Local News

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Friday, June 14th, deputies responded to the 2200 block of Dent County Road 6210 for a wanted subject. The suspect was a 37-year-old Salem woman who had two active warrants for her arrest. She was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where she was incarcerated. That same day, deputies responded to Dent County Private Lane 201 for the report of a domestic disturbance involving a firearm. During the investigation, a 39-year-old Salem man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was placed on a 24-hour hold pending the issuance of formal charges. On Saturday, June 15th, Dent County Deputies responded to the 500 block of Route FF for the report of an assault. A 24-year-old Salem man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated. On Sunday, June the 16th, a deputy took a report for some property damage that occurred on Route YY. The victim, a 36-year-old Salem man, discovered damage to his 2007 Chevrolet truck while it was parked near his residence. Finally on Wednesday, June 19th, deputies took the report of an assault that had occurred at Route K and Dent County Road 6370. The victim, a juvenile from Salem, was assaulted by a male subject. Suspect information was developed and the investigation is pending. If you have information regarding any investigation, please call the Dent County sheriffs office at 729-3241.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be holding a special meeting Thursday at noon at the central office. After approval of the consent agenda, the board will consider bids for roof projects before moving into executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting will then be adjourned after moving back into open session. The board meeting is open to the public.

The Bonebrake Center of Nature and History will be having a fishing day for kids this Saturday starting at 9:00. They will provide fishing poles and gear for a few kids courtesy of the Salem Public Library, but if you have your own fishing gear, please bring your own if possible. Folks will be available to assist participants. Please bring a refillable water bottle, snacks, bug spray, sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, a lawn chair and anything else you think you might need. Parents, please remain with your kids for the event. There is no charge, but donations are always welcome. Watch the Bonebrake Center Facebook page for future dates!

With dry weather around the state, the Missouri Department of Conservation reminds everyone to be especially careful with fireworks, campfires, and other sources of fire that could cause a wildfire. When driving off road remember that wildfires can start when dry fuel, such as grass, comes in contact with catalytic converters. Think twice before driving into and across a grassy field. Never park over tall, dry grass or piles of leaves that can touch the underside of a vehicle. When driving vehicles off road, regularly inspect the undercarriage to ensure that fuel and brake lines are intact, and no oil leaks are apparent. Always carry an approved fire extinguisher on vehicles that are used off road and check for the presence of spark arresters on ATV exhausts. When camping clear a generous zone around fire rings. Store unused firewood a good distance from a campfire. Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other flammable liquid to start a fire. Keep campfires small and controllable. Keep fire-extinguishing materials, such as a rake, shovel, and bucket of water, close. Extinguish campfires each night and before leaving camp, even if it’s just for a few moments. Call 911 at the first sign of a fire getting out of control. Learn more about camping on MDC areas at mdc.mo.gov.

The Creative Arts Center will hold a tie dye class with Laura Miller this Saturday morning from 10:00 until noon. Students will learn to fold and tie a shirt, apply dye for desired pattern then take home to rinse the next day. Students will choose a pattern to tie, choose a color palette of dye, and have hands-on experience of creating their own unique wearable art piece. The class is open to children from age 10-17 years old (with parent/legal guardian), as well as adults 18 and older. At least three people must sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to 12. The cost is $25 with all materials and instruction provided. To register, go the SACBA website and find the Programs tab. Find the Creative Arts Center and click to register for the class. Registrations online are on a first come, first serve basis. When checking out please choose a shirt size

Here is the the planned road work this week for our area as released by MoDOT. In Crawford County, bridge rehabilitation continues at the I-44 overpasses on Route F and H. The road is CLOSED to all traffic with a signed detour directing motorists around the closure. These projects are scheduled for completion in July 2024. Also, Route HH is closed at the Dry Creek bridge as the bridge deck is being replaced. The road is CLOSED to all traffic and motorists will need to seek an alternate route. The project is scheduled for completion in August 2024. In Dent County, culvert repair will be done on Route Y from Highway 49 to the Crawford County line. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone. In Phelps County, pothole patching will be done on Route F from Highway 72 to Highway 68. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone. On Route O, upgrades to pedestrian facilities continue in the city of Rolla from Highway 72 to Lions Club Drive. One lane will remain open in each direction. The project is scheduled for completion this month. All work is weather permitting, and schedules are subject to change. For more information about MoDOT projects, traffic updates, or other transportation-related matters, please visit our Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org/ or call our 24-hour Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse where Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave the report on the CART funds collection for June. She said the county received $81,102.85 this month which is $5,370.44 more than June of 2023, and year-to-date, the CART funds are up $18,389.74, a rise of over 4%. The year-to-date amount collected stand at $461,348.74. Dick Kitchen was in attendance to ask about where the county is on Senate Bill 190 and Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said they are still working on it. The commission plans to survey the community to get their opinion, and they are waiting on the estimate of the cost to the county for new software that would be needed by the collector. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated a truck wouldn’t start Monday morning and two tires were flat on another vehicle so shop maintenance was going to be done until those issues can be corrected. He also said brush would be cut on county roads 5015 and 5070. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said a new driveway pipe would be installed and rock would be added to Dent County Road 2070. He said pipes would be cleaned out on county road 2313, and brush would be cut on county roads 3233 and 3235. Polk said a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the first day to vote absentee with an excused absence for the August Primary is today at the courthouse, and the last day to register for the Primary will be July 10th. Curley also said there were ten county liquor licenses that are still outstanding and they must be submitted by this Friday, June 28th. At the last meeting, Dent County Collector Shannon Vankirk said the total collections for May were $93,476.61. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

