Archive for 2024

Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer wants to remind everyone your annual assessment forms that list your personal and business property for 2023 are due on Friday, March 1st. Those forms MUST be in the Dent County Assessor’s Office by that day or postmarked that day to avoid paying a penalty. You may drop off your assessment list at the assessor’s office at the courthouse and they are open from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, weekdays. There is also a drop box on the front lawn of the courthouse for your convenience if you can’t make it by until after hours. You can also mail in your assessment list forms but make sure you have the postal clerk postmark your envelope. You can also e-file your assessment list form online. Just follow the instructions on the assessment form you received in the mail. If you have lost your assessment list form or never received one, or you are new to the area, additional blank forms are available at the Dent County Assessor’s Office in the Dent County Courthouse. The penalty for not getting in your assessment form on time is determined at $10 per every $1,000 of assessed valuation with a maximum penalty of $100 if you have assessed valuation of $10,000 or more. A quick reminder for those wanting to file their form online, you can only e-file your assessment list form until April 30th. If you have any questions or need assistance with the online form, call Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer at the Dent County Courthouse at 729-6010 or stop by during regular business hours at the corner of Highway 19 and 4th Street in downtown Salem.

The City of Salem will be temporarily closing Rolla Road TOMORROW from 8:30 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon between North MacArthur Avenue and Main Street (or Highway 19,) in order to replace a storm water culvert that goes under the roadway. Local traffic will have access off of Rolla Road to Henderson, Jackson and Washington Streets, but will not be able to go through to MacArthur (J Highway) during these hours. Large trucks that normally use this section of Rolla Road, should detour to Highway 32/72 if they are coming south on Highway 72 or south on Highway 19. Signs and Barriers will be in place.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting Thursday evening at 5:30 at the district administrative offices. After approval of the consent agenda, the board will hear the superintendents report followed by reports by the principals of William Lynch Elementary, the Upper Elementary, the Salem Middle School, and Salem Senior High School. Clay Moody will present a report to the board on activities and athletics to be followed by a report on special education, instructional coaches and technology. In new business the board will approve the 2024-2025 calendar, the board will discuss policy GCBA interpretation, approve the contract with HTK for the FEMA building, set the March Board meeting date, and hear the first reading of board policy updates. The board will hear resignations, if there are any, before moving into executive session. The meeting Thursday evening will be open to the public.

The Salem Board of Alderman will hold a regular meeting this evening at Salem Community Center@The Armory starting at 6:00. After the consent agenda, the board will hear a 9-1-1 presentation from Scott Cason before hearing about the 2023 Fiscal Year Audit from auditor Krista Deluca. In new business, the board will discuss Resolution #4-2024 authorizing the mayor to execute a lease agreement with Pitney Bowes for postal machine services. Alderman Shawn Bolerjack requested a public comment policy be discussed and adopted by the board to set the parameters of public comments addressed at the board. The board will hear the first readings of eleven bills that deal with the adoption of a new chapter to the Salem City Code and that will Chapter 240.010 called the Clean Air Ordinance. The next ten bills will refer to the new chapter and discuss the details associated with the bills. The board will also hear the reading of six other bills ranging from amending the Utility Committee definition, changing the way utility deposits on property will be calculated, two bill on amending the housing violation codes of the City of Salem, and an ordinance that amends the annual budget of the City of Salem for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1st, 2023. Those budget adjustments show an increase in revenues of $889,076, an increase in expenditures of $622,720 and an increase in intergovernmental transfers of $41,090. The board will then hear reports from city officials before the board goes into closed session to discuss personnel, contracts and litigation. The meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen is open to the public.

Today is Lincoln’s Birthday and many state and local offices as well as courts will be closed including the Dent County Courthouse. The banks and postal services will be open today.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a report for the week starting Friday, February 2nd and ending Thursday, February 8th. On the 2nd, deputies conducted a traffic stop at intersection of Highway 72 & Route J. During the course of the stop, the operator of the vehicle who was a 47-year-old Salem woman, was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. She was taken into custody without incident and charges are pending. On Monday, February 5th, deputies responded to the 4200 block of Dent County Road 6220 for a report of a cow that had been shot. The owner of the animal, a 57-year-old Salem man, advised someone had shot the cow in the head while it was in his field. Possible suspect information was provided by the man and the investigation is ongoing. On Wednesday, February 7th, deputies responded to the 400 block of Route H for a reported domestic assault. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that a physicalassault occurred between two family members. Neither party wished to pursue charges against the other and they were dispersed to separate locations. The deputies explained Ex-Parte procedures to the parties involved. On Thursday, February 8th, a deputy responded to the Salem Memorial Hospital for a report of a dog bite. The victim, a 21-year-old Jadwin woman, advised she had been bit on the arm by a known dog. Information was taken from the victim for the report and the dog was placed on mandatory quarantine. That same day, a deputy took a report for a property damage that occurred in the 9400 block of Route H. The victim, a 28-year-old Salem man, advised the deputy that a woman caused damage to the door of his residence. The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at (537) 729-3241.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meeting at 6:00 tomorrow evening at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call, the board will go into closed session to discuss personnel, policies and procedures before they 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 the tower lease program and quotes on SCBA bottles and other information. In new business the board will discuss lawn care, a building repair from frozen pipes and information as well as pricing on the purchase of a new truck. After Chief Floyd give his reports, the board will set the date for the next meeting. The meeting will then be adjourned. the meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board is open to the public.

Each February, the state of Missouri observes Earthquake Awareness Month to emphasize the chance of a major earthquake occurring in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) and the importance of being prepared. Located in Southeast Missouri, the NMSZ generated some of the most powerful earthquakes to ever jolt the nation. A series of major quakes occurred in 1811-1812, destroying buildings, ringing church bells hundreds of miles away and briefly causing the Mississippi River to run backward. The area is still active today with an average of more than 200 earthquakes each year, though most are too small to be felt. No one can predict exactly when an earthquake will occur, but scientists agree that large earthquakes in this zone still pose a risk. Experts estimate there is a 25 to 40 percent chance of a large earthquake occurring in the next 50 years. State Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Remillard said Missouri faces a variety of severe weather threats and hazards each year, but a large earthquake could potentially be the worst natural disaster the state has ever experienced. There is no warning for earthquakes, which is why it’s so important to learn about the risks and how to protect yourself before one occurs. When shaking starts, the best way to stay safe and protect yourself from falling debris is the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” technique. Drop to your knees, cover your head, get under a desk or table if possible and hold on until the shaking stops. Experts say that in developed countries with modern structures, falling debris is the most common source of injury. Several resources for families, schools and businesses are available on SEMA’s Earthquake Preparedness website.