Archive for 2025

The Salem Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting this evening at 6:00 at the Old City Hall Auditorium at 202 N. Washington Street. After the agenda is approved, the board will go into closed session to discuss actions of litigation. Following the closed session, the board will hear a request for utility from Terry Perkins before they discuss Bill #3662 that repeals Chapter 700, Division III, Section 700.230 due to updates to Section 710. After that, the board will discuss nine bills from Bill #3663 to Bill #3671 that establish a user charge system for the City of Salem’s wastewater system to provide funds needed to pay for all expenses associated with the wastewater system. The meeting will then be adjourned. The special meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen tonight is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library. After approving the agenda and previous meeting’s minutes, pending minor changes, Jean Nyberg of Forvis-Mazars presented the audit report for fiscal year 2024, highlighting that the audit remains in draft form due to an incomplete inventory count. She reviewed key financials, noting a decrease in total assets from $15 million in 2023 to $13.8 million in 2024, primarily due to ongoing operating losses and reduced cash flow. Receivables from self-pay patients increased, reflecting industry trends associated with high-deductible insurance plans. Nyberg reported an overall net loss of $965,000 in 2024, a significant improvement from the previous year’s $2.3 million loss. She also identified notable deficiencies in the segregation of duties, attributed to limited staffing. After the Board approved the interim audit report, Hospital CEO Brooke Bollman delivered the administrative report and operational summary. She noted that inpatient admissions and outpatient registrations have remained relatively steady, while emergency room visits and ambulance runs declined slightly from the previous month. Total operating revenue for April was approximately $2.132 million, with total operating expenditures at a similar level, resulting in a net profit of $7,103.62. 340B program revenue for April totaled $62,368, while expenses reached $76,368, resulting in a deficit of $14,536, largely due to missing contract payments, at the time of reporting. The Hospital currently has 31 days of cash on hand. During the Chief Nursing Officer’s report, Amber Hogan noted that several positions remain open and that an EMT-B training program is expected to begin in August. Kendra Mobray presented the quality report, citing 21 risk management incidents related to medication documentation errors. All were promptly addressed, and meetings with department heads have been scheduled to determine corrective actions. Board elections were also held, with Dr. Leigh Ann Price elected as Chair, Zach Moser as Vice Chair, and Frank Barnitz as Secretary. Before adjourning, the Board approved a memorial to be painted in honor of Monty Kitchen. The next Hospital Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for June 24th at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library and is open to the public.

Three people died in traffic crashes over the 2025 Memorial Day weekend counting period which began at 6:00 Friday evening, May 23rd, and continued through 11:59 Monday night, May 26th. Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers investigated 182 traffic crashes involving 83 injuries and three fatalities over holiday weekend. The patrol also made 78 DWI over the holiday weekend. There were three boating crashes resulting in no injuries during the same period. The patrol made no boating while intoxicated arrests during the counting period. During last year’s 2024 counting period, the patrol investigated 275 traffic crashes, which included 161 injuries and seven fatalities. Also, over the 2024 Memorial Day holiday, Marine operations troopers investigated seven boating crashes, which included no fatalities and seven injuries. Troopers made 128 driving while intoxicated arrests and six boating while intoxicated arrests. No one drowned over the 2024 Memorial Day holiday. Last year statewide, there were 10 people who died and 486 that were injured in 1,046 vehicle crashes on all roads.

On Thursday, June 5th at the Old City Hall Basement Meeting Room located at 200 North Washington Street, the Dent County Extension will be holding a hands-on Dry Cured Bacon Workshop from 5:30-6:30 in the evening. The focus of the workshop is to learn how to make dry-cured bacon, including the curing and aging process, and how to smoke and prepare it for a meal. The cost of the workshop is $35, and all supplies are included. Participants will leave with a 4 to 6-pound slab of bacon. You MUST register by today to participate. Call the Dent County Extension Office at 573-729-3196 or register online at extension.missouri.edu/events and type in dry-cured-bacon-workshop-3 in the search bar.