The City of Salem Finance Committee met Thursday evening to review and discuss the proposed fiscal year budget for 2025. The report indicated the budget is balanced with grant funded projects making up $6.5 million dollars which is most of the increase in last year’s and the proposed budget. The city is also adopting a reserve fund balance policy for all city funds. The city will strive to maintain the utility fund balances of at least 25% of the prior fiscal year expenditures, and the budget also includes at least a 5% transfer to the reserve fund balances of the prior year’s expenses to maintain the reserve fund balance. This will be done in the 4th quarter based on the financial condition of the city. Two of the capital improvement projects for the Park and Recreation Department and Airport will use previous years balances if needed. Funds may also be used from the capital Improvement fund for the Downtown TAP Project to cover additional costs if needed. It was noted all employees received a cost of living increase of 3% and up to a 2% merit raise. It was also noted the budget had an increase in general liability insurance of 28%. It was noted two additional positions were added to the pay schedule: a parks technician and a plant operator for the Wastewater Treatment plant. The city did budget to add 5 ½ full time employees back, but they are structured differently than than the six employee who were let go in fiscal years 2021 and 2022. Those full time positions funded in the budget are two wastewater treatment specialists, a new Economic Development Director and an Administrative Assistant. Part time positions proposed were a cemetery seasonal worker, an animal shelter technician and a maintenance manager. Although the city reached it’s goal of reducing the dependency on transfers from the electric department to pay for numerous services, they have instituted a 5% “royalty fee” that will be transferred from the electric fund to general revenue in the amount of 5% of the previous years Electric Department operating expenses. This transfer will occur every year. The total budget revenues for all funds for the city are expected to be $23,163,056 while total expenditures are expected to be $21,048,249 leaving an excess of revenues over expenses of just under $2,115,000. The funds balances at the end of the next fiscal year are expected to be $10,953,156. This budget will be presented to alderman for the approval before July 1st.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will meet this evening at 6:00 in the City Hall Auditorium at 202 N. Washington. After the meeting is called to order, the Board will go into closed session to discuss employee issues. The Board will return to open session where they will approve the consent agenda and hear public comments including a request for a road closure by David Lytle. The Board will then approve trailer court licenses and discuss the Leak Protection Program Policy. There will be the first and second readings of Bills No. 3610 and 3611 dealing with property subdivisions, and Bill No. 3616 adopting the 2024-25 fiscal year budget as discussed at the Finance Committee meeting last Thursday. The first reading of Bill No. 3612, an ordinance repealing a duplicate of the Section of the City Codes dealing with outdated sewer rates will be heard, as well as Bills No. 3613, 3614 and 3615 that all pertain to the removal of the service availability fee for electric services provided by the City of Salem. Various city officials will give their reports before the meeting is adjourned. The Salem Board of Aldermen meeting tonight is open to the public.

An accident happened Friday afternoon at 3:29 in Phelps County on Interstate 44 at the 189 mile marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 Ford F-150 driven eastbound by 91-year-old Lucille Martin of Steelville, traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Martin suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health. The Ford F-150 was totaled and taken from the scene by Miles Towing. It was not known if Martin was wearing a seat restraint.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem will be holding this years’ Independence Day Parade at 6:00 on July 4th and the theme this year is “Let Freedom Ring.” Entry forms are now available at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Office located in the Crossroads Shopping Center and they must be turned in by June 28th. The parade route will be the normal route that will start from the SBU Campus at South Grand and Franklin, then go east on Franklin to MacArthur, then north on MacArthur to 4th Street before finishing at the Courthouse Square. For more information or a complete set of the parade rules, please call the chamber office at 729-6900 or stop by 1136 South Main Street.

The Salem R-80 School District held its regular board meeting last Thursday. Shortly after the meeting began, Kyla Salyer addressed the board with her concerns regarding the new mandatory ROAR class at the Salem Middle School. This class which stands for Respect, Ownership, Attitude and Resolve, is replacing what used to be an elective selection by the student. Kyla asked the board to reconsider the implementation of the ROAR class, stating that it would be detrimental to students who will no longer be able to enroll in a combination of Art, Band, or Choir, instead having to select one of the three. Furthermore she feared that this could reduce attendance leading to possible removal of one or more of these elective classes in the future. After her presentation, the board thanked her for her time. The board moved on to the Superintendent’s report headed by Dr. Lynne Reed and Dr. Nate Wills which highlighted the 2024 – 2025 budget. In a letter to the board from Dr. Reed, she stated this budget was prepared with the most accurate data available and supports the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan created in 2023. She noted the budget is a working document and will change throughout the school year as needed. Some of the key Budget Assumptions included the operating levy estimated to be $2.75 and the debt service levy $0.45 per $100 of assessed valuation, an increase in the State Adequacy Target used in the budget of $6,760, and the Prop C revenue expectation to be about $1,513 per weighted average daily attendance, known as WADA. Also estimated were the Classroom Trust Funds at $618 per ADA to which 96.24% of said funds is coded to Fund 4 and is estimated to hold a value of $638,263. Regarding staff salaries, the teacher base salary will remain at $32,000 however the district can utilize funds from the Baseline Teacher Salary Grant, with a one time payment to qualifying staff to raise their overall compensation to $40,000. It was discussed that utilizing these funds to raise wages, while available through the grant, was ideal. Furthermore, support staff wages were set to increase to $12.01 an hour. It is anticipated that the district will not run a deficit during the 2024-2025 school year. Regarding the insurance claim, bids are still under consideration for the roof repairs and will be voted on at a later date. Building principals gave various end of year and summer program updates to the board. The positive impact of the Love Thy Neighbor program, good summer school attendance, grant utilization for student hygiene products, student recognition and their awards were all brought to the board’s attention. In new business, the board approved a transfer of 7% WADA from Fund 1 to Fund 4 for the purpose of paying the ineligible costs of the FEMA building, approved participating in the state baseline salary grant, approved amending the 2023-2024 budget to reflect actual expenditures and revenues, and approved the certified staff salary schedule and non-certified staff salary schedule. The board also approved the 2024-2025 budget as presented, approved the revision to board policy JG-R2, approved the revision to the high school attendance policy procedures, and approved the Healthy Dent County sponsorship. As this was Dr. Lynne Reed’s last meeting in her current role, it was approved for Dr. Wills to use the log-in access to approve payroll files at the Bank of Salem. The board approved updating the signature cards for the debt service account, petty cash account, and YOP account at the Bank of Salem to include Traci Wulff and Nathan Wills. Payment of customary bills that may need to be paid between the board meeting and June 30th, 2024 was also approved. In closed session, some student attendance appeals were heard, discussed, and those appeals were approved. The board approved the hiring of Phillip Karr as the Athletic Director and for Credit Recovery, Shelia Sullivan-Myers as a Special Education instructor, Lonnie Lee as a Health instructor, Bella Jadwin as a PE teacher, Kim Moser to teach Spanish and English, Cody Nichols as an Art instructor, Heather Maglothin as a middle school Special Education instructor, Lori Terrill as a middle school English Language Arts instructor, and John Smith for Title Reading. The board approved a 5-day extra duty contract for Mindy Dillon, approved Lonnie Lee on the salary schedule, and approve Ashton Mink as the Freshman Volleyball Coach and Assistant Middle School Volleyball Coach, Wes Hampton as JV Boys Basketball Coach, and Lonnie Lee as the Middle School Football Coach. The meeting was then adjourned.

