Local News

Intercounty Electric Co-Operative Association held their annual Youth Tour Essay contest in February where juniors from the schools in their service area write a 250-500 word essay for the chance to go to Washington, D. C. for a week, or earn a three day trip on the CYCLE program to Jefferson City. Judging was held on March 24th at the Intercounty Electric auditorium in Licking and the winners of the trip to Washington D.C. from schools in the KSMO listening area included Olivia Erway from Salem, Athena Hood from Licking, Raina Forstrom from St. James and Brody Brown from Rolla. Those earning the trip to Jefferson City included Abigail Kilman from Salem, Emily Phillips from Rolla, Katelyn Kinder and Richelle Schwarz from Licking, and Alyssa Dorris and Matthew Altis from St. James. Each of the juniors who participated deserves to be congratulated on their hard work!

Missouri’s 16th annual “No MOre Trash! Bash” will focus on “spring cleaning” the outdoors by asking residents to pick up litter throughout the state during the April 15th to May 15th time period. The litter prevention campaign is sponsored by the Missouri departments of Conservation and Transportation. The annual Trash Bash encourages people to clean up litter across Missouri from roadsides, parks, neighborhoods, rivers, streams, trails and other places during April. Trash Bash activities also include educational efforts in schools, community events and Earth Day celebrations. Each year, MoDOT spends about $6.75 million to remove litter from more than 385,000 acres of roadsides along 34,000 state highway miles. Annual volunteer efforts to pick up litter along Missouri highways are valued at more than $1 million. Last year, more than 43,000 bags of litter and several truckloads of debris were picked up during the spring the “No More Trash! Bash.” People also attended numerous educational events stressing the importance of not littering. Volunteers participated through Adopt-A-Highway and Stream Team litter cleanup events. Missouri Stream Team Program volunteers removed 547 tons of litter from waterways and dedicated more than $2.3 million worth of volunteer time to litter removal statewide annually. Littering also hurts wildlife and Missouri outdoors. Volunteers are needed across the state to participate in litter cleanup activities. Participants can report their cleanup efforts and will receive a thank you No MOre Trash! pin. For more information and to learn how to participate, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission and the Phelps County Public Housing Agency (PHA) Family Self-Sufficiency program will host a free workshop from 10:00 in the morning until noon on April 16th in St. James on “Tackling the Tough Skills: Problem Solving.” This workshop is the final in a series of five that will cover topics such as attitude, responsibility, communications, problem solving and preparing for the workplace. All workshops are held in the Phelps County PHA room ag the MRPC offices located at #4 Industrial Drive in St. James. Christy Saylor, the Missouri Ozarks Community Action county projects coordinator, will be presenting the program. Free training classes are a part of MRPC and PHA’s efforts to help prepare families by making them aware of the resources available to assist with self-sufficiency. Workshops are offered at no cost to the participants. For more information or to RSVP, contact Savannah Vandegriffe at 573-265-4200 ext. 132. Free training classes are a part of MRPC and PHA’s efforts to help prepare families by making them aware of the resources available to assist with self-sufficiency. Each participant who attends will receive a $25 Wal-Mart gift card, as long as they meet income qualifications.

Have you joined the petition drive to have enlisted World War II Veterans honored with a state funeral for the passing of last Medal of Honor recipient? You will find numerous petitions in the area at stores, offices, and governmental buildings. Between 1939 and 1945, sixteen million Americans served our country in World War II. Of that sixteen million, 464 received the Medal of Honor, of which only four recipients remain alive today. In the history of the United States there has never been a state funeral held for an enlisted person. Petitions are located at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, American Legion Post #99, and numerous locations around Salem. If you have questions or concerns feel free to contact Chairman Richard LaBrash, State Funeral for World War II Veterans, at (573) 729-1394. Signers of the petition must be a registered voter. If you haven’t found a petition in town, people can go online at WorldWar2Salute.org to sign the petition.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo will be held this Saturday starting at 9:00 and ending at noon at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. A total of 43 vendors will be in attendance and four of those businesses will be giving away prizes valued at more than $250: Town and Country Bank with four St. Louis Cardinals tickets, A-1 Tech of Rolla will be offering a refurbished Windows 10 computer with keyboard, mouse and monitor; Echo Bluff will be offering a one night stay and basket full of Echo Bluff goodies, and Salem ATA Martial Arts will be giving away a free enrollment along with a free uniform, free trainer weapon & private lesson. There is no cost to attend the expo and everyone is welcome. This is an excellent opportunity to find out about a number of local businesses where you can talk with them about their services and products. Many business will have products there you can buy. Many of these vendors will offer free giveaway items or may have their own prize registration. Parking for the expo will be throughout the Salem City Park and also across the street from the Salem Community Center on Rolla Road. Make it a point to stop by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo this Saturday starting at 9:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. For any questions you may have, contact the chamber office at 729-6900.

