Local News

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. SMDH Attorney Mark Weaver administered the oath of office to board members Mike Swyers of District 2 and A.J. Seay from District 6. The board heard a presentation by Gina Daniels, the Director of Rehabilitation who gave an overview of the Physical and Occupational Therapy Departments. Monica Stogsdil gave the summary of operations for the month of March where the hospital had 117 inpatient admissions with 356 inpatient census days. During the month, there were 809 emergency room visits to go with 212 ambulance runs, 30 surgery cases, 1,750 outpatient registrations, 356 home health visits, 8,943 lab tests, 1,268 radiological procedures and 753 rehab treatments. The hospital showed a gain from operations of $126,043 and revenues over expenses after taxes of $151,338. Chief of Nursing Debbie Hines gave an Emergency Department Transportation Performance Report where the hospital is ranked on five areas. The next Hospital Auxiliary meeting will be held Tuesday, May 7th at noon at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The Auxiliary will have a “Scrubs and Beyond” event on April 17th, a BBQ during Hospital week and Shoe Road Productions will be in Salem on September 10th. Hospital COO Chris Strickland reported the Hospital Foundation Form 1023 has been sent to the IRS seeking tax exempt status and scholarship recipients have been selected. A $300,000 NAP grant has been submitted and a recycling grant has been implemented. The Foundation recently received $2,923 from the Coover Foundation to go towards patient accounts to pay for mammograms. The Golf Tournament is scheduled for June 7th and the wing-off fundraiser will be held August 3rd at the Commons. The next Health Fair will be held May 15th and 16th at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory from 6:00 until 9:00 in the morning. Lucas gave the Patient Satisfaction Survey results for the Emergency Department and Family Medicine. There were 123 total surveys returned for the ED department and 241 returned for the Family Medicine, both departments received very high scores in each category. The board elected officers for the next year as Sue Terry remained Chairman, Dennis Fiebelman was named as the Vice-Chairman and Judy Thompson as the Secretary. The board approved the donation of two refrigerators to a local charity before going into closed session.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports for April 8th and 9th. Monday afternoon, the 8th, at approximately 3:00, an officer located a 20-year-old male of St. Louis near the 500 block of East Center who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. Then on Tuesday afternoon, the 9th, at approximately 5:07, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to damage to private property. The investigation of the report revealed a person or person unknown broke the door glass valued at $300.00 on a truck parked near the 100 block of North Rhodes. The report is under investigation. That same night at about 10:36, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 34-year-old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for a warrant. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 573-729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