You are invited to attend the next Salem and Dent County meeting of “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” this afternoon at 5:30 in the evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory! “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” is an international non-profit 501(C).(3) organization that builds, assembles and delivers new beds to children in need, who do not have a bed. The Rolla Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace is already helping to provide new beds to children in need in our Salem community, and we are hoping to start a Dent County Chapter. They are looking for volunteers if you are interested! For more information about Sleep in Heavenly Peace, contact Patti at 703-964-6495. You can also e-mail Patti at pmckeown1200@gmail.com.

An accident occurred Wednesday morning at 5:50 in Texas County on Highway 63 five miles north of Cabool that left a St. James man with serious injuries. According to the highway patrol report, a 2018 Ram 3500, operated by 41-year-old Joshua Cantrell of St. James, ran off the right side of the roadway where the Ram struck a guardrail and overturned down a steep embankment, coming to rest on its side. Cantrell, who according to the report was not wearing a seat restraint, was ejected from the Ram. He was transported by the Texas County Ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital for the treatment of his serious injuries. The Ram was totaled and removed from the scene by Midway Towing at officer’s request.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday morning just before noon in Maries County on Highway 68 about five miles north of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado being driven north by 61-year- old Debra Neidert of St. James, swerved to avoid a deer in the roadway. The vehicle then traveled off the left side of the road, struck a culvert and went airborne. Neidert, who was not wearing a seat restraint, suffered minor injuries and was taken by the St. James ambulance to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. The Silverado had moderate damages and was taken from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

The Dent County Fire Protection district board of directors met Wednesday evening at 6:00 at the fire station. After the roll call, a motion was made that the board go into closed session to discuss personnel. After coming back into open session. the board stated that Savannah Nash had been interviewed and accepted to the district as a probationary firefighter and may start her duties immediately. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday for their regular meeting at the courthouse. District 1 and 2 workers worked on Wednesday, Juneteenth and were off Thursday. District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray and District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said the chip and seal work is now scheduled to begin no earlier than the middle and not later than the end of July. Mobray said the guys had been doing a lot of chip and seal prep to get the roads ready. Presiding Commisioner Gary Larson reported on the Tourism Tax Committee meeting he attended on Monday. He reported there were six reimbursements that were submitted and one request which was approved. Larson also said the Dent County Annex building will be treated for pest control as approved by the commission. Mobray said the Board of Equalization for Dent County is scheduled to meet on July 15th if there are requests to do so regarding real estate . Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer said if there is a person with problem with their assessment, they need to speak with her first to see if a solution can be made. If there is anyone who needs to addresss the Board of Equalization, they need to submit their application by July 1st. At the last meeting, the commission received a petition to establish a speed limit of 35 mph for county road 6490. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

The weather and calendars have reached summer, and that makes it a great time to think about ways we, and our families, can keep up with healthy routines while enjoying all that the season has to offer. While it’s hard to find a time of year that feels more relaxed than summer, it can also have some unique challenges that can make it more difficult to keep up with, or build on, our healthy behaviors. During warm weather get outside for walks or bike rides in the early morning or evening when it’s cooler. When we’re out walking or playing with our family, it’s easy to get behind on hydration. So, it’s good to keep water bottles filled and in reach for when we need them. Our parks and other open areas are great places to enjoy physical activity. The trees and shade can provide a break from the heat, and studies have found that just spending time in green spaces can have many mental and physical benefits. Summer cookouts are a favorite summer activity. Save space on the plate for healthy options. It’s important to enjoy foods that make summer feel like summer. But those aren’t always the healthiest options, so be sure to save space on your plate for healthy, and still tasty, options, like watermelon, grilled corn and grilled chicken breasts. Instead of sugary drinks or beer or hard seltzers, try unsweetened fizzy waters and the growing number of good alcohol-free beers or similar options. When outside in the summer pick a 30 SPF or higher sunscreen that you like and use it regularly. Most sunscreens today provide good protection. Chemical sunscreens help absorb the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Mineral sunscreens help block UV rays. Both types are safe to use. So, pick the ones you like and keep them handy when heading outside. To get the full protection sunscreens offer, it’s important to use enough. Apply about one ounce and reapply about every two hours, or after swimming or exercising.

