Local News

Today is the first day that Missourians are able to apply for the first elk-hunting season in modern history in Missouri. The Missouri Conservation Commission has approved the issuance of five permits for hunting bull elk for the 2020 season. Four general permits will be for the public and one permit will be reserved for qualifying area landowners. Missouri’s first pending elk hunt comes after years of restoration efforts of the once-native species by MDC and numerous partners and supporters. For this first elk season, the Conservation Department has designated a nine-day archery portion running October 17th through the 25th and a nine-day firearms portion running December 12th through the 20th. The five permits will be for bull elk and will be valid for both portions. All permits will be assigned through a random-lottery drawing. A $10 application fee is required for those applying for the general permits. Qualifying landowners will not be required to pay the $10 application fee when applying for the landowner permit. Those selected for each of the five permits must pay a $50 permit fee. The Conservation Department will limit the random lottery to one application per-person, per-year with a 10-year “sit-out” period for those drawn for a general permit before they may apply again. If selected for a landowner elk permit, qualifying landowners will not be required to wait 10 years before again applying for a landowner elk permit. Qualifying landowners may apply once each year for a general elk hunting permit and for a landowner elk permit but are eligible to receive only one permit annually. General permits can be used in Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon counties, except the refuge portion of Peck Ranch Conservation Area. General permits are nontransferable. The landowner permit is also nontransferable and may only be filled on the landowner’s property in the counties mentioned. To apply for an elk permit, applicants must be Missouri residents at least 11 years of age by the first day of the hunt and have must be hunter education certified unless exempt due to age. You may apply for the random elk-permit lottery through May 31st online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through a permit vendor.

This is a reminder that free breakfast and lunches for children age 18 and under are still available at a number of locations through May 15th. These meals are available for ALL children. It doesn’t matter if you attended Salem R-80, any of the rural schools or were home schooled. The pick up locations have been reduced to three. In town meals can be picked up at the small yellow R-80 school bus at Salem Upper Elementary School at 1601 Doss Road from 10:30 until 12:00, Monday through Friday. Out of town locations will include the junction of Highways 32 & 72 and Dent County Road 4235 near the old candy striped store from 11:00 until 11:20. Meals will be served from the white Salem R-80 Suburban. This location is primarily for those living east on Highway 32/72 and surrounding county roads between Route P and Route W. The second out of town location will be the junction of Highway 32/72 and Route W from 11:30 until 11:50 where food will be served again from the white Salem R-80 Suburban. This area is basically for those living on Route W and the surrounding county roads, although food may be picked up at any location no matter where they live in Dent County.

The City of Salem Spring Clean Up weeks will be happening on your normal trash days starting the next two weeks starting with the week of May 4th and again during the week of May 11th by WCA, the city’s trash collection service. Also, the City Street Crews will be collecting yard waste beginning on Monday. That includes biodegradable bags of leaves or grass, as well as bundles of limbs, branches and twigs cut to no longer than four feet in length. Items the city will not pick up are appliances, electronics, furniture, lumber or building materials, recyclables or tires. Make sure you place your items curbside, but do not block sidewalks. If you have questions, contact the city administrative offices at 729-4811.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold special meetings Monday and Tuesday afternoon at the district administrative offices boardroom at 5:00 each day. These special meetings will be closed session meetings to discuss personnel. After the agenda is approved at each meeting, they will immediately go into closed session.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is informing the public effective Monday driver testing services will expand to include written testing for all classes of licenses and commercial driver license skills testing which will include the pre-trip, basic, and road testing however, non-CDL road testing is not included in this phase of service reinstatement. Those requiring the skills test for a CDL should note special priority is being given to applicants who have already passed a portion of the CDL skills test, applicants who had a CDL appointment scheduled prior to the suspension of testing last month, school bus operators over the age of 70 requiring annual testing, and applicants with other essential needs. When CDL applicants schedule an appointment, an examiner will review their COVID-19 form, and advise them to wear a face covering during testing and arrive in a sanitized vehicle. Applicants should wear face coverings while in driver examination facilities and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Face coverings will be removed briefly when the applicant’s photo is taken during the licensing process. The Patrol’s website will be updated with a list of designated drivers testing locations, days of service, hours of operation and phone numbers prior to Monday.

Dent County Commissioner Dennis Purcell attended a South Central Missouri Community Action Agency meeting last Tuesday via conference call. He reported that funding is still available for all assistance programs. Purcell said they have funds for energy assistance. Eligibility requirements for energy assistance are based on income, family size, available resources and if you are responsible for payment of home heating costs. Additionally, eligible households can receive heating and cooling assistance for verifiable crisis situations. The Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) funds can be used to prevent or restore disconnected service, assist with emergency repairs and furnace replacements and even purchase wood stoves and air conditioners. Based upon funding, the Winter ECIP is available from November through May. There is also a summer ECIP program available if any funding remains. Purcell went on to report the agency also has funds available for weatherization. This program is a free service for homeowners or renters who qualify. Weatherization crews can insulate and repair homes to make them more energy efficient. Weatherizing can make a home warmer during the winter and help save heating dollars. Purcell said the agency also offers free tax preparation and electronic filing to low to moderate income households who file federal and/or state income taxes. Elderly, disabled or disabled veterans who qualify for Missouri Property Tax or Certification of Rent credits can also receive free assistance. The mission of South Central Missouri Community Action Agency is to assist low-income families in their efforts to become self-sufficient by providing programs and services to improve the quality of their lives and the opportunity to eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty. If you have been adversely affected by current events that have limited your income or put you in a financial crisis, please contact your county South Central Missouri Community Action Agency Outreach office for help. In Dent County, call 573-729-3500; in Reynolds County, call 573-663-2855; or in Shannon County, call 573-325-8271.

