Local News

Before the Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting Tuesday evening in the hospital library, an audit report from Jean Nyberg of B K & D CPA and Advisors was presented. Nyberg said an unmodified accountant’s opinion was given which indicates it was a clean audit. She mentioned this was a strange year as the hospital received deferred CARES Act funds of approximately 4.4 million dollars and Medicare Advance Payments of $3.25 million dollars that are right now considered liabilities. The hospital also issued bonds in the amount of $2.5 million dollars for renovation projects and took advantage of the Payroll Protection Program valued at $2.3 million dollars. Nyberg stated that when the hospital was without a chief financial officer, financial records were weak for accuracy as well as the patient’s accounts receivable. Reconciliation of the net income revealed numerous adjustments that totaled $3,136,236 that showed expenses over revenues of $1,298,227 for the fiscal year. She said the days revenue in accounts receivable are artificially inflated with the pandemic at 58 days while current assets for the 2020 fiscal year came in at over $25 million dollars. Days cash on hand continues to be inflated at 177 and long term debt increased to over $4 million dollars with the bond issuance and ambulance purchase. The debt to capitalization ratio went up to 36.1% which is well below the 45% acceptable range for critical access hospitals. Before the renovation, Salem was at 5.3%. Even with the loss from operations, Nyberg said the operating revenue for Salem was up which is a good sign for the hospital. With the loss, the net operating margin for the hospital dropped to –6.7% with the total margin falling to –4.8%. The audit committee letter pointed out the significant journal entries and reconciliation that had to be made to the books, the continued lack of segregation of duties between the disbursements and revenue cycle, plus the some small deficiencies with the inventory and credit card purchases. After going over some COVID-19 related provisions with the board, Nyberg updated the board on some new mandates on the horizon. She said the hospital will have to have total price transparency on at least 300 shoppable services by January 1st of 2021 or pay a $300 per day penalty until it is completed. She also said there was going to be a physician fee schedule change with Medicare’s conversion factor and a change in charges for CPT codes that will be released by December 2nd. Nyberg thanked the staff at the hospital for their cooperation with the audit.

A one vehicle accident happened Tuesday afternoon shortly after 3:00 on Dent County Road 3230 at Dent County Road 3240 one mile north of Salem. The report released by the highway patrol states that 60-year old Cynthia Indelicato of Salem was driving a 2002 Dodge pickup eastbound and failed to stop at the stop sign, went through the intersection, ran off the roadway and struck two trees. Indelicato was transported by the highway patrol vehicle to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The Dodge was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold a special closed session meeting at 5:30 this evening for a student issue before holding their regular board meeting at 6:00 at the R-80 District Administrative Offices Board Room. At the meeting, the board will hear from Dr. Bernie Sirois on the school foundation before Superintendent Lynne Reed will update the board on the COVID-19 situation, talk about the Athletic Advisory and the leadership team meetings. Each of the building principals will give their reports and Athletic Director Phillip Karr will give an update on the Athletic Advisory committee. In new business, the nurses sub pay will be discussed as well as COVID restrictions. The board will also set the board filing dates for the next Municipal Election. The board will then adjourn and go into executive session. The regular board meeting of the Salem R-80 School Board of Education is open to the public.

A one vehicle accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 4:40 in Maries County on Highway H near County Road 422. According to the report from the highway patrol a 2010 Hyundai Elantra being driven by 20 year old Nathaniel Robinson of St. James was northbound and swerved to avoid an animal in the road causing the vehicle to travel off the left side of the road, strike a tree, and overturn. Robinson was taken by Ozark Central Ambulance to Phelps Health for treatment of moderate injuries. The Elantra was totaled and removed from the scene by Owens Towing.

