Your World Today

An accident occurred Saturday morning at 2:06 in Phelps County on Highway 72 about seven miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2010 Honda Civic driven by 26-year-old Zakary Berardy of Salem, was traveling southbound and failed to negotiate a curve. The Honda traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck several trees as well as an embankment and overturned. Berardy suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Rolla. The Honda was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman Towing. Berardy was wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident.

An accident occurred Saturday morning at 12:15 in Crawford County on Route Y about four miles north of Viburnum. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by 36-year-old Rebekah Hatridge of Steelville, was travelling northbound and failed to negotiate a curve. The PT Cruiser travelled off the road and overturned. Hatridge suffered serious injuries and was transported to the Salem District Memorial Hospital by a highway patrol trooper after refusing EMS. The PT Cruiser was totaled and removed from the scene by Blackie’s Towing. Hatridge was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

With the rise in COVID-19 cases in Dent County, the Salem Memorial District Hospital has made changes to their visitor policy dealing with visiting hours and how people should enter the facility. Effective TODAY, the north entrance to the hospital will be closed until further notice. This means all visitors and all patients that need services, both inpatient and emergency room, will enter through the Emergency Department entrance. The hospital will have door screeners at the Emergency Department entrance seven days a week. Also, the visiting hours will be changing from 8:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. Patients will be allowed only ONE visitor per day, and once they leave the building, they will not be able to return that day. COVID-19 positive or patients under investigation for COVID-19 are not allowed visitors unless they are on comfort care/end of life. Outpatients needing service after 5:00 in the afternoon and before 7:00 in the evening are to be registered at the Emergency Room Registration. The drive-thru COVID-19 testing site on campus will continue to be in operation. These measures are being taken to protect and maintain the safety of visitors, patients and health care professionals during this uptick in COVID-19 infections in the area.

An accident occurred Saturday afternoon at 2:00 in Phelps County on Route M about six miles west of Edgar Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Harley Davidson Electro-Glide driven by 37-year-old Eric Mason of Paducah, KY, was travelling eastbound and failed to negotiate a curve. The Electro-Glide struck loose gravel, ran off the roadway, overturned and ejected a passenger, 39-year- old Brandy Mason of Paducah, KY. Brandy Mason suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps Health Hospital by Phelps Health Ambulance. The Electro-Glide sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene. Eric Mason did not suffer any injuries.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be holding a tax rate hearing at 6:45 this evening to discuss setting the tax rate on real estate and personal property for the year 2021 at the city hall council chambers. The hearing is open to the public. Following the tax rate hearing, the Salem Board of Aldermen regular meeting will be held starting at 7:00. In the hearing of persons, the board will hear from Bill Parsons with questions on the electric bills from 100 South Henderson, 1104 West Franklin and 215 East 4th Street. He will also ask for street closures for an Octoberfest on October 29th and 30th. The board will also hear from Ted and Crystal Kiddy who want to discuss speeding vehicles, alley issues and a neighbor burning plastic and rubber. Following the consent agenda, the board will discuss a gate system for the Industrial Park Yard Waste entry and what it would cost to do that project. They will also discuss a security camera system for the Industrial Park Yard Waste area along with some pricing on what it would take to put some type of system at the site. The board will discuss the Residential Demolition Program and how to move forward with the three properties who have applied for the program. In the introduction and reading of bills, the board will discuss bill #3487 that sets the tax levy per every $100 of assessed valuation for real estate and personal property for General Revenue purposes. The suggested levy by the state auditor is 67.46 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The board will discuss Resolution #22-2021 that states the City of Salem intends to seek funding through the American Rescue Plan Act and authorizes the mayor to pursue activities in an attempt to secure funding. Resolution #23-2021 deals with awarding an agreement to a firm who will do the demolition work for the Residential Demolition Program. The board will hear a report from City Administrator Ray Walden about items pertaining to the city. They will then address old business that includes the request for a zoning change for the property at 306 East Franklin. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the change from commercial to industrial, but Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge warned the aldermen this is setting a precedent for spot zoning within the city limits. The alderman at a previous meeting tabled the issue to do a more thorough investigation of the request. The board will then go into closed session to discuss personnel before adjourning. The tax rate levy public hearing and the regular board meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen are both open to the public.