been obtained, but no final copy has been received. He reported that the Tardiness Policy adopted by the Board in June has had the intended effect and has greatly improved the on-time attendance rate of staff. Moser pointed out that the new phone system has become operational, that the DCHC had another successful direct mailing campaign, and that the changes in the COVID-19 guidelines eliminated quarantine periods for exposures. However, people who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. He noted that the DCHC will have a booth at the Girls’ Night Out on September 15th and the Health Expo on October 13th. The Board heard a presentation on the Dent County Treatment Court from Kelly Smith and had an opportunity to ask questions. Nurse Practitioner April Greener also made a presentation on addiction in general. The Board went in to closed session where they unanimously approved a pay increase for a specific employee. They also unanimously approved the implementation of the urine screening program in conjunction with the Dent County Treatment Court. Dent County Health Center expenses for June and July were approved and the next regular meeting of the DCHC Board was set for September 13th, due to Girls’ Night Out on the 15th.

An accident happened at 12:40 Tuesday morning in Maries County on Highway 28 three miles north of Highway 63. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Kawasaki motorcycle being operated northbound by 22-year-old Austin Watring of St. James, struck a deer in the roadway causing the vehicle to overturn. Watring suffered minor injuries and was taken by a private vehicle to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Kawasaki sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by a private party. The report went on to state that Watring was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams shared with the commission the amount of CART taxes received this month which came to $67,226.14. That is $5,136.92 more than the August amount for 2021 and year-to-date, CART funds are up $31,594.43. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray indicated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5610 and 6040 while brush was going to be cut on county roads 5170 and 5180. He also said crews would be checking for washouts on some roads in the southern part of the county. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated materials were being added and grading was being done on Dent County Road 2240 while only grading was being done on county roads 4040 and 4280. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported he attended the Sustainable Ozarks Partnership meeting in Pulaski County which is an area wide support organization for Fort Leonard Wood. The group is proactive in addressing issues that affect Fort Leonard Wood and was instrumental in the fight to keep Fort Leonard Wood from being closed during the last Base Reduction and Closure window. He also said he attended Senator Blunt’s Agriculture Advisory meeting at Sedalia last Thursday. Skiles said Senators Blunt and Hawley spoke along with Congressman Jason Smith, Billy Long and others. Skiles said the new extrication equipment has arrived and training was provided to the fire departments at the Dent County Fire Department in Salem. Skiles said he wanted to thank Whitaker’s Towing for providing vehicles for the practice work and training, and then removing them after training. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the tax rate hearing would be Thursday at 10:00 for four county funds: the General Revenue Fund, the Road and Bridge Fund, the Senate Bill 40 Fund and the Senior Citizen Service Fund. The total assessed valuation for the county is $194,819.992 for 2022 which is up from the $179,762,905 from 2021. The tax rate hearing is open to the public. Curley said the last day to register to vote for the November election will be October 12th. Curley said she would be attending the mandatory county clerks meeting next week in Springfield. She stated there will be no commissioner meeting on Monday, August 29th and the courthouse will be closed on Labor Day, September 5th. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

An accident happened in Reynolds County on Route N about four miles south of Steelville Sunday evening just after 7:00. According to the highway patrol, a 2014 Honda Pioneers UTV driven northbound by 32-year-old Richard Troutt of Lesterville, went off the right side of the roadway and overturned, ejecting the driver and a passenger. Suffering serious injuries was 30-year-old Austin Halbert of Steelville, who was flown by Survival Flight 1 to Mercy Hospital North in St. Louis. The driver, Richard Trout, suffered minor injuries and sought his own treatment. Neither Trout nor Halbert were wearing safety equipment. The Honda UTV was totaled and was removed by the owner.

An accident happened Sunday afternoon at 4:10 in Crawford County on Highway 19 about three quarters of a mile south of Steelville. According to the highway patrol report, a 1984 Honda Moped driven southbound by 48-year-old Lisa Ellis of Steelville, attempted to make a U-turn and overturned. Ellis suffered moderate injuries and was transported to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan by the Steelville Ambulance. Ellis was not wearing any safety equipment. The Moped had minor damage and was driven from the scene.

At the Creative Arts Center Wednesday night, they will hold a Mordiford (Heart) Wheat-Weaving Class from 6:00 until 8:00 in the evening. Led by Suzanne Douglass, this activity is perfect for children and adults. Come learn and enjoy the art of wheat weaving! Wheat weaving artist Suzanne Douglass will walk you through the creation of a beautiful Mordiford Heart. The cost is $25 and that includes supplies. Call or text the Creative Arts Center at 573-247-0651 to sign up for events! You can go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center at 204 South Main Street in Salem.

At the Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting last Thursday, the board accepted the resignations of Randy Mackley, Kim Harris, Janae Williams and Alisha Gallagher. In closed session, the board approved the hiring of Phillip Karr as a middle school physical education teacher, employed Kim Moser as William Lynch Elementary Librarian and Art Teacher, and employed Kathleen Palmer as a Special Education teacher at the Salem Upper Elementary School. The board also approved extra duty contracts for the Building Project Coordinator and District Improvement Coordinator, approved a staff member as an SPO, and approved moved four employees to the approved stipend over the minimum salary of $38,000. The meeting was then adjourned.