Local News – Monday, August 2nd, 2021

As part of an ongoing improvement project taking place on Highway 68 in Dent and Phelps Counties, crews plan to close a section of the Highway starting TODAY. A contractor working for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will close Highway 68 at the intersection of Highway 8 south of St. James today in order to replace a box culvert and other culvert pipes at that location. The road will be closed through August 14th. Motorists will need to find alternate routes. Signs will be in place to alert travelers of the closure. MoDOT appreciates the patience of motorists. This work is weather permitting and could be delayed. For more information and updates about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/modot-central-district.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting this evening at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington Street. In the Hearing of Persons, William Parsons has questions about his electric bill. After the consent agenda is approved, the board will hear Bill No. 3485, an ordinance that would establish new rates for electric services provided by the City of Salem. The board will discuss bids for a compact track loader for the yard waste at the Industrial Park. The equipment rental options presented on a Fabick Cat were for 160 hours per month and broken down by daily rates, weekly rates, four-week rates with forks and smooth bucket; or with a grapple rake; Erb Equipment’s John Deere option had daily, weekly and monthly rental rates on equipment, buckets or forks, or grapple rake; and United Rentals had an option with daily rates, weekly rates and monthly rates with a grapple rake. The board could also consider lease options. In one equipment lease option, Fabick could lease a machine to the city for 60 months with a monthly rate of $1,120.62 for 1,000 hours of operation per month. This lease also included a purchase option for $26,670. The other lease option would be with Erb Equipment and John Deere. The monthly rate with Erb would be charging would be $896.23 per month with 750 hours allowed per month. There would be a purchase option for the John Deere of $21,067.54 The board could also consider a one-time clean-up of the yard waste at the Industrial Park from Phillip Mercer for $3,200. The board will also consider bids for a lift pump repair. City Administrator Ray Walden will update the board on a number of items going on in the city. The Board may vote to go into closed session to discuss personnel. The regular meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen meeting tonight is open to the public.

An accident happened at about 4:45 Friday morning in Crawford County on Interstate 44 eastbound just east of the 214 exit took the life of an Oklahoma woman. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2006 Ford Escape being driven by 54-year-old Kelly Burgess of Tulsa, Oklahoma, traveled off the right side of the interstate onto the south outer road. The Ford then struck a fence and a utility pole before overturning and ejecting Burgess. She was pronounced dead at 5:55 by Crawford County deputy coroner Nikki Bussell. Burgess was taken to the Crawford County Morgue. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Patriot Towing. The report went on to state that Burgess was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident.

An accident occurred Saturday afternoon in Phelps County on Highway 63 about one mile south of Vida. According to the highway patrol report, a 2016 Kia Optima driven by 46-year-old Kimberly Salter of Rolla, was travelling eastbound and failed to yield to a 2014 Kia Sorento driven by 78-year-old Judy Watson of Houston travelling southbound. As the Sorento turned left onto Highway 63, it struck the Optima. At that moment, a 2007 Kia Sportage driven by 20-year-old Daisy Slagel of Macon was travelling southbound and struck the rear of the Sorento. Salter suffered serious injuries and was flown by LifeLine to University Hospital Columbia. Watson suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps Health in Rolla by the Phelps Health Ambulance. An occupant of the Sorento, 59-year-old Teresa Gaston of Bucyrus, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Phelps Health in Rolla by the Phelps Health Ambulance. All injured parties were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department.

An accident occurred Sunday morning at 1:25 in Crawford County on Route N just south of Rockwood Ridge Lane. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Chrysler 300 driven by 20-year-old Colin Wells of Rolla, was travelling northbound and traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck several road signs, and overturned. The Chrysler came to rest on its side in the roadway. Wells suffered minor injuries and refused treatment. A 20-year-old occupant in the car, Zachary Kimker of Bourbon suffered minor injuries and was transported by private conveyance to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. Both injured parties were wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Chrysler was totaled and removed from the scene by Patriot Towing.