Archive for 2024

This Saturday at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center on Highway 19 at the exhibit called “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” there will be a panel presentation about the area on forestry, farming and tourism beginning at 10:00 called “In What Ways do we use our Land?” Also available for sale at the exhibit will be Salem Walking Tour Books. The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday and there is no charge to visit the exhibit. The “Crossroads” exhibit is part of the “Museum on Main Street,” a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide. Support for the “Museum on Main Street” exhibit has been provided by the United States Congress.

The Salem Middle School students did well in the Middle School Contest for solos and ensembles at Camdenton held last Saturday. Receiving a #1 exemplary rating for a vocal solo were 8th graders Autumn Culp, Cullen Edwards, Brooklyn Letchworth, Mayrin Ramirez-Briceno, Jane Roberts and Phoebe Taylor. Seventh graders that received a #1 rating were Kelsey Lansing and Kavan Toman; and 6th graders receiving the #1 rating were Emmerson Dillon, Morrison Gregg and Grace Taylor. Ensembles who received a #1 exemplary rating were the 6th grade girls ensemble made up of Emmerson Dillon, Grace Taylor, Emmalee Camden, Serenity Drury, Izarie Torres, Eva Schlag and Kimberly Sanchez. Two 7th grade ensembles were given a #1 rating. The girls ensemble was made up of Clara Ball, Madison Mercer and Hannah Prugh; and the boys ensemble was comprised of Chase Dahms, Caleb Ouzts and Kavan Toman. There was one 7th grade girls duet that received the #1 rating and that was Kelsey Lansing and Katlyn Mendenhall. Three 8th grade girl ensembles were honored with a #1 rating. One ensemble was made up of Aleaha Hofer, Deanna Moore and Kylee Smith. Another was comprised of Autumn Culp, Jane Roberts, Brooklyn Letchworth, Phoebe Taylor and Mayrin Ramirez- Briceno. The third 8th grade ensemble was made up of Calyssa Parks, Ellie Hogan, Emma Schlag, Addyson Summers, Gracie Mendenhall and Grace Kerr. Other middle school students received a #2 outstanding rating included one 8th grade soloist, Aleaha Hofer, and five 7th grade soloists. They were Kristal Bluhm, Charlotte Granowski, Hannah Prugh, Alice Salyer and Jacen Triplett. Also receiving a #2 rating were the 7th grade girls ensemble made up of Sophia Decker, Brinkley Tripp, Alice Salyer and Aubrey Widner; and the 8th grade boys ensemble comprised of Bentley Loughridge, Aiden Summers, Maison Sanders, Cullen Edwards and Alex Woodward. Receiving a #3 rating was the 7th grade girls ensemble that was made up of Grace Ballard, Charlotte Granowski and Kaylin Jackson. Congratulations to all of the students on their achievement!

An accident happened Tuesday morning just before 6:00 in Phelps County on Interstate 44 westbound at the 182 mile-marker about two miles west of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2014 Dodge Ram 3500 being driven by 47-year-old Bryon Poe of Rolla, and a 2023 Peterbilt being driven by 57-year-old Timothy Clark of Springfield, were both traveling westbound when they entered a construction zone. Concrete dust in the air obstructed the vision of both drivers. The Peterbilt slowed because of the limited vision and the towed unit was struck from behind by the Dodge Ram. Poe suffered moderate injuries and was taken by Phelps Health ambulance to the Phelps Health hospital. Clark received minor injuries but chose to seek his own treatment. The Dodge was totaled and removed from the scene by D&D Towing. The Peterbilt had minor damage and was able to be driven from the scene. The report went on to state that both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 3:40 in Iron County at Route Y and Highway 49. According to the highway patrol report, a 2016 IC Bus being driven by 41-year-old Lynnita Asher of Boss, was stopped at a stop sign when she was struck from behind by a 2008 Ford Taurus being driven by 18-year-old Chassitty Williams of Fort Clinton, Ohio. A passenger in the Taurus, 20-year-old Jasmine Frost, from the state of Colorado, suffered minor injuries and was taken by EMS to the Salem Memorial Hospital for treatment. The Ford sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Abney’s Towing. The bus was able to be driven from the scene. Williams and Asher were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident while Frost was not using a seat restraint.