The draft FY 2026-2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) was presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission the beginning of May, kicking off a public review and comment period. The draft STIP makes available $13.2 billion of federal and state revenues for all modes of transportation over the next five years. Of the $13.2 billion, the draft STIP details $9.5 billion in road and bridge construction contractor awards, averaging approximately $1.9 billion per year. It also contains programming details for the remaining $1.7 billion of General Revenue for the Improve I-70 program, which in full includes $2.8 billion for the costs to plan, design, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate and repair three lanes in each direction on nearly 200 miles of the corridor. This year’s STIP also makes available $577.5 million for I-44 as part of the Forward 44 effort to study and bring improvements to the corridor. Other General Assembly funded projects account for another $118 million programmed into this year’s STIP. In the past 10 years, MoDOT and its construction partners have completed 4,099 projects worth $10.1 billion, and delivered them $385 million below budget and 93% on time. The draft FY 2026-2030 STIP lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies for fiscal years 2026-2030 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2030) and reflects the transportation needs of communities across the state. The proposed program is available for public review. Those interested in seeing the program or offering comments can contact MoDOT by email at STIPcomments@modot.mo.gov, by calling customer service at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636), or by mail to Transportation Planning, Program Comments, P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102. The program is also available on MoDOT’s website: modot.org/DRAFTSTIP. The formal comment period ends June 6, 2025. A summary of the comments will be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission following the public review period. After reviewing the summary and the final transportation program, it will be considered for approval at the July 9 MHTC meeting.

The Missouri House passed an Invasive Plant Bill May 15th, just one day before the session adjourned. Senate Bill 105 now awaits the Governor’s signature and that will end the sale of six plants in Missouri, helping to reduce the negative impacts of invasive plants in the state. The Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP) thanks Representative Sassmann and Senator Bernskoetter for their leadership; the many citizens who contacted their Missouri representatives and senators in support of the bills; the numerous groups, including the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association; Missouri Municipal League; Missouri Stream Teams United; and the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM), who advocated for the legislation alongside MoIP and the Missouri Prairie Foundation; Missouri legislators who supported the bill; and Kyna Iman, CFM lobbyist, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to build support for the bills in the Missouri Capitol. Missouri Governor Kehoe has until July 14, 2025 to sign the bill into law. The law will halt the sale in Missouri of six invasive plants: sericea lespedeza, burning bush (cultivar ‘Compactus’), Callery pear, Japanese honeysuckle, perilla mint, and wintercreeper (variety Coloratus). The implementation date for the legislation is August 28, 2025.

Agingbest wants to see every person live the best life possible. To help our community do this they are asking for volunteers. There are many volunteer opportunities here are a few: meal delivery to homebound clients, lawn care, technology education assistance, pet care assistance, and many more. Call 800-369-5211 to volunteer in one of the 19 counties in Central Missouri.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will be meeting this evening at 7:00 in the hospital library. After public comments by speakers who must sign in and are limited to 3 minutes, the Board will approve minutes of the April regular meeting and the May special meeting, plus hear a FY2024 Audit presentation. Chief Executive Officer Brooke Bollman will present her report before hearing the summary of operations for the month of April as well as reviewing and approving the monthly financials. The Board will hear the Chief of Nursing Report, the Human Resources report, and the Chief of Staff Report. Old business will include the Election of Officers. In new business, the Board will get an update on a memorial and a shed. The Board may then go into Executive Session for discussion with legal counsel and consider personnel matters. The regular meeting of the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public.

An accident occurred Friday afternoon at 1:06 on Highway 32 four miles east of Salem. According to the Highway Patrol report a 2002 Peterbilt 379, operated by a 54-year-old Salem man, swerved to avoid another vehicle, ran off the right side of the roadway, striking a tree and a fence. The report stated that the man suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Salem Ambulance to Salem Memorial Hospital. The report went on to state that the man may be flown by unknown helicopter to Mercy St. Louis. It was unknown whether the driver was wearing a seat restraint. The Peterbilt was totaled and left roadside on Highway 32 at Dent County Road 4237 to be towed by Chris and Sons Towing.