A 48-year old woman from Edgar Springs suffered minor injuries in an accident that occurred Monday evening, April 15th at 9:50. According to the report released from the highway patrol, Dawn Case was traveling northbound on Highway 63 about four miles south of Edgar Springs, driving a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country, when she struck a deer in the roadway. Case was transported by a private vehicle to Phelps Health for treatment of what was described as minor injuries. The Chrysler sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Lucas Towing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen regular meeting was held Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board immediately went into closed session to discuss real estate. After the conclusion of closed session the regular meeting was then continued. At the meeting, the board heard from Deloris Gray Wood as a representative from the Salem Middle School Committee to give the committees recommendation regarding the building. Wood explained that this committee, made up of local citizens, has been researching possible uses for the building for nearly 18 months. With the Board of Aldermen approval, they hired a consultant and engineering firm that provided a nearly $4 million cost estimates to restore the building. A recent Request for Proposals was advertised to allow for local input and proposals. None were received to restore the building, but five were received to demolish the structures on the property. The committee recommendation was to accept the lowest bid from Donald Maggi for demolition and the board approved their recommendation. The board approved Resolution No. 9-2019 authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Second Sight Systems for water meter replacement at a cost of $100,176.76 as part of the Automated Metering Project. The board then approved Bill No. 3411 which is an ordinance amending the annual budget to amend the appropriations of estimated revenue and expenditures in the Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund. The board also approved an additional cost of $7,500 to Central Coating to replace an expansion joint and clean out and plug while they are painting the water tower on Wines Street. The board approved Bill No. 3412 which is an Ordinance to amend and address nuisance abatements and administration fees. The ordinance defines junk or abandoned vehicles on property as well as junk and debris in yards. An administration fee of not less than $100 and a minimum charge of $75 for the abatement of nuisance will be charged. The board tabled the request from Black’s A-1 Septic LLC to dump port-a-pottie waste in the Waste Water Treatment facility. Further information is needed from the engineer. The board approved Resolution No. 10-2019 canvassing the election results of the April 2nd municipal election. City Clerk Mary Happel then administered the oath of office to new West Ward Alderman Kevin James and East Ward Alderwoman Rachel Hinderliter. Happel then gave appreciation plaques to Dr. Haydn Powell and Chad Heithold for their service to the city. City Administrator Ray Walden gave his report and thanked the Old Middle School Committee members; Deloris Gray Wood, Sherman Odom, Jay Anderson, Bob Parsons, Todd Kinerk and Kristi Crocker. The Salem Community Center @ the Armory had a total of 4,864 participants during the month of March. The Economic Development Planning Session previously scheduled for April 25th has been moved to May 2nd at 5:30 pm. The Community Wide Yard Sale will be held on May 4th with spring clean up scheduled for the following two weeks. For questions regarding the clean up residents can call Waste Management at 417-741-7714. City Attorney Camm Seay updated the board on Nuisance Enforcement and recommended Mark Nash serve as a Nuisance Hearing Officer. Nash would conduct weekly scheduled nuisance hearings to allow citizens to protest any nuisance violation matters. The board directed Seay to create an ordinance to create this position and process. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released reports for April 3rd through the 5th. On Wednesday, April 3rd, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 4110 near Highway 19 north. During the course of the traffic stop, a 25-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where the he later posted bond and was released. Then on Thursday, April 4th, deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Dent County Road 3260, but the vehicle failed to yield and continued to travel on county road 3260 until turning right onto Dent County Road 3275. The vehicle stopped in the 400 block of Dent County Road 3275 where the driver, a 37-year old Salem male, fled from the vehicle while the passenger, a 29-year old Salem female, stayed inside the vehicle. The female told deputies that the male that fled had active warrants through probation and parole. Deputies conducted an immediate search of the area but did not locate the male. On Friday, April 5th, the male was located and arrested for the active warrant and resisting arrest for a felony. The male was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and incarcerated. Also on Friday, April 5th, deputies received a report of a neighbor shooting towards their granddaughter and her dogs near the 2000 block of Dent County Road 6320. Deputies traveled to the scene and during the course of the investigation a 40-year-old Salem male was arrested for the unlawful use of a weapon, subsection 5, discharge of a firearm while intoxicated. The male was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information about an ongoing investigation.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance due to a prior commitment. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson was selected to act as the presiding commissioner for the meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell and Commissioner Larson both reported about 1.3 inches of rain fell from Saturday through Sunday morning in many areas of the county. High winds were also prevalent around the county and trees were reported down on Dent County Roads 5450 and 6370. Purcell said the tree across county road 5450 closed the road for a time while the tree on county road 6370 was in the roadway. Both trees will be removed. Purcell said patch grading would be done on Dent County Road 4220 while materials will be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5590 and 6600. Purcell went on to say that grading would also be done on county road 6620 while materials would be added to county road 4220. Commissioner Larson from District 2 said workers would be adding materials and grading Dent County Road 5260 if it was dry enough, while another man would be stockpiling white rock at the maintenance shed for use after hours. Larson reported that two driveway culvert pipes bought by the property owners were scheduled to be installed if the ground is dry enough. These were to be installed on county roads 2240 and 2350. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley stated she attended the county health consortium meeting held in Springfield Thursday. They updated attendees about the health plan and described a new program that is now available to employees that deal with disease management. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will hold their regular meeting at 6:00 tonight at the hospital library. Administrator Kasey Lucas will report the summary of operations for the month of March, hear the report from CNO Debbie Hines, get the report on the hospital Foundation from COO Chris Strickland and hear the auxiliary report from Lucas. The board will also hear the marketing and community perception report from Chris Strickland on their involvement with different events. Patient Satisfaction survey results will also be reviewed. The board will discuss the fiscal year 2020 Finance Committee meeting report before reviewing purchases. The board may then vote to go into closed session before adjourning. The regular meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold meetings starting at 6:00 this evening at the Salem District Administrative Offices Boardroom. After approval of the agenda for the re-organizational meeting the Board will certify the Election Results, newly elected members will be sworn in, and the Board President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer will be elected. The Board will also elect the MSBA Delegate and Alternate. The meeting will be adjourned and the Board will move into the regular monthly meeting. The Board will approve the Food Service report, approve the substitute list, and approve Program Evaluations for Food Service and Health Services. Superintendent John McColloch will give a budget update and report on Construction Trades. After the Principals’ Building Reports the Board will address new business including consider an out-of-state travel request. The Board will hear resignations and then adjourn and move into an executive session. The April regular monthly meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open to the public.