Do you have your REAL ID compliant license or ID card yet? The Missouri Department of Revenue wants the public to know that the new REAL ID compliant driver’s license and ID cards are now available at your local license bureau. The Department began offering REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards in March 2019. Under Missouri law, applying for a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card is optional. Effective October 1st, 2020, residents of every U.S. state and territory will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card, or another form of ID accepted by the Transportation Security Administration, to board federally regulated domestic flights. Individuals will also be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card, or another form of acceptable ID, to access federal facilities, including military bases and federal courthouses, and to enter nuclear power plants. “REAL ID” comes from the REAL ID Act of 2005, a federal law that focused on fraud protection, anti-terrorism, and driver licenses and non-driver ID card security. The REAL ID Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses and ID cards and prohibits federal agencies from accepting for official purposes driver licenses and ID cards from states that do not meet these standards. Visit dor.mo.gov/drivers/real-id-information/ for more information.

The Farmer’ Market in Salem will be opening on Saturday, May 2nd and be open from 7:30 until noon. They will be practicing social distancing and will also have a hand washing station available for those who want to wash their hands while at the market. The Farmers Market is located behind the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce office at 200 South Main Street and next to the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center. Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy fresh vegetables, fresh eggs, bakery items and so much more.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports for Friday, April 24th. A deputy traveled to a residence in the 10500 block of South Highway 19 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 34-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail where he later posted bond and was released. Also on the 24th, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suspicious vehicle near a residence in the 42000 block of Highway 72. Deputies located the vehicle in the 1000 block of East 3rd Street and initiated a traffic stop. 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 Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met April 16th at the Health Center at 1010 East Scenic Rivers Blvd. Health Center Administrator Kendra Mobray updated the Board on the Health Center’s response to COVID-19. She has conducted numerous meetings with local officials, briefings with community stakeholders, weekly calls with Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and Governor Mike Parson, radio interviews and responded to 100’s of phone calls, messages, emails, etc. She worked with local officials to enforce “stay-at-home” and social distancing orders. Health Center staff was divided into two teams working split shifts to avoid the entire staff needing to be quarantine in the event of an exposure. Health Center services are being provided by appointment only. Mobray reported that outpatient lab services were provided for 87 clients in March. She presented the draft report from Maloney, Wright and Robbins for the 2017/2018 audit, which showed no findings in each accounting record reviewed. In contract updates she noted that the Pubic Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) funding for FY20, which runs through June 30, 2020, has been exhausted as of March 31st with a deficit of $6,702.02 due to COVID-10 response. The Health Center has submitted an application to SEMA for FEMA reimbursement. Local Public Health Agencies are reaching out to legislators and the Missouri DHSS as well as the Center for Disease Control to find other funding sources to support local response efforts. Mobray reported that all other programs are being conducted either via phone or mail, or are currently on hold due to the COVID-19 response. Mobray said there have been 443 confirmed cases of influenza reported in Dent County. The Health Center investigated 2 cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, 1 case of Giardiasis and 1 case of Campylobacteriosis during March. The health center expenses were approved before the next regular board meeting was set for May 21st at 5:00. The meeting was adjourned.

Dent County Health Center Administrator Kendra Mobray wants people to know that you can find on the Dent County Health Center Facebook Page the “Show Me Strong Recovery Plan and What to Expect from Phase 1.” This two page guide lists the plan for a soft opening for the area on May 4th and how some businesses may have to make some adjustments to allow for social distancing. If you have further questions, contact Mobray at 729-3106.

An accident happened in Maries County on Monday afternoon around 5:10 at the junction of Highway 63 and Highway 42. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Chevy Suburban driven by 67-year old Mark Moss of Dittmer, Missouri, turned northbound into the path of the Highway Patrol 2020 Ford Explorer driven northbound by 42-year old Brian Crawford of Rolla, causing the patrol vehicle to impact the driver’s side of the Suburban. The Ford Explorer came to rest in the roadway while the Suburban traveled across the roadway and came to rest in the west ditch. Suffering minor injuries were Officer Brian Crawford who was taken by a highway patrol vehicle to Phelps Health in Rolla, and Mark Moss who was taken to Phelps Health by the Maries Osage County Ambulance. Everyone involved was wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. Both vehicles were totaled in the accident with Ron Dishman’s Towing of Rolla removing the Highway Patrol Ford Explorer and Plaza Towing of Vienna removing the Suburban. Estimated damage to the Explorer was $30,000 as there were only 8,300 miles on the vehicle. The accident involving an officer was investigated by the Major Crash Investigation Unit Team #4.

