Archive for 2023

Excessive heat this week could mean the City of Salem electric utility might set a new peak. There is no specific action required at this time, but things could change quickly, and the city administration asks that all electric utility customers conserve or reduce your electrical usage as much as reasonably possible. Missouri Public Utility Alliance, or MPUA, the City of Salem’s electrical supplier, is not seeing huge price increases or reliability concerns at this time. A peak warning means there is a chance that a new peak could be set for City of Salem electric customers. Although there are no electric market supply and demand issues right now, setting a new peak does have many consequences. Setting a new peak demand would have cost impacts on the cost to the city to purchase power and that would be reflected on your utility bill moving forward. For tips and ideas on how to conserve electricity and reduce your monthly utility bill check out the “Summer Home Efficiency Tips from MPUA” available on the city of Salem website at salemmo.com. This flyer was also included as an insert in last month’s utility bills. The City appreciates everyone’s understanding and assistance in keeping electric usage as low as possible during this time of excessive heat. For questions about your bill call the city of Salem utility office at 729-4117.

The City of Salem Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet this evening at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers for a public hearing to be followed by a public meeting. The hearing will allow the public to speak on the request for a variance from the Salem Code of Ordinances to move the current McDonalds sign on Highway 19 to their new location at 202 East Scenic Rivers Blvd owned by the McDonalds Real Estate Company. After the hearing is closed, the board will discuss whether to accept or reject the request before they adjourn. The hearing and meeting are both open to the public.