Missouri Department of Transportation Senior Maintenance Worker Justin Sundell of Salem recalls a time he was flagging vehicles through a work zone on Highway 68 when he noticed a car that wasn’t slowing down. Sundell says the next thing he heard was the sound of squealing tires and locking brakes as the driver was looking at his phone the whole time. This week is “National Work Zone Awareness Week” and Sundell is speaking up in hopes of getting drivers to pay more attention in work zones, which will be cropping up throughout the state as warmer weather moves in. He is begging drivers to buckle up and put the phone down. Unfortunately, work zone crashes are on the rise nationwide. Sixteen people were killed in work zone crashes last year and two of those people were workers. That is double the number killed in 2016, when eight people died in work zones. In fact, a work zone crash occurs every 5.4 minutes. With construction season underway, motorists will encounter work taking place on Missouri roadways through the fall. Some of the more impactful work zones will occur on Interstates 70, 44, 64, 55, 270 and on Highway 65. Here are some tips for navigating work zones safely: Observe warning signs and merge before reaching lane closures, and be aware of changing traffic conditions. Traffic could slow or stop unexpectedly as the traffic lanes can merge, or equipment and workers can enter the roadway. Always be prepared to slow down. Driving too fast for the conditions is a major factor in work zone crashes. To help make your travel safer, visit MoDOT’s Traveler Information map at www.traveler.modot.org/map and find out what work zones you’ll encounter before you go.

According to preliminary data from Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), young turkey hunters harvested 1,723 turkeys during the spring youth season this past Saturday and Sunday. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 51 turkeys harvested, Miller with 43, and Maries with 43. Young hunters checked a little over 4,000 turkeys during last year’s youth weekend. MDC’s Turkey Biologist, Jason Isabelle, said that weather was the biggest contributing factor to this year’s low youth turkey season harvest. Temperatures that were well-below average probably made it difficult for young hunters to spend as much time hunting this past weekend as they would have with more seasonal temperatures. Isabelle also notes that in addition to cold temperatures this weekend, spring has been slow to get here this year causing turkeys to be a little behind schedule as far as the winter flock break-up. With warmer temperatures in the forecast, hunting conditions should be much more favorable for the upcoming regular spring turkey season. For more information on the upcoming regular spring turkey hunting season, April 16-May 6, get a copy of MDC’s 2018 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold, or online. 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 Community Blood Center of the Ozarks has scheduled another blood drive in Salem this week and this one will be Friday from 9:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon at the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Remember, current blood supplies of “O” negative and “A” negative are critically low. To be eligible to give blood, you must weight at least 110 pounds, be in good health and have a picture ID. For more information about this blood drive, contact Debra Piatt at the Salem Hospital at 729-6626. The other blood drive in Salem is today at the Salem High School from 8:30 until 2:30.

An accident happened in Dent County on Highway 119 about six miles south of Highway 32 Sunday evening at about 7:10. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Ford Escort driven by 26-year old driven southbound by 26-year old Terry Storm of Salem, traveled off the left side of the roadway where the Ford struck an embankment and overturned. Storm suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by the Salem EMS. The Ford Escort was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing of Salem. Storm was not wearing his seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Missouri State Highway patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and Montauk Fire Department.

