Archive for 2023

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, May 18th. In attendance were trustees Dennis Floyd, Kim Smith and Bob Parsons, plus Administrator Zach Moser and Assistant Administrator Roma Jones. New Board appointee, Lori Hasten was also present. Due to the vacancy created by the resignation of board member Sandra Headrick at the April 20th meeting, the Dent County Commissioners were notified and they appointed Hasten to the board at their May 1st meeting. Lori was sworn in by Zachary Moser, Notary Public. Administrator Moser presented the communicable disease report which included 5 new COVID-19 cases for April. He said there were 32 active lead cases in April. Six sexually transmitted infection screenings were also conducted during the month. Moser noted that a total of five influenza cases were reported in April and they were all Influenza B. In the diagnostics report, Moser said that 292 blood draw appointments were completed in April, plus 12 COVID tests and 11 lead tests. There were 5 vaccines for COVID-19 and 79 other vaccinations administered. There was a total of 474 appointments held during April plus WIC appointments that totaled 331. Moser noted that in April there were 109 urine drug screenings conducted on behalf of the Dent County Treatment Court. Assistant Administrator Jones gave the environmental report where she conducted 11 total inspections and fielded 3 environmental questions. In the Administrator’s report, Moser said that Childcare Subsidy Program will be ending May 31st, 2023. He discussed recommendations received from the auditors regarding internal controls, plus the possibility of setting up a board member training. Moser also discussed upcoming future Health Center events, including the Walk Audit for BCBH project, a safety day, a fall health fair, and a drive-through flu/COVID clinic. He requested the disposal of some non-functioning equipment and the sale of some out-dated or unused equipment. The Board approved Moser’s request. The DCHC financial reports for April were reviewed and approved by the Board. Moser presented the 2022 Financial Audit and Federal Single Audit report conducted by Maloney, Wright, and Robbins, which was approved by the Board. He discussed the upcoming extension of the ELC-ED contract, which is a COVID-19 mitigation contract. Moser recommended that due to the short timeline of the contract that the money be used to invest in a HEPA filtration system for the Health Center. An RFP will be put out for the project to be considered for approval or rejection at a future meeting. Moser discussed the need for a fee ordinance and a food code ordinance. A draft copy of the fee ordinance was presented for Board review and a food code ordinance will be developed for consideration. Moser presented Board Resolution 2023-R001, Bank Signers Resolution for 2023 and it was approved by the Board. The next regular meeting of the Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees was set for Thursday, June 15th at 5:00.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters squirrel seasons open thisSaturday. The hunting season on eastern gray and fox squirrels runs through February 15th, 2024. Allowed methods include shotguns, rifles, and other legal firearm methods, as well as archery equipment, slingshots, or atlatls. Squirrels may also be harvested with cage-style traps during the hunting season as long as hunters have a valid Small Game Hunting permit. Traps must be labeled with the hunter’s full name and address, or Conservation Number, be attended daily, and have an opening of 144 square-inches or smaller. The daily limit for hunting, including the use of cage-style traps, is ten and the possession limit is 20. Hunters must have a permit valid for hunting small game or be exempt. Get more information on squirrel hunting and trapping from MDC’s 2023 Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations online. Need recipe suggestions? Browse squirrel recipes online at mdc.mo.gov.

