Posts by CTC

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their May meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. After approval of the minutes from the April meeting, bills were reviewed and approved for payment and there was a budget review as well. During a review of the district calendar it was noted that personnel will participate at Serendipity May 11th from 8:00 am to noon, a hazardous mitigation meeting from 2:00 to 4:00 at the old city hall on May 15th and conducting several tours of the station for elementary age students during the month of May. The monthly reimbursement report for April showed that there were 15 calls that included: three calls for structure fires, three calls for brush fires, one call for a landing zone, three calls for vehicle accidents, three calls for mutual aid and two calls for training. Total calls for year to date are 111. There was no old or new business but during reports, Fire Chief Brad Nash reported that he had been in contact with the McLiney Company and they are willing to work with the fire district for money to finish the station upgrade projects. Nash asked the Board to sign the underwriting, which does not bind the district to anything but will allow the McLiney Company to go forward. The Board approved his request. Nash then presented the Board with a copy of the invitation to bid for items that the district has to be sold and the Board approved the list and asked Chief Nash to go forward. For more information about the items stop by the fire station, call 729-3250 or find them on Face book. The Board then set their June meeting for Tuesday, June 6th at the fire station beginning at 6:00 PM and the meeting was then adjourned.

The Salem Police Department released some reports. On Thursday, April 20th at 8:03 in the morning, an officer was detailed to the 600 block of East Roosevelt in reference to a theft. The report revealed that a person or persons unknown took 8′ x 18′ plastic loading runners valued at $600 from a demolition site. On Friday, April 21st at 10:00 in the morning, officers of the Salem Police Department and the Dent County Sheriffs Department served a search warrant at a residence on county road 4180. Officers recovered a 2015 Honda Grom motorcycle that had previously been reported stolen. A second motorcycle that was stolen during the theft with the Honda Grom, a 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R, was recovered in Viburnum. On Saturday evening, April 22nd at 9:17, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The report led to the arrest of a 26-year old Salem female for stealing merchandise valued at $76. She was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Sunday, April 23rd at 2:23 in the early morning, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The stop led to the arrest of a 28-year old Salem male for driving while being intoxicated and driving while having his license suspended. He was issued summonses to appear in court and released. At 7:32 that night, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The stop led to the arrest of a 32-year old Salem male for driving while having their license suspended and on an active fugitive arrest warrant from Laclede County. He was issued a summons to appear in court and was incarcerated on the warrant pending extradition. That same night at 8:47, an officer responded to a residence on Ray Lane in reference to theft of a vehicle. The report revealed a 28-year old Salem male took a 2002 black Pontiac Aztec with out having permission to take it. On the same date, the suspect and vehicle were located near North Grand and Rolla Road. He was taken into custody for 1st degree tampering with a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and no operator’s license and was incarcerated pending warrant applications. You are asked to call the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Ozark Artisans Exhibit at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center (ONCRC) opens May 30th at 202 South Main (Hwy 19) in Salem. Sponsored by the Spring Creek Artisans of Salem and the Current River Artists of Licking, it will feature works by artists and artisans from the Ozarks. The beauty and resources of the Ozarks have inspired artists and artisans since settlers first came to Missouri. Here in the Salem Plateau area, we are blessed with talented individuals who are skilled in wood carving, quilting, pottery, basket weaving, engraving, fine arts and other time honored skills. The exhibit is free to the public. There will be a Meet the Artisan Reception at the ONCRC on Monday, June 5th from 6-8pm. To participate in the exhibit, contact the ONCRC by calling 573-729-0029 or emailing them at oncrc@salemmo.com. Registration to reserve an exhibit space closes May 22nd. Again, the deadline to provide your input is Wednesday, May 31.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night at the city hall council chambers. The Executive Director of Healthy Dent County Sherry Lea discussed with the alderman they would like to apply for another NAP grant through the MRPC to add a gymnasium to the Salem Community Center@The Armory. The NAP grant would provide $500,000 worth of tax credits and they have already been awarded a $250,000 grant that would go toward the project. The total cost of the gym would be about 1.2 million dollars, but the initial amount would be enough to construct the basic gym with other amenities to be added as they raise the money. In order to apply for the NAP grant, Healthy Dent County had to have a current lease running through five years after the expected completion date which would be 2024. So Lea asked to extend the lease between the City of Salem and Heathy Dent County for another ten year through 2027, and that Mayor Brad Nash be allowed to sign the NAP form that states the construction would not be in conflict with any city ordinances or policies. The board approved the request for the new lease and also to allow Nash to sign the form by a 3-0 vote with Alderwoman Shelton abstaining. The board approved the request from Chris Raulston for the Current River Cruisers to close off the streets around the courthouse square with the exception of an area around the Corner Café for the annual car show. Mayor Brad Nash says that a booklet has been prepared for those who want a buy a plot in the Cedar Grove Cemetery as well as the upkeep of the property and the gravesites. There was a discussion on mausoleums and Mayor Nash will review other policies from other cemeteries to bring before the board. These booklets would be available at the city hall, cemetery and funeral homes. The board approved the quote to purchase $16,000 worth of fireworks for 4th of July that will be paid for by $7,400 left in the fireworks fund, a $4,000 request from the tourism tax commission, $1,500 from the CFO Fireworks fund plus possibly a budget adjustment. The board approved renewing the current health insurance policy that features the same rate as last year with a few minor changes in deductibles and the prescription plan. If the city wanted to bid health insurance policies before renewing, there would be an additional rate increase of 2.57% for their current plan. City Administrator Ray Walden said a meeting has been set up to discuss and implement the plans for the TAP Grant and the Unlimited Play All Accessible Playground grant. He also said that a kickoff event for GRO will be held on Wednesday, May 10th with volunteers meeting at the Farmers Market at 6:00 to then disperse to different service events. Walden also said the city would be updating the Economic Development position information in their search for an Economic Development Director. Mayor Brad Nash said the city crews were out taking pictures of any damages from storms this weekend in case Dent County would be included in a Federal Disaster Area. Nash said individuals should also take pictures and document any flood or storm damages in case the area is included as a disaster area. People who would like to submit a damage report with an estimated dollar value to Nash should call him at the fire station at 729-3250. He said there is nono guarantee that anyone will receive funds. The board approved a number of board and committee nominees from Mayor Nash to fill openings. The board also approved the purchase of a Rascal MVP infield machine for field prep from ABI for $4,963 as requested by Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon. The board then went into closed session to discuss real estate and contracts.