A Flat Reed Basket Weaving class will be held Saturday, June 22nd from 1:00 to 3:00 at the creative Arts Center with Connie Light. The class is for people 14 years of age and older. Come and make a white oak flat reed napkin basket, approximately 8” square. In this class you will learn a basic basket making technique that can be used as a foundation to many other future basket making projects. You will finish the basket in class, so you can take it home that day. No prior knowledge is required. To register, go the SACBA website and find the Programs tab. Find the Creative Arts Center and click to register for the class. Registrations online are on a first come, first serve basis. The cost of the class is $40 which includes all supplies. A minimum of two students need to sign up and the classs will be limited to six students.

Do love to kayak? Do you love birding and journaling? On Sunday, June 30th at Current River State Park starting at 9:00, you can combine all three and take them to the next level! If you never birded or spent time journaling before? No problem. This is still the class for you. Bring your lunch and some snacks, and for a kayaking trip on the Current River. During our journey, we will make multiple stops to enjoy, explore, discover and connect with our natural surroundings. As part of this awesome class, you will receive a nature journal starter kit and a unique experience. The float will start at Current River State Park and will conclude at Round Spring, approximately four miles away. Kayaks and life jackets will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. You are also encouraged to bring sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars and plenty of water, and wear closed-toe shoes. No glass bottles or alcohol will be allowed. This class is free, but there is a limit of 10 participants, and registration is required. Participants must be at least 16 years old, and minors must be accompanied by an adult. To register, or for more information, contact Connie at 573-751-1224 or connie.weber@dnr.mo.gov. Current River State Park is located at 11053 Dent County Road 19D.

This past Tuesday night, the Salem Memorial Hospital Board held their regular meeting in the hospital library. During the Administrator’s Report, Interim CEO Wes Murray noted that SMH’s service prices are significantly lower than those of surrounding hospitals. He said efforts are underway to overhaul the Charge Master. Murray also reported active recruiting measures are being taken to find a Speech Pathologist to improve the Swing Bed patient service and retention. He also mentioned the hospital is currently applying to administer vaccines to children, particularly those without insurance or on Medicaid. A review of cost-cutting strategies included significant reductions or the complete removal of various service contracts and marketing expenses, alongside a focus on departmental efficiencies. It was discussed that these cost-cutting measures, though unpopular, are not necessarily permanent but are currently necessary. The board then reviewed the Summary of Operations for the month of May. Admissions for Medical/Surgical, Swing Beds, and Observation were all down compared to May of last year and were at or below the 2024 average. Outpatient registrations were down by 389 compared to this time last year. The number of long-term care residents remained at 17. Emergency room visits were consistent with this year’s average at 626. The hospital’s total assets stand at $12.5 million, reflecting a net decrease of $3.7 million compared to May 2023. The Cash Flow Statement showed a monthly cash flow decrease of $145,061, though Days Cash on Hand remained steady at 27. The 340B Program continued to show positive revenue, outperforming expenses in four out of the five recorded months this year. In the Chief Nursing Officer Report, several current openings were noted, including five full-time RN/LPN positions, the Chief Nursing Officer position, and a Long-Term Care Director. It was mentioned that applications were low, and there is renewed interest in restarting the Student Nursing Program. In May, there were eight new hires and twelve departures. The Matching Funds obligation to receive the remaining State funds, secured by Representative Ron Copeland, was achieved in May. The Strategic Plan and Tax Levy Increase remain tabled by the board. The budget approval process is still ongoing as the board went into closed session. The next scheduled meeting will be held on July 16.

The Salem Police department has released their report for the month of May. The department responded to 19 accidents during the month. Officers responded to ten alarms sounding and addressed 26 animal calls, investigated three assaults or fights, four burglaries, performed nine well being checks and 11 area checks in May. Police investigated 11 domestic disputes, 11 verbal disturbances, conducted 33 follow-up investigations, and provided 15 escorts. They investigated two nuisance violations, three harrassment charges, two reports of fraud, took one missing persons report, and offered assistance to three motorists. The Salem Police wrote two property damage reports, made ten stealing reports, had five parking complaints and responded to eight traffic complaints. Officers investigated a shoplifter report, one sex offense charge, 16 suspicious circumstance calls, eight suspicious person calls, and five suspicious vehicle calls. Officers attempted to serve four warrants and conducted 46 traffic stops during the month. The police responded to a total of 446 incidents in May with the average response time to calls being two minutes and nine seconds. The average time spent on the scene was 23 minutes and 19 seconds.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be holding their regular meeting this evening at 5:30 in the Salem R-80 board room. After the consent agenda is approved the Board will hear communications followed by public comment by Kyla Slayer from ROAR. Reports from Dr. Reed and Dr. Wills will be heard before the principal reports are heard from William Lynch, the Upper Elementary, the Middle School, and the Senior High. Clay Moody will then give an update on athletics and activities followed by reports on Special Education and Technology. In new business, the board will review and accept roof repair bids, approve the resolution to transfer 7% WADA from Fund 1 to Fund 4 for the purpose of paying ineligible costs of the FEMA building, Signature Bank lease purchase. The board will then approve participating in the State Baseline Salary Grant of $40,000 per teacher, approve amending the 2023-2024 budget to reflect actual expenditures and revenues, approve the 2024-2025 budget, approve a revision of Board Policy JG-R2, plus approve payment of customary bills that may need to be paid between this board meeting and June 30th, 2024. The Board will hear resignations and then adjourn into Executive Session to discuss student issues and personnel. The Board will then return to open session to adjourn. The Salem R-80 School District meeting is open to the public.

The City of Salem Finance Committee Meeting will be held tonight at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory to discuss, review and recommend the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget for the City of Salem. The meeting is open to the public.

