Archive for 2023

Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley has released a number of judgments from last Thursday in the Dent County Circuit Court in front of Judge Michael Randazzo. In the report, Curley said Joshua Black of Salem, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of driving while having his license revoked. Black sought probation while Curley recommended a seven-year sentence with a 120-day incarceration through the state’s RSMO 559.115 program with Judge Randazzo agreeing with the prosecutor’s recommendation. Next Bryan Stogsdill of Houston, pleaded guilty to assault in the 2nd degree for operating a vehicle under the influence resulting in an injury and accident. Curley sought a seven-year sentence with a 120-day incarceration through the state’s RSMO 559.115 program while the defendant requested probation. Judge Randazzo sided with Stogsdill and sentenced him to five years probation with the standard terms of probation. In the third case heard, William French of Salem, pleaded guilty to one felony count of stealing, one felony count of receiving stolen property and one misdemeanor charge for stealing. Curley asked for a seven-year sentence with a 120-day incarceration through the state’s RSMO 559.115 program due to creation of victims in the community while the defendant requested probation. Judge Randazzo sentenced French to serve probation for five years with the execution of a seven-year suspended sentence over the state’s objection. Next, Tyler Callahan of Bunker, pleaded guilty to the possession of a controlled substance for methamphetamine. He was ordered to serve a seven-year suspended sentence with five years probation and parole as requested by the state. Judge Randazzo then heard the guilty plea of Israel Self of Salem, for the possession of a controlled substance for methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve seven years in the Department of Corrections as requested by Prosecutor Curley. The next case dealt with Tim Compton of Lake Ozark, for violating his probation after completing the RSMO 559.115 program. He was sentenced to serve 12 years in the Department of Corrections as recommended by the prosecuting attorney. The last case heard by Judge Randazzo was a sentencing hearing for Jon Payne of Salem. Payne was sentenced to serve five years in the Department of Corrections for the possession of a controlled substance for meth after he was terminated from the drug court program.

The City of Salem Finance Committee met Thursday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory for their final review of the proposed City of Salem budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024. City Treasurer Stacey Houston went over each individual fund to explain the budget prepared which was designed to accurately show how each fund fared matching their expected income and expenses for the upcoming year and not relying on previous fund balances to balance their individual budgets. Only two funds, the Park and Recreation Fund and the Airport Fund, used funds from the previous year fund balances and those uses were for capital expenditures. Houston and City Administrator Sally Burbridge were aggressive with the budget in creating a reserve fund for the Park and Recreation Department where one didn’t exist, or made sure contributions were made to utility reserve funds as required by ordinance to increase those reserve fund balances to reach the fund minimum balance of 25% of the previous year’s expenditures. One change was suggested to the budget and that was the addition of $10,000 for fireworks for the 2024 display that would need to be matched by local donations or sponsorships. That addition to the budget was approved by the finance committee. Another discussion was the need for a new Economic Development Director and when the city wanted to begin the process of finding one. Although no money was set aside in the budget, this item could be reviewed after January 1st to see where the city stood financially and if at that time they were ready to begin the search. If that were to happen, a budget adjustment could be made. The finance committee then voted to approve to recommend to the Salem Board of Aldermen the proposed fiscal year 2024 budget with the addition of the $10,000 for fireworks for their review Tuesday before the meeting was adjourned.

With the continued dry weather, state agencies are accelerating drought response efforts in Missouri and developing resources to assist those at greatest risk of serious impacts. Reports of local conditions are a key tool in assessing the changing drought situation. The public can assist local, state and national decision makers better understand conditions in their area by submitting a survey form via the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) service at droughtimpacts.unl.edu, an online collaborative effort to crowd source data on ground-level drought conditions as they develop. Reports and photographs submitted through CMOR are used by state and federal officials to ensure the national drought map accurately portrays conditions in Missouri and other states. By ensuring the map’s accuracy, federal resources can be made available as soon as possible for drought-affected areas. Governor Mike Parson on May 31 issued a Drought Alert for 60 counties from mid-Missouri to northwestern Missouri. The already hot, dry weather means drought conditions are expected to further degrade heading into summer. Other counties will be added to the alert and be eligible for assistance as they reach established drought thresholds. A variety of helpful online resources are available at dnr.mo.gov/drought. The one-stop drought information website features current drought-related news, a series of Missouri drought maps and current condition reports, U.S. Drought Monitor, Missouri Drought Plan and other resources, including information on past droughts.

The Salem Public Library at 403 North Jackson will be holding an “All Together Now” First Responders Program in the north basement room from 1:00 until 2:30 Tuesday afternoon where first responders from area agencies like the Salem Police Department will share stories and participate in crafts and games with young children. The program is designed for children from Kindergarten through the 5th grade. The event is free and no library card is needed. For more information, call Isabella at 729-4331.