Wal-Mart is making it easier for you to lend a helping hand to your local Dent County Salvation Army Service Unit. Going on now, customers at the Wal-Mart Superstore in Salem have the opportunity to donate to the Salvation Army by rounding up their total to the nearest dollar when paying at the register. This can only be done at any manned register. Additionally, the Red Kettle bell ringers will get an early start outside Wal-Mart this Saturday, November 21st. Normally, the famous red kettle collections locally wouldn’t start until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and yes, the bell ringers will also be out that day, and then every Friday and Saturday until Thursday, December 24th which of course is Christmas Eve. Counter kettles will also be located at various locations throughout the community. The kettles are the primary way that funds are raised to continue to meet the needs of the less fortunate in our community. Volunteer bell ringers are needed each year to help raise funds. To volunteer to ring the bell at the red kettle, please call Susie at 729-6771 or 247-7099 or The Salvation Army office at 729-8163.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory Monday night. Stan Podorski from the Salem Christmas Committee requested that 4th Street be closed on Saturday, December 5th from noon until 3:00 from Highway 19 to Jackson Street, and from Highway 19 to McArthur from 3:00 until 5:00 for the Healthy Dent County “Santa Dash” at 3:00 as well as to prepare for the Chamber of Commerce Parade of Lights. After the consent agenda was approved, Planning and Zoning Chairman Gary Brown addressed the board about the properties at 712 North Hickory and 713 North Oak. The owner, Noah Wills, wanted to separate the properties but they did not meet the required lot size or setbacks set by the city. Brown said the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve the request, if the Board of Adjustment waived the required setbacks which they did at their meeting on November 3rd. City Administrator Ray Walden reported there were some material delays on the new counters and cabinets and they are being installed this week. The new glass will then be installed along with the electric and ethernet cables, and once that is completed, the offices will then be ready to reopen. Until then, the City Administration offices will continue to run from the City Hall Council Chambers. Walden said a new updated video on city projects is on the city’s Facebook page. Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois reported that she has 20 participants who will have displays for the “Light up the Park” drive-through light display with possibly five or six more still possible. She also said work would continue at the old city hall as 186 seats have been ordered for the theatre section, plus the city is advertising for bids for new ceiling tiles and lights. Public Works Director Mark Nash said electric bills went out Thursday for the period of July 31st through August 29th. Walden said the city offices would be closed for Thanksgiving on November 26th and 27th. Kevin James brought up some continuing issues with the utility bills that still haven’t been solved from previous months and wants these problems addressed quickly. The board approved Bill #3466 that splits the properties at 712 N. Hickory and 713 N. Oak before discussing bills #3467 and 3468 that dealt with funding engineering services for an ADA accessibility study to city facilities. Robert Conaway from C.M. Archer Engineers explained that MoDOT is trying to make s Robert Conaway from C.M. Archer Engineers ure that cities start to comply with the 1990’s law and if they don’t comply soon, those cities may not qualify for other available grants through MoDOT like TAP. Archer will get a list from the city and check out the projects that need addressing. This will be the first step in creating a city-wide plan. The board then approved Bill #3467 that allows the mayor to execute the Traffic Engineering Assistance Program with MoDOT that will reimburse up to $8,000 in the engineering costs; and Bill #3468 that allows the mayor to execute an agreement with C.M. Archer Engineering to provide services to assess the transportation related ADA accessibility compliance of the city for $10,000. The board approved Bill #3469 that amended the qualifications for alderman as required by state statute. They also approved Bill #3470 that allowed for city to purchase property from Hershel Moser, Julia Moser and Kenneth Tyler Sherrell to build a new well for water storage for the growth of the city. In Resolution, 20-2020 the board postponed renewing the Memorandum of Understanding that allows William Lynch Elementary and the ECSE Developmental Pre-School to use the old city hall during emergency situations until the next meeting so that can add a clause that would require approval of the mayor or city administrator if for more than 24 hours. The board went on to approve Resolution 21-2020 that sets the date for the 2021 Municipal Election, filing dates, and qualifications of being an alderman. After a long discussion with City Attorney James Weber, the board elected to deny a permit for Samara Dozier at 1506 South Main to keep mini-pigs at her home. The board then went into closed session.

