Archive for 2023

An accident happened in Phelps County Wednesday morning on Highway 72 about three miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 Chevrolet Express driven eastbound by 56-year-old John Wulff of Rolla, attempted to make a U-turn and was struck by a 2008 Subaru Outback driven southbound by 66-year-old Rhonda Byars of Salem. Byars suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health. According to the report, Byars was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident while Wulff was wearing his. The Chevy Express sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene while the Subaru had moderate damage and was removed from the scene..

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray indicated brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 6070 and 6080, and a crew would be repairing chip and seal on county road 6240 with the ultimate paving material. Mobray said the tires were going to be changed on county truck #121. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk reported brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 2390, 2405, 6102 and 6123. He also said a crew would be patching chip and seal on county roads 3210, 3260, 3290, 4300 and 5225. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the county will let out for bid for companies to provide propane for the county courthouse from December through May 31st. Bids will be due in the office by 10:00 Monday, December 4th. Larson said there will not be any commission meetings next week due to the commissioners and other county officials being at the MAC Conference at the Lake of the Ozarks Sunday through Tuesday, as well as the courthouse being closed on Thursday and Friday, November 23rd and 24th for Thanksgiving. Collector Shannon Vankirk came in with her monthly turnover including surtax and interest of $41,163.96. Administrator Zach Moser from the Dent County Health Center came to visit about the PDMP renewal user agreement. This agreement is between Dent County and St. Louis County. This is regarding the statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. As part of this agreement, the County intends to transfer the County PDMP data to the State. The commission signed the agreement. The Alexander Construction Company is finishing up the exterior repairs to the courthouse. Their sub-contractors still need to do work on the guttering, finish painting, repair concrete and the Trim Light Company still needs to come in and finish their installation work. Alexander is still waiting on Quaker Windows to get back with a price on the back nine windows where the bottom grids are missing. The next meeting will be on Monday, November 27th at 9:00 at the courthouse.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem will hold the Christmas Parade of Lights in Salem on Saturday, December 2nd starting at 5:30 with this year’s theme: “Winter Wonderland.” The Grand Marshall for the parade this year is the Salem High School’s “Marching Blue.” The parade will run from the corner of South Grand and Franklin at the SBU Campus, traveling east to MacArthur, then going north to 4th Street before going heading east to the Dent County Courthouse square. Entry forms are now available at the office of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at 1136 South Main. Forms need to be returned by November 30th to the chamber offices. You can mail them, fax them at 573-729-6741 or e-mail them at chamber@salemmo.com, or drop them off in person. A full list of the parade rules are available at the chamber office.

Lexie Mutch will hold a workshop for ages 12 and up on Monday and on Monday, November 27th for anyone interested in learning the technique of coptic bookbinding, making their own journals, books, or a gift for a friend. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon from 1:00 until 3:00 tearing down paper, cutting and gluing covers unique to you own taste, and sewing a strong and lovely binding. This coptic-bound book will lay flat, be a joy to work within and lovely to have. No previous knowledge is required to attend. This process involves utilizing sharp blades, a bit of muscle and can be hard on arthritic hands at certain points. Handmade books are a treasure to use yourself or to share with someone you cherish. Each participant will make their own blank book, with paper torn and folded, covers chosen, cut and glued, and bindings sewn together all by themselves. Learn this little-known art and share it with others! All supplies and provided at cost of $30. A minimum of 3 students are required to hold the class with a maximum of 10 attendees.

