Local News

An accident happened Saturday morning at 11:00 in Washington County on Route A just east of Route T. According to the highway patrol report, 18-year old Austin Poulson of Rolla was driving a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon eastbound when he lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve. The Hyundai traveled off the right side of the roads edge and struck a tree. Poulson suffered serious injuries and was transported to the St. Anthony’s Medical Center by the Washington County Ambulance District. Poulson was not wearing a seat restraint and the Hyundai was totaled in the accident. The vehicle was removed from the scene by Elliott’s Towing.

An accident happened at 6:15 Friday morning in Dent County five and a half miles south of Salem on Highway 19. According to the highway patrol report, a southbound 2005 Ford F-150, driven by 29-year old Steven Cahill of Salem, ran off the right side of the roadway. Cahill overcorrected and the truck ran off the left side of the road. The Ford began to overturn when it impacted a fence and came to rest. A passenger, 26-year old Adrian Stacy of Salem, suffered minor injuries and sought his own treatment. According to the report, both occupants were wearing safety restraints. The F-150 was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

An accident happened Friday afternoon at 1:57 in Phelps County on Route O about a mile south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Chevy Blazer driven southbound by 21-yearold Damian Reeves of Rolla, turned into the path of a northbound 2008 Chevy Malibu driven by 20-yaer old Caleb McKinney of Rolla. Damian Reeves suffered moderate injuries in the accident as did 20-year old Anne Menge of Rolla who was a passenger in the Malibu. Suffering minor injuries were the driver of the Malibu, Caleb McKinney and passengers from the Malibu: 17-year old Kayla Wainwright of Rolla and 17-year old Rowena Wallace of Rolla. Reeves, McKinney and Menge were transported by the Phelps County EMS to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center while Wainwright and Wallace were taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by the St. James EMS. The Blazer was totaled in the accident and was removed by Dishman’s Towing of Rolla, while the Malibu had extensive damage and was removed from the scene by C&C Towing of Rolla.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting this evening at the City Hall Council Chambers for the regular meeting starting at 7:00. After the consent agenda, the board will hear from City Administrator Ray Walden about events going on in the city followed by Mayor Brad Nash and his report. In the Introduction and Reading of Bills, Bill #3342 would create an ordinance that would establish the date to initiate the solid waste charges to residential customers under the new contract with WCA Waste Corporation. Mayor Nash will present to the board his recommendation of Gary Brown to replace James Coffman on the Salem Housing Authority Board who has resigned. Brown said he would be honored to accept the position. The Fall-Clean-Up Week will be set for the week of October 9th through the 13th for city WCA customers. The board will go into closed session to discuss real estate before adjourning. The City of Salem Board of Aldermen meeting will be held tonight at 7:00 in the city hall council chambers and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Tuesday, September 5th at about 7:33 in the evening, an officer located a 26-year old male of Salem in the 1500 block of Beasley who had two active arrest warrants from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrants and incarcerated pending a court appearance. That same evening at about 8:27, an officer transported a 35-year old female to Phelps County Regional Medical Center on a mental commitment order. Later on that evening at approximately 10:55, an officer was dispatched to the Phil-Mart Convenience Store in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 32-year old female for stealing alcohol. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. A few minutes later at close to 11:10, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 49-year-old female of Salem for driving while having her license revoked. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Wednesday, September 6th just after midnight, an officer located a 26-year old female of Salem near Warfel and Jack who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host a special reunion at the historic Storys Creek One-Room School on Sunday, September 17th at 5:00 p.m. in partnership with the Shannon County Museum. Former teachers, students and their families invite everyone to join in this free event, which will feature a potluck dinner. Visitors are encouraged to bring old pictures and stories to share, a covered dish, and folding chairs. The event will kick off in the Storys Creek School with a program featuring historical information and poems on one-room schools, followed by the potluck dinner. Former students will share their tales from yesteryear and reminisce about school days spent near Storys Creek with former teachers. The Storys Creek School blackboard, which contained the signatures of former students, was partially damaged during the historic flooding earlier this year. Alumni and families are encouraged to put these precious names back on the blackboard during this program. Please help us spread the word to all former students about this special event in their honor. Storys Creek School was built in 1896 and was one of the longest serving one-room schools in Shannon County. Originally located on Storys Creek near Eminence, the school was donated to the National Park Service by Mrs. Edna Staples and moved to Alley Spring in 1971 to serve as an exhibit dedicated to the history of one-room schools in Shannon County. Storys Creek School is located at Alley Spring, five miles west of Eminence on State Route 106. For more information, phone (573) 226-3945.

