Archive for 2023

An accident occurred Saturday afternoon around 12:45 in Dent County on Highway 72 about one mile north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 1999 Toyota 4 Runner driven by 22-year-old Jordan Shults of Salem, was traveling westbound and was slowing for stopped traffic. At that time, a 2017 Harley Davidson Sportster operated by 20-year-old Johnathan Stark of Salem, was also traveling westbound and struck the rear of the Toyota. Stark suffered minor injuries and was transported by the Salem EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. The report states Stark was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Harley Davidson sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by a family member. Schults was not injured in the accident and was wearing a seat restraint when the accident happened. The Toyota sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

A meeting of the City of Salem’s Capital Improvement Committee has been called by committee chairman Shawn Bolerjack. The meeting will be held this evening at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, 1200 W. Rolla Road. After the roll call, the committee is expected to finalize the fiscal year 2023-2024 capital improvements before adjourning. The meeting this evening will be open to the public.

During the week of May 20th to May 26th, there were a total of 112 calls for service to the Salem police department. Officers conducted 16 traffic stops for various traffic violations with three of the stops resulting in a summons or arrest. They also conducted three traffic accident investigations along with six informational reports. From the calls for service and traffic stops, these reports were generated. During the evening of Saturday, May 20th at around 8:30, officers were dispatched to Dollar General for the report of an intoxicated man trying to leave in a vehicle. It was reported that the man was acting erratic and had injured himself by punching a mirror. After a short investigation, a 20-year-old Salem man was arrested and placed on a 12-hour safe keep for disorderly conduct. On Wednesday morning, May 24th, near 11:00, officers took a report of a handgun that was stolen out of a vehicle that was parked and unoccupied near the intersection of Fourth and Iron Streets. Video surveillance of the area has been reviewed and this incident is still under investigation. Later that same evening at 8:30, officers were dispatched to the 900 block of South Water Street for the report of a stolen lawn mower. It was reported that someone had stolen a John Deere riding lawn mower from a residence between May 19th and 20th. Video footage was reviewed from the area and this investigation is still ongoing. On Friday, May 26th around 6:00 in the evening, officers were dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of shoplifting. It was reported that a woman who had previously shoplifted from the store and had been asked not to return to Walmart, did trespass and had shoplifted again. After a short investigation, a 38-year-old Salem woman was arrested and issued a summons to appear in court for the incident. Due to the prior convictions and trespass warnings, she will be facing charges of Burglary in the First Degree. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The University of Missouri Extension will be offering a free program called “Soil Health Improvement in the Garden” Tuesday, June 6th, from 6:00 until 7:00 at 801 N Cedar Street in Rolla. This program provides education to the local gardeners about soil and nutrient management in their gardens. The speaker will talk about function and composition of soil, and soil organic matter. The standard procedure for soil sampling will be discussed in the meeting. There will be discussion about essential plant nutrients, soil test report interpretation and fertilizer application. Interested participants need to register online or call to Phelps County Extension Center at (573) 458-6260.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host an “Art in the Park” evening at Alley Spring on Saturday evening from 6:30 – 8:30. This event is free and open to the public. Professional and aspiring artists are invited to paint, draw, sculpt or photograph during this open-air event on the bank of Alley Spring. Visitors are welcome to walk among the artists and see their creations. In addition, parents are encouraged to bring their kids for special art projects. A variety of art supplies and project options are available. Bring your creative energy, a chair or blanket, and any special art projects you’d like to display. Alley Spring is located five miles west of Eminence on Highway 106. For more information, call (573) 226-3945, visit the park’s Facebook page, or visit our website at www.nps.gov/ozar.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Mary Beth Cook said she had the potential of getting a new road to her cabin at Montauk and was in to ask the county if they would meet with her at that property to determine the best locations for access off Dent County 6670 for a new road that would also need a culvert installed. District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray told her just to get in touch with him in a couple of weeks and he would be glad to meet with her. Mobray stated the commission met with MoDOT and N.B. West from Pacific on Tuesday for a pre-construction meeting on the FLAP Project 56 for the paving of 2,700 feet of Dent County Road 6670 from Tan Vat to Baptist Camp that will be 16-feet wide. The commission also met with Great Rivers Engineering Wednesday to sign the FLAP 56 construction agreement. It was determined at the meeting the paving would be done today all at one time so Dent County Road 6670 will be closed to the public this morning until later today from Tan Vat to Baptist Camp. The public will have to find alternative routes to get around that stretch of road. The commissioners then signed an agreement with MoDOT to be reimbursed $3,487.48 for the FLAP 56 project. Mobray also said the ditches were pulled on Dent County Road 5080 as the county is rebuilding parts of that road with the anticipation of that road being chip and sealed in the future. He also said patch grading was being done on county road 5380 to remove some of the rough spots. Presiding Commission Gary Larson gave the District 2 report and said crews were rebuilding Dent County Road 3110 as they will be installing a crossover pipe, adding material and grading. He said brush was being cut on county road 2300. Larson said he expects the governor to appoint a new 2nd District Commissioner soon and he wanted the public to know he enjoyed serving them as 2nd District Commissioner in case he did not give that district report in the future. He said he will be attending the Transportation Advisory committee meeting Thursday, June 8th, at the MRPC offices in St. James; and plans on attending the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Office of Broadband Development meeting Friday, June 9th from 9:00 in the morning until 11:00 at the Centre in Rolla. The meeting is being held with the cooperation of the University of Missouri Extension and is being held to hear updates on the broadband access and to receive input from stakeholders. Larson nominated former Salem R-80 Assistant Superintendent John Smith to serve as the Dent County “At-Large” position on the Meramec Regional Planning Commission to replace the late Gary Brown. Smith agreed to serve if his nomination was approved by the commissioners which it was. Larson went on to sign the CART agreement with the Missouri Department of Conservation so the county could be reimbursed for the white gravel used on the roads leading to Conservation Areas. The cost of the white rock came to about $17,000. The commission also approved the request from Amber Pryor to allow to use the courthouse lawn and electricity to help raise funds for the Salem High School Choir by selling sno-cones at the Independence Day Parade on July 4th. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for May. She is also asking the public that if you did NOT receive a voter registration card in the mail by now to please contact her office at 729-4144 or stop by the office to make sure your voter information on file is correct. Curley said she will be attending a Missouri Urban Board for a meeting with all election authorities and county clerks next week in St. Louis. There will be no commission meetings the week of June 5th with the next meeting is scheduled for June 12th at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

An accident happened in Pulaski County on Route BB about 3½ miles north of Richland Wednesday afternoon around 12:56. According to the highway patrol report, 26-year-old Caleb Cook of Rolla, was driving a 2017 International Dumptruck when he traveled off the right side of the roadway. Cook overcorrected and the dumptruck traveled off the left side of the road and overturned. He suffered minor injuries and was taken by the Pulaski County Ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. Cook was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The dumptruck was totaled and removed from the scene by I-44 Towing.

Barbara Johnson will be at the Creative Arts Center on Thursday evening, June 8th, from 6:00 to 8:00 to teach the art of Paper Quilling. Learn how you can create a unique and charming card by using narrow strips of colored paper. Learn how to roll, shape and design your own card. The created designs stand up on edge and they make a delightful filigree. Design ideas and information will be provided, as well as all needed supplies. The cost is $20 per person and the class is open to anyone age 10 and up. A minimum of five participants is needed to provide the class. You can sign up online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and go to the Creative Arts Center link, or you can email salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com.