A one vehicle accident occurred Monday morning around 6:30 in Phelps County on Route J about two miles north of Duke. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2009 Ford Ranger being driven by 75-year old Charlie Dilmore of Raymondville was traveling south when the Ranger went off the right side of the roadway down an embankment, striking several small trees before catching fire. Dilmore, who was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, was taken by Phelps ambulance to General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Hunters, anglers, and trappers who use the Missouri Department of Conservation’s free MO Hunting mobile app need to perform an update to continue to get the most current regulations and data information, as well as to be able to apply for an elk hunting permit that begins on May1st and will last until May 31st. Both Apple and Android users need to install the update. Apple requires users to have at least the iOS-10 version to use the updated MO Hunting app. Android requires users to have at least Android 5. For more information on MO Hunting, go online to mdc.mo.gov/mohunting.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports for Tuesday, April 21st. A deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of Dent County Road 5010. During the course of the traffic stop, a 33-year-old Salem man was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Later that same day, deputies were conducting an investigation concerning a violation of an order of protection. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the suspect was an inmate at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail. The 59-year-old Salem man was fingerprinted and remains in the custody at the Dent County Jail. A probable cause affidavit was forwarded to the Dent County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office after the investigation. Also on April 21st, deputies traveled to a residence in the 10500 block of South Highway 19 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 34-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. On Thursday, April 23rd, the he was able to post bond and was released. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for the regular meeting at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in attendance to provide the commissioners with the CART receipts received in April. Williams reported the county received $57,959.79 this April while in 2019 during April the county received $52,310.88. Year-to-date, the county is up $5,544.10 over last year which is an increase of 2.56%. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell indicated the county would be stockpiling two inch base rock from Melrose Quarry and Asphalt. He said the men would be performing the 500 hour service on Grader #38 and also replacing stolen or downed county road signs in numerous locations. Purcell went on to say that men would be repairing potholes on Dent County Road 6180 which is a chip and seal road. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2550 which is a Department of Conservation road. He added that men would be working on Grader #31 and checking for some washouts throughout the district from the rain that came in Thursday as well as Friday night into Saturday. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he has been staying in touch almost daily with the Dent County Health Center Administrator Kendra Mobray to stay up to date on the COVID-19 situation in Dent County. Skiles was pleased to say that as of Monday morning there were still no reported cases of the coronavirus in Dent County. He said that Governor Mike Parson is putting in place two phases to open the state back up to more normal economic activities. Those phases will be announced this week. The commissioners agreed to plan on opening the courthouse back up on Monday, May 4th, but will continue to only have commission meetings on Monday for the time being. Skiles stated people that come in the courthouse will still have to try to abide by social distancing. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported absentee voting continues for the June 2nd Municipal Election and the last day to register to vote for the August 4th election is July 11th. Curley said she was going to apply for a grant of up to $20,000 for protective supplies for the workers and judges at the polling locations that would include masks, gloves and hand sanitizers. Purcell said he attended a Tourism Tax Committee meeting last Monday and four reimbursements were submitted and all four were approved for a total of $30,133.00. He also said two event proposals were submitted and they were both approved. Dwight Ramsburg from Septagone came in to present the commissioners with an update on the jail construction. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

After being cooped up for weeks during the COVID 19 pandemic, warmer weather and the need for continued social distancing could find many more motorcycles on our roadways this spring and summer. The Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety want to remind motorists to Watch for Motorcycles in order to help prevent motorcycle crashes, deaths and injuries on Missouri roadways. This awareness campaign will run during the month of May and on holidays through the summer. According to Jon Nelson MoDOT assistant to the state highway safety and traffic engineer preliminary data shows that approximately 15% of Missouri traffic fatalities in 2019 involved a motorcycle, with 120 motorcyclist lives lost. MoDOT wants to see that number decrease this year by reminding motorists to be mindful of motorcyclists on the road and by reminding both motorcyclists and other drivers to obey speed limits, put down the phone, and never drive impaired. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers the following tips to drivers on how to prevent a fatal crash with a motorcycle. Allow the motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times, always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic, check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections, and never drive distracted or impaired. Motorcyclists must also take precautions to remain safe on the road. Motorcyclists can increase their safety by following these steps. Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear, obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed and trained, wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to increase visibility, ride in the middle of the lane where you will be more visible to drivers, never ride distracted or impaired, anticipate the moves of other drivers and be extra cautious of road conditions and debris. Experts recommend riders also complete motorcycle training before getting out on the road. There are 23 training locations in Missouri. You can find the one nearest you at www.mmsp.org. For more information, visit www.saveMOlives.com.

During Monday’s COVID-19 briefing, Governor Mike Parson announced the first phase of the “Show Me Strong Recovery” Plan outlining how Missouri will gradually begin to reopen economic and social activity on Monday, May 4th. This framework will allow the state to work through a gradual reopening, leading to broader economic recovery. During phase one of the plan, citizens may begin returning to economic and social activities but must adhere to social distancing requirements, including maintaining six feet of space between individuals in most cases. There are currently no limitations on social gatherings as long as necessary precautions are taken and six feet of distance can be maintained between individuals and/or families. Additionally, all businesses can be open provided that the social distancing guidelines set forth in the new health order are followed. Some businesses will be required to take additional precautions to protect their employees and the public, such as occupancy limits at retail locations. Local officials will have the authority to put further rules, regulations, or ordinances in place so long as they are not inconsistent with the statewide order. Some communities may be able to reopen at a faster rate than others. For more information, contact Kendra Mobray at the Dent County Health Center at 729-3106.