This fall, The Doe Run Company has pledged nearly $9,000 to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum at local school districts. The support is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to strengthen educational opportunities in Southeast Missouri and prepare area students for successful careers. Doe Run’s donation to Bunker R-III School District helped fund technology tools that enhance existing math curriculum. Students can use interactive tools and online videos to learn how to solve math problems, both when they are in school and at home. The donation to Viburnum Middle School will fund the purchase of CUE robots to teach coding skills, K’Nex bridge building kits, microscopes and other building materials that encourage active learning through creative problem-solving. Doe Run also helped Viburnum High School purchase two V5 competition starter kits from the VEX Robotics Company. Students in the Robotics Club will construct the robots this year to participate in the upcoming VEX Robotics competitions. At North Wood R-IV in Salem, Doe Run’s donation will fund STEM kits that enable middle school students to build prototypes, perform experiments, and analyze and interpret data. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM occupations are projected to grow by nearly 800,000 by 2029. Over the past year, Doe Run has donated $49,000 to support STEM programs and scholarships for elementary through college-level students to strengthen educational opportunities and prepare the future workforce.

Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge is reminding small business owners with 30 or less full time employees that there is less than one month left to apply for the Dent County CARES Act grant funds! The deadline to submit your application is December 10th. The funding limit is $50,000 per business. There is still roughly $800,000 remaining and anything not used by our Dent County businesses and non-profits will have to be sent back to the Federal Government. These funds are there to help you if your business is struggling with a hardship created by COVID-19? Don’t forget that non-profit organizations also qualify. If your business experienced employee layoffs, had to purchase additional safety items or had additional expenses due to COVID, you may get reimbursed for these items. Expenses may also be reimbursed if you had lower revenues or had to change the way you do business due to COVID that put a strain on your business. The grant funds may be used for operational needs, such as employee expenses, lease or mortgage payments, utilities, materials, supplies and services. You can also check out the Dent County CARES Act funding application at meramecregion.org/cares-act-funding. If you are not sure if your expenses qualify, contact Kelly Sink at kellysb@meramecregion.org or 573-265-2993. Even if you have applied or received other COVID-19 specific funding, that DOES NOT disqualify you for this program!

As more Missouri families turn on their furnace and spend time by the fireplace, it is time to remind everyone who uses natural or propane gas that now is a great time to review gas safety measures. When used properly, natural gas and propane are safe and efficient sources of energy, but it’s important to understand the hazards associated with a gas leak. People should use their senses to detect a leak and act fast if they smell gas. The odor is that of what some call “like rotten eggs.” Other gas safety tips include if you smell an odor or hear a hissing or leaking sound, evacuate immediately, taking all people and pets with you. Once you are safe, call 9-1-1. In the event of a suspected indoor gas leak, do not use light switches, cell phones, garage door openers or any electrical device that could generate a spark. If you spot an unusual area of dead vegetation near a pipeline, it could be a sign of a gas leak. Blowing dirt, ground fires, or continuously bubbling water may also indicate a gas leak. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, vacate the premises, get fresh air and call 9-1-1. Don’t try to be a hero when it comes to gas. Let the professionals discover the problem and correct it before going back into your home.

The Salem Police Department has released a number of reports. On the afternoon of October 29th just before 4:00, an officer was dispatched to the police department to take a report of stealing. It was reported that a vehicle parked in the 100 block of south Washington had a Citizen Watch stolen out of the center console sometime during the overnight hours. This incident is still under investigation. The value of the watch is estimated to be $396.00. That same afternoon shortly after 4:00, an officer conducted a traffic stop after observing the driver of a vehicle who appeared to be someone that had an active warrant. The warrant was confirmed, and a 27-year-old Salem woman was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. On Sunday morning, November 1st just before noon, an officer was dispatched to the 600 block of east Coffman for a report of a stolen firearm. It was reported that $50 in cash and a SCCY 9mm handgun was stolen out of a parked vehicle during the overnight hours. Video surveillance was reviewed, and the investigation is still ongoing. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, invites the public to visit the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s YouTube channel. Colonel Olson said they are launching the YouTube channel and invites the public to visit the channel. Their mission of service and protection extends to every person in this state. While the most important contacts are those that occur when a trooper speaks with someone or stops to assist them, it’s important that they reach their stakeholders wherever they happen to be. The Patrol’s YouTube channel provides them with another platform for educating and informing the public. The Patrol’s YouTube channel will host original videos to educate the public about traffic safety, the agency, the services it provides, and show the wide variety of career opportunities with the Patrol. Colonel Olson invites the public to take a few moments to visit the patrol’s YouTube channel, and view their launch video, “This is your Missouri State Highway Patrol.” The patrol intends to have an active YouTube channel, so stay tuned. Of course, you’ll still be able to find the highway patrol on their social media accounts.

