Archive for 2024

An accident happened in Phelps County Monday morning around 7:35 on Phelps County Road 4450 near Highway 68. according to the highway patrol report, a 1992 Ford Ranger driven northbound by a 17-year-old male juvenile of Salem, crossed the center of the roadway when the juvenile overcorrected and the Ford collided with a 2016 Chevy Silverado being driven southbound by 35-year-old Timothy Mosley of Salem. Mosley and a passenger in the Silverado, 25-year-old Douglas Harmon of Steelville, suffered minor injuries and were transported by the Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health. The juvenile also suffered minor injuries and declined treatment. The Chevy Silverado was totaled and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Ford Ranger sustained extensive damage and was taken from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. Mosley and Harmon were wearing seat restraints while the juvenile was not.

The Salem Board of Alderman will be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. After they approve the consent agenda, the board will canvass the certification of the election results from the April 2nd Municipal Election and Resolution 9-2024 approving those results. The oath of office will be given to the newly elected officials before their is a reorganization of the Board of Aldermen. Mayor Parker will then make committee appointments before public comments are heard. The board will hear bids for a 25 HP motor for the aeration in the North Digester before rejecting bids for a “Welcome Home” project and the Downtown Renovation Project. The board will hear the second readings of Bill #3604 which would create an ordinance amending the amounts of utility deposits for the City of Salem; Bill #3605 that would amend the provisions for the delivery of utility bills and statements for the City of Salem, and Bill #3606 that 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. In the reading of bills for the first and second time, the board will hear Bill #3608 authorizing the issuance of a sewerage system revenue bond, series 2024, of the City of Salem prescribing the form and details of said bond, and the covenants and agreements to provide for the payment and security thereof. After the reports of city officials, the board will go into closed session to discuss contrcts and pending litigation. The meeting tonight is open to the public.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 3,721 birds over the past youth weekend, April 6th and 7th. The top harvest counties were Gasconade with 92 birds harvested, Osage with 90, and Franklin with 89. In our area, Texas County youth harvested 57 adult gobblers, 21 juvenile gobblers and bearded hens for 79 total turkeys; Phelps County recorded 31 adult gobblers, eleven juvenile gobblers and two bearded hens for 44 birds taken; Dent County had 32 adult gobblers and eight juvenile gobblers taken for a total of 40 birds harvested; Crawford County youth took 17 adult gobblers, 19 juvenile gobblers and one bearded hen for a total of 28 birds harvested while both Shannon and Reynolds counties had 16 turkeys harvested. For more information on this season’s harvest totals, visit the MDC website. Young hunters checked 2,550 birds during the 2023 spring youth weekend. The regular spring turkey season runs April 15 through May 5.

The City of Salem has announced with Alderman Williams stepping down from his West Ward Alderman seat this evening, Mayor Parker has cancelled the April 10th Utility Committee Meeting until a new committee chair is named and that chairperson can work with the committee to set dates and times for the future meetings.

Century farms and ranches have shaped our nation and state. The Missouri Century Farm Program celebrates the lasting contributions farmers and ranchers have made to our country’s and state’s heritage. In 1976, the Centennial Farm project was initiated in Missouri, awarding certificates to persons owning farms that had been in the same family for 100 years or more. Ten years later, the University of Missouri Extension and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources created the annual Century Farm program and recognition. Since the program began in 1976, more than 8,000 Missouri farms have received the Century Farm designation. To have a farm be designated as a Missouri Century Farm, the same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years or more as of December 31, 2024; the line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings and nephews and nieces, including through marriage or adoption; and the present farm shall consist of no less than 40 acres of the original land and shall make a financial contribution to the overall farm income. The application period is open until May 1st and you can apply through an online application process. A fee of $140 is required to cover processing costs, a certificate, a booklet and one two-sided, 2-foot by 2-foot metal sign for each approved farm. No late applications will be accepted. To apply, go to extension.missouri.edu/programs/century-farms.