City of Salem City Administrator Ray Walden issued a press release on Friday, April 24th addressing the history of the City of Salem AMI project and utility billing delays. In the press release, Walden explains that in 2019, the board of aldermen approved a recommendation to proceed with the proposal by Nexgrid for an AMI Network with city employees installing the electric meters, and quotes would be solicited for a contractor to install new water meters and modules that turned out to be Second Sight Systems. After that, representatives from Nexgrid worked with the city utility staff to finalize the design for a system that would meet the city’s requirements. The city then ordered 2,600 electric meters and 2,200 water meters and modules. The modules the city used had to be programmed before they were shipped to Salem. The electric meters were installed first as they provided the part of the network that the water meter modules would connect to. The water meter and module installation followed. But some of the data captured from the old and new meters did not sync with the city’s existing system. This required unexpected manual steps to correct. As soon as the issues were identified, they were communicated to the installer’s project management team. The issues were related to the meter serial numbers and the service addresses obtained in the installation process as they needed to match up correctly to what was in the old billing system so that the new system could properly populate data into the city’s billing system. Walden states the correcting of the data sync issues sometimes involved accessing account and service information in both the existing billing system and the new AMI system. Service personnel also occasionally needed to have meter numbers and service locations confirmed in the field. Walden estimates the project to date has required about an additional 200 man hours of staff time over what was originally planned. The issues causing the first billing delay started with what would have been the normal November 2019 bill that was processed in December of 2019. City staff continued to work on the data issues with the next utility bills being processed in February of 2020. The city did provide notice on social media and through regular media outlets in both cases that utility bills would be delayed. Walden reports the next bill cycle was processed in April 2020 using the final manual reads of meters that have been replaced with the new AMI meters. Most of the May bill cycle will come from the new AMI system with regular monthly bill cycles expected after that. The final shipment of water meters was delayed due to supplier issues and the shipment of the remaining modules was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Delivery of the remaining modules is expected before the end of April with the contractor returning as soon as possible to complete the installation. The original cost of the project was estimated to be $1.4 million dollars and the project is expected to come in under budget. A benefit of the AMI system is utility customers can ask for detailed data of the electric and water usage they consume and that includes identifying potential leaks and excessive electric usage. Once the system is fully installed and functional, a customer portal will be opened where each individual can access their consumption and billing history, and provide the ability to pay online or over the phone. The city is also looking at the possibility of e-billing and options to support that program. Walden states in the release that the city realizes the interruption of regular billing cycles has represented an inconvenience to its customers. The delays have compounded the prior existing backlog between usage and billing. With the new AMI system providing the capability of billing to reflect more recent consumption, the city will be offering their customers some options after the city’s COVID-19 Emergency Declaration expires. These options include a discount to get current (not yet determined,) budget billing and pay as you go (or prepaid electric usage). The city is preparing letters to customers that will provide more specific information. The city appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation during this transition. Walden wanted to let Salem businesses know that if they need documented utility usage for meeting their SBA COVID-19 assistance requirements, or if anyone has questions about their account, please call the utility office at 729-4117.

A special closed meeting of the Salem R-80 board of education to discuss personnel will be held this evening at 6:00 in the district administrative offices board room. After approval of the agenda the board will adjourn and move into executive session to discuss personnel pursuant to RSMO 610.021 before adjourning.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports. On Wednesday, April 15th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of East Truman Street. During the course of the traffic stop, a 37 year-old Salem man was arrested for operating a motor vehicle upon a highway without a valid license. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. Then on Friday, April 17th, deputies responded to a residence in the 1000 block of Highway W for a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a 69 year-old woman was the reported victim. The total value of the property that was stolen is approximately $1,000.00. This report is still under investigation. Finally, on Sunday, April 19th, deputies responded to a residence in the 1000 block of Dent County Road 6370 for a report of a disturbance. During the course of the investigation, a 21-year-old Salem man was arrested for armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and harassment in the 1st degree. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and incarcerated. The 21-year-old is currently being held on a $50,000 cash or professional surety bond at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information relative to any investigation.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday afternoon around 4:15 on Gibbs Street near Warfel. The report from the Salem police department states that a 2003 Chevrolet S-10 owned and operated by Aden Melton was traveling west on East Gibbs and stated he was having mechanical issues with the vehicle. The S-10 traveled off the right side of the street striking a concrete culvert and overturned in the street coming to rest on the driver’s side. Melton, who was not wearing a safety restraint, received minor injuries. The S-10 sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

