Archive for 2023

The City of Salem’s Utility Committee will meet tonight at 6:15 at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory located at 1200 West Rolla Road. There will be a financial update and budget discussion at the meeting followed by a rate discussion, infrastructure update, manhole lining demonstration and question and comment period. The meeting of Salem’s Utility Commitee has been called by Committee Chair Alderman Kyle Williams and it is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department have generated reports that occurred on April 15th and 16th. On Saturday night, April 15th around 9:00, officers were dispatched to the area of Country Mart for a report of an attempted theft. It was reported that a male subject had attempted to gain access to an unauthorized location to obtain cash. The male subject was wearing a mask and acting suspicious. The male subject fled the store. Officers investigated the incident and later located the person. The male subject had changed clothes after fleeing and those clothes were located stashed behind the building. As a result, an 18-year-old Salem man was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending the application of warrants. On Sunday night, April 16th at approximately 7:00, officers were dispatched to the area of Warfel and Dent Streets for a report of a domestic disturbance. Officers learned that one party involved had fled the scene and the man was later located. During the investigation, the male subject involved was found to be in possession of Methamphetamine and Methamphetamine paraphernalia. As a result of the investigation, a 48-year-old Salem man was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have information regarding any investigation.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board heard from David Lytle of “A Light in the Woods Promotions” concerning the closing of the streets around the courthouse square for “Summerfest” on June 17th from 10:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. He also said they would be holding a similar event in October on October 28th with the same hours. The board approved the request to close the streets on both dates. The board approved the bid from Fletcher-Rinehardt for #2 U.G. Primary Wire that will be used for the new McDonalds construction project for $12,468.00. McDonalds will reimburse the city for the wire. The board approved the purchase of brass fittings for water line breaks from Core & Main for $16,850.52, approved the purchase of 30 LED lamps for street lights for $5,439.90, and approved the purchase of a 500-foot roll of 1/0 wire for $6,072.00. This wire will be used when services are upgraded or when new service is being installed. The bids for the lamps and wire both came from Fletcher-Rinehardt. The board approved Mayor Greg Parker signing the Financial Assistance Agreement and the General Terms and Conditions Agreement for the city to receive partial reimbursement of their five million dollar DNR grant for waste water treatment plant engineering services. The city will get a partial grant amount of $1,262,500 with the city’s 1% match coming to $12,500. The city will be receiving their grant reimbursement in pieces from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. In an emergency item added to the agenda, the board approved the purchase of a new Flygt return activated sludge pump from Vandevanter Engineering of Fenton for $29,623.00. This pump takes the settled sludge from the clarifier back to the ditch at the waste water treatment facility and comes with a five-year warranty. City of Salem Administrator Sally Burbridge is preparing budgets for the upcoming meetings. Mayor Greg Parker thanked Alderman Shawn Bolerjack for presenting the City Proclamation to KSMO General Manager Stan Podorski last week at the Salem Baseball Field Complex for his service to the community. He also extended his condolences to the family of Gary Brown on his passing. Parker said he considered him a mentor and friend. Public Works Director Mark Nash said asphalt work was done in Salem Tuesday on Water Street where 530 tons were used and the job was completed. He said the new bucket truck the city ordered almost two years ago was being delivered and he was going to have secure it as it can’t be used until it is checked out. It was also reported that a number of city committee meetings were going to be held in the next few weeks. The board then went into closed session.

Join women for a fun-filled girls’ nights out this Thursday for bird-watching basics at Echo Bluff. Ladies will take a short walk around the area to see if they can spot some birds. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars if they have them. Field guides will also be available. Classes are held at the bluff top from 6 to 8 p.m. All equipment is provided. Participation is limited to women 18 years or older and registration is required. To register, contact Connie at 573-751-1224 or connie.weber@dnr.mo.gov. Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence. For more information, call 573-751-5211.

The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District announced that 24 Dent County students were honored with first and second place awards as well as honorable mentions in the 32nd Annual Earth Day Poster, Trash and Graphic Art contest. This year’s contest theme was “Rescue Earth’s Resources: Become a First Responder for the Planet.” Winners from Dent County included Kindergarten students Ellie Milam from Oak Hill R-I who took Second Place Poster Art; while Levi Delmain from North Wood R-IV and Zolla Oller from Oak Hill R-1 received Honorable Mention in Poster Art. Students from 1st Grade who were winners were Rylan Wicklund from Oak Hill R-I who took Second Place in Poster Art while Jackson Bibbs and Bristol Hayes from North Wood R-IV as well as Ashton Poor from Oak Hill R-1 received Honorable Mention for Poster Art. Second graders who were honored were Riley Rector from Northwood R-IV who took 2nd Place in Poster Art while Jessa Barnes and Randi-Lynne Elliot from Northwood R-IV as well as Ava England from Oak Hill R-1 received Honorable Mention in Poster Art. Two third graders from Dent County were honored as Raylan Pace from North Wood R-IV captured Second Place in Poster Art while Bristol Williams from Oak Hill R-I received Honorable Mention in Poster Art. In the fourth grade, students Brantley Corkell and Orion Massengale from Northwoord R-IV both received Honorable Mention for Poster Art. Four fifth graders from Northwood R-IV received honors and they included Liam Moore who won First Place in Trash Art while Anna Cato and Aspen Norris each received Honorable Mention in Trash Art. Weston Tackett received Honorable Mention for Poster Art. Riley Combs, a 6th Grade student from North Wood R-IV captured First Place in the Poster Art category. Two seventh graders from the Salem R-80 Middle School were honored in the contest as Olivia Hardin-Metcalf from the Salem R-80 Middle School won First Place in Trash Art; while Kylee Smith received Honorable Mention for Trash Art. Kiara Kelley, a 7th Grader from Oak Hill R-I, received Honorable Mention for her Poster Art submission. An eighth grade srtudent from Oak Hill R-1, Jhonine Maralit, captured First Place in the Poster Art category. Dent County students were under the direction of teachers Angela Dingess from the Salem R-80 Middle School and Rachel Privett for North Wood R-IV and Oak Hill R-I. The contest required participants to re-purpose trash into three-dimensional pieces of art or create posters (hand drawn or graphically designed), based on the year’s theme. There were 573 entries from 15 schools in the district and one home school group. The contest was open to students from kindergarten through the 12th grade, home school, college and university students who reside or attend school in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties.

