Archive for 2022

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on today in observance of Juneteenth. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, June 21st. Also, the City of Salem administration office and the Dent County Courthouse will be closed, state offices will be closed, there will be no postal services and banks will all be closed.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Friday, June 10th, a deputy located a person they knew to have a local warrant in the 600 block of South Water Street. During the stop, a 35-year-old Salem man was arrested on an active Dent County warrant. He was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated. Later that day, a deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on North Highway 19. The subject refused to yield to the deputy’s emergency equipment and did not stop initially. After finally stopping, a 40-year-old Salem man was arrested on an active Phelps County warrant. He was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail on the active warrant and placed on a 24-hour hold, pending additional charges. On Saturday, June 11th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of South Main Street where a 34-year-old Salem man was found to have an active Dent County arrest warrant. He was also found to be in possession of a controlled substance and was subsequently arrested. He was transported to the Dent County Jail on the warrant and placed on a 24-hour hold, pending additional charges. On Sunday, June 12th, a deputy responded to a call of a trespassing complaint on Dent County Road 2300. During the investigation, a 22-year-old Salem man was arrested and issued a criminal summons for Trespassing in the 2nd degree. On Thursday, June 16th, a deputy responded to a call on Dent County Road 4180 for a report of a stealing. The investigation is continuing and will be updated as additional information becomes available. If you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation, call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The City of Salem’s Utility Committee will be holding a meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @the Armory. They will go over the proposed electric service availability fee and the kWh rate increase recommendations for Alderman consideration. They will also discuss water and sewer rates before adjourning. The meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will be meeting Tuesday night at 6:00 at the hospital library. After the roll call, the board will hear the Administrator’s report from Interim Chief Executive Officer Don Babb. The summary of operations and statistics for the month of May will be presented by the Chief Financial Officer Jo Ann Hammond. Chief Nursing Officer Ashley Sullins will then give her report followed by a report on the hospital foundation as well as the marketing and community perception report. Interim CEO Babb will then update the board on the lab, lagoon and the transformer project. New business will include a discussion by Jodie Gorman on staffing followed by an update on the Delta Regional Community Health System Development Program. The board may go into closed session if needed. The regular meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public.

Southwest Baptist University’s Salem campus will have a new face greeting and guiding nursing students beginning this summer. Jackie Billings, RN, joined the SBU family on June 1st, after receiving approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing, as the RN bridge coordinator and instructor of nursing on the Salem campus. Billings has 33 years of experience as a nurse, with a strong background in intensive care. She worked as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staff nurse and Assistant Director of Nursing at the Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, Ill., and most recently as a Post Anesthesia Care Unit RN, providing pre-op and post-op care for surgical patients at Phelps Health in Rolla. From 1991-2013, she served as a professor of nursing at Kankakee Community College. Billings made the move to the Salem area, where her parents have lived for the past 30 years. Students with a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Paramedic license have the opportunity to go through the RN bridge program, which is offered through SBU’s College of Health Professions, to pursue the two-year associate of science in nursing (ASN) degree at SBU’s Salem or Springfield campus. For information on the RN bridge program or other health science degrees available at the SBU Salem campus, call 729-7071 or www.sbuniv.edu/admissions/salem.

An accident occurred Friday evening around 5:00 in Phelps County on Highway 72 near Phelps County Road 5285. According to the highway patrol report, a 2018 Dodge Journey driven by 36-year-old Megan Montee from Sullivan, was travelling northbound and failed to negotiate a curve. The Dodge travelled off the left side of the road, struck an embankment, and a tree. An occupant in the Dodge, 34-year-old Tyrone Leonard of St. James, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Phelps Health to Phelps Health in Rolla. He was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Dodge sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by C&C Towing. Montee was arrested by the highway patrol for a DWI and not having insurance coverage. She was taken to the Phelps County jail where she was later released.