During the week of May 6th to May 12th, there were a total of 148 calls to the Salem Police Department for service. Officers conducted five traffic stops for various traffic violations with three resulting in a summons or arrest. Officers conducted three traffic accident investigations along with six informational reports. From the calls for service and traffic stops, the following reports were generated. On Saturday, May 6th, officers contacted a male subject that had been caught stealing on numerous occasions from Wal-Mart. As a result, a 35-year-old Salem man was arrested and issued a summons to appear in court for shoplifting. Then on Tuesday, May 9th around 1:00 afternoon, May 9th, officers responded to the 600 block of East Fourth Street after receiving information of a male at the residence who had active parole absconder warrants for his arrest. Officers conducted a short investigation and located 34-year-old Sethe Berry of Salem. Berry was uncooperative, but was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. That same evening at around 6:00, officers contacted a male subject who had active warrants with no bond out of Dent County. After a short investigation, officers located and arrested 43-year-old Matthew Pollard without incident, and he was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Finally on Thursday night, May 11th near 9:00, officers were dispatched to Country Mart for a report of shoplifting. It was reported that two female subjects were caught shoplifting items from the store. After an investigation, both subjects were located. Located on one of the women was illegal narcotics and as well as paraphernalia. As a result, a 42-year-old Salem woman was arrested and released on summons for shoplifting, and a 32-year-old Salem woman was arrested and incarcerated for shoplifting as well as the possession of the controlled substances. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The City of Salem Park and Recreation Board met Monday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. After the roll call and minutes from the previous meeting were approved, Park Board President Carlos Lopez asked Salem Parks and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois to give her report. She stated this years spring baseball, softball and T-Ball season will feature 472 players making up 40 teams divided up into T-ball teams for 3 and 4-year olds and 5 and 6-year olds, coaches pitch baseball and softball for those eight and under, baseball and softball for those 11 and under and baseball and softball for those 14 and under. Games will start the first week of June. Dubois is reminding parents and spectators that travel through the Salem City Park on ball nights is one-way only from Rolla Road through the park and out the back gate leading to Park Street. She said the Kids Summer Camp for children six and over will be July 10th through the 21st. The cost is $200 and it is limited to the first 25 participants. Dubois said the pool will open May 27th and will be open Monday through Saturday from noon until 6:00 and Sunday from 1:00 until 6:00. The admission cost is $6.00 for adults, while children aged 3 to 13 and seniors can get in for $5.00. Pool passes and parties are available as well as water aerobics and swimming lessons. Call the pool at 729-6228 or 729-6031 for more information. The pool house floors have all been epoxied for the pool season. Dubois said there is an electrical problem with Splash Pad automatic water shutoff on the bollard and an electrician has been called. Dubois reported the lights and poles at the Al Brown Field have been installed but electric has not yet been done. Work also needs to be done to the Al Brown bleachers to replace some rotted boards. The city construction crew will be addressing that issue. The Park Board heard from City Treasurer Stacey Houston on the proposed budget for the 2023-24 year. Most of the revenues for the Park and Recreation Fund come from the sales tax revenue while other receipts come from charges for programs, pool, pavilion rental, etc. and Houston said she wanted to be conservative and budgeted a total of just over $662,000. On the expense side, Houston said she expected that to come in around $674,000 that would include the purchase of a new ¾ ton work truck for the park if it is approved by the alderman at the capital improvements committee. This would leave a deficit balance for the 2023-2024 budget of $12,148 and with the final reimbursement payment for the proposed soccer field of $25,000, the budgeted deficit balance would be $37,148. There was also a discussion on the amount of dollars budgeted for salaries and wages for the current year as the actual cost in 2021-22 was $253,263, but the budget for the current year showed an increase to $361,243, an increase of almost $108,000. Although that amount will not be reached this year, it was unknown why that number was so high except for the fact that the park board did not meet last year to approve the budget due to the resignation of some members preventing them from having a quorum at budget time. Houston said the city also would like to institute creating a reserve fund for the Park and Recreation Fund similar to what they have for the utility funds. With a budgeted beginning balance of over $433,000, Houston budgeted putting back 25% of the balance into a reserve fund of $127,000 and then there will be a minimum of 5% put into reserves annually and that figure came to $25,412. These dollars would then be available for special projects or when equipment needs to be replaced. The board approved the budget as presented. The board also discussed some much needed repairs to the tennis courts and decided they would try to find some grants for municipalities and possibly work with Mr. Hubbs from the high school to see if grants funds would be available to a school tennis facility. The meeting was then adjourned.

Got plans Memorial Day weekend? Missouri has a lot to offer with its state parks, lakes, sporting events, and attractions. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds everyone to include safety when they plan their holiday weekend. Expect more travelers on Missouri’s roadways and drivers are reminded to follow all Missouri’s laws and be courteous. Always wear a seat belt when traveling in a vehicle. This year’s Memorial Day holiday counting period begins at 6:00 this Friday evening and ends at 11:59, Monday night, May 29th. Every available trooper will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists. Troopers will focus their attention on hazardous moving violations, speed violations, and impaired drivers. The Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) during Memorial Day weekend. Over the 2022 Memorial Day holiday weekend, 13 people died and 507 were injured in 1,043 traffic crashes. Motorists in need of assistance or who want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. For road condition reports, travelers can visit the Patrol’s website at www.statepatrol.dps.mo.gov. Click on the Road Condition icon to view road construction areas as well as road conditions throughout the state or call 1-888-275-6636.

