Your World Today

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways has a variety of great trails for everyone to enjoy. Visitors can explore trails independently or can participate in several ranger-led hiking events planned throughout the fall. Social distancing will be encouraged during ranger-led hikes. For hikes where shuttles are offered, masks will be required for visitors on the shuttles. The fall hiking season will kick off with activities in the Round Spring area Saturday, September 18th, and continue with special activities nearly every weekend through early November. All activities and events are free of charge and pre-registration is not required. Now is the time to start planning fall and winter hiking adventures. Plan accordingly when hiking or participating in any outdoor recreational activity. Hikers should take weather conditions into consideration and be prepared during all seasons. Drinking water, rain gear, map, snacks, flashlight, sturdy hiking shoes, clothing appropriate for the weather and terrain, and emergency campfire supplies are recommended. Always remember to inform someone of your plans. The September 18th hike will be from Round Spring to Echo Bluff State Park. Visitors will complete the first leg of the Current River Challenge hike and float adventure and learn about other trail opportunities throughout the park. This 4.25- mile hike begins at 10 in the morning at the Round Spring pavilion parking lot. At the conclusion of the hike the Ozark Riverways Foundation, the official Friends Group for Ozark National Scenic Riverways, will host a celebration for hikers at Echo Bluff State Park with food, refreshment, and games. A shuttle back to Round Spring will also be provided by Ozark Riverways Foundation. Trails are a major attraction for visitors to the area. Many come to float and paddle on the river trails. Horse enthusiasts travel from great distances to participate in area trail rides. The Ozark Trail passes through the park and local communities. Volunteer groups attract hundreds of people to build and maintain trails. Trails are an important part of the local heritage and of the recreational opportunities available in the Ozarks today. Fall is the perfect time to enjoy all that the area trails have to offer. For more information about any of the hikes, contact Skyler Bockman at (573) 323-8093 or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozar.

The Salem Area Arts Council is seeking donations for the “Taste of the Arts” expo that will be held Saturday at the Creative Arts Center behind the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center at 202 South Main Street to be used for prizes and giveaways. Donations may be in the form of a percentage off of a meal, a free meal, trinkets or anything that you have to spare. Monetary donations are accepted as well. Every time someone wins a certificate your business will be announced and thanked for your donation. If you would be willing to donate any items or discount coupons, or cash, please contact President Danielle Norris at 573-247-5306 or Tana Kettner at 573-247-0651.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting this evening at 6:00 in the High School Library. After the consent agenda, the Board will be updated on the Middle School ELA – 40 Book Challenge and hear an update on capital projects from ESP. Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed will report on a variety of issues followed by principals’ reports, as well as the athletics and facilities report. In new business, the board will approve the bus routes and Special Education Compliance Plan. The Board will also consider changes to policy SRCSP, approve revised assistant superintendent job description and approve revised policy GDBDA. The Board will then go into closed session. The regular meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education this evening is open to the public.

Representatives from Missouri State Parks invite the public to attend an informational meeting at Missouri Mines State Historic Site on Saturday, September 18th. The meeting will begin at 4:00 in the afternoon at the museum. The public is invited to share comments and ask questions about the site and its operations. Representatives from the park will be present to provide information and to answer questions. Input from the public is important to Missouri State Parks. These informational meetings, which are being held in all state parks and historic sites, help create two-way communication with the public. The meetings give staff the opportunity to let people know the current status and future plans for the park or historic site, and they offer visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities. The public is strongly encouraged to follow social-distancing guidelines and be proactive in protecting themselves and others. Missouri Mines State Historic Site is located at 4000 State Highway 32, Park Hills, in southeast Missouri. For more information about the meeting, call the site at 573-431-6226. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Salem Eagles will be hosting a custom and classic car show this Saturday at 5111 West Highway 32 starting at noon and until lasting until who knows! If you have a classic car, truck, bike or big rig, come on out! There will be food, beverages and fun, and everyone is invited to come on out and enjoy!

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Tuesday at the City Hall Auditorium. The board heard from Tammy Walker, Brian Brooks and Terris Cates from Heartland Metal Finishing requesting clarification regarding the key elements of the Salem Pretreatment Program and how it could affect a potential purchaser of the closed business. Jeff Meadows with Archer Elgin helped clarify the data collection procedures to determine other industrial users and the amount of pollutants being discharged within the city limits. This process should be completed by year end with public meetings being held to allow for public input. The board approved the purchase of ultra-violet bulbs for the Wastewater Treatment Facility at a cost of $19,386.65. Resolution No. 27-2021 authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement between the city and the Meramec Regional Planning Commission to provide technical assistance for the American Rescue Plan Act Administration management was approved as well as Bill No. 3489 which created an ordinance to establish a procedure to disclose potential conflicts of interest for certain municipal office holders. Also approved was Bill No. 3490, an ordinance establishing rates for electric service as a result of supplier price increases and the February 2021 weather event. Resolution No. 28-2021 a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an employment agreement between the city and Ray Walden was approved with Alderman Kevin James reading a statement explaining how the new employment contract negotiated with City Administrator Walden has performance expectations. Mayor Kim Steelman thanked Walden for his part in the recent goals attained by the city and high standards being set. She commended him for being a very dedicated employee. Bill No. 3491, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a contract change order between the city and Nexgrid for electric AMI meters, was approved. Walden gave the City Administrators report and included a list of past, current and future projects that the city is working on. The board approved rescheduling the September 28th meeting to Thursday, September 30th at 6 PM, due to staff and aldermen attending a conference. Jeff Meadows with Archer Elgin gave several project updates within the city including the Wastewater Treatment Plant, the LWCF Soccer Field grant, the Route J and Highway 72 sewer extension and the TAP grant downtown revitalization grant. Mayor Steelman explained that future meetings will include a verbal report from the mayor, aldermen, city administrator, public works director, and the economic development director. These entities have always provided written reports to the alderman, but she wanted more transparency so these reports will be shared with the public verbally. Steelman will establish office hours at the City Administration building two days per week to allow for more citizen input. New automation software is being reviewed to allow for permits, license, etc to be submitted online. Citizens were recently asked to serve on boards and committees with a great response. A complete list of new committee members was distributed and approved. Due to state mandates only citizens within the city limits can serve on these committees, but she is looking to implement some county/city committees. Public Works Director Mark Nash reported there were 88 electric disconnects this month, with 66 being paid, there are currently only 9 that have not paid. They have installed a total of 2,695 electric meters and 2,228 water meters. They are working on rerouting storm water run-off behind the new Domino’s restaurant. The Aldermen then each gave a report. The board approved appointing Tammy Koller to attend the Lagers annual meeting as the employer representative. The City-wide Yard Sale is set for October 2nd and the fall clean-up will be held the week of October 11-15. The board then went into closed session.