An accident happened Saturday afternoon at 4:59 in Crawford County on North Klein Road less than a mile from the South Klein Road cut-off. According to the highway patrol report, 16-year old Haylea Barnicle of Steelville was driving a 2006 Nisan Pathfinder southbound when she lost control of the vehicle on a curve. The Nissan slid off the roadway and struck several trees. A passenger in the Nissan, 15-year old Ryan Nickles of Steelville, suffered minor injuries and was transported to the Missouri Baptist Hospital by the Steelville Ambulance. Nickles was wearing a seat restraint when the accident happened while Barnicle was not. The Nissan sustained moderate damage in the accident and was driven from the scene.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has launched a 30-day public comment period on an update of the state’s Long Range Transportation Plan. The Long Range Transportation Plan is a federally required process that sets the state’s 25-year vision for transportation. Missouri’s current plan was approved in February 2014, but new federal laws and regulations require additional content, including safety performance measures and targets. MoDOT sought public input in the fall to determine if their original goals were still valid, or if priorities had changed. Nearly 8,000 people participated in the online survey and submitted about 5,400 comments. Based on that feedback, the four goals above were validated and the updated plan adds an new plan to improve reliability and reduce congestion on Missouri’s transportation system. The draft Long-Range Transportation Plan can be viewed online at www.modot.org/LRTP/, or at any MoDOT District Office. Those interested in offering comments on the plan can contact MoDOT by emailing LRTPcomments@modot.mo.gov Additional questions about the survey and the long range planning process can be addressed by calling customer service centers at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636). The final plan will be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for approval at its June 2018 meeting.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports 33 new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) have been found following the testing of 24,486 free-ranging Missouri deer through its 2017-2018 sampling and testing efforts. Of the 33 new cases, 16 were from hunter-harvested deer, one was from a road-killed deer, and 16 were from MDC’s post-season targeted culling efforts in the immediate areas around where previous cases have been found. This year’s findings bring the total number of free-ranging deer in Missouri confirmed to have CWD to 75. For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov/cwd. It is encouraging that cases of CWD are still pretty low overall, and MDC remains committed to monitoring the disease and taking actions to limit its spread. Efforts are vital in limiting the spread of the disease. If nothing is done, areas affected by CWD will increase in size and many more deer will become infected by the disease. Over time, this would lead to significant long-term population declines. MDC will again require mandatory sampling of deer harvested during the opening weekend of the fall firearms deer season, Nov. 10 and 11, in and around counties where the disease has been recently found. MDC will again also offer voluntary CWD sampling during the entire fall and winter hunting season of deer harvested in and around counties where the disease has been recently found. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend hunters in areas known to have CWD test their deer before consuming the meat. More information on specific counties, sampling locations, and requirements will be published in MDC’s “2018 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information” booklet, and online at mdc.mo.gov/cwd, starting in July.