In challenging times, Missourians come together. The University of Missouri Extension and communities across the state are showing up for each other and working together in innovative and engaging ways to bring the resources of the University of Missouri to the people who need them. While the Dent County Extension office is closed during the statewide stay-at-home order, Dent County residents can still reach our local faculty and staff by calling 729-3196 or emailing our office at dentco@missouri.edu. Updated program announcements are available on our Dent County Extension Facebook page or by visiting extension.missouri.edu/events. Although in-person programs are postponed, the MU Extension continues to offer a range of research-based and relevant programming in online formats. An example includes the MU Soil Testing Lab. It is still open and accepting soil samples. Samples should be submitted directly to the MU Soil and Plant Testing Lab, 23 Mumford Hall, Columbia, MO 65211. Visit the lab’s website at soilplantlab.missouri.edu for detailed instructions and to generate a UPS shipping label. Make sure that you Include a completed sample information form. Forms are available for download. If you are a local food producer looking for new outlets to market your food to consumers during this time enter your farm information on the new Missouri Food Finder to help customers find your local food products at mofoodfinder.org. Youth and families looking for new activities should check out the MU 4H QuaranTIME programs at the Missouri 4-H Facebook page. A number of activities are available include cooking, ChickWatch, 4-H demonstrations and more! For questions or more info about the programs listed or resources at the Small Business Develop Centers website at sndc.missouri.edu, contact the Dent County Extension office at 729-3196 or email dentco@missouri.edu.

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day Thursday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a total of $1,030,000 to 23 Missouri school districts and one Missouri school bus transportation company to replace 52 older diesel school buses. The funds are part of $11.5 million to replace 580 buses for 157 school bus fleets in 43 states, each of which will receive rebates through EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act funding. The new buses will reduce pollutants that are linked to health problems such as asthma and lung damage. The only school in the area to receive the money is the Rolla 31 Public Schools. They will receive $100,000 for five buses. Applicants replacing buses with engine model years 2006 and older will receive rebates between $15,000 and $20,000 per bus, depending on the size of the bus. Since 2008, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program has funded more than 1,000 clean diesel projects across the country, reducing emissions in more than 70,000 buses.

On Monday, April 20th in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court in front of Judge Megan Seay, Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley reported that James Judd of Winfield, Missouri, pled guilty to tampering with a motor vehicle. Judd was sentenced to serve five years in the Department of Corrections and the sentence was executed. Curley also reported last week that Lacy Carpenter, Jr of Rolla was scheduled for trial for Statutory Sodomy in the 1st degree on June 16th. Carpenter was recently found deceased in his home in Rolla. Although Curley has been unable to locate any obituary details, his family confirmed that Carpenter passed away. No further efforts to prosecute will continue as a result.

The Salem Memorial District Board of Directors will hold a special board meeting conference call today at 1:00 to discuss the SBA Payroll Protection Program Board Resolution. To access the meeting, call Karen Brown at 729-6626.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library as well as through an online conference using Zoom. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas gave the summary of operations for the month of March where the hospital had 115 inpatient admissions with 318 inpatient census days. There were 1,700 outpatient registrations, 1,306 cardiopulmonary procedures, 9,407 lab tests, 1,294 radiology procedures, 701 rehabilitation treatments, 12 surgeries, 241 home health visits and 839 emergency room visits. There were a total of 210 ambulance runs in March with 172 patients transported and 38 dry runs. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $394,226 and had expenses over revenues after taxes of $370,011. Hospital Administrator Lucas said the contractuals in nursing, coding and billing services as well as architectural and construction expenses led the way as well as bad debt expense. Lucas said the hospital received $570,000 in direct aid for the COVID-19 expense to the hospital and that money does not have to be paid back. The hospital also will get an advance payment from CMS of about three million dollars which is about 120 days of normal receivables. This is just in case the hospital needs it and the money after 120 days will be used to cover the billing to CMS. Lucas was questioned about the job Truebridge is doing in getting the collections up-to-date and he said the first month they were trying to figure out how Salem does their billing. He said after that they have been making progress and hopes to see results with the over 90-day due VA account that has more than 1.1 million dollars outstanding. Lucas said the cash on hand has risen to 43 days from 35 last month with a positive cash flow in March of $545,496. The Acute Care Staffing and Acuity report showed an average of 10 patients per day, but the patient total went down drastically after the coronavirus alert was put out in late March. Director of Nursing Debbie Hines said there were 147 cases of the flu in the month of March after 135 in February. This flu season there have been 309 confirmed flu cases. Hospital Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards said the Hospital Foundation still plans on having their golf tournament on June 5th and the Wings and Strings is still scheduled for September 12th. Edwards said the USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grant meeting with the Program Field Representative Chris Collins happened on April 17th and the Certificate of Authority was completed. Edwards said with the schools currently closed, this will slow down the process, but the schools will still work with the hospital on the project. Edwards reported the support group meetings have all been postponed for the time being, but will start again after things get back to normal. In the COVID-19 update, there have been 27 tests given in Dent County with two tests pending. Sixteen of those tests have been at the Salem Hospital. They now have a drive through testing site where you can call the hospital if you have symptoms of the coronavirus to be tested. They will tell you where to park your vehicle and staff will come to your car to take the test. The staff has their own supply of masks, goggles and faceshields, they are required to wear homemade masks at work and are encouraged to wear masks outside of the work area. The hospital has a surge plan and they have daily briefings with the directors and staff to be ready. Administrator Lucas said he would schedule a finance committee meeting for the second week in May and then probably have another meeting before the board of directors meeting on May 19th. Lucas discussed the hospital expansion and renovation with the board and said the financing for the MRI has been approved and the footings for the MRI building have been poured with water and sewer lines installed. Concrete will be poured when the weather allows and remodeling is going on in the old maintenance area and the old medical records area. Currently, the administration office has been moved to the Physician Office Building 3 basement. Lucas stated the new board members swear-in would be at the June 16th meeting after the June 2nd Municipal Election. The Board approved the purchase of new blanket warmer for Acute Care from Steris Corporation that came in over budget at $9,592 before the board went into closed session.