Congressman Jason Smith reminds everyone that the 2019 Congressional Art Competition is now accepting entries from high school students across southeast and south central Missouri. Each of the five district offices in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District will select two winning pieces from their region to move on to the “Best of Show” competition, where an overall winner will be selected. The overall winner’s artwork will be displayed in the United States Capitol for a year, where lawmakers and thousands of visitors will walk past it each day. Each regional winner will have the opportunity to have their artwork showcased in local offices for all visitors to see. Last year’s winner was Avery Coffman from Salem R-80, who created her artwork of the St. Jude Chapel in Montauk by burning a drawing of the church into a piece of wood. For winning “Best of Show,” Avery received two round-trip plane tickets to Washington, D.C. to attend the Congressional Art Competition reception with other winners from across the country. To be considered for the Congressional Art Competition, artwork should be submitted to the respective district office no later than this Wednesday, April 17th. Regional winners will be announced shortly thereafter, and the “Best of Show” competition will be held on May 13th, 2019. Local high schools have been notified of the competition and how to submit students’ artwork to local offices. If any students wishing to participate would like more information or wish to see the complete participation rules manual, call the district office at (573) 364-2455.

An accident occurred Friday evening at 8:30 on Highway 32 fourteen miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Pontiac G6 driven by 24-year old Steven Hoffman of Anderson, was traveling westbound and traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. Hoffman suffered minor injuries and was transported to Salem Hospital. Hoffman was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Pontiac was totaled and towed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will meet tonight at 7:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board will immediately go into closed session to discuss real estate before reopening the meeting and hearing Deloris Gray Wood with the Old Middle School Committee and the committee’s recommendation on what to do with the building. Bids will then be heard on based on her recommendation. After the consent agenda, the board will discuss Resolution #2019-9 that authorizes the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Second Sight Systems for water meter replacement and matters relating to those replacements. The board will also discuss Bill #3411 that will amend the annual budget for the City of Salem that shows additional income and expenses in certain categories. The board will also discus Bill #3412 that would amend Chapter 215 of the Municipal Code that deals with nuisances including nuisance abatements and administration fees. Under old business will be the discussion of the dumping of port-a-potties in the Waster Water Treatment Facility with Black’s A-1 Septic. LLC. At this time, the board will canvass the election results of the April 2nd Municipal Election and declare the results official in Resolution #10-2019. The board will then thank outgoing aldermen Dr. Haydn Powell and Chad Heithold for their services and welcome new East Ward Alderwoman Rachel Hinderliter and West Ward Aldermen Kevin James. The board will reorganize before continuing the meeting and hearing City Administrator Ray Walden’s report. City Attorney William Camm Seay will then discuss the intricacies of nuisance violations and present information to the board. The board will then discuss Resolution 11-2019 which would authorize the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Central Tank Coatings for an additional $150,000 in repair work to the water sphere tank on South Wines. The meeting will then be adjourned. The Salem Board of Aldermen meeting is open to the public except for the initial closed session for real estate.