An accident happened in Dent County Sunday night at 8:55 on Dent County Road 5610 about three miles west of Bunker. According to the highway patrol report, 18-year-old Aaron Pogue of Ellington, was driving an unknown year Yamaha Grizzly 450 when he attempted to turn around in a roadway. The Yamaha went off the road and down an embankment. Pogue got pinned underneath the Yamaha and suffered serious injuries. He was airlifted by Phelps Air to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. Pogue was not wearing protective safety equipment at the time of the accident. The Yamaha was totaled and will be removed by the owner.

The City of Salem Public Water Supply Annual Water Quality Report has been released and there were no violations that occurred for the calendar year 2022. All levels of contaminants found in the water were lower than required by government regulations. If you would like to see the City of Salem Annual Water Quality Report, a copy can be found at the City of Salem Administration Building at 4th and Iron Streets, at the Salem Water Department Office or at the KSMO Radio studios.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting this evening at City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington. In the hearing of persons, David Lytle of Light in the Woods Promotions will be asking the aldermen about the closing of streets around the courthouse square for the annual Summerfest on June 17th from 10:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. The board will review bids on some #2 U.G. primary wire, brass fittings for water lines, LED street lighting, and wire for electrical upgrades and services. City Treasurer Stacey Houston reports that DNR has approved the engineering portion of the Waste Water Improvement Phase 2 project the city has received a Five Million Dollars grant on. Once the mayor signs the Financial Assistance Agreement, the city will be able to submit expense reimbursements for the engineering expenses. The board will then hear reports from various city officials. The board may then vote to go into closed session before adjourning. The meeting tonight will be open to the public.

An accident happened Friday afternoon in Osage County on Highway 89 about a tenth of a mile from Big Oak Lane that left a man from Licking with serious injuries. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Mack Truck driven by 36-year-old John Godi of Licking, traveled off the right side of the roadway, went down an embankment and the truck overturned onto its side. Godi suffered serious injuries and was taken by an ambulance to the University Hospital in Columbia. Godi was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Mack Truck sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Kendall’s Towing from Jefferson City.

Three people were injured in a one vehicle accident Thursday night just before 10:20 in Dent County on Highway FF, about five miles west of Highway 68. According to the highway patrol report, a 1999 Toyota 4-Runner was being driven eastbound by 23-year-old Tomhi Jones of Lonedale, when she fell asleep causing the Toyota to run off the right side of the road. Jones then overcorrected and the Toyota ran off the left side of the road and hit several trees. Jones, and two passengers, 28-year-old Michael Hobson of Labadie, and 22-year-old Patrick Smith of Salem, all suffered minor injuries with

Jones and Smith being taken by an EMS to the Salem Memorial Hospital. Hobson was taken to the Salem Memorial Hospital by a private vehicle. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The driver and both passengers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

The Spring Residential Cleanup weeks begin this week through Friday, May 12th and again next week, May 15th through the 19th on your regular trash pickup date. Have all the items you want picked up on the curbside the night before your normally scheduled trash day. Don’t forget, these items CANNOT be picked up during the Spring Residential Cleanup and they include yard waste, batteries of any kind, tires, motor oil, chemicals or solvents; paint, appliances or non-compactable items such as concrete, tree stumps, steel, construction debris and more. If you have questions about what you want to put out, call 1-800-926-3953 or 1-417-741-7714.

The Spring Creek Artisans’ will hold their annual Springfest this Saturday at the Salem Creative Arts Center behind the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center at 202 South Main. The event begins at 9:00 in the morning and will last until 3:00 in the afternoon. You will find arts, crafts, baked goods, demonstrations and whole bunch of fun! This year, they are offering a FREE Mother’s Day gift for all moms!!! Everyone is welcome to attend.

Come and create your own Fakemon or replicate an existing Pokemon as Isablla Knaack can show you how to bring your character to life. In this class, you will create a sketch and a painted version of your Pokemon inspired characters. The class will be held this Friday from 4:00 until 6:00 and the cost of the class is $15 which includes all supplies. There must be a minimum of two people and no more than 15 who can take the class. To sign up, go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center.