A one vehicle accident occurred Tuesday afternoon shortly before 1:30 in Iron County on Highway 32 approximately 2 miles east of Bixby. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2003 Harley Davidson being ridden by 43-year old Lawrence Hamrick of St. James was traveling west when he ran off the right side of the highway and overturned. Hamrick was taken by ambulance to Phelps Health for treatment of minor injuries. The Harley sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by a private party.

Master gardener Thom Haines wants everyone to know that the Salem Community Garden behind the Salem Methodist Church is open and plots are available. The first plot is free and a second plot will cost you $10. This is a great stress reliever when working with your hands in the earth. Whether you have never done gardening before or you are master gardener, everyone is welcome to come and grow your own vegetables or fruits in the plots that have already been laid out. If you would be interested in having a plot at the Salem Community Garden or have any questions about the garden, contact Haines at 573-247-7592 or Sarah Massengale at 729-3196. Haines stated the Saturday morning workshops held once a month are currently not being held due to the need of social distancing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held its regular meeting Monday at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board heard bids for the removal of the old roof at the city administrative offices and install new shingles. Bids were received from Ferranto Roofing, Wisdom Roofing and Woods Roofing. The board accepted the low bid from Woods Roofing for $10,380. The board reviewed the two bids received for fireworks for Independence Day. The first bid came from Fleetwood Pyrotechnics LLC and it was submitted on time for $12,524 which includes the fireworks and the discharging of them. A late bid came in from Washington Way Fireworks for $16,000. The board voted to go with Fleetwood Pyrotechnics, LLC with a 4-0 vote. City Administrator Ray Walden said the Missouri S&T student project management class continued to work on projects even after their classes were postponed. He said he expects their reports by the end of the week. Walden said WCA Waste Management will hold their spring cleanup the weeks of May 4th through the 8th and May 11th through the 15th. He said the April electric bills have been sent out and the city hopes to have the May bills sent out in a more timely manner. Walden also said that Salem businesses that qualified for SBA Emergency Disaster Loans, such as the Payroll Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan that want to pay their utility bills with proceeds from those programs, should call the utility office at 729-4117. Walden asked the alderman to review the Records Management Policy and give feedback before the next meeting so that they can finalize the policy. Walden also brought samples of a new proposed City of Salem logo and colors for the alderman to review. He said communities like to use certain colors that attract people to the area and come up with something that can be used not only for the city, but the county and chamber as well. Walden said there are no dollars in this year’s budget to develop a logo but one needs to be done for the new website. Public Works Director Mark Nash presented a list of prioritized streets that would get the nova chip with the Park Street project being #1 at the top of the list. There is $200,000 in this year’s budget to work on the streets, but the alderman would like to get as many streets done as soon as possible during this slow time. Walden will work on a budget adjustment that would include next year’s budgeted amount for street work to be added to this year’s total for a better price on the paving product. The board approved Bill #3446 to enter into a one-year agreement with Wave Internet Technologies to allow them to use space on the water tower at Condray and Tower Streets for $100 per month. The board went on to approve by a 3-1 vote to purchase and install a RAW/WAS pump station for the waste water treatment facility. This was originally scheduled to be done in the second phase, but it had deteriorated to such a degree that it needs to be changed out soon or it will fail. Alderman James voted against it. The board also approved Resolution 7-2020 to do drainage improvements to the Salem City Park Little League fields for $23,500 by Donald Maggi, Inc. by a 3-1 vote. The money will come out of the Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund. Alderman James again voted against the motion to approve. The board meeting was then adjourned.

The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of March. They issued three equipment repair orders, seven summonses to appear in court, 12 warning tickets, and eleven traffic tickets, plus they also served three fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated six traffic accidents, wrote three property damage reports, seven stealing reports, and a death report. The department investigated wto charges of driving while having a license revoked or suspended, one possession of a controlled substance report, 6 domestic violence reports, a report of endangering the welfare of a child, along with a report of a lost or stolen license plate and a report of the failure to obey a lawful order. The department was also dispatched for 61 animal calls, 32 ambulance assist calls, and performed 48 traffic stops for the month. The Salem Police Department received 936 calls for service during the month of March and had 75 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 7,549 miles during the month of March. There were seven males and 4 females arrested in March.

The National Park Service is soliciting applications for an agricultural permit for hay cutting covering one parcel in Ozark National Scenic Riverways within Shannon County, Missouri. The Special Use Permit will be awarded based on the following criteria. First, the ability to perform the work; secondly, interest in and knowledge of the agricultural permit program within the park; and also the payment of the required annual fee. Applicants will not be allowed to bid on parcels; only the application answers will be assessed. The field available is the Cedar Bluff Field, which is 52 acres. The effective date for the permit is estimated to be May 5th this year, and the expiration date of the permit will be December 31st of 2024. Completed applications must be received by Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Van Buren no later than 4:00 in the afternoon on April 28th. Completed applications can be either mailed or emailed. For more information about the agricultural SUP program or to receive an application packet, please visit the park’s website at https://www.nps.gov/ozar/ or contact Kim Houf at (573) 944-9477.

