Local News

Monday, September 28th Oak Hill R-1 was notified a staff member tested positive with COVID-19. Due to the number of students and staff quarantined, the District will be closed starting, Tuesday, September 29th. They will reopen Monday, October 12th. A message was sent out by school-messenger identifying grades that are in quarantine. Oak Hill will begin their virtual learning that was explained at their Open House, called Alternative Methods of Instruction Plan, which is located on Oak Hill R-1’s website.

This Saturday will be the city wide yard sale all over town. Copies of the maps will be available at area convenience stores and the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center! Maps will also be printed in the Salem News. Due to Covid-19 the location behind the City Administration Building will not be a site this fall. For more local events information visit www.salemmo.com. Citizens are being asked to practice social distancing.

The Salem Public Library would like to inform everyone that the Library Director Glenda Wofford is a notary public and can help with absentee ballots that need to be notarized. There is no charge for this service.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for the middle of September. On Saturday evening, the 12th, at approximately 7:15, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of shoplifting and a female suspect had fled. Contact was made with the suspect vehicle and woman as described by Wal-Mart. As a result of the investigation, a 44-year-old Rolla female was arrested for shoplifting and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The female was also found to have an active arrest warrant. As a result, she was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Then on Monday morning, the 14th, at about 9:15, an officer was dispatched to Wal- Mart for a report of a shoplifting. It was reported that a male subject had stolen $59.76 worth of merchandise. As a result of the investigation, a 50-year-old Salem man was arrested and issued a summons for shoplifting. The next evening at approximately 8:06, an officer was dispatched to Mobil for a report of shoplifting. It was reported a male subject had stolen $18.97 worth of merchandise. Contact was made with the male subject. As a result of the investigation, a 29-year-old Salem male was arrested and issued summons for shoplifting. On Thursday evening, September 17th, at approximately 6:16, an officer responded to an address at the 800 block of North Water to attempt to locate a female subject that had an active arrest warrant. As a result, contact was made, and a 52-year-old Salem female was arrested and later posted bond. Later that evening at approximately 7:27, an officer was dispatched to Mobil for a report of a male subject that had returned after being told not to come back. As a result of the investigation a 46 year-old Salem male was arrested and issued summons to appear in court. Later in the night the same male subject was seen attempting to get into cars at the Crossroads shopping center. The male was again arrested and issued another summons to appear in court. The man was taken to the Dent County Jail for a 12-hour safe keep. If anyone has information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.

The fall migration is amazing for birdwatching, but can be deadly to many birds. Millions of avian deaths occur each year due to birds colliding with windows and other reflective surfaces during their migration. To help ensure a safe journey, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages people to make small changes at their home or office to prevent window strikes. MDC State Ornithologist Sarah Kendrick said that birds are a marvel. Each year, some migrate thousands of miles to warmer climes and back again in the spring. It is always a pity to see that a window, of all things, is the sad end to millions of birds each year, whether migratory or resident. Kendrick explained that if a bird has struck a window at a home or office, it is a problem window that reflects either sky or vegetation that a bird believes is a pass-through. Breaking up that reflection can help the bird see it better and know it is an obstacle. People can place stickers to the exterior side of windows to break up the reflection. Silhouettes placed indoors may be obstructed during certain times of day by glare or outdoor reflections, so breaking up the reflection on the outside of the window is key. Kendrick explained that many believe that to make their windows bird-safe, they have to completely obstruct their view, but that’s just not the case anymore. There are many solutions
out there today that break up the reflection for our birds in a muted way that still allows for a great view. There are numerous products
available to prevent bird strikes. Kendrick also commented that preventing window strikes is just one small change that we can make in our daily lives right now – cheaply– that will collectively make a huge impact for birds over the long-term. To learn more ways to help bird populations, visit 3billionbirds.org.