The signups for the Dent County Toy Drive and the Salvation Army Angel Tree will be from 3:30 until 5:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road on Monday, November 20th and Monday, November 27th. These are the only days to sign-up your children and some documentation will be required. These programs are limited to children from newborn to 12-years of age, and the parent or guardian they live with MUST sign them up. The parent needs to bring with them a birth certificate or shot record or current grade card to prove the child’s age; and the parents must live in Dent County. A current utility bill or a letter from the school the child attends will also work. Only one person per family may register and no children are allowed to be present during the signups. Parents will be asked the interests of each child, and they should know their children’s clothes and shoe sizes. The Dent County Toy Drive and the Salvation Army want all children to have a great Christmas, but they are also asking parents not to participate unless you truly need their help. If you have questions, message the Dent County Toy Drive on their Facebook page or call 729-8163.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the fire station. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the minutes from the October meeting were approved as presented. The financial report showed an ending balance of $80,371.32 as of October 31st. Bills, payments, and statements were then reviewed along with the 2023 and 2024 budget. A motion was made and carried to adopt the 2023 budget for 2024 then, after the check for 2024 taxes is received, the budget can then be reviewed again and revised accordingly. During the calendar review, it was noted that this Friday the ladders will be tested for the district, and the hospital will be holding a class on Tuesday, November 28th for Pre-Hospital Life Support. There will also be a potluck dinner on Tuesday, December 5th at the department for all the firefighters; and on that same day, reimbursement checks for the year will be dispersed. The monthly reimbursement report for October showed a total of 34 calls for the month bringing the total calls year to date to 242. In old business it was reported that truck #85 is still being worked on and is not in service. Fire Chief Brad Nash gave his report and noted that the National Fire Incident Reporting System for Missouri is being changed and the department will need to look into new software to make the department compliant. Nash is looking into programs that will meet the department needs and keep them in compliance. The December meeting date was set for Tuesday, December 12th, at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. The meeting was then adjourned.

Join Danielle Norris this Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00, for a splendidly magical night at the Creative Arts Center for a Potter Paint and Sip. No muggles may enter! All Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin houses are cordially invited where the wizard world will come to life on canvas. Participants will be lead step by step through a spell binding painting including Hedwig and sorter hat! No trickery, just pure magic, where anything’s possible if you have enough nerve. The magic is for all boys and girl ages 13 and up and all supplies are provided at a cost of $25 per attendee. A minimum of six are required to hold the session with a maximum of 26 attendees. People can sign up under the “Programs” at the salemcommunitybetterment.com website for activities at the Creative Arts Center.

