Posts by Stan Podorski

The Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting on Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the Auditorium at 202 N. Washington Street. Following the approval of the agenda and consent agenda, the Board authorized a three-year contract with Kristen Deluca Audit Services, LLC. The agreement includes payments of $14,000 for fiscal year 2025–2026, $14,500 for the following year, and $15,000 for the third year. Deluca has served as the City’s auditor for several years. The Board also approved the Airport Engineering Consultants Request submitted by H.W. Lochner. However, the Staff Summary Report was not included in the meeting packet, leaving the fiscal impact unclear. City officials reported that a pre-application has been submitted to the State of Missouri Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for funding through the Hazard Mitigation Program, as well as a full application for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), In response to the active storm season, the City published a request for bids for storm siren repairs. The Board voted to reject all submissions to continue pursuing grant options. Under new business, the Board approved Resolution 17-2025, a $10,000 agreement with the Salem Chamber of Commerce, budgeted under the Economic Development fund. They also approved a conditional use permit for a vacation rental at 304 E. Center Street. First readings were held for Bill No. 3654, proposing updates to water rates, and Bills No. 3655, 3656, and 3657, which revise Utility Policies. Additionally, the Board heard the first and second readings of Bill No. 3659, an ordinance to rezone property at 501 S. Grand Street from residential to commercial use. Bill No. 3660, also read twice, a change order with B&H Drilling & Pump Services Inc., authorizing the addition of 6.3 yards of cement grout seal and a steel surface casing due to soft wall material identified in the well. This change order will cost $49,487.33, funded by ARPA grants, with a total City match of $494.87. Bill No. 3661, Change Order No. 2, was approved contingent upon approval by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. It authorizes a second well test at a slower flow rate of approximately 200 gallons per minute, gradually increasing to 300 gpm over 24 hours. The initial test, conducted at 450 gpm, resulted in high turbidity . The second test will cost $38,500, funded by ARPA, with a City match of $385. All bills presented were approved by the Board. During reports from City officials, City Administrator Sally Burbridge noted that the grant application to replace citywide streetlights was denied; Mayor Greg Parker reminded residents that the Citywide Clean-Up will conclude on Friday; Public Works Director Steve Paine announced that Forester crews will resume work next week to trim trees and foliage around the main feeder lines. Residents will be notified in advance if crews need to access their properties. Debris cleanup will follow trimming efforts. Parks and Recreation Director Melissa DuBois reported that the tile repair at the City playground is scheduled for May 31 through June 13, weather permitting, and that the community pool is set to open on May 24. The meeting concluded with an executive session.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows turkey hunters checked 46,562 birds during Missouri’s 2025 regular spring turkey season, April 21st through May 11th. The top harvest counties for the regular season were Franklin with 956 birds harvested, Callaway with 873, and Texas with 860. Young turkey hunters also harvested a near-record 4,449 turkeys over the spring youth weekend, April 12 and 13, bringing the overall 2025 spring turkey harvest to 51,011. The 2025 harvest showed about an 8% increase in the overall harvest compared to last year, and the largest harvest in Missouri since 2006. Totals for the other counties in our area showed Phelps County with 809 birds taken, Dent County with 691 birds harvested, Crawford County reported 667 turkeys taken, Shannon County had 450 birds harvested, Reynolds County had 257 birds taken and Iron County had 247 turkeys harvested. Last year, young turkey hunters harvested 3,739 turkeys over the spring youth season and hunters harvested 43,380 during the regular spring season for a 2024 spring season total harvest of 47,119.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received in May. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $88,525.67 which is $315.04 less than for May of 2024. Those funds year-to-date are both down $1,039.31 from last year. The Road and Bridge Fund received $44,262.67 in May and that is up $2,350.04 over May of 2024; and year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $14,506.35. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $88,940.92 in May and that is up $4,693.49 over May of 2024. Year-to-date, the jail funds are both up $29,090.16. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said the crews will be doing maintenance on the Mannis brush cutter again, and a man will be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair on the Schwartz Road. Green said the side of Dent County Road 5615 collapsed into a creek after the tree stabilizing that part of the road fell across the creek. He said crews will work on repairing that road. He also said crews will be checking county roads 4120 and 5630 for damages to crossover pipes where those culverts may need to be replaced. Green reported that Tri-State is bringing a truck to the county road shed for the county to check out. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said crews will be adding and spreading rock on county road 5260, while rock will be added to county road 3210 where a driveway pipe will be installed. Williams also said rock would be added to county road 3290 where a crew will be rebuilding the edge of the roadway. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the county received a contract from Kone Elevator Company for maintenance at the Dent County Jail elevator and he said he would reach out to Sheriff Wells for his input. He also said he would be attending a Solid Waste Management Board meeting. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said the monthly turnover for April was $142,432.26 which will be sent out to the taxing entities. She also said the county reclaimed $1,841.93 in taxes that were paid in protest. VanKirk had to wait until the end of April to see if further action had been taken and none had, so the monies and interest from the protest will also be turned over to the taxing entities this month. She wanted to remind those who have not yet paid their real estate taxes from 2022 that those taxes must be paid by June 30th or that parcel will be sold on the courthouse steps. VanKirk did report that over 200 of the SB190 Homestead Tax applications have been picked up and so far, she says that almost all of them qualify. Legends Advisors came in to talk with the commission about providing additional employee benefits that would actually save the county money on payroll taxes. The commission agreed to provide them with county payroll information to see if there are tax savings available to the county as they discussed. They will return in June with their findings. At the last meeting, Matt Lloyd with Fabick Caterpillar came in to discuss graders, trade-ins and warranties. Road supervisor Billy Shepherd was also in attendance at that meeting. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting Thursday at 5:30 in the R-80 Board Room. After the Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance the Board will approve the agenda and the consent agenda. The Board will then recognize the Salem High School Art Department and students. In the Superintendent’s Report CSIP Goals will be addressed, updates will be shared on the FEMA building, the budget, the roof repairs, and Long Range Facilities. Administration reports will be heard from William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Athletics and Activities, Special Education, Technology, and Maintenance. In new business the board will consider a number of approvals including the Turf Tank Contract, a private contract for a Vision, Orientation and Mobility Teacher, National FFA Trip next year, MSBA Policy updates, Middle School Athletic Cooperative, Chamber Singers attendance at Nationals in April of 2028, request for FFA to attend the National Convention in Indianapolis October 28th through November 1st, a bus purchase for $97,330, June Board meeting date change from the 19th to the 26th, and E-rate contract. The Board will authorize the solicitation of buds for Upper Elementary roof damage repair. The Board will address resignations, hires and transfers before adjourning and moving into Executive Session to consider personnel and student issues.