The Dent County Community Foundation is hosting a live virtual auction to help raise funds for local not for profits. Since the inception of the foundation in 1999, over $1,000,000 grant awards have been given to our local community efforts to improve the lives of people in our community. The auction will start September 30th and continue until October 4th. There are great items in the auction including professional services, vacation rentals, gift baskets, restaurants, etc. For more information, check out their Facebook page.

An accident happened in Maries County at 1:20 Monday morning that took the life of a 52-year man from Vienna. According to the highway patrol report, a 1997 Ford F-250 driven northbound by Gregory Medlock of Vienna traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a culvert, struck a rock bluff and overturned with the Ford coming to rest on it’s left side. Medlock was taken to Phelps Health by the Maries Osage Ambulance where he was pronounced dead at 2:58. Medlock was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

Dent County Commission met Monday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. Donald Dodd and Wes Mobray were in attendance. Dodd announced that there would be an IDA meeting Thursday night at 6:00 at the Salem Library. In the road report District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading only would be done on Dent County Roads 2400 and 5440, while materials would be added and grading would be done on county roads 5100, 5103, and 5105. He said the new John Deere grader was having maintenance and repair work done and should be back on Monday. Purcell said a man was going after a load of oil for chip and seal repair. He noted that he attended a Tourism Commission meeting last Monday where six reimbursement requests were submitted and approved, plus one request for an extension with a completion date was submitted and approved. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2330 and 5225, while materials would be hauled to county road 2070. He went on to say that brush would be cut on county road 2200 and his crew was checking for downed trees in District Two. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he attended a meeting last week in Columbia with CCAM President Gary Jungermann and Mark Thompson. They negotiated a new contract for commission training, which extends through 2023. Skiles also reminded Dent County residents that there are CARES ACT funds still available for entities and small business. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills and payroll were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. She reminded voters that the last day to register to vote in the November 3rd General Election is October 7th. She noted that absentee voting continues in her office and the last day to mail out an absentee ballot is October 21st. Curley encouraged voters needing to update their voting information such as address and/or name change should do so as soon as possible. She also reported that last Tuesday she attended a South Central Regional Clerks’ meeting in West Plains. The Commission reminded residents that the Courthouse will be closed Monday, October 12th, for Columbus Day so that week the Commission will meet on Tuesday, October 13th. Travis Tindell from Inform Architecture was in to visit. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday at 9:00 at the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold a special meeting Wednesday, September 30th at 6:30 the district administration offices
boardroom. After approval of the agenda the board will address new business Hybrid Learning Plan before adjourning. The Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting Wednesday evening is open to the public.

An accident occurred in Dent County Sunday evening about 6:07 on Route B one mile east of Highway 19. According to the Highway Patrol Report an eastbound 2006 Nissan Titan, driven by a 17 year-old minor of Salem, traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. A passenger in the Nissan, 17 year-old Mickayla Schlicker of Salem, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Salem EMS to Salem Memorial District Hospital. According to the report both Schlicker and the 16 year-old driver were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Nissan was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Highway Patrol was assisted by Salem Police Department and the Dent County Fire Department.

An accident occurred in Maries County about 1:20 Monday morning on Highway 63 four miles north of Vichy that took the life of a Vienna man. According to the Highway Patrol Report a northbound 1997 Ford F250, driven by 52 year-old Gregory Medlock, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a rock bluff, then overturned on its left side. Medlock was pronounced deceased at Phelps Health in Rolla
at 2:58 after being transported there by Maries-Osage Ambulance District. The report stated that Medlock was not wearing a safety restraint. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by C & C Towing.

An accident occurred at 7:18 Sunday evening in Phelps County on I-44 at the 182 mile marker. According to the Highway Patrol Report an eastbound 2010 Ford F150, driven by 29 year-old Isreal Gonzalez of Des Moines, Iowa, was disabled in the left after being struck by an unknown vehicle. The Ford was struck by an eastbound 2013 Chevrolet Eqinox driven by 54 year-old Jason Wright of Springfield, Missouri. Gonzalez and a passenger in the Ford, 47 year-old Tristan Carmelo also of Des Moines, both suffered serious injuries and were transported to Phelps Health in Rolla. Both vehicles were totaled and the Ford was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman Towing, while the Chevrolet was removed by C & C Towing.