Even in these trying times, the Missouri Department of Transportation maintenance crews continue their work to make state roadways safer for those who travel. One way motorists can help is by exercising their responsibility to keep Missouri highways free of litter. According to Natalie Roark, the state highway maintenance director, every cigarette butt, food wrapper, soda can and plastic bag thrown out of a moving vehicle creates ugly debris, detracts from the safety and beauty of Missouri’s roadsides and adds to the workload of maintenance employees who are already operating under challenging conditions. Last year, MoDOT spent $6.4 million to remove litter from more than 385,000 acres of roadsides along 34,000 state highway miles. With the department’s annual “NoMOreTrash Bash” canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, MoDOT is seeking even more help in keeping Missouri highways free from litter. Some ways you can help include not littering by keeping a bag for trash in your car or truck and disposing of it properly. Also, secure your load to make sure nothing blows out or off of your vehicle into the roadway. In addition to creating litter, unsecured loads can be a safety hazard to the vehicles behind you. Every effort by the public to help eliminate or by cleaning up litter helps offset MoDOT’s trash removal costs and allows the department to put more money back into maintaining Missouri’s roads and bridges.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance so Commissioner Gary Larson was named as the acting Presiding Commissioner for the meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that Fabick has replaced the grader that was down with a bad transmission with a loaner to serve the Bunker area. He said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5590 and 6470 while only grading would be done on county road 4080. Purcell indicated brush would be cut on county roads 6220 and 6230. He went on to say the grader blades on grader #38 were being changed out before it was leaving the shop. District 2 Commissioner Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3030, 3040, 3165, 4300 and 4330 while materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Road 2160. He said brush would be cut on county road 2120. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said absentee voting for the June 2nd Municipal election continues and you need to call her office and they can bring the ballot out to your vehicle. Her office number is 729-4144. She also said that you must be registered to vote by July 8th to vote in the August 4th primary that will be held for state and county government offices. You will have to pick a particular party in that election. At the last meeting, Sheriff Bob Wells brought in bids for a computer system for the jail offices and the winning bid went to Adorama from New York for $11,638.14. He also received bids on the trash service for different locations in the county that included the Road and Bridge Department, the courthouse, the sheriff’s department and the new jail. The board approved the package price from Family Trash Service for $411.50 per month. Wells also brought in an application for the Missouri Department of Public Safety LESO Program which would give them access to surplus property and Commissioner Skiles signed the application. Wells also discussed a new sign in front of the jail and recommended the commission go with the quote from Action Graphics. Wells went on to talk with the commissioners about the concrete pad/carport fence at the end of the storage buildings. He said he would get back with the commissioners with a quote at a later date. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Out of an abundance of caution and in response to the extension of the statewide “Stay Home Missouri” Order, Missouri State Parks is extending temporary closures of campgrounds, park-run lodging, offices and visitor centers and extending the suspension of special events and programming through May 3rd. This suspension includes Missouri State Parks special events, including both on- and off-site programming, third party events, group reservations and guided tours. Missouri State Park visitor centers, offices, campgrounds and lodging will remain closed through May 3. Most state parks and state historic sites will remain open for day-use, with the exception of temporary closures at five state parks to address overcrowding and concerns regarding public safety. State park temporary closures in the immediate area through May 3rd includes the temporary closure of Elephant Rocks State Park. Gates to individual parking lots may close at all state parks when the lot is near capacity. For questions regarding state park or historic site campground or park-run lodging, please call the Reservation Call Center at 1-877-422-6766. The call center is open daily from 7:00 in the morning until 7:00 at night. For an existing reservation with concessionaire lodging in the immediate area, call Echo Bluff State Park at 844-322-3246 or Montauk State Park at 573-548-2434.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their April meetin this evening in the hospital library beginning at 6:00. After approval of the agenda and minutes of the March 17th regular meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations for the month of March, a Home Health report and hospital auxiliary report followed by the Chief of Nursing Report for the month by Debbie Hines. A report on the hospital foundation, plus the marketing and community perception report will be given by Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards. In old business the Board will review the FY’21 Finance Committee Report, receive a COVIC-19 update, plus be updated on the Hospital Expansion and Renovation. New business will include the Board Director Swear-in postponement until June 16th, 2020. Due to COVIC-19 social distancing guidelines the April meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will be held by telephone/video conference. The meeting is open to the public. For information to access the meeting, please email kbrown@smdh.net or call (573) 729-5917, extension 4005.