A convicted felon from Salem was indicted on Wednesday and accused of concealing the death of his uncle, a U.S. Army veteran with quadriplegia, for at least five years so that he could steal at least $650,000 of his disability benefits. Brian K. Ditch, 44, is now facing four felony counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of theft of government property and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that Ditch was solely responsible for his uncle’s care beginning in 2008, and kept his uncle locked in his garage and under his control so he could fraudulently obtain his government benefits. Instead of properly caring for his uncle, Ditch trapped him in the garage for over 24 hours at a time, forcing his uncle “to sit in his own urine and feces without the ability to eat or drink,” the indictment says. After his uncle’s death around 2019, Ditch concealed his death and the body so he could continue to receive the money, the indictment says. It says Ditch told relatives that he had moved his uncle into a nursing home. His uncle received $9,559 per month in Disability Compensation benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the indictment says. Ditch’s uncle also received a total of $235,210 in Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and Retirement Insurance benefits from the Social Security Administration since 2008. Ditch used the money to buy exotic reptiles, fund lavish vacations and enrich himself, the indictment says. Salem police officers found the uncle’s partially frozen body in a trash can in March, as well as three shotguns, the indictment says. As a convicted felon, Ditch is barred from possessing firearms. Ditch is expected to plead not guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Friday. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the VA OIG’s Central Field Office said that The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is committed to holding accountable anyone who exploits veterans or steals their VA benefits. He went on to note that VA’s programs and services are established to justly compensate deserving veterans and the VA OIG will bring to justice those who would defraud these programs. The Salem Police Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Outgoing Board of Directors will be meeting Wednesday evening at 6:00. After the call to order will be the roll call followed by approval of the Consent Agenda, which will include review of the minutes, financial report and approval of bills, plus the budget review. The Monthly Reimbursement Report will precede the closing of Old Business which will include a declaration of election results. Board member departing remarks will be shared followed by adjournment of outgoing Board Sine Die. The first regular meeting of the Incoming Board of Directors will be called to order by the Secretary of the Board. Election of officers will be the first order of business for Chair/President, Secretary/Treasurer, Budget Officer, and Custodian of the Records. New business will include a report on the bond money by LJ Hart and Company, depository and withdrawal authorizations CD and Banks, including signature cards. The Board will review the By-Laws, be updated by Director Stokes on a department website, review CD report and information, and review quotes for Fire Fighting equipment by Chief Floyd. The Chief will then present his report followed by closed session if necessary to discuss personnel. The date for the next meeting will be set followed by adjournment. The regular meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors is open to the public.

A drowning occurred around 1:36 in the afternoon on Thursday, May 8th in the Jacks Fork River at the Alley Spring Campground in Shannon County. According to the Missouri Water Patrol Report, a 69-year-old Eminence man fell into the water and was unable to resurface. He was swept downstream by the current where his body was later discovered. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Shannon County Deputy Coroner Alan Ford at 2:30 Thursday afternoon. He was not wearing a water safety device. The body was taken to the Yarber Funeral Home in Eminence.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a number of reports starting on Monday, April 28th. That day, Dent County deputies conducted a traffic stop on South Jackson Street. During the course of the stop, a 46-year-old Salem man was arrested for Driving Without Having A Valid License.  The man was taken to the Dent County Jail where he was later processed and issued citations. On Saturday May 3rd,  deputies took a report for stolen property from the 12000 block of West Highway 32. The items stolen include a rifle, TV, and other items. Information was provided concerning possible suspects and the investigation is ongoing. On May 8th, Dent County  deputies took a report for stolen property the 2000 block of Dent County Road 4060. The 19-year-old victim advised officers a known suspect had stolen a .410 shotgun from the location. The investigation on that report continues. Two reports of dog bites occurred on May 9th. In the first report, deputies responded to the Salem Memorial Hospital for a reported dog bite that occurred in the 2900 block of Highway 68. The owner was contacted by the officers and quarantine instructions were provided. The case was closed. In the second report, deputies again responded to Salem Memorial Hospital for a reported dog bite that occurred in the 700 block of Dent County Road 3220. The owner was contacted about the dog and quarantine instructions were provided. This case was also closed. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 573-729-3241.

An accident occurred Friday morning at 5:00 in Iron County on Route KK three miles south of Bixby. According to the Highway Patrol report a 2020 Chevrolet Blazer, driven by a 22-year-old St. James man, traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned. The man suffered moderate injuries and was taken by EMS to Phelps Health Hospital. The report stated that the man was not wearing a safety restraint. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Abney’s Wrecker Service.