Intercounty Electric congratulates local high school juniors in the area that participated in their Co-Op essay contest in February. Winners that will be going to Washington D.C. include Katrina Parks of Salem, Sam Lavely of Licking, Connor Wilson of Houston and Patrick Hawkins of Summersville. Other students won a trip to Jefferson City as part of the CYCLE program and that includes Baillie Joyner and Hannah Tillery of Licking, Jaekan Moss of Houston, Michelle Doyle of St. James, Sydney Neseth and Nicholas Stark of Summerville.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for April 4th through April 7th. On Thursday afternoon, the 4th, at approximately 4:28, an officer was conducting an investigation of a suspicious person in the 400 block of West Rolla Road. The investigation led to the arrest of a 33-year old male of Salem for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and on an active arrest warrant from the State of Missouri. The suspect was incarcerated pending a warrant application and on the active arrest warrant. On the afternoon of April 5th at approximately 3:53, an officer was dispatched to the area of Third Street and Missouri in reference to a domestic disturbance. The investigation of the report revealed a 56- year-old female of Salem had assaulted a 36- year-old male of Wentzville, Missouri. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect who was referred to prosecution. On the morning of April 7th at about 11:06, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 47-year-old male of Salem for driving without a having valid license. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and was released. Just a few minutes later at approximately 11:15, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1800 block of South Oak in reference to a disturbance. The investigation of the report revealed a 29-year-old female of Salem had assaulted a 33-year-old male of Salem. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect for assault and disorderly conduct. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 573-729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies the county received in April. She said the General Revenue Fund received $105,219.98 which is $18,893.94 more than last year’s figure of $86,326.04. She said the LEST funds received were virtually identical to the General Revenue Funds with the exception of a few cents. Year-to-date, those funds are up over $1,190. Williams stated the Road and Bridge Department Fund received $48,661.70 and that is up from the 2018 figure of $38,903.55 which is more than $9,700. Year-to-date that fund is up $5,999.02. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust Fund received a total of $194,449.18 which is up from $153,474.22 from last April. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5130, 5600 and 6485, while only grading would be done on county road 6490. He also said materials would be added to county road 5170 and that a crew would be replacing tires on dump truck #123. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3193, 3195 and 3330 while only materials would be added to county road 4380. Larson went on to say that grading would be done on county roads 2530, 2540, 2550 and 3195. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending a Workforce Investment Board Caucus today. He said all three commissioners and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley attended the Missouri Association of Counties meeting in Jefferson City on Monday. He said the meeting was a pretty good one with a lot of topics discussed. Also at the meeting, Sarah Massengale from the Dent County Extension, Liz Gruendel from the Salem Area Community Betterment Association and Jenna Deeson from Living the Dream Real Estate were in attendance to discuss the placement of picnic tables on the courthouse lawn for the community to use for lunch or to just take a break. Massengale said she had visited with over 30 businesses along the courthouse square and on 4th Street and no one was opposed to the idea and many liked the idea. Massengale they would like to place three tables on the lawn in the shade. The tables will be made by the Sheltered Workshop and be painted turquoise. After some discussion about trash and care of the tables, the commission approved the placing of the tables on the lawn for a trial basis this year. They would revisit the situation around the first of the year. Sheriff Bob Wells came to the meeting to discuss bids for prisoner meals. There was one bid received and it was for $6.00 for each hot evening meal from Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell. That bid is good from April 15th through January 1, 2020. The commission also approved the request of Sheriff Wells to purchase a 2019 Chevy Crew Cab Pickup on the state bid which is being offered by Don Brown Chevy of St. Louis. The board also approved the request of Sheriff Bob Wells to seek sealed bids for the lease/purchase financing of the vehicle for two and three years. Those bids will be opened on Monday, April 22nd at 10:00 in the morning. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened Wednesday night at 9:20 in Maries County on Route Z about three miles west of Highway 28 that took the life of a Belle man. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 Harley Davidson, operated by 40-year old Jason Roberds of Belle, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck the ditch, overturned and struck a large hay bale. Roberds was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:50 by Maries County Deputy Coroner Leo Kloeppel. Roberds was wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. There was moderate damage to the Harley Davidson.