A one vehicle accident occurred in Phelps County Sunday evening at 7:35 on County Road 3060 one half mile east of Rolla. According to the Highway Patrol Report an eastbound 2011 Ford Escape, driven by 29 year-old Nathaniel Dalton of Jefferson City, began hydroplaning, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a ditch. A one year-old male juvenile suffered minor injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps Health. Dalton and the male minor were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Ford sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman Towing.

If you’re looking for an outdoor hiking and paddling adventure this fall, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) has just the activity for you! ONSR, in partnership with Missouri State Parks and Ozark Trail Association, is inviting visitors to complete the Current River Challenge (CRC) along the upper Current River. This self-guided challenge includes three “legs” to complete. These are a 4-mile hike from Round Spring to Echo Bluff State Park, a 4-mile hike from Echo Bluff to Current River State Park, and a 4-mile float from Current River State Park to Round Spring. Hikers can pick up an informational map brochure at the Round Spring Ranger Station or Echo Bluff State Park. At the conclusion of each leg, participants will stamp their map at designated kiosks. After completion of all three legs, participants can present their stamped map at the Round Spring Ranger Station to receive an award recognizing the accomplishment. Because this is a self guided activity, it can be completed at your own pace, in any order and timeframe desired. It can be completed in one day or over multiple days. It’s up to you to decide how you want to challenge yourself! For more information about the Current River Challenge, contact Skyler Bockman at (573) 323-8093

An accident occurred Thursday evening shortly after 7:00 on highway 68 four miles north of Salem. According to the report released by the highway patrol a 2016 Honda Metropolitan being operated by 71 Charles Immekus of Salem was northbound when he lost control, overturned, and was ejected. Immekus was not wearing a safety device at the time of the accident and suffered moderate injuries. He was transported by Salem EMS to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment. The Honda sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by a private party.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds anglers that a definition for “invasive fish” has been added to the Wildlife Code of Missouri and effects what type of fish is allowed for use as live bait. The definition includes a list of bighead carp, silver carp, grass carp, and common carp. Invasive carp were imported into the United States for many purposes. Due to releases or escapes caused by flooding, they’ve spread in recent decades and thrive in many rivers and lakes. These species eat native fishes’ food, can hurt boaters, and damage equipment. Anglers can use invasive carp as bait if the fish are dead. It is recommended that netted bait fish be placed on ice in coolers. The temperature shock kills the carp, but keeps them fresh for use as bait. Additionally, anglers should use caution when using live bait in any lake or river, including small community lakes. Unused bait from any source should be contained and put into the trash, rather than dumped into the water. For more information on invasive carp, visit the MDC website.

The Dent County Health Center Administrator Kendra Mobray is saddened to report that there have now been two COVID-19 related deaths of Dent County residents. One individual was in their 80’s, the other in their 70’s. They are taking all necessary precautions to keep our patients and community safe and will continue to diligently monitor the COVID-19 situation and follow CDC guidelines to help protect the public health and limit spread of this infection. It is important that everyone continues to practice basic preventative measures to help decrease the spread. These measures, as outlined by the CDC, include: avoiding contact with people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, proper hand-washing, cleaning frequently used surfaces, and staying home when sick. The Health Center highly encourages anyone who suspects that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, to contact your healthcare provider.