Danielle Norris will be leading a “Sign & Wine Spring Front Porch Welcome Sign” workshop this Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:30. They will supply the stencils and supplies. You can bring your own board which needs to be eight inches by 34 inches, or buy one from the Creative Arts Center. You can hand letter it yourself, or add pre-cut vinyl lettering. Then for the summer class, you can bring the sign back and paint your Summer sign on the back. This class is ages 12 and older. If you are a new participant and need a sign, the cost is $35 per person. If you bring your own board, the cost is $20. Interested persons can sign up under “Programs” at the SACBA website for activities at the Creative Arts Center.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting at the Salem Community Center @The Armory on Tuesday evening. After approval of the consent agenda, the board certified the election results from the April 2nd Municipal Election and approved Resolution 9-2024 approving those results. The oath of office was then given to Mayor Greg Parker, East Ward Alderwoman Kala Sisco, and West Ward Alderwoman Catherine Dent by Assistant City Clerk Wanda Suhr. The board then approved East Ward Alderman Shawn Bolerjack as President of the Board of Aldermen. Mayor Parker made committee appointments before four citizens gave public comments. The board approved a bid from J.C.I. for $11,812.00 for a 25 HP motor for the aeration in the North Digester. The board approved rejecting bids for a “Welcome Home” project where bids were received more than the funds available. The board also approved the rejection of the previously approved bid from Donald Maggi Inc. for the Downtown Renovation Project after it was determined that the Request for Bid was not properly advertised. This project is currently being re-bid with bid openings scheduled for May 2nd. The board approved Bill #3604 an ordinance amending the amounts of utility deposits for the City of Salem to total $300 and lowered to $200 with a letter of good standing. Also approved was Bill #3605, an ordinance to amend the provisions for the delivery of utility bills and statements for the City of Salem, as well as Bill #3606, which would allow the mayor to enter into a power supply and administration agreement among the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission DBA Missouri Electric Commission. The board approved Bill #3608 authorizing the issuance of a sewerage system revenue bond, series 2024, from Town and Country Bank for $400,000. After the reports of city officials, the board went into closed session to discuss contracts and pending litigation.

Time is running out if you need to order your trees and shrubs for your landscape. The Missouri Department of Conservation says to “Go native” with tree and shrub seedlings from the Missouri from the George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking. Native trees and shrubs can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of private property. The George O. White State Forest Nursery offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for sale for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes. The nursery provides mainly one-year-old, bare-root seedlings with sizes varying by species. Seedlings varieties include: pine, bald cypress, cottonwood, black walnut, hickory, oak, pecan, persimmon, river birch, maple, willow, sycamore, blackberry, buttonbush, hazelnut, redbud, ninebark, spicebush, elderberry, sumac, wild plum, witch hazel, and others. Seedlings are available in bundles of 10 or increments of 25 per species. Prices range from 34 cents to $1 per seedling. Sales tax of 6.1 percent will be added to orders unless tax exempt. There is an $9 handling charge for each order. Receive a 15% discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Heritage Card, Permit Card, or Conservation ID Number. The nursery grows millions of seedlings each year, but some species are very popular and sell out quickly and some seedlings occasionally succumb to harsh weather or hungry wildlife, despite the nursery staff’s best efforts. Even if a species is listed as “sold out,” customers can still place an order for those seedlings because other orders may get canceled, freeing up inventory. Customers won’t be charged for seedlings unless they are available to ship. Due to shipping costs tripling from past years, the nursery must now charge shipping fees for orders being shipped to Missouri addresses. This is the first time in the nursery’s 80-plus-year history that they have had to do this. Orders will be processed through April 15th so order now! Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery near Licking through May. You can learn more and place orders using at MDC regional offices and nature centers, or by calling the State Forest Nursery at 573-674-3229.

There will be a Toothbrush Rug Beginner Class Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 with Amy Terrill. Join them for a fun rug-making, hands-on workshop. Learn an easy technique to make a rug with torn strips of fabric and a modified toothbrush. These rugs are quick to make and require no sewing. In this class, you’ll learn how to begin a toothbrush rug or table runner. You will leave class with a small rug that you can either use as a trivet or continue to build at home as large as you want it to be! All projects are machine washable, dry-able and last for years! No previous experience or skills necessary. The cost of of the class is $20 which includes all the supplies. The course is for those age 18 and above. A minimum of two people need to sign up and they will max out at 10. Register online at the SACBA website. Under programs, find the Creative Arts Center, and registrations are on a first come, first served basis.