The 2019 Business Expo will be held tomorrow morning from 9:00 until noon at Salem Community Center @ the Armory, located at 1200 West Rolla Road. Numerous businesses will be advertising their products and services as well as offering promotional and giveaways items. There are four star giveaways this year and they are provided by A-1 Tech of Rolla, Town & Country Bank, Your Community Health Center, and Salem Bowling Center. The 2019 Business Expo is open to everyone and it is FREE! The Business Expo is organized by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.

The South-Central Drug Task Force concluded a short-term narcotics investigation on April 3rd that led to a search warrant for a residence in the 12000 block of Highway 72 in Bunker. From that search, the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Office arrested 40-year old Rickey B. Holt of Bunker. He was charged with four felony drug charges, plus felony charges of the unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and maintaining a public nuisance. Another suspect identified during the investigation may also be facing charges from the investigation. Officers of the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Office, Dent County Sheriff’s Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the South-Central Drug Task Force served the search warrant at the residence where officers found marijuana, a substance believed to be LSD, a 115 grams of a substance that is believed to be Psilocybin mushrooms, 15 firearms and also cash. The charges for which Holt was arrested are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

The Dent County Service Unit of the Salvation Army would like to send youth and families to camp this summer. This free camp, located in Bourbon, Missouri is made possible by local donations. Nestled in the foothills of the Missouri Ozark Mountains, Camp Mihaska has been a Christian retreat and sanctuary for more than 60 years, serving thousands of youth, families, churches, organizations and individuals seeking personal growth and spiritual development. Owned and operated by The Salvation Army, Camp Mihaska provides a safe, fun and memorable experience for those seeking adventure. The activities at camp are endless. When you’re not hiking in the woods along endless miles of trails, exploring the caves or fishing and paddle boating in the magnificent lakes, you can soak up the sun at their pool with water sprays, a lap pool, vortex and an in-pool bubble tub. Basketball, volleyball, tennis and miniature golf are available day or night, as well as outdoor paintball games. A number of camps are available. There will be a sports camp from June 11th trough the 14th that allows campers to experience a variety of different sports and exercise for youth age 8 through 12. A Kid’s Camp will be held June 17th through the 20th and this is for children 6-9 years of age where they are encouraged to learn, laugh and experience new things as they grow closer to friends, family and God. During that same time period, The Salvation Army Outdoors camp will be held allows teens ages 13 through 16 to make new friends while experiencing recreation, fishing, swimming, Hunter’s Safety, conservation, team building games and growing together. This camp features sleeping in an outdoor tent. A Teen Camp will be held July 8th through the 12th to allow teens from 13 to 17 years of age to make new friends through recreation, swimming, fishing & team building games while growing together with a “Tween” Camp held the following week from July 15th through the 19th that features the same activities for those 10 to 12 years of age. There will also be a Family Camp held July 22nd through the 26th for parents with small children 16 years of age and under that will allow parents & children to spend time together without the interruptions normally found at home while camping. Come and allow the staff at Camp Mahaska to pamper, challenge and minister to you on a fun-filled, educational and inspirational outdoor retreat you won’t forget. The deadline for camp applications is May 10th. For camp applications and additional information, please call your local Dent County Salvation Army Service Unit at 729-8163.

Businesses with seasonal or temporary employees are invited to send their employees to boost their skills in customer service and hospitality to an upcoming Customer Service Training workshop this Friday hosted by University of Missouri Extension. Tourism plays a significant role in our region’s economy. Improving employees’ customer service skills and knowledge of local attractions can help improve the visitor experience, and draw tourists back for future visits. Workshop participants will update their customer service skills, learn about regional tourism resources, and practice answering common visitor questions. The training will be in Salem at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory located at 1200 West Rolla Rd in Salem. There will be two time options available for the training: from 9:00 – 11:00 in the morning or from 1:00 – 3:00 in the afternoon. This training is free to employees of Dent County businesses or Naturally Meramec Consortium members, otherwise there is a $6.00 charge per employee. Call the Dent County Extension at 729-3196 to register. This workshop will be led by University of Missouri Extension, with funding support from Naturally Meramec Consortium and Dent County Tourism Tax Commission. The University of Missouri Extension is an equal opportunity and ADA institution.