Today, the moon, earth, and sun will align in a total solar eclipse that will pass across a large portion of the United States, including Missouri and the Mark Twain National Forest. The eclipse will be an amazing event, especially in the path of totality. In the Salem Ranger District, the best viewing will be from the Loggers Lake Recreation Area in Shannon County and the Sutton Bluff Recreation Area east of Bunker. There are many places from which to view the 2024 eclipse on the Forest; but please keep safety and courtesy in mind. The Salem Ranger District expect crowds in and around the path of totality, including on the area’s roadways so drive slowly and be alert. If you are going to want to watch the eclipse, protect your eyesight! The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses”. Make sure they are compliant with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard (should be marked on the glasses). If you are going to go to a campsite to view the eclipse, be patient and courteous. Arrive early and leave late. Give yourself lots of time to get to the location. Bring your own supplies and make sure you have enough snacks and water for your entire stay. Don’t park vehicles in tall grass if it is dry outside as hot engines and exhaust can cause fires in dry grass. Also, if you do light a campfire, make sure it is put completely out before you leave. For the last eclipse, most of the traffic happened after the eclipse, so hanging around a while might save you from getting stuck in any traffic jams. The time for the total eclipse in these two areas will be near 1:55 in this afternoon. The maximum time of the total eclipse lasts for four minutes and 12 seconds if you are in the center of the path, but the Salem Ranger District is not in the center of the path. The total eclipse will be much shorter in this area as the Salem Ranger District is on the northern edge of the path.