This week is Work Zone Awareness week and the Missouri Department of Transportation is using this week as a nation-wide reminder of the potential dangers of driving through work zones. Although traffic levels are currently lighter than normal, department officials and local law enforcement are seeing a corresponding increase in speeds. In addition, much of the existing work will remain in place through the remainder of the year, after many of the stay-at-home restrictions have been lifted. MoDOT St. Louis District Engineer Tom Blair says that work zones can change rapidly from day to day, as crews work on the many construction projects needed to keep Missouri roadways operational for years to come. In addition, they have many maintenance teams out repairing potholes, picking up trash and many other tasks to keep our roads safe for travel, as well as movement of goods and supplies. They ask that drivers slow down and pay attention as they see our crews out there; move over if they can to give a little extra room, buckle up and put down cell phones and other distractions. So far this year, 10 MoDOT employees have been struck. All of those crashes have been into truck mounted attenuators, vehicles that protect MoDOT employees by helping catch and stop vehicles that may be heading into a work zone. Across the state, 18 Missourians died in crashes in work zones in 2019.

The Salem License Bureau located in the Crossroads Shopping Center is open for business again. They ask that you please use social distancing when waiting in line.

The State of Missouri has awarded $3 million in grants to help expand broadband internet access in Missouri. In a press release from Governor Mike Parson’s office, it says sixteen companies are getting the funding to offer high-speed service to more than 4,400 Missouri homes, businesses and farms. The latest Federal Communications Commission data shows nearly 600,000 rural Missourians lack access to broadband internet. According to Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon, it is crucial that Missourians have an opportunity to get connected during this time in which many citizens have been instructed to stay home. Reliable internet access is critical to meet needs for education, telemedicine, telecommuting, and overall quality of life. One of the recipients was the Steelville Telephone Exchange and they are to provide service to the Bixby area. They received $445,917 to do the project.

A fatal accident occurred on Friday afternoon at 2:48 in Crawford County on Highway 19 on Lindberg Road about four miles south of Cuba. According to the highway patrol report, a 2004 Western Star Tractor Trailer driven by 32-year old James Kramer of Park Hills, MO, was traveling southbound when he swerved to avoid striking an unidentified vehicle in front of him. The tractor trailer crossed the center line where the tractor trailer stuck a 2009 Chevrolet Express Van driven northbound by 52-year old Sergio Navarro from Cuba. A 2011 GMC Yukon also driven northbound by 40-year old Betty Counts of Steelville, swerved to the right to avoid hitting the Chevrolet Express Van. The Yukon crossed Lindberg Road and came to rest against an embankment. Navarro was pronounced dead at the scene by the Crawford County Deputy Coroner Darren Drake at 2:56 that afternoon and the body was transported by the coroner to Hutson Funeral Home in Cuba. Counts suffered moderate injuries and was transported to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan by North Crawford Ambulance. Two occupants of the Yukon, a 12-year old female and a 15-year old male, also suffered moderate injuries and were transported to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan by Steelville Ambulance. All injured parties were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident except Counts. The tractor trailer sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Big Boys Towing. The Chevrolet Express Van was totaled and removed from the scene by Chris and Sons Towing. The Yukon also sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. The highway patrol was assisted by the Crawford County Sheriffs Department, North Crawford County Ambulance, the Steelville Ambulance, the Cuba Police Department and the Cuba Fire Department.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 7:00 at the City Hall Auditorium at 202 North Washington. The board will hear bids on tearing off the old roof at the City Administration Building and installing new shingles, as well as bids on fireworks for the 2020 Independence Day Fireworks Display. After the consent agenda, the board will hear from City Administrator Ray Walden about current city projects and a records management policy. The board will also hear feedback on the City of Salem branding color logos that were presented in an online video conference. In the introduction and reading of bills, the board will hear Bill #3446 which is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to act as a representative of the city to execute a tower lease agreement between the city and Wave Internet Technologies, LLC for the installation of a wireless broadband access point on the water tower at the corner of Tower and Condray Streets for one year. They will also hear Bill #3447 that allows the mayor to sign all the documents necessary to proceed with the purchase and installation of a RAS/WAS pump station and associated appurtenances. Finally, the board will hear Resolution #7-2020 that would authorize the mayor to sign a proposal between the City of Salem and Donald Maggi, Inc. for drainage improvements to be made at the Salem Little League Baseball Field at 1100 West Rolla Road. The meeting will then be adjourned. The meeting is open to the public and social distancing will be enforced. The meeting can also be live streamed on the KSMO radio website at www.ksmoradio.com.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education in closed session Thursday night hired Derek Freeman as the Head Track Coach along with Dylan Wyrick and Travis Sampson Assistant Track Coaches. They also employed Kristen Williams as the Middle School Volleyball Coach, Courtney Smith as the Middle School Cheerleading Coach, and Andy Felkerson as an assistant Boys basketball Coach and High School Math Teacher. Also in closed session, classified staff building lists were shared with the board and a personnel issue was discussed before they adjourned.

Salem R-80 High School Principal Marty Anderson reported at the Salem R-80 Board meeting Thursday night that Salem will utilize the 3rd Quarter Grades as of March 6th as the core of the 2nd Semester Grades. He said students completing extra credit homework will impact their established 3rd quarter grades, plus for each week of homework a student completes, they will receive an average daily grade of extra credit in a class of their choice. Anderson stated that if the school cannot arrange for students to physically turn in the homework packet handed out on the last day of school by May 1st, extra credit will be awarded automatically. He said the semester grades will be posted on May 15th and Senior Transcripts will be ready for post secondary requests.