An accident happened in St. Louis County on Interstate 270 south of Interstate 44 at 8:50 Tuesday morning that took the life of a Rolla man. According to the highway patrol report, a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia driven northbound by 48-year-old Miguel Hertog of Palmetto, Florida, was slowing for traffic when a 2019 Hino Conventional driven northbound by 34-year-old Justin Reeves of Rolla, failed to stop and the front of the Hino struck the rear tow unit of the Freightliner. Reeves was pronounced dead at the scene by the Fenton Fire and EMS personnel and his body was taken to the St. Louis County Morgue by Lonning’s Mortuary Service. Hertog suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Mercy Hospital in St. Louis by the Fenton EMS. The Hino Conventional was totaled while the Freightliner itself suffered no damage, but the tow unit was totaled. The vehicles were removed from the scene by Miners Towing. Both drivers were wearing their seat restraints at the time of the accident.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported to the commission the amount of sales tax funds received by the state this month. For the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund, the county received $99,016.85 for each fund and that is down $13,445.50 from last year’s figure of $112,462.35. For the Road and Bridge Fund, the county received $47,551.25 and that is down $6,853.13 from last year’s receipt of $54,404.38. The Jail Trust Fund and Operating Funds each received $95,107.93 and that was down $13,704.05 from the 2020 figure of $108,811.98. Williams said she hadn’t heard back from the Department of Revenue when she asked them why the sales tax for General Revenue and the LEST Fund from July was much higher than for the jail funds and the Road and Bridge Fund. In the road report, 1st District Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading was going to be done on Dent County Road 5610 and that materials would be added to county road 4210 where the low water bridge work is being done. Mobray went on to say the bridge would be closed another three weeks before it will be open to traffic. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 3350 while brush would be cut on county road 3305. He said major service was being done on grader #31 and the #9 tractor used for brush cutting was having new runners and blades installed. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he attended the MRPC External Relations Committee meeting via phone conference. He wanted to remind everyone that the MRPC Annual Volunteer Awards Dinner would be held on October 21st at State Technical College of Missouri at Linn. He said he nominated Joe Brand for all the volunteer work he has done to receive an award. He also said at the regular MRPC meeting that they will have a meeting with Attorney Travis Elliott around the end of the month to discuss what can be done with the ARPA funds the county has received. Skiles indicated he would be at the MRPC offices today along with the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board to review and grade the applications for grants for recycling and the reduction of waste in landfills. He will also attend the Economic Development meeting at Echo Bluff tonight at 6:00, which was organized by Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported on the annual County Clerk Election Authority meeting held last week. This meeting qualifies for the 20 hours of mandatory requirements for her position as county clerk. She was also elected chairman of the South-Central County Clerk’s Region that covers 13 counties. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers at 200 North Washington. At the meeting, the aldermen will hear from the Heartland Metal Finishing Management Team as they want to discuss the pretreatment program key elements along with effluent limits, sampling location and more. Following the consent agenda, the board will hear bids for ultra-violet lights for the Waste Water Treatment Facility. They will then discuss Bill #3489 which would create an ordinance to establish a procedure to dispose of potential conflicts of interest for certain municipal officials, discuss Resolution #27-2021 which is a resolution to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and the Meramec Regional Planning Commission for technical assistance on floodplain management, discuss Bill #3490 that would create an ordinance to establish rates for electric services that would offset the impact of the financial impact of the February 2021 weather event, discuss Resolution #28-2021 authorizing the mayor to execute an employment agreement between the City of Salem and Ray Walden, and discuss an ordinance to authorize the mayor to execute a contract change order between the City of Salem and Nexgrid for electric AMI meters. In the reports of city officials, boards and committees, the alderman will hear the report from City Administrator Ray Walden, Mayor Kim Steelman and Public Works Director Mark Nash. The board will also discuss the LAGERS annual meeting where the board will be appointing an employer delegate to attend the meeting. The board will approve the Fall Clean-up Week will be designated October 11th through the 15th and approve any committee appointments that are made. The board will then go into closed session. The Salem Board of Aldermen meeting tonight will begin at 6:00 and is open to the public.

The Salem Area Arts Council will host a “Taste of the Arts” Expo at the Creative Arts Center this Saturday from 3:00 until 7:00. It will be a small carnival style family fun day complete with small art activities for young and old. There will be live music with Chris Blood and Michael Conners, a sidewalk chalk contest, a children’s table with art activities, screen printing, wheat weaving, quilting, pottery, painting, air brushing concessions and vendors. For more information, contact Danielle Norris at 573-247-5306 or Tana Kettner at 573-247-0651.