Do you have your tickets for the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Music Festival this Saturday at the Commons? The concert will feature the Crowe Boys from New Orleans with opening act, Devon Sutterfield from Salem and St. James. The gates open at 6:00 and the live concert begins at 7:00. Sutterfield was featured recently on “The Voice” while the Crowe Boys have had success on the Internet with their single “Where Did I Go Wrong” and “The Simple Truth Hurts.” Tickets are available for $30 and are available at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and online at croweboys.com. There will be food trucks, a beer garden and more! To find out about the concert or tickets, contact the Salem Chamber of Commerce at 573-729-6900.

The City of Salem wants to remind everyone that the new Servline Protection Program for city water lines will begin July 1st and will offer up to $2,500 coverage per occurrence against high service bills that are caused by unexpected leaks. The cost of the program for residential customers is $2.35 per month and $2.50 per unit per month for Residential Master Metered Multi-Habitational customers. Commercial customers will be charged $6.50 per month for a single occupancy and $13.00 per month for a multiple occupancy location. All eligible City of Salem customers are automatically enrolled in this optional program, so if you don’t want it, you have to opt out and you only have until June 30th to do so. Otherwise the charges will appear on your utility bill when the program goes live on July 1st. Call 1-844-952-0741 to find out more information about the program including a copy of the full terms and restrictions, or to opt out of the program and decline protection. Those who keep the program can cancel at any time, but if you wanted to re-enroll, you would have to wait 30 days to do so. If a water customer declines the coverage by opting out, they will be accepting full responsibility for all excess water charges caused by the leak. If a customer has the coverage and they have an exceedingly high water bill caused by usage due to a qualifying leak or line break, the City of Salem’s leak loss protection program covers the utility bill once the active cause of the leak has been repaired. Again, if you want to “opt out” of the Servline Protection Program for your city water service, call 1-844-952-0741 before July 1st.

As more Americans plan July 4th celebrations, the Division of Fire Safety is reminding Missourians to put fireworks safety first this Independence Day. Public fireworks displays not only offer the best sights, they are the safest, but if folks choose to use consumer fireworks, please handle them with extreme caution and do not allow children to use fireworks. Remember, within the city limits of Salem, the discharge of fireworks is legal for individuals 18 years of age or older, or those under the supervision of a parent, guardian or person 18 years old or older between the period of July 1st and July 6th. By ordinance, those discharging fireworks may only do so between the hours of 8:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night except on July 4th when the hours shall be 8:00 in the morning until midnight. Only Class 1.4G fireworks in unmodified form shall be discharged. Fireworks sales at seasonal retailers are legal in Missouri starting June 20th and lasting until July 10th. Please keep in mind that July 4th is not only the busiest day of the year for fireworks, it is the busiest day of the year for fires. About 40 percent of Independence Day structure fires are the result of fireworks, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Across the U.S. in 2022, fireworks started an estimated 18,500 fires according to NFPA. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2022, eleven peopleacross the United State died as the result of fireworks, with victims ranging from 11 to 43 years old; 10,200 people were treated for injuries in hospital emergency rooms nationally with children under 15 years of age accounting for 28% of the 2022 injuries. The Product Safety Council also said that about 43% of selected and tested fireworks were found to contain illegal components that could cause severe injuries. In Missouri, about 250 people go to emergency rooms each day with fireworks-related injuries in the 30 days around July 4th. Missourians who choose to use consumer fireworks should only use fireworks in a large open space that has been cleared of flammable materials, make sure to have a garden hose or a bucket of water nearby in case of a fire, only light fireworks one at a time; never try to re-light fireworks that have malfunctioned, and dispose of fireworks by soaking them in water and leaving them in a trash can. For questions or concerns about firework safety, firework rules, or firework dealers, contact the Division of Fire Safety at (573) 751-2930.

An accident happened in Dent County Monday morning just after 10:00 on Highway 32 about 17 miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Chrysler Sebring driven westbound by 31-year old Dallas Agers of Salem, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a fence. Agers suffered minor injuries and was transported to the Salem Memorial Hospital. The Chrysler Sebring sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. It was unknown if Agers was wearing a seat restraint.

The Creative Arts Center will be holding a Hand-stamped Copper Jewelry making class on Friday evening from 6:30-8:30 with Leann Light. The class is open to all children 14 years of age and older. You will learn how to stamp on metal, add texture (if you wish), make a chain and assemble your necklace. At the end of the class, you will take home a custom stamped, one of a kind, piece of jewelry created entirely by you. All tools and materials will be provided. You can choose up to three metal discs and add a charm or crystal, or both, all on a 20 inch stainless steel chain. The cost of the class is $50 and that includes all your supplies. at least two people need to sign up for the class which will be limited to no more than six students.To register, go the SACBA website and find the Programs tab. Find the Creative Arts Center and click to register for the class. Registrations online are on a first come, first serve basis.

On Thursday, the Mudbugs will spend time outdoors at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History exploring the grounds trying to find evidence that Bigfoot has returned. The activity will last about 1 hour and targets kids between the ages of 6 and 12 or so, but all ages are welcome. All events are held at the Bonebrake Center from 2:00 until 3:30. A donation to the Bonebrake Center of $2.00 per child is appreciated. They ask that a parent or legal guardian accompany your children (in case any emergency medical situations should arise). For more information, e-mail Janet Price at moonshadowmomentsllc@gmail.com. Don’t forget to check them out on Facebook!

