Archive for 2023

An accident occurred Monday afternoon at 4:32 in Crawford County on Route M about two miles south of Highway 8. According to the highway patrol report, a northbound 2018 Razkull 125 Motorcycle ridden by 20-year-old Robert Newkirk of Cook Station, exited a driveway in front of a northbound 2001 GMC Yukon driven by 48-year-old Steven Hoerr of Steelville. Hoerr was unable to avoid the motorcycle and the GMC struck it. Newkirk suffered serious injuries and was flown to Mercy St. Louis. The motorcycle sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Miles & Son’s Towing, while the GMC sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene. The report stated that both Newkirk and Hoerr were wearing safety devices.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to plan for a safe 2023 Labor Day weekend. If you’ll be on the road this Labor Day holiday, make sure your vehicle is in good working condition before you depart. Drive courteously and obey all of Missouri’s traffic laws. Remember to buckle up and pay attention as you travel.In Missouri, seven people died and 398 were injured in 1,041 traffic crashes over the 2022 Labor Day holiday. This means one person was killed or injured every 11.5 minutes. Troopers arrested 121 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s holiday weekend. The 2023 counting period for the Labor Day holiday will be from 6:00 Friday night through 11:59 Monday night. The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways and waterways. Troopers on the roadways will be enforcing Missouri’s speed limit, seat belt, and impaired driving laws, in addition to being available to assist motorists. The public is encouraged to call the Missouri Highway Patrol’s emergency report line at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on your cell phone.

Local maintenance crews will narrow Highways 32 and 72 in Dent County this morning for bridge maintenance. Weather permitting, work will take place from 8:00 to 10:00 in the morning on Highway 72 at the Stone Hill Branch Bridge near Dent County Road 5225 and also at that same time on Highway 32 from Dent County Road 4380 to Dent County Road 4400. Work will also be done from 9:00 to 12;00 noon on Highway 32 from Dent County Road 5523 to Dent County Road 4433. Advanced warning signs will be in place and flaggers will guide motorists through the work zones. MoDOT asks all motorists to help by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones. Motorists are advised to use extra caution through work zones, obey all traffic signs, and avoid any distractions. For traffic updates or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit the Traveler Information Map.

The Salem R-80 School District Board of Directors will hold a special meeting at noon today via Zoom. After the approval of the agenda, new business before the board will be consideration of the RFP process for a security camera system and approval of the substitute teacher list. The board will then go into closed session to discuss real estate and personnel. The board will then move back into open session before adjourning.

An International Overdose Awarness Day is being held tonight at Columbia College in Rolla at 550 Blue Lake Parkway from 6:00 until 9:00 in the evening. Eeveryone is welcome to come and join in remebering all those who have lost their lives to the opiod epidemic by writing their names on luminaries. For more information, call Rebecca Losing at 573-265-2993, ext 127, or e-mail her at rlosing@meramecregion.org.

Come out to Echo Bluff State Park during Labor Day Weekend for a toe-tapping good time. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy a free concert. Starting at 8:00 Saturday night, Brandy Lee, a singer-songwriter from Mountain View, Missouri, will perform original songs and country staples. Starting at 7:00 Sunday night, Country Revival will take the stage to play classic country music. The final concert of the season will begin at 7:00 Monday night with the Baker Family. This local band tours the country, winning awards and spreading traditional bluegrass along the way. Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence.

Do you have your tickets yet for the upcoming 9th Annual Salem Area Chamber of Commerce pro rodeo, sanctioned by IPRA/ACRA/MRCA and produced by Outlaw Rodeo Productions? The rodeo will be held this Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 2nd and Sunday, September 3rd beginning at 7:30 each night at The Commons on Highway 72 North with the gates opening at 5:00 for family activities. There will be a number of events held including team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, calf scramble, and Blake Scaggs Mini Buckers! Advanced tickets are available at the Bank of Salem branch, both locations of Town and Country Bank, Progressive Ozark Bank and the Salem Chamber of Commerce office at 1136 South Main in the Crossroads Shopping Center. Ticket prices in advance are $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 5-11, while at the gate, ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Wear red, white and blue to honor our veterans!! The weather will be great so come on out and enjoy the rodeo!!! If you have any questions, contact Tabatha at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at (573) 729-6900.

During the week of August 12th to August 18th there were a total of 118 calls to the Salem Police Department for service. Officers conducted 15 traffic stops for various traffic violations with four resulting in a summons or arrest, plus they conducted three traffic accident investigations along with three informational reports. On Sunday afternoon, August 13th at approximately 1:45, officers conducted a traffic stop and found the driver to have an active capias warrant from the Rolla Police Department for no insurance. As a result, 40-year-old Alisha Mcafee of Salem, was arrested and incarcerated pending extradition to Rolla. The next evening around 8:00, officers were dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of shoplifting. It was reported that three subjects were involved in shoplifting from the store as per video surveillance. An investigation was completed and the suspects have been identified with numerous priors for stealing. Once located, the subjects will face charges for stealing and burglary. At 11:00 in the evening of Tuesday, August 15th,officers conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Highways 19 and 32. As a result of the stop, a 50-year-old Salem woman was found to be intoxicated while operating the vehicle and was arrested for a DWI. Contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any investigation.

A new hands-free cell phone law that effects every driver in Missouri started this past Monday called the “Siddens Bening Hands Free Law” that prohibits hand-held cell phone use while driving. This new law states that Missouri drivers, while a vehicle is in motion, are prohibited from physically holding or supporting a cell phone with any part of their body; manually typing, writing, sending, or reading text-based messages; recording, posting, sending or broadcasting video, including video calls and social media posts; and from watching a video or movie. The new law allows drivers to place or receive voice calls utilizing voice-operated or hands-free functions that can be engaged/disengaged with a single touch or swipe; talk on the phone, hands-free, utilizing features like built-in phone speaker, in-car Bluetooth, or ear bud/headset; send or receive text-based communication through voice-to-text features; or to utilize cell phone GPS navigation and music or podcast functions. The bill contains specific exemptions for drivers communicating in emergency situations, emergency first responders and other emergency roadside workers, and for-hire drivers. The “Siddens Bening Hands Free Law” will also make it illegal for school bus drivers to use an electronic communication device while the school bus is in motion or while loading or unloading passengers. Under the penalty provisions, a first-time violation will result in a fine up to $150, the second violation is $250 and the third violation can be up to $500, for repeat convictions within a two-year period. Additional penalties can occur, misdemeanor or felony charges, if the distracted driver causes a crash that results in significant property damage, serious injury or death. Penalty provisions will not be enacted until January 1st, 2025 to allow adequate time for public education. This law is a secondary offense meaning police will have to pull you over for something else like speeding to enforce the new hands-free law. Missouri is the 28th state to require hands-free phone use.

A three vehicle accident happened Monday afternoon at 4:40 on Route M about five miles southwest of Steelville. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Infiniti being driven southbound by 72-year-old Patsy Conaway of Steelville, struck the back of a 2013 Ford F-150 that was parked and stationary in the road causing the Ford to also strike a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox that was also parked and stationary in the road. Conaway suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Steelville Ambulance to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. All three vehicles sustained moderate damage and were removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. The report went on to state that Conaway was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting tonight at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board will review Resolution No. 27-2023 that would authorize the mayor of the City of Salem to accept permanent sidewalk easements for the Sidewalk Construction Project No. TAP-9901 (520). The Board will then go into closed session. The meeting was called by Mayor Greg Parker.