Archive for 2024

The Salem Missouri Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the Old Auditorium. After approving the agenda and the consent agenda, the board approved the Second Street Property Bid Approval, and the Welcome Home Bid Approval for 102 S. Washington. Alderwoman Sisco abstained from the Welcome Home Bid Approval vote. The Board approved the bid for Westport Pools for $25,000 to replace the pool media. During new and Miscellaneous Business, the board approved Assistant City Clerk Wanda Suhr as the employer delegate at the LAGERS Annual Meeting at Lake Ozark, in City Administrator Sally Burbridge’s place. During the Community Support Funding discussion, The Board heard requests from SACBA, who requested $5,000 for beautification, Sleep in Heavenly Peace requesting $4,500 for lumbar, tools and supplies, and the Dent County Extension office who requested $8,200 to be used to support the 4-H Program. All three requests were unanimously approved. The Board approved the request for destruction of documents per state and local record retention schedules. Sally presented a request to fund a City of Salem sponsored Holiday Lighting contest for City Utility Customers, in lieu of Light Up The Park. Winners of this contest will receive credits on their Utilities bill, the money for which will be coming out of Community Support Funding. The Christmas Lighting Contest was approved. The Board approved a motion for the sewer adjustment policy for water leaks to include no more than three months. Resolutions 23-2024 and 24-2024, requesting a reduction on a Welcome Home Contractor’s bid, were approved, with Alderwoman Sisco abstaining from both votes. The CDBG Grant Agreement in the amount of $790,000 to fund Wastewater Treatment Facility upgrades was also approved. The Board then approved the invoice from Trumpia, the company that has provided the platform for community wide text alert services, in the amount of $6,000.00. During City Officials Reports, Finance Director, Stacy Houston gave an update on City Financials. Public Works Director, Steve Paine gave his report on City Utilities. Mayor Greg Parker wanted to remind citizens that the citywide yard sale will be held Saturday October 5th, and the dates for the citywide clean up will be October 21-25. Alderwoman Sisco gave an update on the Salem, Mo Fireworks Committee, as well as the upcoming sign ups and tryouts for the Boys traveling basketball team which will be held on October 14th at the Upper Elementary. With no other reports, or discussions, the meeting adjourned to closed session. 

The University of Missouri’s Wurdack Extension and Education Center 2024 Field Day, Friday, October 4th, will focus on cattle management strategies, including reproduction, feed and forage. Gatlin Bunton, director of MU Wurdack Center, a 1,200-acre research and demonstration farm on the Meramec River in the northeastern Ozarks, said that cattle and forage management should be top of mind for any beef producer in Missouri. He went on to note that this field day will allow participants to gain new perspectives on reproductive strategies in beef cattle and a better understanding of forage options beyond tall fescue. MU Extension experts are among the speakers on the tour. The field day begins at 9:30 and wraps up with a free lunch at noon. Topics and speakers will include cattle reproduction and artificial insemination techniques by Cecilia Constantino Rocha, assistant research professor, reproductive management in replacement heifers presented by Thiago Martins, state extension beef reproduction specialist, winter annual forage options by Chrisee Brandl, field specialist in livestock.  grain sorghum as a winter-feeding strategy will be explained by Rusty Lee, field specialist in agronomy. Other topics and presenters include beef management on warm-season grass pastures by Eric Meusch, field specialist in livestock, economics of conversion to native warm-season grass explained by Rachel Hopkins, field specialist in ag business and assessing cool-season grass pastures for renovation by Ellen Herring, research specialist. The MU Wurdack Extension and Education Center is at 164 Bales Road, Cook Station. For more information, visit extension.missouri.edu.

An accident occurred in Phelps County Sunday afternoon at 4:43 on I44 at the 174 Mile Marker. According to the Highway Patrol report an eastbound 2008 Ford Explorer, operated by 31-year-old Dustin Hardcastle of Lebanon, Missouri, failed to confirm that the passing lane was clear before merging and struck a 2019 Dodge Caravan. The Dodge was operated by 46-year-old Cecilia Adams of Robertsville, Missouri. Four juveniles in the Dodge ranging in age from 9 to 17 years old suffered moderate injuries and were transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. Adams suffered minor injuries and was also taken to Phelps Health by ambulance. The report stated that all occupants of the two vehicles were wearing safety restraints. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by D & D Towing. The Dodge had moderated damage and was towed by C & C Towing.

An accident occurred in Texas County Monday morning at 7:50 on Highway 63 five miles north of Houston. According to the Highway Patrol report a northbound 2022 Ford Edge, driven by 49-year-old Jeramy Lee of Bucyrus, hydroplaned causing the Ford to travel off the left side of the roadway where it overturned. Lee suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Texas County Memorial Hospital by Texas County Ambulance. The report stated that she was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Jay’s Towing. The Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Texas County Sheriff’s Department and the Houston Rural Fire Department.

An accident occurred in Dent County Sunday afternoon at 5:10 on Highway 19 seven miles south of Salem. According to the Highway Patrol report a northbound 2014 Ford Fusion, driven by a 17-year-old female juvenile, swerved to avoid an animal in the roadway, traveled off the right side of the roadway and returned. The juvenile then overcorrected, traveled off the right side of the roadway again, and overturned. The driver suffered minor injuries and was transported by Salem Ambulance to Salem Memorial District Hospital. The report stated that the driver was wearing a safety restraint. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by American Automotive and Towing. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and the Dent County Fire Department.

MoDOT has announced that Route 60 in Butler, Carter, Shannon, Howell, Texas, and Wright Counties will be reduced to one lane for striping operations through September 30. The affected area extends from Route 67 in Butler County to the Wright County line. This will be a moving operation with intermittent lane restrictions. 

Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) is hosting a tree planting event Saturday morning at 10:00 at Big Spring to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Missouri’s first state parks. Volunteers are invited to help plant 100 native trees in the area. The event commemorates the 1924 purchase of Big Spring, which became Missouri’s first state park and the first public recreational land in the Current River watershed. Participants should wear sturdy footwear and bring work gloves, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen. ONSR will provide shovels and planting supplies. Volunteers will receive a free one-day entrance coupon to a federal recreation site, an ONSR Volunteer t-shirt, and vintage postcards. The Ozark Riverways Foundation will provide lunch and musical entertainment. For more information, call (573) 323-4236 or visit www.nps.gov/ozar.