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular Monday morning meeting. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave her sales tax report for the money collected this month. She said the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $103,208.48 which is $8,460.98 more than for June of 2023. Year-to-date, the General Revenue Fund and the LEST funds are up about $19,242.48. The Road and Bridge Fund received $48,107.09 this month, up $3,609.71 more than June 2023. Year-to-date, that fund is up $7,442.91. The Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $96,635.91 in May and that is up $7,219.18 from the 2023 receipts of $89,416.73. Year-to-date, those funds are up $16,076.87. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5520, while only grading would be done on Dent County Road 5080. Another grader is having maintenance performed on it including getting new blades before it returns to duty. Mobray said a man would be heading to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. Mobray was also sending to Representative Ron Copeland a list of all the county road apron approaches to state highways from District 1 and District 2 that need to be repaired or replaced. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2200 in preparation for it to be chip and sealed. Grading was also going to be done on county road 4330 and brush was going to be cut on county road 5305. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported on the TAC meeting held last Thursday and on the External Relations Committee meeting before the MRPC meeting. He said the MRPC’s Annual Awards Dinner and Banquet would be held in Linn, Missouri at the Osage View Event Center on the campus of Linn State Technical College. The proposed date is October 24th and the cost of dinner is $40 per plate. He also said the Dent County Toy Drive would be holding their Christmas in July fundraiser on Saturday, July 27th from 9:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon at The Commons. They will have a craft show, poker run, cruise-in, Bar-B-Cue, silent auction, live music and more. There will be free carnival games for the kids. People can bring a toy to help fill their truck and you can even get a picture with Santa by the beach. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said excused absentee voting for the August will begin on June 25th while the last day to register to vote will be July 10th. She also said electioneering within 25 feet of the courthouse is prohibited beginning June 25th and that includes political T-shirts and even caps. Curley also wants to remind voters that if you have moved and changed addresses, or changed names due to marriage or divorce, to please stop by her office and get those voter registrations updated. Further, Curley wants to remind all voters that the August 6th election is a Primary and voters MUST select a political party ballot. They have their choice this year of Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or a non-partisan ballot that will include only issues in the county to be voted on. At the last meeting, Mike Elliott of Town and Country Insurance visited with the commission on their insurance claims from the hail damage. Sheriff Bob Wells was also in to discuss the hail damage insurance claims on deputies vehicles. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

The City of Salem Planning and Zoning Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. A public hearing will be held at 6:00 followed by a public meeting on five requests. The first request is to rezone 1104 South Gertrude from Residential R-1 to commercial for a retail boutique owned by Michelle Watkins followed by a request to rezone 704 South Askins from R-1 to R-2 for the construction of a two-family dwelling on property owned by Maynard Larson. The third request will be to subdivide Lot 3 of the Scenic Rivers Plaza Subdivision located on Commercial Avenue for the building of a grocery store owned by Ridge Properties, LLC followed by a request for the subdivision of 705 North Henderson into two parcels made by owners James and Cheridal Nicholson. The last request to be heard will be for a conditional use for 1509 South Louise Street for the installation of a 26- foot by 48-foot manufactured home on property owned by Michael Florence. The hearing and meeting are both open to the public

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will hold their regular meeting at 6:00 in the hospital library this evening. At the meeting, Interim Administrator Wes Murray will give his report before the board hears the summary of operations for the month of May as well as statistics for the month. The board will hear about the 340B program, receive the Chief Nursing Officer report and be updated on Human Resources. In old business the Board will be updated on State and Match Funding, plus receive an update on Strategic Planning. The board will also discuss a tax levy increase. In new business, the Board will discuss and approve a new budget before going into closed session. The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors meeting tonight is open to the public. To attend the meeting electronically, contact the hospital administration office at (573) 729-6626, extension 4005.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will hold a special called meeting Wednesday at 6:00 at the Fire Station at #2 South Main Street. After the call to order and roll call, the Board will go into closed session to discuss personnel. Upon return from closed session, the meeting will be adjourned.

Nineteen art reproductions of paintings by Rudolph (Rudy) Wendelin, courtesy of Mark Twain National Forest, will be displayed this summer at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center in Salem. The Wendelin exhibit will showcase the historic artist’s iconic Smokey Bear campaign imagery that he created during his decades of service to the U.S. Forest Service, starting in the 1930s. The exhibit will be on public display at the ONCRC starting TODAY and lasting through July 12th, Monday through Friday from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon. On loan from the USDA National Agricultural Library, these replica paintings were completed from 1977 through 1995 and remain the most famous depictions of Smokey Bear. Painter Rudy Wendelin worked for the Forest Service as an illustrator beginning in 1933 and was the mastermind behind Smokey’s human-like appearance in his signature ranger hat and blue jeans. Thanks to Wendelin’s art, Smokey’s message “Only YOU can prevent wildfires” has prevailed through the generations. Jordan Mays, Community Engagement Specialist for Mark Twain National Forest helped arrange this special event and hopes it will spread awareness of Smokey Bear and his important message of caring for forests through wildfire prevention. Forest Service staff, art presentations, educational content, commemorative memorabilia, and special appearances by Smokey Bear will occur at times during the scheduled showing. The ONCRC is located at 202 S Main St in Salem. Updates about special appearances, like when Smokey Bear will be in attendance, will be shared on the Mark Twain National Forest’s Facebook page. If you have any questions about the exhibit, contact Jordan Mays at (573) 210-5393 or the Forest’s office in Salem at (573) 729-6656.