An accident happened in Dent County at 3:51 Tuesday afternoon on Route Z about eight miles south of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, 31-year old Mary E. Moser of Jadwin was driving a 2014 Honda CRV northbound when the CRV traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Moser suffered serious injuries and was transported by the Mercy Lifeline to the University Hospital in Columbia. A passenger, a less than one-year old female, also suffered serious injuries and was taken by the Salem EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. The CRV was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted by the Jadwin Fire Department and the Dent County Sheriff’s Department.

Healthy Dent County has announced the Grand Opening of their new Gymnasium at the north side of the Salem Community Center@The Armory this afternoon with an open house from 4:00 to 5:30. The ribbon cutting will occur at 4:30 to officially open the gymnasium. Congressman Jason Smith representing Missouri’s 8th District will be in attendance for the event. The new gym is equipped with six retractable basketball goals and can be used for pickleball and volleyball as well. Everyone is welcome to attend! For more information about the gym, please call Healthy Dent County at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 729-8163 or stop by 1200 West Rolla Road.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission was awarded a $780,000 revolving loan fund from the Economic Development Administration CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants. The MRPC board approved the CARES RLF plan submitted to the Economic Development Administration for the use of the RLF funds, which will include a micro-loan lending program to meet working capital and fixed asset needs at its October 8th board meeting. The CARES RLF new loan program is designed to provide financing for small businesses, particularly those impacted by COVID-19. The loan program is structured to include simplified loan applications and closing procedures, reduced loan application fees, reduced borrower equity and collateral requirements and reduced interest rates. MRPC Business Loan Specialist Candace Connell said the MRPC has the money to lend to small businesses impacted by COVID-19 at really good rates for things like working capital, inventory, equipment, land and buildings. The MRPC and the Meramec Regional Development Corporation, who will work as the loan review agent, will consider loan requests from $5,000 to $200,000 for businesses located in the Meramec Region. The program will allow borrowers to finance up to 90 percent of the total project cost. Projects up to $50,000 do not require a participating lender. For projects over $50,000, a participating lender must finance a minimum of 25 percent up to 50 percent of the total cost. The loan terms are up to eight years for working capital and typically 15 years for fixed assets with reduced interest rates. The first loan was made at 3.5 percent. Additionally, for every $20,000 borrowed the business must create or retain one job and all businesses need to demonstrate an impact from COVID-19 when applying. This is MRPC’s third EDA-financed RLF.. Businesses and bankers interested in learning more about this new loan opportunity can contact Candace Connell, MRPC business loan specialist, at cconnell@meramecregion.org or by phone at 573-263-8651.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it has maintained its certification by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Forest Management Standard for 658,348 acres of state land. The certification follows an annual audit of MDC forestry practices for those lands. MDC has maintained its certified status since 2017 with annual audits confirming its forest-management practices continue to meet the SFI® standard. SFI is one of the world’s most recognized, independent third-party for forest-management certification standards and certification provides assurances of responsible practices across the forest products supply chain. MDC State Forester Justine Gartner said certification to SFI considers all aspects of our forest management process, from actions taken in the woods to the paperwork they keep in their files. MDC is extremely proud to maintain this certification, which means They have outside validation that they are properly managing forest resources to assure their health and sustainability. SFI’s Forest Management Standard is based upon principles, goals and performance measures that were developed nationally by professional foresters, conservationists and others with the intention of promoting sustainable forest management in North America. SFI and its many partners work together to balance environmental, economic, and social objectives such as conservation of wildlife habitat and biodiversity, harvesting forest products, protecting water quality, providing forest industry jobs, and developing recreational opportunities. The SFI Forest Management Standard is also the only standard that requires participants to support forestry research. To find out more information, go to https://www.forests.org/.