An accident happened in Reynolds County on Highway 21 about two miles south of Centerville at 4:53 Wednesday afternoon. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Buick LeSabre driven westbound by 37-year old Christine Patterson of Salem, failed to yield to a 2013 Jeep Wrangler driven southbound by 53-year old Mark Shanahan of Rogers, Arkansas. The LeSabre crossed the roadway and was struck by the Wrangler. Patterson suffered serious injuries and was flown to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. A passenger in the Wrangler, 53-year old Karen Baskin of Centerville, Arkansas, suffered moderate injuries and taken by ambulance to the Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. It was unknown if Patterson was wearing a seat restraint when the accident happened while Shanahan and Baskin were wearing their seat restraints. The Buick sustained extensive damage and the Jeep had moderate damages. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Hills Metals and Motors from Ellington.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. The Hospital Controller gave the summary of operations for the month of August where the hospital had 65 inpatient admissions with 208 inpatient census days. There were 1,776 outpatient registrations, 1,415 cardiopulmonary procedures, 6,994 lab tests, 1,101 radiology procedures, 681 rehabilitation treatments, 25 surgeries, 295 home health visits and 658 emergency room visits. There were a total of 194 ambulance runs with 116 patients transported with 78 dry runs. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $127,091 and expenses over revenue after taxes of $88,546 after receiving $36,100 in COVID-19 stimulus funds. Chief Nursing Officer, Deb Hines gave the nursing report for August. A state survey was conducted, which was a revisit from a March survey where a plan of corrective action was accepted. They also investigated a patient safety complaint and found the complaint unsubstantiated. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas reported there would be no Auxiliary meetings for the remainder of 2020. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards reported that the next fundraiser would be the Dancing with the Salem Stars on Saturday, January 30. The foundation has submitted a grant application for the USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine to provide a tele-health system called TytoCare to area schools. There will be a demonstration of the equipment for the doctors to review. Lucas reported that the month-long health fair has been well received by the community. Hines shared an update on the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 14 staff have tested positive with 6 being recovered and 8 still have active cases. There were 2 patients in the Long-Term Care that tested positive and 2 other patients admitted into the hospital. The hospital is currently testing between 20-30 people each day and finding 5-6 positive cases. Lucas gave an update on the current expansion and renovation project for the MRI building. The building is being re-shielded due to excessive moisture content in the plywood that was used. This should be complete by the end of September with the machine being installed in October and ready to use in November. The Window Project is complete and the sewer project is ongoing with some electrical wires being relocated overhead. The board then went into closed session.