The University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture are helping livestock producers find hay. Many of the listings come from sellers in states that have not seen back-to-back drought years. The websites list sellers by region and forage type, as well as bale type, number and weight. Details may include whether the hay has been analyzed, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, relative feed value and percent total digestible nutrients. Hay listings on the MDA website will be posted for up to six months. Listings on MU Ag electronic bulletin board remain in the market listing system for 60 days unless updated. AgEBB lists the most recent postings first. MU Extension agronomy specialist Tim Schnakenberg says to use caution when buying hay from new sources as they will offer varying sizes, densities and, most importantly, quality affect hay’s true value. When buying, ask how hay was stored and for how long. Schnakenberg offers some other tips about buying hay such as testing and weigh the hay before buying, if possible. The best way to tell good hay from bad is to have it tested for quality in a laboratory. He also says to look for leafiness, weeds and seed heads and check for mold and smell. Schnakenberg also says to check for fire ants and other pests in hay from states where these pests are common. He also says to buy by the ton, not the bale, and to test for nitrates. If you need to find hay, the MDA listings are at apps.mda.mo.gov/HayDirectory; and the MU hay listings are at agebb.missouri.edu/haylst/vsale.php.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. In the hearing of persons, Debbie Murphy addressed the board about questions she had asked before concerning town hall meetings, open agendas, redistricting to allow for six aldermen instead of four, the DCAWS contract, the animal shelter at the industrial park and recycling as well as alderman only using a tablet or laptop while in session and not use their phone. She also asked the aldermen to reconsider the purchase of the vac truck as it was dangerous, plus a city the size of Salem didn’t need it and, in her opinion, is a waste of taxpayer money. When finished, Murphy expected responses from the mayor or aldermen, but she was told the board is only required to hear what she had to say. She was dissatisfied with that answer and after a direct discussion with Mayor Parker, the mayor asked Police Chief Joe Chase to remove her from the meeting which he did. The board approved Resolution #24-2023 that sets the Municipal Election for April 2nd, 2024 for mayor as well as one east and west ward alderman. The board approved Resolution #25-2023 allowing the mayor to execute a change order between Welch Construction, the city and Daniel Evans for property in the “Welcome Home” program at 503 West Rolla Road. The board approved the auctioning of former Salem Police cars, a 2018 Dodge Charger and 2017 Ford Explorer, on Purple Wave. Chief Chase said the police equipment had been removed from the cars and he expects them to bring a 40% return as they are in good shape. The board also approved the purchase of a 2023 Dodge Durango for the police department as part of the vehicle rotation plan at the state bid of $36,806.00 from Behlmann Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram in Troy, Missouri. Public Works Director Mark Nash spoke with the board about a new vac truck for the city from Key Equipment that would be used for water leaks, excavation, cleaning out man holes, pumping out lift stations, removing blockages from the waste water treatment plant and other instances that would save a tremendous amount of man hours. After department heads spoke on the truck, Nash said the Key Equipment would send personnel to train Salem workers for no additional charge. Nash also said the truck would have dual fans that would help expel any water from the truck when not in use. Nash said the city could get the vehicle within 30 days. The board approved the purchase of the truck for $195,487.50 with $47,500 coming from the Capital Improvement Fund, the sewer department, water department and the electric department with the remaining balance coming from the previous years balance. The board approved the purchase of a new Kyocera copier from SumnerOne for $9,087.87 that includes a five-year maintenance agreement. The board approved the purchase of a NOVA recloser for the city substation for $26,347.16 from Sho-Me Power after a squirrel Saturday got in the system shutting down the electric. Show-Me will make the repairs today. The board tabled their decision on the “conditional use” permit at 1509 South Louise Street until Alderwoman Kala Sisco, who was not at the meeting, could give her opinion at the next meeting. The board heard the first reading of Bill #3578 to officially name the streets in the Masters Industrial Park, and heard the second reading of Bill #3575 authorizing the mayor to sign the Administrative Procedures Guide for floodplain management and flood hazard reduction. The board approved that bill. City Administrator Sally Burbridge said the city administrative offices would be closed Thanksgiving and Friday, November 24th. She also asked the aldermen to think about what they want to do with the 2nd Street Bridge which is currently closed due damage from a truck. It is a MoDOT bridge and it could possibly qualify for funding to be replaced or repaired, or the city may only want to use it a pedestrian bridge. She is looking for direction in the next couple of months. Mayor Parker announced he will be running again for mayor in April, and Public Works Director Mark Nash said he would be retiring on January 31st, 2024. He said the street department is working with asphalt on patching potholes, a concrete pad has been poured for the electric transformer at the Construction Trades Building and McDonalds continues to push to ope quickly. Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois said there are 166 children signed up for basketball this year, the restrooms in the city park have now been winterized and she is taking registrations for the “Light Up the Park” this year for $50 for businesses, churches, groups, etc. The board then went into closed session.

The University of Missouri Extension congratulates Teel and Richelle Wisdom and family of Salem as the Dent County Missouri Farm Family by University of Missouri Extension in Dent County and the local Farm Bureau. They were among the families honored during the 66th annual Missouri Farm Family Day in August at the Missouri State Fair. Teel Wisdom was the 4th generation raised on his family’s cattle farm in Boss, where he and his dad also raised and showed world champion quarter horses. Now, Teel and Richelle’s 5-year-old son, Reed, also helps on the family farm which is now a 49-acre meat goat operation. Each year, the fair sets aside a day to recognize farm families from across the state that are active in their communities, involved in agriculture, and/or participate in local outreach and extension programs such as 4-H or FFA. Thee annual event is sponsored by five partner agencies: the Missouri Farm Bureau; the Missouri Department of Agriculture; the Missouri State Fair Commissioners; the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; and MU Extension.