The 2019 Business Expo will be held this Saturday morning from 9:00 until noon at Salem Community Center @ the Armory, located at 1200 West Rolla Road. The Business Expo is an excellent opportunity for businesses to advertise their products and services and many of them will be giving away promotional items or have their own drawing. There are four star giveaways this year and they are provided by A-1 Tech of Rolla, Town & Country Bank, Your Community Health Center, and Salem Bowling Center. There is no cost to attend the annual Expo, it’s FREE and open to the public. The Business Expo is organized by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the 2019 Business Expo, you can contact the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce by calling 729-6900, emailing them chamber@salemmo.com, or visiting the website at www.salemmo.com.

The temporary emergency closure of the Jacks Fork River at Alley Spring has been lifted. The damaged pedestrian bridge has been completely removed, allowing floaters and river users to once again safely enjoy the Jacks Fork River beneath the Highway 106 vehicle bridge. The National Park Service (NPS) worked in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on the removal of the old pedestrian bridge, which was originally damaged during the April 2017 flood. Additional flooding in February 2018 caused further structural damage to the bridge, making it unsafe for visitors below and prompting an emergency closure of the river beneath the bridge. The NPS and FHWA are working together on the construction of a new pedestrian bridge at Alley Spring in the future, through the Emergency Relief of Federally Owned (ERFO) program. The timeline for completion of that project is unknown at this time. The replacement of the North River Road Bridge over the Alley Spring Branch is currently underway and progress is going well. It is expected to be open this summer. The small foot bridge over the Alley Spring Branch near Alley Mill, which was destroyed in the 2017 flood, will also be replaced in the future utilizing the ERFO program. For more information, contact park headquarters at 573-323-4236, visit the park’s Facebook page, or check out their website at www.nps.gov/ozar.

The prolonged winter weather has left behind an unwanted reminder: potholes. The Missouri Department of Transportation crews will be focusing on repairs through April. Crews started working to address the pesky potholes as soon as there was a break in the weather. MoDOT will have about 300 pothole patching crews statewide working to make roadways safer. About 400,000 potholes have been patched during the first two months of 2019. In contrast, approximately 619,000 potholes were patched for the entire year in 2018. Crews address the deepest potholes first. Until roadway temperatures rise – and remain – above freezing, the repair is made using a cold asphalt mix. However, this is a short-term repair. The long-term fix, a hot asphalt mix, isn’t effective until temperatures are warm for a prolonged period of time. Motorists can report the location of potholes on state maintained roads by calling the 24/7 Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636); you can use the “Report a Road Concern” form on the web at modot.org; or use a smart phone or tablet with a mobile friendly form at modot.org/report-road-concern. MoDOT spends approximately $15 million a year on pothole patching. MoDOT maintains 34,000 miles of road including interstates.

The South Central Missouri Community Action Agency announces that Dent County Head Start and Early Head Start Recruitment is going on now for children ages from 0 to 5 years of age. Head Start provides services for children with special needs and severe disabilities. These services are provided at no cost to families. The recruitment will be held today and tomorrow. Call to make an appointment 729-3188.

An accident happened Monday morning at 7:50 in Texas County on Highway 32 about a mile west of Licking. According to the highway patrol report, a 2014 Chrysler 300 driven by 57-year old Christy Porter of Licking, ran off the roadway and struck a parked and unoccupied 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Porter suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital. The Chevrolet sustained extensive damage and was left at the scene. The Chrysler sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Triangle Wrecker.