On September 18, 2020, the Salem R-80 School District was notified a student at William Lynch had tested positive for COVID-19. The students, their families, and other staff members in close contact with the student were notified by the Dent County Health Department as it relates to possible quarantines. Yesterday the district was notified that a staff member at William Lynch tested positive for coronavirus. The students, their families, and other staff members in close contact with the staff member are being contacted by the Dent County Health Center as it relates to possible quarantines. The Salem R-80 School District will continue to work closely with local health officials to monitor evolving circumstances and revise our plans as needed. They have placed a dashboard on their website where you can view reporting information for the entire district. Thank you for your understanding as they continue to work to keep our schools safe, healthy, and open.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday evening in the Council Cambers of City Hall. At the meeting, Public Works Director Mark Nash talked about getting replacement pumps for pump stations and getting a spare. The only place to get the pumps was Vandevanter Engineering and the price for each single phase 7.5 HP pump was $10,636.00. The city would have to pay for freight and do the installation. The board approved the purchase. Nash also talked about needing new chlorine analyzers for the wells. The bids for three came to $11,034.50 and these analyzers will cut back on overtime as they can be read by smart phones instead of physically having to check them. The board approved the purchase of all three. Alderman Kevin James, Chairman of the Finance Committee, gave his report on that meeting held August 27th. The Finance Committee had recommended employing a city engineer with a salary cap of $50,000 for six months service. James recommended that cap be dropped to between $55,000 and $85,000 depending upon experience of applicant and not to provide a vehicle until the second year of employment. The board approved his recommendation. City Administrator Ray Walden said he and City Clerk Mary Happel attended the MML first virtual conference. He said the Fall Community Wide Yard Salem will go on except the city will NOT be rending parking spaces at the City Administration Building. Walden explained the July bills will be mailed this week with information on the new bills about the payment options that person selected. Additional information will be included in the bills that go out. Walden said he is working with vendors to offer additional payment options such as prepaid electric, credit card payments and more. He also said the city is putting out informational videos on the Facebook page and people can watch give their feedback to an e-mail address on the screen. He said he would like to form a media committee to figure out the best way to get out information that will reach most of the area. Walden provided the alderman with a KPI report that summarizes information about sales tax income, ongoing projects, utility income and more. Walden also discussed the brand standards that the board had discussed at an earlier meeting. The board approved the use of the new logos on letterhead and on vehicles as long as the cost was not prohibitive. The board approved the suggestion by City Attorney Weber to follow the Missouri State Statute when it comes to electioneering within 25 feet of the door. He said if there are violators, the police should be contacted. The board approved the improvements to the police department roof as suggested by Archer-Elgin Engineering that framing be added to the roof with tie downs to attach the roof framing to the building. They also recommended installing metal on free hanging clay tile to prevent it from ever falling. After a long discussion about airport leases and what “airworthy” means, Alderwoman Rachel Hinderliter said she would call an airport board meeting and discuss these items with the board with the help of City Attorney Weber. The board then reapproved the bids for the renovation project for the police department dispatch area from Village Gallery, Rommel’s Lock and Alarm, and Quality Drywall Service, LLC. The board approved Resolution #19-2020 to enter into an investment grade audit agreement between the City of Salem and Energy Solutions Professionals, LLC to see if they can find some energy saving facility improvements. City Clerk Mary Happel then gave the board a list of old records she planned to have destroyed. This included old utility bills and purchase order duplicate copies all the way back to July 1 of 2000. The list also included a number of obsolete forms that will be destroyed. The board approved the Trailer Park License for Park Street Mobile Park owned by Glen Sapaugh, and they approved appointing City Clerk Mary Happel to attend the LAGERS annual meeting for the city’s retirement plan. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Health Center Monday reported there is now one death from the coronavirus here in Dent County. They are reporting that there are currently 26 active cases of COVID-19 in Dent County out of 129 confirmed cases. Of the cases that have been identified in Dent County, 103 of those people have been released from isolation. There are still three people in the hospital from COVID while six other hospitalized patients have now been released. A total of 2,647 COVID-19 tests have come back negative. With the results reported Monday, the percentage of people in Dent County who have been tested that have a positive result with the COVID 19 virus comes to 4.65%.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education in closed session Thursday night approved moving Administrative Secretary Janelle Frederick to the insurance payroll pay scale, and agreed to pay a stipend of $3,500 to Bob Homer for his services as a football mentor to interim football Head Coach Lane Howard. The board also agreed to move para-professional Mandi Conway from 7.33 hours to 8.0 hours on the paraprofessional pay scale, and that high school attendance secretary Jamie Summers has moved to the high school principal’s secretary’s position. The board also approved exploring options to create a 100% district paid position instead of pursuing a new Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Salem for the Safety Resource Officer position. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the CART funds received by the county. She said the money received in September was $61,381.55 and that is down from last year’s total of $65,293.81. Year-to-date, the CART funds are down in 2020 by $28,351.83 from 2019 and that comes to about 5.6%. In the road report, 1st District Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5050, 5100, 5103, 5105 and 5480. He said repairs were being made to county trucks #78 and #121. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said Dent County Road 2070 would be shut down through October 1st for the rebuilding of a low water crossing that is in need of repair. He also said brush would be cut on county road 2200, a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for the Durapatch machine to do chip and seal road repairs, and another man would be screening brown rock. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported the CCAM Executive Board would be meeting in Columbia with the Holiday Inn Executive Center Management to discuss the contract for the CCAM Board meetings. He also reported that last week at the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board meeting, waste reduction applications were reviewed and scored. He said there nine applications requesting about $240,000 while there is only $175,000 available. They will meet again to determine where the funding goes based upon the scoring. Skiles also said there were two CARES Act requests for funds: One from Green Forest R-2 for $14,698 and another from R-80 for $18,381. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the tax rates have been approved by the state and they have been submitted to the collector. She also said she would be attending the South Central County Clerk’s regional meeting at West Plains. Curley wanted to remind everyone that absentee voting for the November 3rd General Election starts Tuesday and will go until November 2nd at 5:00 in her office. An absentee ballot can also be requested to have a ballot mailed to them. You need to do that by October 21st. Mail-in ballots can also be requested by October 21st. Make sure that you have your mail-in ballot notarized and return it by the US Mail service, it MUST be received by 7:00 on Tuesday, November 3rd to be counted. At the last meeting, four CARES Act request were approved and they were $7,315 for the Salem R-80 School District, $10,105.58 for the Dent-Phelps R-3 School District, $6,917.56 for the Green Forest R-2 School District and $7,480.66 was pre-approved for the Salem Public Library and a $256.24 reimbursement to the library was approved. Dent County Collector Shannon Vankirk reported the monthly collections for August came to $37,545.94. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their September meeting tonight, in the hospital library beginning at 6:00. After approval of the agenda and minutes of the August 18th Public Tax Hearing and regular meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations for the month of August followed by the Chief of Nursing Report by Debbie Hines. A report on the hospital foundation, plus the marketing and community perception report by Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards will be followed by the Chief of Staff Report. Lucas will then go over the COVID-19 update and give an update on Hospital expansion and renovation. New business will include the Annual Bylaw Review and purchases since the last meeting. The board may vote to go into closed session. Due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, the September meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will be held by telephone/video conference. The meeting is open to anyone to join. For information on how to access the meeting via zoom, please email Karen Brown at kbrown@smdh.net or call her at (573) 729-5917, extension 4005.

