Archive for 2022

KSMO Radio is back on the air on both AM 1340 and FM 95.7. Thank you for your patience during this down time.

An accident happened Sunday evening 8:16 in Phelps County on Interstate 44 at mile marker 191.4 that left a St. James woman with serious injuries. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 Chevrolet Spark driven 60-year-old Katherine Dover of St. James, traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a ditch and overturned. Dover was not wearing a seat restraint and was transported to the Phelps Health in Rolla by the St. James Ambulance with serious injuries. The Chevy was removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways announces that the final Roads and Trails Management Plan and Environmental Assessment is now available online. Superintendent Jason Lott stated that with the release of the final Roads and Trails Management Plan, the National Park Service can move forward to establish a network of roads and trails that is more sustainable and clearly mapped that will allow visitors to safely enjoy the park’s spectacular resources through a variety of recreational activities, while still protecting those resources for future generations. Lott said public input guided several revisions that appear in the final Road and Trails Plan. A summary of public comments is available online with the final Roads and Trails Plan. The final plan includes a finding of no significant impact and the amended environmental assessment illustrating the alternatives that were considered, as well as detailed maps and an errata to address technical edits and substantive comments that were received during the comment period for the draft Roads and Trails Plan in 2021. The National Park Service has identified Alternative B as the preferred alternative for implementation. To review the final plan, go to https://parkplanning.nps.gov/OZAR_RTplan. The plan, maps, and public comment summary report can be viewed online or downloaded for printing. Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people. For more information, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozar.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the hospital library. After the new board member is sworn in, the board will hear the Administrator’s report which will include the summary of operations and statistics for the month of March. Chief Nursing Officer Ashley Sullins will give her report followed by a report on the hospital foundation and a marketing and community perception report. Interim CEO Bill May will then update the board on the lab, COVID-19 as well as the Delta Regional Community Health System Development Program. The board will then receive a meaningful use update and receive more information on the closure of the lagoon. In new business, the board will discuss purchases needed by the hospital before hearing a report on the new CT from Radiology Director Bobby Sullins. Maintenance Director Todd Workman will provide information on the new transformer the hospital needs to have replaced followed by a revenue cycle update from Jennfier Smith. Pharmacist David Kerr will talk with the board about the 340B employee drug program before the board goes into closed session. The regular meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will be tonight at 6:00 and it is open to the public.

The 7th Annual Veteran Affairs Day will be held this Friday from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon sponsored by the American Legion Post 99 and All-American VFW Post 6280 located at 2522 Highway 32 West in Salem. The Affairs Day where veterans can learn about changes and requirements for benefits. Veterans can also enroll in VA health care. Veteran Affairs Day is an annual outreach to veterans of central rural Missouri in an attempt to provide easier access to VA services. It includes American Legion District 16 and VFW District 2 which includes Camden, Cole, Crawford, Dent, Howell, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Phelps, Osage, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas and Wright counties. Representatives from the Department of Veteran Affairs will include enrollment and claims processing specialists from the Truman VA Hospital, as well as benefit advisors from St. Louis VA Regional Office. The Columbia Veteran Center will have counselors and advisors on hand in their mobile unit. The Missouri Veterans Commission will also have Service Officers at the event, as well as a Dept of Education Veterans Employment Representative. We have also invited representatives from elected officials, including Congressman Jason Smith, US Senator Josh Hawley and State Representative Ron Copeland. The event starts at 10:00 with a light lunch provided around noon. It doesn’t matter when you served. If you have questions, a claim or need to enroll into the VA healthcare system, please attend. Don’t miss out on your hard earned benefits. Call the American Legion Post 99/VFW Post 6280 at 729-3710 for questions or to schedule private time with a counselor.

Montauk State Park will be holding a bird hike on Saturday, April 23rd from 8:00 in the morning till noon. Participants will meet at the stone CCC picnic shelter. During the program you will learn about the diversity of birds that live in the park. Wear something comfortable to walk in and bring binoculars if you have them. For more information contact the park at 573-548-2201.

Due to what we believe to be a lightning strike from last Friday, KSMO AM is currently off the air. We are working on the problem, but at this time do not know how long the AM side will be off the air. Currently, KSMO’s FM translator is working properly at 95.7.

A fatality accident happened Friday morning at 7:30 in Lawrence Couty on private property off of Chapell Drive at the Monett city limits. A 2000 Freightliner being driven by 49-year-old Troy Dunlop of Exeter struck the trailer of a 2020 Kenworth. The Freightliner then struck a pedestrian, 69-year-old Randy Hance of Rolla. Hance was pronounced dead by Dr. Matlock at Cox Monett Hospital just before 8:00 and was taken to Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City. As required by law, the surviving driver was tested for alcohol. The results of those tests were not yet available at the time of the report.

Contractors working of the Missouri Department of Transportation will begin the initial phases of a major improvement project along Interstate 44 from Rolla to Cuba. The work begins today and will take two years to fully complete. This 52-mile project will include resurfacing of the eastbound and westbound lanes between Sugar Tree Road, west of Rolla, and Route F, west of Cuba. Other work included in the contract includes reconstruction of pavement in the eastbound lanes between Rolla and St. James, the rehabilitation of the bridges over the Bourbouse River Branch west of St. James, and culvert extension at the East Fork of Little Beaver Creek west of Rolla. In February, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded the contract for the project to Lehman Construction, which submitted the low bid of $50,452,588. The work will include periodic daytime and nighttime lane closures and delays in traffic. MoDOT appreciates the patience of those traveling around the work area. For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be holding a reorganizational meeting before the regular board meeting to begin at 5:45 Tuesday evening at 5:45 at the Salem R-80 Board Room. The purpose of the meeting will be to certify the results from the April 5th election. Swearing in of the newly elected board members will then take place by the board Secretary. Afterwards, Superintendent, Dr. Lynne Reed will act as temporary chairman to select a new board President and Vice President before adjourning and opening the regular board meeting at 6:00. After approval of the consent agenda, Superintendent Reed will give her report to the board followed by principals reports from William Lynch Elementary, the Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, and the activities and athletics report. In new business the board members are expected to approve the building project update, insurance plan, and set the tuition for the 2022-2023 school year, approve the surplus list from William Lynch Elementary and the Upper Elementary schools. Bids will then be put out for mats and runners for the gym and for a Suburban. Also expected to be adopted will be the MSBA policies and forms, and approve the RFP for architectural and engineering services for the construction trades program. If there are any resignations, they will then be heard before the board adjourns and moves into executive session. The Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening is open to the public.

A one vehicle accident happened Wednesday afternoon at 12:15 in Crawford County on Interstate 44 at the 203 mile-marker. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2015 Ford F-150 being driven west by 49-year-old Angelique Blue of St. James began hydroplaning and traveled off the right side of the road and a struck a concrete culvert. Blue was transported by North Crawford ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla for treatment of minor injuries. The Ford sustained moderate damage and was towed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. The report went on to state that Blue was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident.

An accident occurred Friday afternoon around 12:45 in Phelps County on County Road 2000 one half mile north of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report a 2000 Ford 250 driven by 60-year-old Joseph Malva from Rolla was travelling eastbound and turned into the path of a 1997 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 64-year- old Belinda Althage of St. James, who was travelling westbound. Althage suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Phelps Health. She was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Big Boy’s Towing. The Ford sustained moderate damage and was removed by a private tow.