The Mudbugs are returning! This Thursday, the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History will host the Mudbugs where children can explore numerous wonders hidden in plain site at the Bonebrake Center. Thursday’s program will be called “Bug Busters” as the children can meet some cool critters up close and personal. No one has to touch the bugs unless they want to. The suggested contribution for each program is $2.00 but additional donations are always welcome. All monies collected go to the Bonebrake Center. Each program is geared toward children from six to 12-years of age, but all aged children are welcome. They ask that parents please accompany their children. For more information, contact Janet Price at moonshadowmomentsllc@gmail.com.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. The commission congratulated the Salem High School Class of 2023 on their graduation on Sunday. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 4220, 5390, 6480, 6490 and 6650. He said a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair while another was assisting District 2 in hauling rock for the work on the Department of Conservation roads. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson gave the District 2 report and said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2533 and 2550 while only grading would be done on county roads 2510, 2580, 2610 and 2613. He also said materials would be added to county road 2320 and brush was being cut on county road 2050. Both commissioners said work crews were getting the roads to the cemeteries ready for the Memorial Day weekend and Decoration Day. In the presiding commissioner report, Larson said the Republican Committee of Dent County interviewed persons who submitted their interest in becoming 2nd District Commissioner that included Gary Polk, Sean Collins and Jimmy Williams. The commission opened the only bid they received for performing a financial audit for the fiscal years 2021 and 2022 which will be done in 2024. The bid from Daniel Jones and Associates, CPA was for $27,800. The bid was approved by the commission. They also agreed to put out bids for chip and seal work for the county that will be due in by 10:00 the morning of June 15th. At the last meeting, the commission met with Matt Lloyd and Jeremy Cook from Caterpillar in regards to the issues the county is having with their Cat graders and how the issue is going to be resolved. The commissioners will not be meeting on Monday, May 29th for Memorial Day. They will be meeting on Thursday, June 1st but they will not meet again until Monday, June 12th due to vacations and other commitments. The next meeting will be this Thursday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met in closed session Thursday evening where they granted four student appeals. They also approved the employment of Jackson Mitchell as a high school teacher and assistant football coach, Tomi Black as a high school teacher, Jessika Gray as a middle school cheer coach, Amanda Walker as a middle school teacher, Lisa Mast as the Special Education Director, Leslie Jones as an upper elementary teacher, Alaena Tyler as an upper elementary teacher, Hayden Harris as the winter sports cheer coach, Kimberly Thompson as a high school teacher, Neal Myers as the varsity track coach, Rebekah Hayes as the varsity softball coach and middle school girls basketball, Will Hubbs as the varsity cross country coach, Hannah Brown as an upper elementary teacher, Deanna Atkinson as the varsity volleyball coach and Rockey Wade as the assistant middle school track coach. The board made a motion to approve Frances Tomnitz as an ECSE teacher contingent on their certification being achieved. The board approved employing a student summer assistant for the tech department.