The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) wants the public to know that you can take a stand for your land and combat illegal dumping. Late fall and late winter are the best times for identifying illegal dumps and they encourage anyone to report illegal dumping activities. The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) provides surveillance camera services as a courtesy to cities and communities. To make a request, contact Jill Hollowell at the Meramac Regional Planning Commission by calling (573) 265-2993. This project is funded by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Missouri Trout Fisherman’s Tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday at Montauk State Park. This tournament, sponsored by the Missouri Trout Fisherman’s Association, is open to everyone. You can register to participate in 8:15, or Saturday morning from 6:30 to 8:00. Anglers entering the tournament will pay an entry fee and prizes will be awarded for tagged the derby at the Dorman L. Steelman Lodge on Friday night between the hours of 6:30 and fish caught during the derby. The prizes will be awarded to all winners on Sunday at noon at the J. Ben Searcy Building.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Thursday, August 31st at approximately 8:06 in the morning, an officer was sent to a residence in the 1400 block of South Washington in reference to a theft from a vehicle. The investigation revealed a person or persons unknown took $148.00 cash from two separate vehicles parked near the residence. The report is under investigation. On Friday, September 1st at approximately 12:17 in the morning, an officer located a 37-year old female of Salem in the 600 block of North Henderson who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. Later that evening at about 6:42, an officer located a 29-year old male and a 25-year old female, both of Salem, who had fugitive warrants from Crawford, Iron, and Reynolds County. The two were taken into custody on the warrants and incarcerated pending extradition. On Saturday September 2nd at approximately 6:35 in the evening, an officer was contacted in reference to property damage of a vehicle. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown cut a tire, broke a windshield and painted on a blue and white 1988 Chevrolet Suburban causing damages valued at $880.00. This report is still under investigation. On Sunday evening September 3rd at around 8:55, an officer transported a 38-year old male of St. James from Phelps County to Dent County Jail due to an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. The suspect was incarcerated pending a court appearance. On Monday, September 4th at approximately 3:20 in the afternoon, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. That investigation led to the arrest of a 34- year old male of Salem for driving while having his license revoked. The suspect was issued as summons to appear in court and released. Later that same evening at approximately 11:10, an officer was contacted in reference to a burglary. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown entered a residence in the 600 block of North Henderson and took a 32-inch flat screen television set. The report is currently under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Missouri Forest Products Association (MFPA) is now accepting applications for their logging school program that will begin about October 1, 2017 at the Camp at Lake Wappapello. The school is a 10-week course held 5 days a week and students are expected to stay at the camp throughout the week and housing will be in a dormitory on the property. The logging school tuition is expected to be $5,000 which covers room, meals and instruction for the 10-week period. A maximum of 12 students per session will be accepted in to the program and MFPA will offer two sessions per year, one in October and the other in February. There will classroom as well as field instruction covering topics such as: forest management, timber harvesting, marketing and utilization. To receive additional information, application materials and scholarship opportunities contact Fred Smith at (573) 619-4494.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways announces a proposed increase in cave tour fees for the Round Spring Cave and camping fees for the rustic backcountry campgrounds within the park. Additionally, the Jerktail rustic backcountry camping area is proposed to be added as a fee area. The proposed rate increases are necessary in order for park camping fees to remain comparable with local privately owned businesses. The current camping fees have not been raised in the backcountry sites since 2008. In addition, cave tour fees have not been increased since 2003 and are significantly lower than other area caves. The new rates would take effect April 15, 2018. The proposed camping fees changes include the Basic Family Backcountry Campsites (limit 6 people) that would go from $5.00 to $10.00 a night; the Cluster Backcountry Campsite at Big Tree (7-20 people) that would go from $15.00 to $20.00 a night; the Round Spring Cave Tours (Adults) that would go from $5 to $10; and the Round Spring Cave Tours (Child 12 and under) that would go from $2 to $5. The existing rustic backcountry campgrounds are located at Big Tree, Grubb, Gooseneck, Bay Creek, Blue Spring, Rymers, Shawnee Creek, Two Rivers Primitive, Logyard, Sinking Creek, Cedar Grove, and Dee Murray. This rate increase does not apply to front country campgrounds at Alley Spring, Round Spring, Pulltite, Two Rivers and Big Spring, which will remain the same. The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is able to keep the fees collected from our campgrounds and cave tours to use for improvements to visitor facilities and services such as upgrading restroom and shower facilities, maintaining trails, improving campgrounds, and educational programs for students. If you would like to comment on the proposed rate increase, please respond by November 20th to Lisa Figge at lisa_figge@nps.gov or (573)323-8144.