The Finance Committee held a workshop Thursday evening at 6:00 in the Old City Hall Auditorium located at 202 N. Washington, to review the draft budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, presented by City Administrator, Sally Burbridge, and Finance Director Stacy Houston. The proposed budget totals $29 million and is balanced, reflecting a 17% increase over the 2024–2025 fiscal year. This increase is primarily due to grant-funded projects, which account for approximately $10.4 million in total expenditures. The draft includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for all City employees, along with merit-based increases of up to 1% for eligible staff based on performance evaluations. In preparing the budget, staff incorporated several key assumptions, including the adoption of a new employee health insurance plan and adjustments to the pay schedule to maintain market competitiveness with minimum wage requirements. After presenting the draft budgets for the different committees in the City, Houston noted that several of these committees have not yet convened to approve their respective budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports. On Monday May 12th deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 3800 block of E. Highway 32. During the course of the stop, a 43-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while suspended/revoked and other traffic violations. The subject was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was booked and released. Then on Wednesday May 14th deputies responded to Shawnee Mac Lakes for a report of a possible assault. During the course of the investigation, a 20-year-old Salem man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. The next day Thursday May 15th deputies arrested a 31-year-old Salem man on an active arrest warrant. The subject was transported to the Dent County Jail where he bonded out on the warrant. Later the same day deputies took a report for a fraud that occurred in the 200 block of County Road 3040. The victim, a 29-year-old Salem man, advised he was scammed out of over $9,000 online. The investigation is pending. If you have any information relative to these ongoing investigations, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced another extension of an allowance for heavier-than-normal truckloads of rock, sand and gravel on Missouri highways for flood relief, levees and other public infrastructure flood repair. The waiver allows private and for-hire motor carriers to haul up to 10% more than their licensed weight on Missouri highways. The waiver will remain in effect through June 30, 2025. While the waiver is in effect, participating motor carriers must abide by the following limitations. A loaded, gross weight is not to exceed 10% above the gross licensed weight of the commercial motor vehicle. The waiver applies to transportation of rock, sand and gravel only within the state of Missouri. Drivers must obey posted bridge weight limits. When crossing a bridge, the driver must restrict the vehicle speed to no more than 30 mph. Travel under this allowance is only allowed on non-interstate highways. Those taking advantage of the weight allowance cannot operate on any portion of the interstate highway system. Drivers can check the Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org for up-to-date road closure information.

Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at each of the five Missouri Veterans Cemeteries today. Each of the ceremonies will include a keynote speaker, firing volley, and a reading of the names of all Veterans that were interred in the cemetery during the last year. Missouri Veterans Cemeteries Executive Director Paul Kirchhoff said that being present at these Memorial Day ceremonies is a small way we can show respect and honor our military members and thank their families for their dedication and sacrifice. He encourages everyone to attend one of these events and pay tribute to these heroes. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was established as a day for Americans to honor those who were killed during the Civil War. MVC continues the tradition of honoring fallen military members with remembrance events at all locations. In South Central Missouri the Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Ft. Leonard Wood is located at 25350 Highway H, Waynesville, with ceremonies starting at 1:00. For more information about the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Waynesville contact Stacy Wilson at 573-774-3496. The Missouri Veterans Commission operates seven State Veterans Homes, five Veterans Cemeteries, the Veterans Suicide Prevention Program, and the Veterans Services Program. The Commission is committed to honoring and serving Missouri’s Veterans whose dedication and sacrifices have preserved our nation and its freedoms. For more information about the Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779 or visit mvc.dps.mo.gov.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters and anglers that squirrel, and black bass seasons is open. The hunting season on eastern gray and fox squirrels runs through Feb. 15, 2026. Allowed methods include shotguns, rifles, and other legal firearm methods, as well as archery equipment, slingshots, or atlatls. Squirrels may also be harvested with cage-style traps during the hunting season as long as hunters have a valid Small Game Hunting permit. Traps must be labeled with the hunter’s full name and address, or Conservation Number, be attended daily, and have an opening of 144 square-inches or smaller. The daily limit for hunting, including the use of cage-style traps, is ten and the possession limit is 20. Hunters must have a permit valid for hunting small game or be exempt. Get more information on squirrel hunting and trapping from MDC’s 2025 Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations online at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/4yJ. Need recipe suggestions? Browse squirrel recipes at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZcQ. Anglers may catch-and-keep black bass, such as largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky bass, through Feb. 28, 2026. Black bass can be found statewide but have a closed season part of the year in most streams south of the Missouri River. Black bass can be caught and released legally throughout the year anywhere in Missouri, and legal-sized bass may be kept all year long from impoundments and streams with no closed season. In most state waters, the daily limit on black bass is six. Fish taken from most rivers and streams must be 12-inches long. Additional regulations may apply to specific waters or areas. Anglers must have a valid fishing permit or be exempt. Find more information on bass fishing in MDC’s 2025 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations, available where permits are sold, or online at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/4yU. Find tips from MDC on cooking fish at their website, https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zrk.