An accident happened Tuesday morning just after 9:00 in Phelps County on Highway 8 east of Highway 68. According to the highway patrol report, a 2011 Ford F-150 being driven by 80- year-old Floyd Haffer of St. James, was traveling eastbound when he traveled off the right side of roadway and struck a mailbox. The Ford then returned to the road and began traveling east again. Haffer stopped and started traveling in reverse, striking the front of a 2016 Freightliner being driven by 36 year old Allen Williams, also of St. James. Haffer suffered minor injuries and was taken to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla by St. James ambulance. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeons Towing while the Freightliner had minor damage and was able to be driven from the scene. The report went on to state that both drivers were wearing safety restraints.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released some reports from cases heard Wednesday in front of Judge Michael Randazzo in Dent County. In the first case heard, Clayton David Korman of Rolla pleaded guilty to a felony charge of resisting arrest and driving while having his license revoked as a persistent felony offender. Randazzo sentenced Korman to serve ten years in the Department of Corrections under the RSMO Section 559.115 program as requested by Prosecutor Curley. In the next case, Robert Michael Lee of Salem pleaded guilty to driving while being intoxicated, his third offense. Lee had two prior convictions from the year 2000 or earlier. Lee was sentenced to serve seven years in the Department of Corrections with the execution of that sentence being suspended with five years probation. Lee was ordered to complete the alternative sentencing court. The next case of the day was a sentencing hearing for Mitchell Allen Warren of Salem who pleaded guilty pursuant to an alford plea to felony stealing. Prosecutor Curley sought ten years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 559.115. Warren sought probation with a credit for the 121 days served in jail. Randazzo sided with Prosecutor Curley and sentenced Warren to serve ten years under RSMO Section 559.115. The next case presented was for Tyler Ray Nichols of Rolla who pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance for meth and fentanyl, plus one count for the felony stealing of a firearm and one count of stealing a motor vehicle. Nichols was sentenced to 12- years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 559.115 as requested by Prosecutor Curley. In the next case, Judge Randazzo revoked the probation of Austin Dwain Hill of Bunker for the commission of new offenses, and executed his 14-year sentence to be served in the Department of Corrections. He had been sentenced to the RSMO Section 559.115 program after pleading guilty to a litany of stealing offenses, property damage and felony possession of a controlled substance. The next case to be heard was that of Timothy Michael Wilson of St. Louis. His probation was confessed and then revoked, and he was required to serve his seven-year sentence as requested by Prosecutor Curley. Judge Randazzo then held a probation revocation hearing. Defendant Austin Tyler Light of Salem was found to have violated his probation. Light sought continuance of his probation while Prosecutor Curley sought the execution of a ten-year sentence. Judge Randazzo sentenced Light to a total of 10 years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the prosecutor.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission has announced that Gasconade County and the city of Hermann will host MRPC’s 2023 annual dinner and award ceremony on October 26th at the Hermannhof Festhalle in Hermann. The annual dinner highlights some of the best volunteer efforts and hopefully inspires others to serve and provides an idea for an activity or program in another community. MRPC will also recognize some youth volunteers in hopes of encouraging other youth to volunteer in their communities and to promote life-long volunteerism. Residents in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties may purchase tickets at a cost of $40 to attend the dinner and awards ceremony beginning in September. To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met for their regular meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Greg Parker was unable to attend so the President of the Board, Shawn Bolerjack, ran the meeting. After the agendas were approved, Public Works Director Mark Nash discussed bids for a batwing bush hog the city will use for common grounds including the new certified site and at the old landfill. Nash said they looked at the 2023 John Deere FC15M with the wing rotary cutter that had a five-year warranty from Heritage Tractor in Rolla, and the Rhino 2150 cutter from Salem Farm Equipment that also had a five-year warranty. After some questions and discussion, the board went with the John Deere for $22,000 which is $1,750 more than budgeted. The board also approved making a budget adjustment of $1,750 from the surplus balance fund to cover the difference. The board approved the bid of $2,400 from Rood and Associates for a 3rd party estimate of the costs for the construction of the six unit T-Hanger at the airport. This is a MoDOT requirement for any project that costs over $100,000 and it will be reimbursed as part of the grant. Only $2,000 was budgeted for this item and the other $400 would come from the fund balance. Finance Director Stacey Houston went over the financials for the last fiscal year and said the city started with a balance in all funds of $5,321,000 and finished the year with a balance in all funds of $8,144,000 or an increase of 2.8 million dollars. That was an increase of $2.5 million dollars over the anticipated budget amount. Houston said sales tax revenues were up about 9.4% in all funds and all the utilities showed an increase in revenues over expenses, much of that was due to rate increases passed on during the year. The board heard the first reading of Bill #3554 that would create an ordinance to amend the annual budget for the City of Salem for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023. They then heard the second reading of Bill #3553 authorizing the mayor to execute contracts between the City of Salem and the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission to aid in the construction of a six unit T-Hanger project at the Salem Memorial Airport. The bill was then approved. Parks and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois reported there will be a night swim at the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Pool from 6:00 until 9:30 on July 31st, August 1st and 2nd for $5.00 per person. She said the pool will officially close on August 13th. Dubois said she had 22 participants in the Kids Camp at the Salem City Park this year which went very well. Alderwoman Kala Sisco said there will be a “Back to School Bash” at the Commons August 16th through the 18th put on by community churches. She also said Intercounty Electric will be showing the movie “Finding Nemo” at the Salem City Park at the 1st pavilion as you enter the park this Saturday night. Sisco said if anyone would be interested in serving on the Community Services Committee, please contact the city administrative offices and let them know you would be interested. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department reports that on July 19th, officers of the Rolla Area Drug Enforcement Task Force, Dent County Sheriff’s Office, Rolla Police Department, Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, and Salem Police Department concluded a short-term narcotics investigation in Dent County. The investigation was concentrated in the 300 block of Dent County Road 4215 and the 12000 block of Highway 32. Four people were arrested from the investigation. They included 39-year-old David Sutton of Salem who was charged with two counts of trafficking of a controlled substance and one count of maintaining a public nuisance with a cash or surety bond of $100,000; 34-year-old Ryan Lumsden of Salem who was charged with two counts of trafficking of a controlled substance, the unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a firearm with a cash or surety bond of $100,000; 39-year-old Michael Stewart who was charged with two counts of child endangerment and one count of possession of a controlled substance with a cash or surety bond of $25,000; and 27-year old Emma Poling of Salem was charged with two counts of child endangerment and one count of possession of a controlled substance with a cash or surety bond of $25,000. Two search warrants were executed on these residences by law enforcement officers. As a result of the search, officers seized fentanyl, methamphetamine and illegally possessed firearms. The charges against Sutton, Lumsden, Stewart and Poling are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty it will be to determine guilt or innocence.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways will be conducting two managed deer hunts in October at Big Spring. These hunting opportunities are being extended to two special groups of the nation’s population, our youth and our military service members with permanent mobility impairments. The Managed Deer Hunt application period for both hunts is now through July 31st. A total of 10 randomly selected hunters will be chosen for each hunt. The youth hunt will be held October 7th and 8th. Anyone interested in applying for this hunt must apply online through the Missouri Department of Conservation at mdc.mo.gov/managedhunt. The Exceptional Warrior Mobility-Impaired managed hunt will be held October 21st and 22nd. Portions of the Big Spring area will be temporarily closed to the public during both hunts on the following dates: Friday, October 6th through Sunday, October 8th, and Friday, October 20th through Sunday, October 22nd. All areas will reopen the Monday following each hunting event. These closures help ensure public safety during these activities and include the Big Spring Campground, Peavine pavilion area, all hiking trails within the Big Spring area and Peavine Road (Peavine Road only closed during Foundation for Exceptional Warriors hunt). Big Spring and the boat ramp will remain open during the hunts and can be accessed from Hwy 103. For more information on The FEW, visit their website at www.exceptionalwarriors.org, or phone (918) 824-1094. For more information, visit the park’s Facebook page, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/ozar, or phone (573) 323-4236.