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the sales tax figures received this month from the state. For the General Revenue Fund, Williams reported the county received $91,349.81 which is more than $2,000 more than last year’s figure. Year-to-date, the General Revenue Fund is up $2,036.78 which is a small increase of .32%. The Law Enforcement Sales Tax receipts are similar to the General Revenue Fund. The Road and Bridge Department Sales Tax received in September came in at $61,076.37 which is some $2,800 more than last year’s amount, and year-to date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $10,780.03 which is an increase of 2.49%. She said she would be attending her annual training at the Missouri County Treasurer’s Association meeting this week. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell indicated that grading would be done and materials added to Dent County Road 6520 while only grading was going to be done on county road 6220. He said brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 4253, 4255 and 5220. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Road 4380. He also said pipes would be installed on Dent County Road 2530 and materials would also be hauled to that road. He added that road materials would also be added to Dent County Road 5260. Larson went on to say the chip and seal work this year is now completed. He and Commissioner Purcell complimented N.B. West of Sullivan for their efforts this year in applying the tar and chips. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be presiding over two PHA hearings today in St. James. He again wants to remind anyone getting HUD housing assistance to please comply with the conditions of your contract or face the possibility of being removed from the program. He also said he would be attending a Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation meeting today in St. James. He went on to say the Missouri Community Betterment judges would be in Salem at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center today at 3:00. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wants to remind voters that you should be receiving a voter registration card in the mail soon. When you receive it, please review to make sure the information on the card is correct. If there is a mistake, you may submit the correction on the back of the card and mail it back to her office, call her office or stop by her office in the courthouse to update your information. She again wants to remind everyone that you will need a photo ID to vote. If you need assistance in obtaining one free non-drivers license photo ID, call 1-866-868-3245. The commission voted 3-0 to seek bids on installation of 4 replacement windows on the top floor of the courthouse. Bids will be due by September 28th at 10:00 a.m. Potential bidders with any questions should call her office at 729-4144. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released reports. On Sunday, September 3rd, deputies took a report of stolen items from the 3000 block of Route OO. The items that are missing from the residence include a Play Station 3, one game, and two controllers. This report is still under investigation. On Labor Day, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 1800 block of Highway 19 North. As a result, a 27-year old Salem man was arrested for driving without having a valid license. He was fingerprinted, issued a summons to appear in court, and was released. Later that day, deputies responded to the 2000 block of Dent County Road 6150 in reference to a male found sleeping in a vehicle at someone’s house. Upon arrival, deputies located the 38-year old Arkansas man in the grass next to the road. The victim located him inside the vehicle, woke him, and went to the neighbor’s house to call 911 after he began to walk towards her. He was arrested and incarcerated into the Dent County Jail for 1st degree trespassing. He was held on a $5,000 cash only bond. On Tuesday, September 5th, deputies responded to a call in the 1000 block of Dent County Road 2440 in reference to a burglary. The inside of the residence was in disarray and several items were missing. Items missing ranged from hand tools, scrap metal, horse tack and saddles to crock pots and antiques. This report is still under investigation. On Thursday, September 7th, deputies responded to a call on Dent County Road 4210 in reference to a subject with an active warrant. Contact was made with the 34-year old Salem man and he was taken into custody. He was incarcerated on four Capias Dent County warrants. If you information about any ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

Highway 49 in Iron and Reynolds Counties will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pug milling. This section of roadway is located from Highway 32 to Route A. Weather permitting, this work will take place TODAY through Thursday, September 14th from 7:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon each day. Travel on the road will be open to local traffic only. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. For additional information, contact Resident Engineer Darius Dowdy at (573-243-0899) or MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).