The Federal Highway Administration has declared this week as National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week. Every year, 200 roadside workers lose their lives in the line of duty, according to AAA. When motorists approach MoDOT or any other responders or emergency vehicles on the side of the highway with flashing lights, they should move over. A report from the National Safety Commission revealed that 71% of Americans do not know about their state’s Move Over law. Missouri’s Move Over law requires drivers to either change lanes or slow down when approaching stationary MoDOT, law enforcement or other emergency vehicles with flashing lights. To help protect those who protect us, all 50 states enforce some form of the Move Over law.

The 2020 Honoring our Heroes Marathon will be held Saturday, November 21st and this year will offer the full marathon, half marathon, the marathon relay, 10k and 5k runs. The marathon and marathon relay will begin at 7:00 in the morning at the Dent County Commons while the half marathon will begin at Lake Spring at 8:00 in the morning. The route those runners will be going will mostly be on Highway 72 then to Lions Club Drive and then finish in the Lions Club Park. The 10k and 5k runs will be mostly at the Rolla Lions Club Park with the 10k diverting to the Veteran’s Park in Rolla before coming back to the Lions Club Park, and they will start at 8:00 in the morning. Registration for the marathon and half marathon will end Saturday. The cost to register for the full marathon is $95 and there are seven openings left, the cost to register for the half marathon is $50 and there are five spaces left. The marathon relay is already full. The cost for the 10k run is $55 and $40 for the 5k run. Those races will increase in cost by $5.00 after November 18th. There are unlimited spaces available for the 10k and 5k runs. This year, there are also virtual races that you can sign up for where you run the races when you want where ever you want. You can also sign up to volunteer to help out at the event. This year’s Pasta Party is already sold out due to the COVID-19 restrictions on the number of people that can congregate and it will start at 5:00. The party will be lived streamed for those who cannot attend from the Honoring our Heroes website with the speakers starting at 5:30. For more information or to sign up, please visit https://www.heroesmarathon.com.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on today in observance of Veterans Day. Normal operations will resume on Thursday, November 12th. Examinations stations will also be closed on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th in observance of Thanksgiving. Normal operations will resume on Monday, November 30th. Follow the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Twitter @MSHPTrooperGHQ