Time is running out on ordering your native trees, shrubs, and woody vines that can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of your private property. You only have until April 15th to place your order! The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) George O. White State Nursery near Licking offers Missouri residents a variety of native seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes. The State Nursery provides mainly one-year-old bare-root seedlings that vary greatly depending on the species. Seedlings varieties include pine, pecan, oak, dogwood, cottonwood, sweet gum, cypress, birch, hickory, willow, persimmon, pawpaw, deciduous holly, redbud, wild plum, ninebark, witch hazel, serviceberry, mulberry, elderberry, and many others. Seedlings are available in quantity bundles of 10, 25 or 100 per species. Prices for seedling quantities range from $6-32 per bundle. You can receive a 15-percent discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Heritage Card. Orders can be placed now by fax, Internet or mail. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the State Nursery starting through May. Many quantities are now limited. Find images and information on available items as well as and ordering information in the Department’s 2017-2018 Seedling Order Form catalogue. The catalogue is available online at mdc.mo.gov or call the State Nursery at 573-674-3229.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Road 2490, while grading only would be done on county roads 5450 and 5220. He went on to say that he had a man piling the chips that are being hauled in for this summers chip and seal work. Purcell noted that a crew had installed two foot by two foot Missouri Farmers Care Agri Ready signs on the county roads at the county line. He went on to say that the Commissioners realize that roads are rough and there are potholes, but the crews are getting to them on a rotational basis and the roads will be graded. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4300, 6160, 2500, and 2520, while county road 3220 would have materials added and it would also be graded. Larson said that county road 2630 would have materials added to it. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that on Wednesday he attended the MRPC Investment Board meeting in St. James where the primary issues discussed were the budget and dues structure and there would be more meetings on these issues. He reminded everyone that there would be no meeting of the Commission on Monday as they will be attending the Missouri Association of Commissioners Legislative Conference in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for March and that she balanced with the collector and assessor on all monthly collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of March. She also said that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning, April 12th at 9:00 at the courthouse, and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred March 20th at the intersecting streets of Parkview place and route J. According to the Salem Police report, a 2000 Ford Ranger driven by Sheri Cline of Rolla and a 2013 Ford Edge driven by Donna Nichols of Salem were westbound on route J approaching Parkview when the Ranger signaled to make a left turn. The Edge failed to stop, and contact was made with the Ranger. Cline suffered minor injuries and sought her own treatment while Nichols also suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment. Both vehicles had moderate damage.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their April meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. After approval of the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting, the Board reviewed and approved bills as presented. The Board then reviewed the budget and saw that it was close to the same amount as this time last year. The monthly reimbursement report was presented with a total of 26 calls for the month that included five calls for structure fires, two calls for a brush fire, one call for a car fire, one call for a landing zone, four calls for first responders, four calls for vehicle accidents, five calls for mutual aid, two calls for Haz-Mat, and two calls for training. The total calls year-to-date is 96. There was no old or new business brought before the Boar. During reports, Fire Chief Brad Nash reported that the UTV the district purchased has arrived at the dealership and will be ready for possible pickup next week. The Board then set their next meeting for Tuesday, May 1st at the fire station beginning at 6:00 pm and the meeting was then adjourned.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced that bridge work will be done on Route F between Highway 32 and Route E starting April 9th. The maintenance work on the Holt Creek Bridge will close the road to through traffic, and traffic will be detoured around the work area. Once work is complete on the Holt Creek Bridge, contractors will begin work on the Dry Fork Creek Bridge. The project is scheduled to be completed in June. MoDOT asks drivers to plan an alternative route now ahead of the closure. For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central.

Country Mart and Council for a Healthy Dent County have partnered together to create a “Fresh Fruit for Kids” program. Displayed at the front of the produce isle inside the Country Mart store is now a three-tier basket display filled with fresh fruit. Children 12 and under are encouraged to take a piece of fruit to snack on while shopping with their family for free! This is a part of Healthy Dent County’s “Healthy Schools Healthy Communities” initiative through the Missouri Foundation for Health which they have been a part of since 2013.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Saturday, March 24th at about 10:32 in the evening, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 24-year old male of Rolla for driving while being drugged. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Later that same night at about 11:32, an officer from the Viburnum Police Department released a 22-year old male of Viburnum to an officer of the Salem Police Department. The suspect, who had an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem, was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. On Sunday morning. March 25th at about 1:57, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 39- year old female of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Monday morning, March 26th at approximately 11:45, an officer was detailed to Poplar Bluff to transport a 48- year old male of Poplar Bluff to the Dent County Jail due to an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. The suspect was transported to Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated pending a court appearance. That afternoon at 5:43, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to property damage to a vehicle. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown damaged the paint on a vehicle parked in the 300 block of West Ninth. The report is under investigation. On Tuesday, March 27th at about 1:16 in the morning, an officer was detailed to a disturbance at McDonalds Restaurant. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of an 18-year old male of Salem for the possession of drug paraphernalia and being a minor in possession of intoxicants. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. That same evening at about 11:02, an officer located a 34-year old male of Salem in the 900 block of East Center, who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect, who attempted to flee was taken into custody on the warrant and for resisting arrest. The suspect was incarcerated pending a court appearance and application for a warrant. On Wednesday morning, March 28th at about 10:53, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference a forgery. That investigation revealed a male juvenile of Salem had stolen a check, forged it and cashed it for $200.00. The juvenile suspect was detained for the forgery and theft and released to his mother. The report will be forwarded to the Juvenile Office. If you have information regarding any ongoing investigation, please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night at the city hall council chambers. There were no bids received on the Splash Pad Pump House construction according to Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon who then gave his report from the Park and Recreation Board March 29th meeting. The consent agenda was approved that showed the Capital Improvement Sales Tax received $50,598.53, the Park and Recreation Sales Tax Fund received $37,949.04, and the General Revenue Fund received $101,197.11. City Administrator Ray Walden reported the city is audited independently every year and the current fund balances in the city accounts come to $5.69 million dollars. He reported the Salem Community Center at The Armory had 5,552 participants for their activities in March. He said the third of four visioning sessions would be held on April 9th from 5:00 until 7:00 at the Salem Community Center and the Salem Business Expo will be held April 14th from 9:00 to noon also at the Salem Community Center. The board approved Bill #3370 that eliminates the parking on North Grand Avenue between West First Street and West Third Street, the approved bills #3371-3377 concerning the appointment of various city positions including city clerk, city attorney, public works director, director of engineering, city treasurer, chief of police and the economic development director. Those appointed positions will be for life, until resignation or they are terminated. The board approved Bill #3378 that lists the duties of the Public Works Director, approved Bill #3379 adopting a “Livable Street” policy, and Bill #3380 that adjusts the annual budget from the economic development position. The clean-up dates from WCA have been set for the weeks of May 7th and 14th. The board then went into closed session.