According to preliminary data from Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), young turkey hunters harvested 2,540 turkeys during the 2019 spring youth season, April 6th and 7th. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 61 turkeys harvested, Laclede with 56, and Texas with 52. Warm weather and sunny skies helped increase this year’s youth-weekend harvest over last year’s where young hunters checked 1,729 turkeys. Spring turkey hunting continues with the upcoming regular spring turkey hunting season April 15th through May 5th. For more information on spring turkey hunting, get a copy of MDC’s 2019 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold, or online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/spring-turkey-hunting-regulations-and-information. Hunters who harvest their first turkey can have the accomplishment recognized through a special certificate from MDC, complete with a photo. Learn more at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/trophies-certificates/certificates.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports. On Tuesday April 2nd at approximately 9:29 in the morning, a vehicle was stopped for a warrant investigation. The investigation led to the arrest of an 18-year old male of Salem on an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. The suspect was later released with a new date to appear in court after posting bond. That same night at about 11:50, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 59-year-old female of Salem for driving without a valid license. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and was released. The next evening at approximately 8:03, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 34-year old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and was incarcerated on a 12-hour hold. Then on Thursday morning, April 4th, at about 11:14 an officer was conducting an investigation of a stolen vehicle in the 600 block of North Main. The investigation led to the arrest of a 38-year old male of Salem for possession of a vehicle with an altered vehicle identification number and possession of an open title. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for a warrant. Finally Wednesday, April 10th, near 9:30 at night, an officer transported a 77-year old female of Salem to the Parkland Health Center in Farmington due to a commitment order. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any investigation.

The Salem Community Garden will be hosting their “Meet us at the Garden” event this Saturday at starting at 10:00 behind the Salem United Methodist Church. The first half hour of the event will be your chance to ask a Master Gardener questions and get hands on gardening demonstrations. Then from 10:30 until noon, it will be garden volunteer work. If you would like to have your own plot, just call 729-3196 to sign up. The first plot is free and it is just $10 for each additional plot you want. If you have any questions about the event or getting a plot at the community garden, call 729-3196.

According to preliminary data from Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), young turkey hunters harvested 2,540 turkeys during the 2019 spring youth season, April 6th and 7th. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 61 turkeys harvested, Laclede with 56, and Texas with 52. Warm weather and sunny skies helped increase this year’s youth-weekend harvest over last year’s where young hunters checked 1,729 turkeys. Spring turkey hunting continues with the upcoming regular spring turkey hunting season April 15th through May 5th. For more information on spring turkey hunting, get a copy of MDC’s 2019 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold, or online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/spring-turkey-hunting-regulations-and-information. Hunters who harvest their first turkey can have the accomplishment recognized through a special certificate from MDC, complete with a photo. Learn more at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/trophies-certificates/certificates.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for March 29th through 31st. On Friday, March 29th, at about 7:40 at night, an officer transported a 25-year old female of Rolla from the Phelps County Jail to the Dent County Jail due to an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. The suspect was incarcerated pending a court appearance. The next evening at approximately 9:13, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 58-year old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Then on Sunday, March 31st, near 1:26 in the morning, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 53-year old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and was released. Later that evening at approximately 7:18, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1500 block of South Macarthur in reference to a domestic disturbance. That investigation led to the arrest of a 38-year-old female of Salem on an active arrest warrant from Jefferson County. She was incarcerated pending extradition. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any investigation.

Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley has released reports from court this week. On Tuesday in Crawford County in front of Judge Megan Seay, David Bryant pled guilty to forging a check at Whitakers. He was sentenced to five years in the Department of Corrections. On Friday in Dent County in front of Judge Seay three cases were heard. In the first case, Kenneth Girten had his probation revoked. Curley indicated the State sought the execution of sentence. Over the objection of the State, Girten was sentenced under RSMO Section 559.115. In the second case Friday, probation was revoked for Marvin Remster for absconding supervision. Remster was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections and the sentence was executed. In the final case heard Friday in Dent County, Christopher Nash had his probation revoked. Nash was sentenced to four years in the Department of Corrections and the sentence was executed.