The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds hunters not to forget their hunter orange before heading out the door for opening weekend of firearms deer season starting this Saturday and lasting through Tuesday, November 24th. Hunters must wear a hunter orange hat and a hunter orange vest, shirt, or coat. The color must be visible from all sides. Camouflage orange does not satisfy this rule. Hunter orange clothing makes it easier for one hunter to spot and recognize another hunter because nothing in nature matches this color exactly. Hunters must wear hunter orange if they are hunting any species of game during firearms deer season. Hunters must also wear orange if they are hunting on an area that is having a managed firearms deer hunt, or they are serving as a mentor to another hunter during firearms deer season or while on an area that is having a managed firearms deer hunt. Hunters must also wear orange if they were selected for the elk firearms season that will be held December 12th through the 20th. The late youth portion of deer season will be Friday, November 27th through Sunday, November 29th, followed by the antlerless portion from Friday, December 4th through Sunday, December the 6th. Finally, the alternative methods portion for deer will be Saturday, December 26th through Tuesday, January 5th, 2021. Hunters can find more information about hunting seasons at https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov or by reading MDC’s 2020 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations & Information booklet at https://short.mdc.mo.gov.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Saturday morning, October 24th at around 9:37, an officer was dispatched to the 800 block of west Highway 32 for a report of a female who appeared to be impaired and slumped over the drivers’ seat. Contact was made and she was showing signs of impairment. During a consent search items used in the consumption of narcotics were located. As a result, a 28-year-old Salem woman was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the application of warrants. On Sunday morning, October 25th at about 2:00 in the morning, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit. Upon further investigation, it was found that the driver appeared to be intoxicated. As a result, a 28-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while being intoxicated. He was released on a summons. During the afternoon of Tuesday, October 27th around 1:52, an officer was on routine traffic patrol and noticed a female that he knew to have an active warrant for her arrest. The warrant was confirmed and the 38-year-old Salem woman was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. During the evening of October 28th near 9:22, an officer was dispatched to an accident where the driver had fled the scene. During the investigation, the driver was later located passed out behind the wheel near the intersection of Highway 72 and Route J. As a result, a 40-year-old Salem woman was arrested and placed on a 12-hour hold at the Dent County Jail. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road report, 1st District Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5080, 5380 and 6040. He went on to report materials would be added to Dent County Road 6670 as work crews will be installing three new crossover pipes in preparation of the FLAP project work that is to be done. Another crew will be replacing a crossover pipe on Dent County Road 6630. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2590 and 4430 while materials would be added to county roads 3200 and 5340. Larson said brush would be cut on county roads 2370 and 6140 and service would be done on county truck #76. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported he went with 143rd State Representative Elect Ron Copeland to Boss to view feral hog damage to a farm there. Skiles said he would be attending the PHA Board meeting and MRPC Board meeting Thursday evening by conference call due to a couple of active COVID-19 cases at MRPC. He also said the county received several CARES Act applications that will be reviewed. Skiles also discussed with the commission approving the bid from Devereux and Company of $13,500 to perform a financial audit for the 2020 year as necessitated by the CARES Act money the county received. It was approved. Skiles said they will bill that this December so that it can be paid for out of the CARES Act fund. He also said there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday for the opening of the new gymnasium at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 4:30 and an open house from 4:00 to 5:30. Dent County Collector Angie Curley stated the election went fairly smooth in Dent County with 73 plus percent of the registered voters casting their ballot. She said she balanced with the collector and assessor on collections, add-ons and abatements for the month of October. The commissioner then discussed health care insurance for the county employees for the 2021 year. Curley said the consortium went with the United Health Care bid that was lower than the Cox Health bid. Currently, the county pays $573 per month per employee with a $3,500 deductible. The county will pay $2,000 of their deductible once the employee meets their portion of it. The new rate will be $633 per month per employee and the deductible will be $4,500. The county will pick up $2,000 of the deductible once the employee meets their portion of it. The increased base cost to the county from the rate increase will be about $57,600. The county would also offer deductibles of $3,000 and $6,000 available for employees if they wish to pay the difference. The commission approved the new insurance rates and all employees of the county will have to fill out new paperwork for the United Health Care insurance. Curley reminded the commissioners the courthouse would be closed on Wednesday and they are also going to have a salary commission meeting Thursday afternoon at 1:30 at the courtroom in the Judicial Building. Commissioner Purcell reported he was asked to serve on the Corridor Advisory Team on a study being done by MoDOT on replacing the Sinking Creek and Spring Valley bridges on Highway 19 south. They will have their first meeting in December with the consulting firm, Hg Consult out of Kansas City, and then have a follow up meeting in December 2021 to go over alternatives to the bridge replacement. Once that would be determined, public meetings would be held to get feedback from the general public. The commission then opened bids to purchase a used truck for the Road and Bridge Department and received only one bid from Chafin Auto Sales that had eight different vehicles listed. The commission made no decision at the meeting as they will have to check out all the trucks listed. At the last meeting, the commission approved the Hazard Mitigation Memorandum from the MRPC about their renewal which will come due in 2023. The commission also received picture of the courthouse from Scenic Rivers Industries. The commissioners did approve six CARES act requests. The requests came from the Salem R-80 School for $6,908.04 and $7,145.49, the Salem Memorial District Hospital was pre-approved for $29,440, Green Forest R-2 received $5,081.82 and Oak Hill R-1 was approved for $13,742.95 and pre-approved for $14,134.40. The next meeting will be held Monday at the courthouse at 9:00 and the commission meetings are open to the public.