The Salem Police Department has released a number of reports. On Sunday, August 27th at 7:33 in the evening, an officer located a 29-year old male of Salem who had an active arrest warrant from Missouri State Probation and Parole at a residence in the 800 block of North Henderson. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. On Monday, August 28th at 10:00 at night, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. Investigation of the stop led to the arrest of an 18-year old male of Salem for the possession of marijuana. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Tuesday morning, August 29th at about 8:42, an officer was contacted in reference to a stolen license plate. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown took a Missouri license plate from a box trailer that was parked in the 300 block of East Franklin. The report is under investigation. That same afternoon at approximately 2:39, an officer was sent to a residence in the 1000 block of East Center in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown took an electric meter valued at $30.00. The report is under investigation. Later that afternoon at about 5:53, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 25 year-old male of Salem for driving while having his license suspended. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Wednesday afternoon, August 30th at about 5:43, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 1000 block of West Hunt reference a stabbing. That investigation of the report revealed a 32-year-old male of Salem had stabbed a 49-year old male of Salem in the head with a knife, causing an injury. A further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect who was incarcerated pending the application for a warrant. That same evening at approximately 9:42, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 31-year old male of Steelville for the possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of an illegal weapon and driving while having his license revoked. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Missouri Sheriffs’ Association in cooperation with the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Salem Police Department will be hosting a basic law enforcement training academy starting January 9, 2018 in Salem at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The Academy will be a 700 hour course that will qualify graduates with a Class A peace officer license in Missouri. The class will meet Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6-10 pm as well as Saturdays from 8 am-5 pm and some Sundays. This is an eleven month program with a maximum of 25 students and a graduation being held in November 2018. The Missouri Sheriffs’ Association Training Academy meets and exceeds the State of Missouri’s minimum basic training requirement for peace officer certification. Graduates will be certified in several areas from report writing to arrest procedures, intake booking to inmate supervision. Driving instruction courses will be held at the Salem airport and firearms training will be held at the law enforcement firing range. The Missouri Sheriffs’ Association Training Academy (MSATA) plays a vital role in the training and education of law enforcement and emergency services professionals statewide. Those wishing to attend may register by going to the Missouri Sheriff’s Association website at www.mosheriffs.com and clicking on the training academy tab. Financial aid and college credits are available through Columbia College. Contact Janette Nichols at 573-819-2862 or e-mail jlnichols3@ccis.edu concerning the financial aid process. The Salem Community Center @ the Armory is located at 1200 W. Rolla Road in Salem. Sergeant Lenny Pabin, Dent County Sheriff’s Office will serve as the coordinator for this academy. For questions please call Sgt. Pabin at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams came in to get the Commissioners’ signatures for the quarterly transfers of budgeted funds from the Senior Citizens Fund to the Salem Nutrition Center and SMTS. The Salem Nutrition Center transfer was for $12,500.00, while the SMTS transfer was for $6,250.00. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported his district has finished with chip and seal overlay on Dent County Roads 4110 and 4210. He cautioned motorists on the newly surfaced roads to drive with care and reduce speed because loose gravel remains on the roadway. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that grading would be done on Dent County Road 3330 and materials were being hauled to county road 4020. He said that a man was at the road and bridge shed loading chips for the chip and seal overlay on county road 2300 and it would be finished Thursday if they didn’t run out of chips. Larson reported that there have been instances of people deliberately attempting to tear up the new chip and seal by spinning their vehicle tires on it. He asked that residents that observe this being done get a license number and/or vehicle description and report the information to the Commission. Purcell added that there had been instances of vehicles traveling too fast for conditions and throwing gravel on his workers even though there has been signage provided in the area and flagging was being done to slow down drivers. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that Tuesday morning all three Commissioners were in Rolla at the Phelps County Courthouse where they, along with the Phelps County Commission, recognized Senator Dan Brown with one of only four County Commissioners Association of Missouri County Advocate Awards that were presented to Missouri Legislators. Skiles reported that Wednesday, he along with Commissioner Larson and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley, attend a health insurance consortium meeting in Jefferson City. The Missouri Affiliated Governmental Insurance Consortium (MAGIC) is made up of eight counties and there may be expansion of MAGIC by as many as 26 counties. Purcell was unable to attend the meeting due to a funeral. Skiles also noted that the Courthouse Staff, along with other County offices, has had a very stressful month due to CenturyLink not being able to efficiently get their long distance service transferred and maintained. Curley noted that CenturyLink issued the work order on August 3rd and she was told the work would be completed in three to seven working days. Skiles noted that the local CenturyLink employees are great people to work with and they do a great job, but corporate level and sales staff are not delivering quality service. Curley reported that her office has spent hours on the phone with CenturyLink providing all the information their sales staff requested. She noted that she balanced with Treasurer Williams on all accounts for the month of August. Curley said her office would be mailing out voter registration cards for a canvass of voters, which is required by law to occur every two years. She also reminded voters that they will need a photo id to vote in any future elections. The Commissioners reviewed and approved bills for payment. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Sunday, August 20th, deputies responded to the Seville Care Center in reference to a vehicle being tampered with. Upon arrival, deputies met with the victim and it was discovered that the air in their tires had been let out. This report is still under investigation. On Saturday, August 26th, deputies responded to the 34000 block of Highway 72 in reference to a burglary. It was discovered that a vehicle and several guns were stolen from the residence. The vehicle has since been located. This report is still under investigation. That same day, deputies responded to the 400 block of Route H in reference to a shot being fired through the front door of a residence. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a bullet from a 38 Special or 357 Magnum had gone through the storm door window, a hollow front door, and bounced off a wooden bookcase and landed on the bedroom rug. It is believed it was shot from a distance. This report is still under investigation. On Monday, August 28th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the Pizza Hut parking lot. The driver, a 32-year old Salem man, was arrested on a Dent County Warrant. He was taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. That same day deputies responded to the Salem Faith Assembly Church in reference to property damage. Deputies were shown two air conditioners on the north side of the building that had been pulled out of the ground and overturned. This report is still under investigation. On Tuesday, August 29th, deputies assisted members of the U.S. Marshals with apprehending a 28-year old male that had a warrant out of Illinois for possession of child pornography. He was located at a campsite at Indian Trails off of Highway 117. He was taken to the Dent County jail and is awaiting extradition. On Friday, September 1st, deputies traveled to the 700 block of Route W to arrest a 35-year old Salem man on a Dent County warrant. Upon arrival, he was located outside and was taken into custody without issue. He was taken to the Dent County Jail and later bonded. if anyone has any information on any ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the fire station with all members present. The consent agenda was approved and the audit report was reviewed with K. Deluca Audit Services LLC. The auditor was very pleased with the results and praised the district for the improvements. Due to the limited number of people working in the office the auditor suggested improved ways to handle the check reconciliation. The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and approved. Bills were reviewed and approved, plus the budget and calendar were reviewed. The monthly reimbursement report was presented with a total of 20 calls for the month, including; four structure fires, one brush fire, one landing zone, six first responders, three vehicle accidents, one mutual aid, one hazards-material, two trainings, and one search and rescue. The total calls for the year to date are 193 with and average cost per call of $80.76. In old business the board agreed to reimburse the final two people in the firefighter 1 and 2 class as per policy. Chief Brad Nash reported that the radios and lights are being installed as time permits to update and repair old lights and radios on the trucks. Chief Nash also reported that fund raisers and concerts are coming up to raise money for the Christmas Toy Drive. The next meeting date for the Board of Directors was set for October 3rd at 6:00 pm at the Dent County Fire Protection District.