The Center for Agroforestry at University of Missouri will lead a workshop on April 11 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. to help participants learn the basics of growing edible mushrooms on their home or farm. Along with an overview of “Fungi-mentals,” the mushroom life cycle, and tips on how to get started at home, the workshop will feature hands-on demonstrations. The workshop participants will build an oyster mushroom totem and winecap mushroom bed that can be integrated with perennial gardens. Participants will also have the chance to inoculate a log with shiitake mushroom spawn that they can take home with them. The workshop will be held at the Ozark Natural & Cultural Resource Center, 202 S. Main Street in Salem. Cost of the workshop is $20, which includes an inoculated log to take home. The workshop is limited to 30 participants, and RSVP is required to ensure adequate materials. To register or for more information, call the Dent County Extension at 729-3196 or email hultines@missouri.edu.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is advising motorists traveling through Rolla to be aware of construction taking place along U.S. Route 63 over several weeks, Monday through Friday from 8:00 in the evening until 7:00 in the morning beginning Monday, April 8th. Contractors for MoDOT will be performing concrete pavement repairs between Olive Street and St. Patrick Lane prior to the resurfacing of Route 63. During construction, one lane will be closed at a time and the middle turn lane will be used for through traffic. There will also be brief periods of one lane traffic, likely around midnight, with workers flagging traffic through the work area. This phase of the project is scheduled to be completed by Wednesday, May 8th, when lane configuration will return to normal. No significant delays are expected during the week, but heavier traffic is expected on Friday nights. MoDOT Appreciates the patience of travelers while work is taking place. For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central.

This is the final week of the “Art Across the Ages” display at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center on Highway 19 South. This show is a celebration of art in the area by all ages which is a tribute to the artistic talent in the Ozarks. Numerous individuals as well as the Salem R-80 art classes are participating in the local art show! There is no charge to visit and visit the display! The show is open to the public today through this Friday from 9:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon.

The City of Salem Annual Water Quality Report has been released and there were no violations that occurred for the calendar year 2018. All levels of contaminants found were lower than required by government regulations. If you would like to see the City of Salem Annual Water Quality Report, a copy can be found at the City of Salem Administration Building at 4th and Iron Streets, at the Water Department Office or at the KSMO Radio studios.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated a cross over culvert on Dent County Road 5500 will be cleaned out and tree limbs that are down on county road 4110 will need to be cut. With the wet conditions, work crews will be doing regular maintenance on dump truck #25, repairing a hydraulic leak on truck #123 and installing steering tires on truck #119. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported his crews would be servicing truck #75 and #76. Crews will also be hauling material to Dent County Roads 2150, 3020 and 3330. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated the commissioners will not be meeting on Monday due to the Missouri Association of Counties meeting that is being held in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported she balanced with the Dent County Treasurer on all accounts for the month of March. She went on to report she will be attending the MAC conference on Monday and will attend the county health insurance meeting next Thursday. Sara Massengale with the University of Missouri Extension Council asked the commissioners if they would consider letting them put picnic tables on the courthouse lawn to promote “Lunch on the Square.” The commission made no decision on the request at this time. Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells discussed inmate meal bids. The Commission agreed 3-0 to seek inmate meal bids and they will be due and opened on April 11th at 10:00 in the morning. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Monday, March 25th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 4110 near Dent County Road 4210. During the course of the traffic stop, a 29-year old Salem women was arrested for operating a motor vehicle on the highway without a valid license, a 1st offense. The female was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. That same day, deputies received a report a vehicle being tampered with. The next day, deputies continued the investigation which resulted in a 30-year old Salem man being arrested for tampering with a motor vehicle in the 1st degree and property damage in the 2nd degree. The male was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and incarcerated. On Wednesday, March 27th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on South Wines Street. During the course of the traffic stop, a 29-year old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, his 2nd or subsequent offense. The male was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued summons and released. That same day, deputies responded to the 18000 block of Highway 72 for a report of a domestic disturbance that was occurring. During the course of the investigation, a 23-year old Bunker male was arrested for Domestic Assault in the 3rd Degree and endangering the welfare of a child in the 1st degree. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and incarcerated. On Saturday, March 30th, deputies received a report of a traffic accident near the 200 block of Dent County Road 4243. The caller stated the occupants of the vehicle were outside the vehicle and having a verbal argument. During the course of the investigation, a 33-year old Sikeston female was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia – methamphetamine. The female also had warrants through Cape Girardeau and Wayne County. She was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she was fingerprinted and incarcerated. If anyone has information regarding an ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.