An accident happened Sunday around 12:00 noon in Shannon County on Route KK about eight miles south of Jadwin. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Ford driven westbound by 29-year-old James Newkirk of Jadwin, traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a road sign and then overturned. Newkirk suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to the Salem Memorial Hospital. He was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, would like the public to be aware that the upcoming solar eclipse may affect driver examination skills testing times. The solar eclipse in Missouri is expected to begin at approximately 12:35 in the afternoon today and reach a total eclipse at 1:55 in most areas. The eclipse will be complete and end at approximately 3:14 this afternoon. Some areas of Missouri will experience a total solar eclipse, while all areas of the state will experience a partial eclipse. It is expected that interest in the solar eclipse will increase both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Drivers who wish to take a skills test today should be aware that driver examination stations may suspend testing during the solar eclipse in the interest of safety. Driver examination stations will post signs at locations today announcing any temporary suspension of testing. Applicants who currently have a scheduled appointment during the eclipse will be contacted and given the opportunity to reschedule.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meeting at 6:00 tomorrow at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call, the board will approve the consent agenda which includes the financial reports, minutes and the budget review. The board will review the scheduled events on the calendar, discuss the monthly reimbursement report and talk about old business including lawn care service, the tower lease information, bids for repair of water damage, hear a repeater install update, and address a bylaws review. In new business the board will discuss the repair and sealing of the parking lot and discuss a handicap ramp. After Chief Floyd gives his report, the board will set the date for the next meeting. Before adjournment the board will go into closed session to discuss personnel. The meeting will then be adjourned. The meeting Tuesday of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office released some reports for the end of March and beginning of April. On Saturday, March 30th, deputies responded to the 500 block of Dent County Road 5070 for a report of property damage. During the course of the investigation, a 50-year-old Salem man was arrested on an outstanding warrant. The victim did not wish to pursue charges against the suspect for the damage. The next day, Sunday, March 31st, a deputy responded to the 800 block of Dent County Road 6400 for a reported theft and property damage. The victim, a 39-year-old Salem man, advised deputies several known subjects had stolen an ATV from him and also had damaged his truck. The investigation is ongoing. On Monday, April 1st, a deputy responded to the 1600 block of Dent County Road 2210 for a reported domestic assault. During the course of the investigation, a 22-year-old Salem man was arrested for assaulting a 20-year-old Rolla woman. The suspect was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was held pending formal charges. The next day, Tuesday, April 2nd, a deputy responded to the 300 block of East First St. for a report of a theft. The victim, a 33-year-old Salem man, advised deputies that several subjects had broken into his storage locker at Double H Storage on Highway 72 and had stolen numerous items. The investigation is pending. If anyone has any information regarding any investigation, call the Dent County Sheriff’s office at 573-729-3241.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In attendance was Lancer Blair who is running for the 120th District seat on the Republican ticket and was going to speak at the Lincoln Days in Crawford and Dent Counties. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5110, 5600 and 6580. He also said brush would be cut on county roads 6010 and 6585 while some miscellaneous signs will be put up on a couple roads. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk stated rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3020 and 4330 while only grading was going to be done on county roads 3030 and 3050. He also said rock would be added to county roads 4340 and 4040. Polk indicated brush was going to be cut on county road 4030. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the county has formed an opioid committee to review funding requests. The committee will recommend to the MRPC the organizations who should receive the funds and the MRPC will then send those requests to the county commission for their approval. The committee is made up of Rick Letchworth, Leigh Ann Price, James Weber, Jeff Dotson and a representative from Compass Health with Larson being an ex-officio non-voting member. The commission appointed Blythe Kelly and Sean Oliver to the Tourism Committee. Larson received the contract for the additional bathroom in the courthouse and he signed the contract. The project was not bid out since it was under the bid threshold requirement. Thomas Excavating will be starting on the project in 2 weeks. County Clerk Angie Curley reported 23.74% of the registered voters voted in the April election. She indicated she would be attending the MAC Legislative Day and MAC Board meeting next Monday and Tuesday. Curley presented an update on the Standing Rock Bridge received from MoDOT Engineer Preston Kramer. MoDOT has shifted the location of where they were going to place the bridge, and after acquiring additional right-of-way, have decided to leave the current Highway 19 bridge open to traffic while the contractor builds half of the new bridge off to the side of the old bridge. Once half of the new bridge is constructed and the roadway tie-ins are in place, they will transfer traffic to the new bridge. As this will only be half of a bridge, they will install traffic signals to direct one direction of traffic over the bridge at a time. During this phase, MoDOT will demolish the existing bridge and build the second half of the new bridge. This way, traffic on Highway 19 will be open through the duration of the construction. Corky Stack with AEA Engineering was in and brought in an invoice for Alexander Construction, LLC for $18,000. To date the exterior courthouse project totals $1,716,128.51, with the balance to finish, including retainage being $10,005.19. Gary Polk moved to buy a 2014 Ram 2500 4WD Crew Cab for $14,950 for the Road and Bridge Department and it was approved 3-0. There will be no commission meeting Monday so the next meeting will be Thursday at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred in Phelps County Wednesday night at 8:45 on Highway 63 at Phelps County Road 7160. According to the highway patrol report, a southbound 2010 Subaru Impreza, operated by 64-year-old Kathy Dabbs of Lenox, struck a cow in the roadway. A southbound 2003 Toyota Carolla, operated by 64-year-old Paul Foster of Houston, failed to avoid the cow, striking it and the Subaru. A passenger in the Toyota, 52-year-old Angela Stewart of O’Fallon, suffered serious injuries and was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. Dabbs suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Phelps Health Hospital by Phelps Health Ambulance. According to the report Stewart was not wearing a safety restraint, while Dabbs and Foster were. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by D & D Towing.

The Salem Community Garden behind the Salem United Methodist Church will open this Saturday at 9:00. This will mark the beginning of gardening at the garden. If you are interested in a plot, contact Master Gardener Charlie Grimm at 573-368-9902 and he will assign you one. You can get more than one plot, but there will be a slight charge for each additional plot. Water and tools are provided. Beginning April 11th, there will be special presentations at the Community Garden and the first presentation will be on Companion Gardening. Those presentations are open to the public, regardless if you have a plot or not. For more information about the garden or the presentations, call Master Gardener Charlie Grimm or the Dent County Extension at 729-3196.