On April 27th, the Missouri Conservation Commission named Leo A. Drey as the 43rd member of its Hall of Fame for his lifelong advocacy for conservation. Drey’s induction ceremony was held at the L-A-D Foundation’s annual barbeque in Salem. Conservation Commissioner David Murphy was on hand to bestow the honor to Drey’s family. Drey passed away in May 2015 at age 98. His conservation efforts focused on acquiring parcels of land to establish the 150,000-acre Pioneer Forest, which covers parts of Dent, Carter, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, and Texas counties. He then donated the land to the L-A-D Foundation, which he established as an organization dedicated to preserving areas of outstanding natural or cultural resource value. Drey was dedicated to preserving areas of outstanding natural or cultural resource value. Over the years, he purchased and donated more than a dozen such areas to the Foundation. These sites include state-designated natural areas leased to MDC, areas leased to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for state parks, 35 miles of frontage on the Ozark National Scenic Riverways under scenic easement to the National Park Service, lands transferred to Mark Twain National Forest, and other special designations within Pioneer Forest.

The Doe Run Company is asking its neighbors for input. Now through Wednesday, May 31st, Doe Run will be collecting feedback from community members about the company, its operations and its contributions to the community. They do these surveys every couple of years to gauge how they are doing in the eyes of the community and they ask that you consider sharing your thoughts in a short survey. You can access the survey online at www.doerun.com. The survey consists of a short set of questions that’s estimated to take about five minutes. Again, the deadline to provide your input is Wednesday, May 31.