An accident happened Sunday afternoon around 2:40 on Iron County Road 1 about a mile east of Viburnum. According to the highway patrol report, a 1993 Honda Fourtrax ATV being operated by 13-year-old male juvenile of Viburnum was traveling west when the ATV traveled off the left side of road in a curve causing it to strike an embankment, ejecting the teen. He was flown by Air Evac to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The ATV had minor damage and was removed from the scene by Blackies Towing. The report went on to state that the teen was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will meet this evening at the City Hall Council Chambers beginning at 6:00. After the consent agenda is approved, the board will discuss Resolution #20-2023 authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Huntington Bank for the lease of a 2022 Ford Terex TL48 bucket truck a lease of $2,512.09 per month for five years. This truck is replacing a 2010 Ford F-550 with over 59,000 miles with an unknown amount of hours. The board will discuss the ‘Welcome Home” bid for 803 West Glendale Street and then discuss Resolution #21-2023 authorizing the mayor to execute the agreement between R Conway Construction, LLC, the City of Salem and John Mooney, owner of the property at 803 West Glendale. The board will discuss the ‘Welcome Home” bid for 708 East Fourth Street and then discuss Resolution #22-2023 which allows the mayor to enter into an agreement between Mid Missouri Renovations, the City of Salem, and Jacquelene Halbrook, the owner of 708 East Fourth Street. The board will hear the first reading of Bill #3539 that would create an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign and execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Hogan’s Inc. for contact tank painting services to Well #2 and Well #4. The board will hear reports from city officials before going into closed session to discuss personnel. The meeting tonight is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the district administrative offices. The district was awarded a safety grant earlier in the month for $150,000 and they will be purchasing security cameras, some entrance doors, radios, cameras and GPS trackers for the school buses. Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed said the Tin Gym project and Locker Room renovation is all but completed and the HVAC work is about done. Reed said the legislative session ended May 12th and the bills that could have damaged public education failed to pass. There were several positives coming from the session including full funding for the $38,000 teacher salary, Career Ladder, and full transportation funding. Reed updated the board on the budget, including a prepayment of about $800,000 on the lease purchase for the tin gym, which will be fully prepaid by July 2024, barring unforeseen circumstances. The school principals gave their reports and the hi-light was that teachers at the upper elementary and William Lynch Elementary have participated in some very intense LETRS training on the science of teaching reading, which will continue next year. It was announced 75 kindergarten students will attend summer school and 104 upper elementary students will also attend summer school. The board approved an amended extra duty stipend schedule for coaches and extra duty teachers, the Career Ladder Plan, the Shield Solutions contract and the Healthy Dent County Partnership renewal. The board went on to approved the CSIP draft, a contract with BSN for sports uniforms, a contract with Show-Me Therapy Services for occupational and physical therapy, and a contract with First Student to provide Early Childhood Special Education transportation that is reimbursed. The board approved requests for proposals for bus maintenance and a bank depository agreement. The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the University of Missouri for $5,000 for a college advisor that would be part-time and work virtually, plus approved accepting a bid on the baseball field renovation for $52,301 of which $40,000 is made up of private donations plus $10,000 from the Baseball Booster Club with the remainder provided by the school. The board took no action on the two bids received on the construction trades building until architect John Odom can speak with the bidders as the bids were still too high. The board declared three buses as surplus property and they are requested bids for purchase. The board accepted the resignation of middle school teacher Tonda Tomnitz, high school teacher as well as track and cross county coach Derek Freeman, high school teacher and assistant baseball coach Bryson Barnes, high school teacher and volleyball coach Kristen Barnes, and elementary teacher and softball coach Erin Wilson. The board then went into closed session.

Later today, Chief of Police Joe Chase and Dent County Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley will be presenting a check for the sum of $14,394.00 to Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams to be placed into the general revenue fund for Dent County. The money is the result of efforts by law enforcement involving the seizure of cash possessed in connection with the arrest and prosecution of Timothy Bruce Dooley for possession and distribution of heroin and methamphetamine. On January 6, 2023 the defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. In addition to the criminal conviction, the seizure and distribution of personal property realized through the commission of a crime is authorized by Missouri law as a punishment and deterrent to persons that do so. This money will be used for the benefit of the local community.

At the Salem 138th graduation exercises held Sunday afternoon at the Salem High School Football Field, some senior awards were awarded presented by Assistant Principal Brenden Piatt. The first award was for the Senior Class Citizenship Award and it went to Easton May. The Best Female and Male Leader awards were then presented by Mr. Piatt. The Female Leader Award went to Katherine Jones and the Male Leader Award went to Easton May. One student this year from Salem was awarded the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy Award and that was Yadira Blanco. Congratulations to these students and the entire class of 2023!

An accident happened Wednesday evening at 6:45 in Phelps County on Highway D just south of Jerome. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Dodge Avenger being driven south by 42-year-old Priscilla Baltazar of Rolla crossed the center line and struck head-on a northbound 2017 Nissan Sentra being driven by 21-year-old Kami Dunlap of Dixon. Both drivers were flown to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment of serious injuries. Both vehicles were totaled in the accident. The Nissan was towed from the scene by C&C Towing and the Dodge was removed by D&D Towing. The report went on to state that Dunlap was wearing a seat restraint while Baltazar was not.

On Tuesday, May 30th from 5:00 until 8:00 at the Creative Arts Center, Barbara Johnson will teach a felted oven mitt class for those who are 13 years of age and older. There is a minimum of five people who need to sign up and no more than 20 will be allowed. Students will learn how to make handmade felt with vibrant colored wool fibers while learning the resist felting technique. The cost of the class is $35 and all supplies will be included. You can sign up online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and go to the Creative Arts Center link or email salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com. An additional $5.00 charge is added for tickets bought at the door.