A Kids Summer Art Camp will be held Monday, June 24th to Friday, June 28th from 8:00 in the morning until noon for four hours each day. The instructors will be Tana Kettner, Danielle Norris as well as other teachers from the Creative Arts Center. This camp is for children between the ages of 6 and 16 and parents need to sign up their children by TODAY. The cost is $120 for the five days or it is $25 per day. All supplies for the week are included as well as a small snack each day. Do not let your little ones miss out on Art Camp 2024!! Your kids will get to do some amazing art projects, as well as learn valuable art skills. They cannot wait to get creative with your children and create masterpieces! The camps will feature visiting artists with special additional projects such as: tie dye, sculpture, squeegee art, watercolor painting, glass fusing, acrylic painting, paper mache, decoupage, and so much more! Parents…when checking out please add a T-shirt size to your order! All ticket sales close on June 17th to allow time to order t-shirts. All extra proceeds go towards the Arts Center fundraising goal.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new and improved Red Bluff Campground on Mark Twain National Forest will take place TODAY at 11:00 this morning at the new pavilion near the campground host’s campsite. This grand opening celebration will highlight the new and modernized camping facilities at this beautiful site. To provide the public a chance to enjoy all this site has to offer, Forest Service officials have waived all fees for camping and day-use activities at Red Bluff today. Guided tours of the site and its improvements including new campsites, showers, a dump station, additional paved loops, as well as improved electric and water will be presented to visitors immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony. In the past, flooding from storms repeatedly damaged campsites, roads, and facilities located in the floodplain at Red Bluff. Visitors are welcome to arrive earlier if they choose. Parking will be available by the old well house and by the Sitze Pavilion. The entrance to Red Bluff Recreation Area is located on Route V in Crawford County, about one mile east of Davisville. A map of Red Bluff is available on the Mark Twain National Forest’s website. Visitors are welcome to walk around and enjoy the site before and after the ribbon cutting.

The Prevention Consultants of Missouri and the Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition are inviting everyone to a Youth Mental Health First Aid Training on June 21st at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road in Salem from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. This is great training for teachers, school staff, coaches, camp counselors, youth group leadres, parents and adults who work with the youth. The course teaches you how to identlfy and understand as well as respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse use challenges among childre and adolescents age 12 through 18. The training is free but you do have to register and complete a pre-class, online module. You will need to register for the program and registration ENDS TODAY! Contact Linda Kozlowski at 573-368-4755 or e-mail her for more information at linda@preventionconsultants.org. Lunch will be provided! This training is FREE!!

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ‘live” Music Festival this Saturday at the Commons featuring the Crowe Boys from New Orleans with opening act, Devon Sutterfield from Salem and St. James. The gates will open at 6:00 and the live concert begins at 7:00. Sutterfield was featured recently on “The Voice” while the Crowe Boys have had success on the Internet with their single “Where Did I Go Wrong” and “The Simple Truth Hurts.” Tickets are available for $30 and are available at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and online at croweboys.com. There will be food trucks, a beer garden and more! To find out about the concert or tickets, contact the Salem Chamber of Commece at 573-729-6900.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth. Normal operations will resume on Thursday, June 20th.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2470, 5110 and 6250 while brush was going to be cut on county roads 5015 and 5070. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk indicated grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2150, 2155 and 5240. He went on to say that county road 3260 was being prepped for chip and seal. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported he attended the MRPC meetings Thursday night starting with the Transportation Advisory committee meeting at 4:00 and ending with the MRPC regular meeting in St. James. He said the commission has spoken with Representative Ron Copeland and responded to Senate Bill 1359 dealing with the opening up of the local hospital districts to allow other larger medical facilities to provide services in those areas. Dent County Assistant Clerk Crystal Pilkington said the clerk’s office balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of May. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk wants to remind anyone who still has delinquent Real Estate taxes from 2021 that you will need to pay them IN FULL by June 28th, during regular business hours from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. If you fail to do so, then on July 1st, the taxes for the tax years 2021, 2022 and 2023 will be declared due by Friday, August 23rd. If not paid by then, your parcel will be sold at the Delinquent Tax Sale that will be held on Monday, August 26th. Check payments are no longer accepted so you will need to pay with cash, cashier’s check or money order. If you are not sure this applies to you or you do not understand how the system works, you need to call the Dent County Collector’s office at (573) 729-3911 with any questions you may have or stop by the Dent County Courthouse. Starting July 1st there will be an additional $25.00 per parcel added to the tax bill to pay for the advertising costs in the Salem News. Remember, only the taxes for 2021 need to be paid IN FULL by Thursday, June 28th to give you another whole year to pay the other outstanding years. The commissioners also said the courthouse will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th for Juneteenth. The next commissioner meeting will be held Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthosue and the meeting is open to the public.

A Barn Quilt Class will be held Monday & Tuesday, June 17th & June 18th from 5:30 until 8:00 with Terrie Welch and Gale Huffman. In this two-day class, you will draw your own quilt block design on a sanded and primed 2’x2′ piece of plywood. You will then tape off areas to create sharp-edged lines, and paint it with chosen colors of house paint. When you finish, you will want to take and proudly display it on your barn or home! These are becoming quite popular and you can be the envy of your neighbors with this colorful display! The cost of the class is $55 with all supplies included. At least six people need to sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to 25. To register, go the SACBA website and find the Programs tab. Find the Creative Arts Center and click to register for the class. Registrations online are on a first come, first serve basis.

The Salem Utility Committee met Wednesday evening at the Salem Community Center at the Armory. A discussion on the ServLine Protection Program was held where this program is meant to provide an insurance type of financial protection against expensive utility bills that could occur due to water leaks at the option of the resident, but residents were “opted in” to the program by default. Each resident has to “opt out” in the first 30 days of the services. It was reported that 77 residents had already opted out of the program. For more information or to opt out, call the City of Salem’s dedicated ServLine phone number at 844-952-0741. Public Works Director Steve Paine reported the water crew recently repaired four water lines as well as two fire hydrants. These repairs are part of an ongoing effort to reduce the amount of overall city water loss that currently stands at 16%. Electric crews are changing out street lights and are checking out a safety hazard reported at the 4th Street Mall. City construction crews are working on numerous tasks including repairing city signage, and municipal concert work on curbs, driveways, and aprons. There was a brief discussion regarding the city’s current capacity of sludge from the treatment plant, which according to Paine is nearing 80% capacity. He urged that this level needs to be reduced soon. City of Salem Finance Director Stacey Houston presented a detailed overview of the city utility funds to the committee, which spurred discussions on different fiscal strategies. These discussions culminated in four motions being passed to be presented to the Board of Aldermen for their consideration. The first motion was made to keep the kWh rate the same for electric, eliminate the service availability fee, and pull prior year funds to balance the electric operation fund shortfall, as well as transfer some from prior year operation funds to the electric reserve fund to complete the reserve goal. The second motion was based on the Water fund balance in which a motion was made to transfer necessary funds from the water reserve fund to the water operating fund to balance the shortfall of the budget, and to transfer from the water reserve fund to the water reserve D&R fund to reach the reserve goal amount. The third motion was focused on the city’s sewer rates, proposing the sewer residential base rate be increased to $12 and the sewer usage rate be $9.85/1000 gallons. Finally, there was a motion to approve the budget as amended to account for the utility rate differences that were discussed during the meeting. All of the motions approved had no opposition from the attending committee members. These recommendations will now go before the Board of Aldermen for discussion. After some questions from the public, the meeting was adjourned.