An accident happened Sunday night shortly after 11:00 in Crawford County on Route ZZ about four miles west of Cuba. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2020 GMC Terrain being driven by 72-year old Theresa Kosulandich of Rolla was westbound and struck a deer in the roadway. Both the driver and a passenger, 74-year old Nicholas Kosulandich, also of Rolla, suffered minor injuries and sought their own treatment. The GMC sustained extensive damage and was towed by Big Boys Towing.

An accident happened Monday morning at 7:30 in Shannon County on old Highway 60 in Birch Tree. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2020 Toyota Highlander being driven east by a 16-year old female juvenile of Birch Tree was stopped at a crosswalk. A 7-year old pedestrian at the crosswalk made eye contact with the driver and as the driver of the Toyota released the brakes the pedestrian ran into the vehicle. The 7-year old suffered minor injuries and was transported by Shannon County EMS to Ozarks Medical Center for treatment.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem has set the date of Saturday, December 5th for the Christmas parade to beginning at 5:30. The parade will begin at SBU and wind its way to the courthouse. The theme this year will be “Favorite Christmas Movie”. Businesses, organizations, and individuals that would like to have an entry in the parade will need to return the entry form that is available at the Chamber of Commerce office at 200 South Main Street no later than December 2nd. For more information you can email the Chamber office at chamber@salemmo.com or call the 729-6900.

An accident occurred Saturday evening at 7:18 on Route W about three miles north of Highway 32 in Dent County. According to the highway patrol report, a 2003 GMC Sierra driven by 38-year old Joshua Gately of Salem was traveling southbound. The GMC traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Gately suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Salem Memorial District Hospital by EMS. He was wearing a safety restraint at the rime of the accident. The GMC was totaled and removed from the scene by family.

Landowners and renters can learn about farm leases from University of Missouri Extension specialists 6:00 to 9:00 tomorrow evening. Participants in our area can attend through Zoom. Topics include current rental rates and trends, items to include in a lease, terminating a lease, recreational leases, and crop and livestock share arrangements. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service publishes average cash rental rates for farm, forage and pasture ground each September. The MU Extension studies these rates every three years. Ten MU Extension offices will be open for those who wish to attend in person or do not have reliable internet access. The closest location to Salem will be West Plains. With CDC guidelines in place, in-person class sizes are limited. Instructors at each site will provide an opportunity for attendees to interact with presenters. For details and registration, go to extension.missouri.edu and search for “farm lease.”

The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages deer hunters who will have their deer professionally processed to check with meat processors about their availability to process deer this fall. Some meat processors around the state are reporting higher-than-normal business and may not be accepting deer for processing or will have significant delays in processing deer. Hunters wanting to donate to Share the Harvest are also encouraged to check with their local meat processors as some are not participating in the program this year. Get more information on Share the Harvest online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is seeking public input on the park’s draft Accessibility Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. Public participation is an important part of the planning process and will help Ozark National Scenic Riverways become more accessible for all visitors. An interdisciplinary team of planners, facility specialists, and landscape architects produced the plan to help Ozark National Scenic Riverways improve park-wide accessibility. In creating the plan, the team identified the key experiences that every visitor, regardless of their ability, should be able to have at the park. This helped set the stage for identifying and prioritizing where key experiences could be found. After performing the assessment, the team developed strategies and solutions to address accessibility barriers. The final plan will guide changes to the way existing services, activities, and programs are provided to increase accessibility for all users. The draft Accessibility Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan will be available online for public review and comment at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ozar. Comments must be received no later than November 19, 2020. Comments may be submitted online or will be accepted through the mail to: Ozark National Scenic Riverways; Attn: SETP comments; P. O. Box 490; Van Buren, Missouri 63965. When commenting, please consider these questions: Does the plan capture the accessibility barriers present in the park and are the recommended solutions appropriate and comprehensive? The National Park Service values your interest in Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and we look forward to your participation in this planning process. For more information, contact Dena Matteson at (573) 323-4814 or dena_matteson@nps.gov.