The Creative Arts Center will hold a color pencil workshop Tuesday from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon for all skill levels. They will be working on a color pencil drawing of birds. Students can expect to complete a drawing during the workshop. Paper and reference materials will be provided. Lee Copen, a high school art teacher and artist from Mt View, will be leading the workshop. The workshop cost is $40. Call or text the Creative Arts Center to sign up for events at 573-247-0651. You may also visit our website to sign up and prepay for these classes online at: www.salemcommunitybetterment.com

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 5015, 5080, 5410, 5420 and 6490 while chip and seal repairs were going to be made on county road 4110 and the chip and seal portion of county road 5015. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2135, 2350 and 2540 while brush would be cut on county road 3220. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he attended the SACBA Board meeting Monday and they reported the Farmer’s Market held Saturday mornings from 7:30 until noon has been doing well. Commissioners Larson and Skiles attended the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District full council meeting where they were updated on the progress of the various grants awarded. Brady Wilson from Rolla Recycling was re-elected as Chairman while Skiles was re-elected as the Vice-Chairman. The board approved the issuance of a quit-claim deed from the county on railroad right-of-way property prepared by Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley, and also approved Skiles signing the Chief Local Elected Official Caucus Agreement for the Central Regional Investment Workforce Board. Skiles will attend that meeting next Wednesday in Jefferson City. The commission has scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, June 29th at 10:00 to meet with Engineer Corky Stack and to open, review and discuss bids for renovation work to be done to the Dent County Courthouse. Later in the meeting, Todd Workman, Maintenance Director at the Salem Memorial District Hospital, approached the commission with a request for additional ARPA funds for the new transformer the hospital needs to replace the old one. Workman said the hospital would need about an additional $75,000 to complete the project. After some deliberation, the commissioners approved up to an additional $75,000 in ARPA Funds provided the hospital follows the proper procedures established by the MRPC to secure the funds. Members of the Salem Senior Center Board made an appearance to inquire about applying for ARPA funds. The Commissioners instructed them to contact Kelly Sink at MRPC to get an application and find out what information is required to qualify. Since the commissioners received no bids for chip and seal Thursday, they have elected to seek bids once again, this time the bids will be due in by 10:00 on Thursday July 7th. The courthouse will be closed on Monday for “Juneteenth” so the next commission meeting will be held Thursday, June 23rd at 9:00 in the morning.

A one vehicle accident happened Wednesday night around 10:45 in Maries County on Highway 63. The report released by the highway patrol states that a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt being driven north by 27-year-old Jordan Sansoucie of Rolla, attempted to avoid another vehicle. The Cobalt ran off the right side of the road, striking a mailbox and a culvert. Sansoucie was taken by Maries Osage Ambulance to Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City for treatment of moderate injuries. He was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Cobalt sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Plaza Towing.

A three-vehicle accident happened Wednesday morning just after 11:30 in Phelps County on westbound Interstate 44 at the 195 mile-marker in St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2010 Buick Lucerne being driven west by 79-year-old Harry Coplin of Rolla, struck the rear of a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado being driven by 64-year-old John Stevenson of St. Charles. The collision caused the Silverado to strike the rear of a 2017 Ford Fiesta being driven by 25-year-old Lindsey Pennington of Rolla. Coplin was taken by St. James Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The report stated that all three drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Buick was totaled and removed from the scene by C & C Towing. The Silverado sustained extensive damage and was removed by Spurgeon’s Towing. The Ford sustained moderate damage but was able to be driven from the scene.

What better way to spend some quality time with your kids than a father/child paint party? Bring your kids and come create together all while making lasting memories. Danielle Norris will lead you step-by-step through your painting, then you and your kids can go home and display your artwork. The party is this evening at 6:00. The cost is $20 for adults and $5 for each child. All supplies will be provided. The Creative Arts Center has 2 easy ways to sign up for events! First call or text 247-0651. You can also pay ahead with Square at 247-5306.All square transactions will be charged a $1.50 transaction fee. Or you may also visit our website to sign up and prepay for classes online at: www.salemcommunitybetterment.com

Missouri’s state parks and historic sites offer beautiful vistas, opportunities for outdoor adventures and peaceful spots for reflection. As you spend time at Missouri state parks, take along your camera and submit your favorite photos in the Missouri DNR Photo Contest. The annual contest is open now through October 1st and includes three categories. The natural resources category includes photographs of Missouri’s air, landscapes, and waterways. The category of unique places includes photographs taken within one of Missouri’s state parks or historic sites. The third and final category includes people enjoying and exploring Missouri’s outdoors. Winning photos will be shared on the Missouri Department of Natural Resources website, on social media and showcased at the following year’s Missouri State Fair. For contest rules and to enter your photos, visit dnr.mo.gov/photo-contest. You can also email questions about the photo contest to socialmedia@dnr.mo.gov. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.