The Dent County Fire Protection Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the fire station. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the minutes from the May meeting were approved as presented with the correction of one misspelled word. The financial report showed an ending balance of 196,301.72 as of May 31st. Bills, payments, and statements were then reviewed along with the budget and 2023-2024 budget comparison. The monthly reimbursement report showed a total of 15 calls for the month of May bringing the total year to date to 143. The department responded to five accidents during the month, two fires, two calls described as other, one public service call, one HazMat, one medical call, one agency assist, one alarm, and had one call that was canceled. In old business the board tabled the repair, sealing, and restriping of the parking lot while waiting for bids to come in. In new business, Chief Floyd asked the board to sell some of the district equipment that he feels is surplus and no longer needed. The board will look at a list of the items and decide at the July meeting. In his report to the board, Chief Floyd stated the he believes the district needs to put in for new radios for trucks and handheld units and that he would like to get more SCBA gear as the money becomes available. The Chief also brought information on grants through Fire House Grants. A discussion was held and several avenues will be investigated to determine the best possible route to take. He also reported that on June 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, firefighters would be going to school at Fenton Fire to be trained in firefighting techniques. The date was set for the July meeting to be held on Tuesday evening July 9th at 6:00 at the fire station. That meeting will be open to the public. The board then went into closed session to discuss personnel before and adjourning.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council are accepting nominations for the 2024 Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence. The annual award recognizes communities, institutions, businesses, organizations and individuals that make significant and long-lasting efforts to care for trees in their communities.The Arbor Award of Excellence shines the spotlight on anyone who has improved trees in their community. Any significant program, project, or event that contributes to the care or maintenance of trees could qualify for an award. Winners receive a framed award, a full registration scholarship to the MCFC conference in August, an extra ticket to the award banquet during the conference, a community forestry reference book, and a $50 gift card. Nominations are due by Monday, July 15. For more information and nomination forms, visit mdc.mo.gov.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting today at noon at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 Westy Rolla for the purpose of discussing a no interest loan from the Capital Improvement Fund to the Airport Fund to help pay for the T-Hangar project expenditures. The expected amount to be be borrowed will be $700,000 with $200,000 coming in th fiscal year 2024 and $500,000 from the fiscal year 2025 budget. The amount loaned by the Capital Improvement Fund will be paid back when the city receives the grant reimbursement from MoDOT that will go to the Airport Fund. The meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Community Garden will host a Growing Green Educational work shop tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Garden behind the Salem Methodist Church. The workshop will be on bees and pollinators. There is no cost to attend and you do not have to have a plot at the community garden to attend. You may want to bring a lawn chair with you to be more comfortable. For more information, call Charlie Grimm at 573-368-9902 or the Dent County Extension at 573-729-3196.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new and improved Red Bluff Campground on Mark Twain National Forest will take place at 11:00 Monday morning, June 17th, at the new pavilion near the campground host’s campsite. This grand opening celebration will highlight the new and modernized camping facilities at this beautiful site. To provide the public a chance to enjoy all this site has to offer, Forest Service officials have waived all fees for camping and day-use activities at Red Bluff for June 17th. Guided tours of the site and its improvements including new campsites, showers, a dump station, additional paved loops, as well as improved electric and water will be presented to visitors immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony. In the past, flooding from storms repeatedly damaged campsites, roads, and facilities located in the floodplain at Red Bluff. A two-part project was undertaken, starting a few years ago, to remedy this situation. The recently completed Phase 1 of the project involved moving all overnight camping facilities to higher ground; and it incorporated modernized amenities such as more electric sites, a shower house, and a dump station for visitors with RVs. Phase 2 will focus more on the areas in the floodplain. The Great American Outdoors Act provided a large part of the funding for the work at the site. Continuing to utilize this and other funding sources to improve the recreation experience of visitors to national forests is very important to the Forest Service. Visitors are welcome to arrive earlier if they choose. Parking will be available by the old well house and by the Sitze Pavilion. The entrance to Red Bluff Recreation Area is located on Route V in Crawford County, about one mile east of Davisville. A map of Red Bluff is available on the Mark Twain National Forest’s website. Visitors are welcome to walk around and enjoy the site before and after the ribbon cutting. Red Bluff Recreation Area is a great place to fish, hike, or just admire the views. Large, red bluffs on the opposite side of Huzzah Creek, gravel bars along the creek, vistas from the upper loops, and verdant surrounding forests all provide a backdrop for a very relaxing experience. People like to float on and play in the Huzzah Creek during the heat of summer.

This Friday night from 6:00 until 8:00 at the Creative Arts center, “Paint with DAD, This or That?” with Danielle Norris. What a great way to spend some quality time with your dad! Kids, bring your dad and grandpas out for a fun night of painting together! You have the choice of two different pictures. The artist will take you step by step through the whole process! Register online at SACBA website. The cost is $20 for dads and $5 for kiddos attending with an adult. For kiddos attending separately, it’s $10. At least six people need to sign up with no more than 20 permitted.