An accident happened Saturday afternoon at 3:23 in Dent County on Highway 19 about four miles south of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, 58-year old Gail Sherfy of St. James driving a 2007 Ford Edge eastbound, pulled into the path of a southbound 2007 GMC Yukon driven by 55-year Elizabeth Smith of Jadwin. The collision caused the Yukon to strike a 2013 Kia Sorento driven northbound by 35-year old Jackie Reinbott. Suffering serious injuries in the accident were Sherfy and a passenger in the Ford, 53-year old Kevin Hampton of St. James. Sherfy was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur and Hampton was flown by Phelps Air to the Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. Suffering moderate injuries was 55-year old Elizabeth Smith from the Yukon who was taken to the Salem Memorial District by the Salem EMS. Suffering minor injuries from the Kia in the accident were the driver, 35-year old Jackie Reinbott, and passengers 39-year old Joey Reinbott, four-year old Alexander Reinbott and one-year old Adalynn Reinbott. Also suffering minor injuries from the Kia was Barbara Shaw from Midville, Utah. Everyone in the Kia was also taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by a private conveyance. The Ford Edge and GMC Yukon were totaled in the accident while the Kia sustained extensive damages. All three vehicles were removed from the scene by American Muffler and Tire. Everyone involved in the accident was wearing a seat restraint.

The Salem Board of Aldermen meeting will be held this evening at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers. The board will hear bids for the building of the Splash-Pad Pump House before approving the consent agenda that showed sales tax collections for the month of February for Park and Recreation Fund, Capital Improvements Fund and for the city’s General Revenue Fund. Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon will give a report on the Park and Recreation Board of Directors meeting held Thursday, March 29th. City Administrator Ray Walden will give his report on activities in the city before Mayor Brad Nash provides his report. The board will hear Bill #3370 that regulates vehicle parking on the east and west sides of Grand Street between West Center Street and West Third Street before the board hears a number of bills concerning the appointment and terms of a number of city offices including the City Clerk, City Treasurer, City Attorney, Director of Public Works, the Director of Engineering, Director of Economic Development and Chief of Police. The board will also hear Bill #3379 adopting a “Liveable Street” policy for the city and Bill #3380 that amends the annual budget for the city. The board will discuss the Spring Clean-up dates before going into closed session to discuss real estate. The Salem Board of Aldermen meeting tonight is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a report of a stolen firearm. According to the report, on March 27th, the victim reported that his 9mm Rock Island 1911 handgun and holster were stolen from his vehicle sometime between March 17th and March 26th. This report is still under investigation. If anyone has information regarding this theft, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced that bridge work will be done on Route F between Highway 32 and Route E starting April 9th. The maintenance work on the Holt Creek Bridge will close the road to through traffic, and traffic will be detoured around the work area. Once work is complete on the Holt Creek Bridge, contractors will begin work on the Dry Fork Creek Bridge. The project is scheduled to be completed in June. MoDOT asks drivers to plan an alternative route now ahead of the closure. For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central.