Over 92% of housing units have been accounted for in the 2020 Census, with 26.6% counted by census takers and other field data collection operations, and 65.9% of housing units responding online, by phone or by mail. Every day, the U.S. Census Bureau releases the 2020 Census housing unit completion rate for the nation, all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In addition, the Census Bureau releases the completion rates for the Nonresponse Followup operation by area census office. The Census Bureau is committed to a complete and accurate count, and urges every household to respond when a census visits or to respond on their own by using their census ID online, by phone or by mail. Your census data should include anyone who was living with you as of April 1st who did not have a permanent address elsewhere. The census is for everyone, children, adults, siblings, roommates, foster children, etc. If you haven’t completed your 2020 census, time is running out to do so. You only have until September 30th to respond to a census taker if they come to your door, online at 2020census.gov, and by phone at 844-330-2020. If you still have your invitation from the census bureau from back in April, you cans till fill that out and mail it in. Remember, being counted is important as census numbers help dictate the distribution of federal funds as well as representation in congress.

The Dent County Commission want to remind businesses and public entities that the county has CARES Act money available to reimburse those expenses that occurred directly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This morning on KSMO Radio and online at ksmoradio.com near 8:30, Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles will have Kelly Sink from the MRPC on the air to discuss in detail how businesses and public entities can apply for these funds and the process of how they would get reimbursed. If you can’t listen in or just want to find out more information on how to apply, contact the MRPC and speak with Kelly Sink or Eva Voss at 573-265-2993. There is a limit of $125,000 that public entities can apply for to be reimbursed while the amount for businesses was limited to $20,000. These amounts could be changed in the future depending upon how many applications for reimbursements are received and how many dollars remain. The last day to submit an application for reimbursement through the CARES Act will be December 10th.