Explore the fascinating night sky at a Night Sky program Saturday at Echo Bluff State Park south of Salem. The outdoor interpretive program will be held from 7:30 until 9:00 pm and is free and open to the public. Telescopes will be set up to view the stars and Milky Way. Visitors should also bring a pair of binoculars for a spectacular view. This is a dark viewing, which means there is no moon in the sky so stars take center stage. Missouri State Parks is celebrating 100 years in 2017. Visitors can experience all the park system has to offer with the Centennial Passport. Visit mostateparks.com/passport for more information. Echo Bluff State Park is located 25 miles south of Salem and 14 miles north of Eminence on Highway 19. For more information about the event call 751-1224.

An accident happened at 5:50 Monday afternoon in Phelps County on Highway 63 just south of Phelps County Road 6033. According to the highway patrol report, a 1998 Toyota Camry driven northbound by 38-year old Lindee Sprong of Salem, went off the right side of the roadway and struck a guardrail, then a tree and came to rest on an embankment. Suffering minor injuries was 27-year old Christopher Prater of Salem and he was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by the Phelps County Ambulance. Sprong did not suffer any injuries. Everyone involved was wearing a seat restraint. The Toyota had extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Lucas Towing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met for their regular meeting at the city hall council chambers Tuesday night. Mayor Brad Nash was not present at the meeting due to a Dent County Fire Protection District meeting. In the Hearing of Persons, City Administrator Ray Walden presented a request from the Dent County Connect group to hold a fund raising “Paddle Party” on September 23rd at the Commons to raise funds for the new All-Inclusive Playground. Since the project is already fully funded, the board approved the fundraiser with the stipulation that the Park Board determine how that money will be used for the playground. Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon presented two bids for a splash pad to be built on the north side of the All-Accessible Playground near the restrooms. The board approved the bid from My Splash Pad for $36,158 with most of the money being paid for out of the Park and Recreation Department Budget with additional money coming from Healthy Dent County. In reports, City Administrator Ray Walden reported the Old Middle School committee is still reviewing options before making a recommendation to the board on their decision. Walden hopes to have that recommendation at the next meeting. Walden reported the Salem Community Center@The Armory had 5,266 visitors in August to their programs and facility. Walden said the Missouri Community Betterment judges will be in town on Tuesday, September 12th between 3:00 and 4:45. This is a date change from their original scheduled visit. He also reminded everyone about the electronic waste collection to be held on September 30th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the corner of Grand and Third Street. The board approved Bill #3341 that authorized the mayor to execute a contract between the City of Salem and WCA Waste Collection to collect, haul and dispose of all refuse, rubbish and waste generated from residences in the City of Salem. The board also approved sending City Clerk Mary Happel to the LAGERS annual meeting at Tan Tar A Resort in Osage Beach October 19th and 20th. The city employees will be sending Jared Brown. The board then went into closed session to discuss real estate and contracts.

Captain James W. Remillard, commanding officer of Troop I, announces that sometime during the month of September, troopers assigned to Troop I will be conducting a DWI saturation patrol in Crawford County and Phelps County. Troopers assigned to these special enforcement operations will patrol those highways where in the past a higher number of alcohol-related arrests and traffic crashes have occurred. Captain Remillard would like to remind motorists that they can report highway emergencies and serious traffic offenses to the nearest troop headquarters by dialing *55 on a cellular telephone. The only 100 percent survivable traffic crash is the one that never happens. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Every day as we travel on Missouri’s roadways, we trust that every driver on the road is going to obey the speed limit, pay attention, and drive sober.