Missouri State Parks today announced eight Missouri communities have been selected to receive more than $1 million in federal grants from the Federal Highway Administration to assist with the development of trails. The grants are part of the Recreational Trails Program, which can be used to develop, acquire and restore recreational trails and trailhead facilities. Locally, Recreational Trails Program recommended grant recipients, along with the projects and grant amounts include the city of Winona, Lions Club Park Recreation Trail: $129,621 and the city of St. James, The St. James-Maramec Iron Works Bike Path Restroom Facility: $25,000. For more information on Recreational Trails Program grants, contact mspgrants@dnr.mo.gov. For more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The City of Salem Park and Recreation Department and Salem Holiday Committee is still looking for churches, businesses, organizations and even private individuals that would like to set up an illuminated holiday display inside the Salem City Park for the first ever drive-through light display for the Christmas holidays. The drive-through would begin on the Friday AFTER Thanksgiving. These displays would be scheduled to be open from November 27th through January 1st. Contact Melissa Dubois for more information at 573-729-6290 or to sign up.

An accident happened on Thursday afternoon, October 29th shortly before 4:00 at the intersection of Highway 19 and Truman. The report from the Salem Police Department states that a 2001 Ford F-250 being driven by Kelley Rector of Salem and owned by Ronald Lewis of Salem, was traveling southbound on Highway 19 approaching Truman Street. The Ford had stopped in traffic and was signaling to turn left. At that time, a 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 being driven by Tyler Harrison of Salem and owned by Jannelle Harrison of Salem, was also traveling south on Highway 19 approaching Truman. Harrison stated he looked down for a moment and then realized the Ford was stopped. The Dodge then started to skid on the wet road surface and struck the Ford from behind. A passenger in the Dodge suffered probable minor injuries but refused medical treatment. Harrison suffered probable minor injuries and was transported by a private vehicle to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for evaluation and treatment. The Dodge had moderate damage and the Ford had minor damage. The report states that the crash was not investigated at the scene.

The Dent County Fire Protection Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the fire station. After approval of the consent agenda, minutes from the October meeting were reviewed and approved as presented. The board then heard the financial report with bills being presented and approved. The budget showed an ending balance of $136,466.49 as of October 31st. The Calendar was then reviewed before the hearing of the monthly reimbursement report. The department had a total of 20 calls for the month of October including four structure fires, one flu fire, three brush fires, five first responder calls, three vehicle accidents, two training calls and two listed as other. Total calls year to date stand at 201 with the average cost per call of $117.15. Chief Nash reported that the building project is still ongoing with the ceiling tiles and lights being replaced. The front room and the kitchen are now complete. The date for the next meeting was set for Tuesday, December 1st at 6:00 at the fire station at #2 South Main Street. That meeting will be open to the public.

An audit of Edgar Springs found numerous problems with the city’s accounting controls and procedures, as well as other operations of city government. State Auditor Nicole Galloway conducted the audit at the request of residents who submitted a petition to her office. The report gave a rating of “poor.” Galloway said the audit of Edgar Springs found several significant concerns, including incomplete budgets and inaccurate financial statements. These are serious issues that impact transparency for citizens on how their taxpayer dollars are used and went on to say that city officials need to address and implement the recommendations in the audit in order to get on the right track. The audit found city officials did not prepare complete annual budgets as required by state law or monitor budgets appropriately. City officials also did not prepare and maintain accurate financial statements and accounting records, resulting in errors on monthly financial statements. In addition, city officials did not publish complete and accurate financial statements or file accurate and timely financial reports with the State Auditor’s Office, as required by state law. The audit also found several concerns with accounting controls and procedures in the operation of the city’s sewer system, including how rates are determined and how deposits, adjustments and delinquent accounts are handled. The city also needs to segregate accounting duties and improve receipting and depositing procedures to safeguard monies collected, and to improve procedures over disbursements. In addition, the audit found the city does not have a bidding policy to ensure taxpayers get the best deal for services. For example, the city did not solicit bids or document the process for selecting a vendor that completed street and building repairs funded through federal grants and totaling more than $37,000. The audit also found city officials did not always comply with the Sunshine Law. In March, after city hall was closed to the public due to COVID-19, the former Mayor directed the city clerk to only process and bill sewer payments. In June, the former Mayor resigned and the city clerk resumed responding to records requests.