Join Healthy Dent County for their second Community Wellness Challenge. This program is designed to help you live an all around healthy lifestyle. We will use a point system that will not be based on weight loss. You can get points by drinking 64 ounces of water each day, getting 8 hours or sleep, and other daily changes to help you start or continue being healthy before the holidays. This challenge will also have fun daily activities, such as squats and lunges along with paying it forward and going on walks at the Tiger Trail. There will also be ways to win prizes, gain a new support system within our private Facebook group, and learn new ways to live a healthy lifestyle. This challenge is a team challenge to help you maintain support along the way. You must have at least 2 members but there is no limit on how many are on your team. Each week, the team captain will be expected to report your team points. We will average the points based on how many are on your team, so just because you have 10 people on your team, doesn’t mean you will automatically have the most points in the challenge. At the end, the winning team will receive half of the registration fees from signups! The more teams we have, the most money your team could win in the end! Last years winners received around $450. To sign up, you can come into the Salem Community Center @ the Armory and pick up a registration form, sign up online by sending the form to kelsey@salemcommunitycenter.org or print out a form and drop it off and pay your fee in person. This challenge is $15 per person for fitness center members or $30 per person for non-members. You can register at the Salem Community Center@The Armory or sign up online by sending the registration form to kelsey@salemcommunitycenter.org. If you have any questions please call 729-8163.

An accident happened in Crawford County Tuesday afternoon at 1:45 on Route F at Schroyer Road that took the life of a man from St. James. According to the highway patrol, a 1991 Mack Dumptruck driven southbound by 22-year old Justin Brim of St. James, suffered
a tire blowout on a curve. The dumptruck then traveled off the roadway and struck a tree. Brim was pronounced dead at the scene by the Crawford County Assistant Coroner Nikki Gamblin at about 2:12 that afternoon. His body was taken to the Crawford County Morgue in Cuba. The Mack truck was totaled and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing of Rolla. This is the second fatality in Troop I for September and 21st for 2020.

The Dent County Sheriffs Office has released a number of reports. On Thursday September 3rd a deputy traveled to a residence in the 200 block of West Franklin Street to serve an arrest warrant. As a result, a 33-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. The next day on the 4th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 4000 block of Dent County Road 6150. During the course of the traffic stop, a 29-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Saturday the 5th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 3190 and Route U. During the course of the traffic stop, a 19-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while his drivers license or driving privileges canceled, suspended, or revoked and failure to comply with ignition interlock device requirement. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Labor Day, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a disturbance occurring in middle of Highway 72 near the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Deputies traveled to the area and during the course of the incident, a 23-year-old Salem man was arrested for assault in the 4th degree. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. That same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 21000 block of Highway C. As a result of the stop, a 58-year-old Rolla woman was arrested for a DWI, a second offense, and also for failing to drive on the right half of the roadway. The woman was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where she was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Tuesday the 8th, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a physical domestic disturbance occurring at a residence in the 100 block of Dent County Road 2130. Deputies traveled to the residence and a 31-year-old Edgar Springs man was arrested and placed on a 12-Hour Sober Hold. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. And finally on the 9th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1100 block of South Main Street. During the course of the traffic stop, a 50-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active warrant through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and the Salem Police Department. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. If anyone has any information about an ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds Missourians ages 16 and older they may obtain their hunter-education certification through an all-online format. The online option allows Missourians ages 16 and older to complete their certification at their convenience at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The all-online format is available at www.hunter-ed.com/missouri/. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person hunter-education skills sessions are limited in quantity and capacity. Skills sessions are necessary for anyone ages 11-15 to complete their hunter-education certification. MDC Hunter Education and Shooting Range Coordinator Justin McGuire says that for the safety of the public, staff, and volunteers, our instructors have had to make some changes to the frequency and size of our in-person offerings. If you’re age 16 and up and need your hunter education certification for this fall he encourages you to take advantage of the all-online course if possible. This will make more spots available for kids ages 11-15 who are required to attend an in-person skills session to complete their certification. The cost of the online certification is $19.95, which is paid to the online provider, not MDC. The all-online option requires the passing of a final exam but has no skills portion. MDC notes that, unless selected for a managed hunt, youth under the age of 16 are not required to have hunter education certification to hunt with a firearm as long as they hunt in the immediate presence of an adult age 18 or older who is hunter education certified or age exempt during youth season and properly licensed during regular seasons. Learn more about MDC hunter education and certification requirements online at www.mdc.mo.gov/huntereducation.