Your World Today

Mayor Brad Nash of the City of Salem has called a special Board of Aldermen meeting for tonight at 6:45 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, Nash will appoint members to the utility committee before the board discusses Resolution #7-2021 which would authorize Nash to execute an agreement between the city and Global Rental Company, Inc. for the lease of a digger truck. The meeting will then adjourn before the Utility Committee will meet at 7:00 also at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At that meeting, the committee will get an update on the AMI/utility billing, discuss a proposal for a prepay option, consider resuming disconnects, discuss option to bill for more recent consumption, discuss options to pay for the February 2021 extreme weather costs and discuss a request to review high water consumption discount rate. The utility committee meeting, called by Mayor Brad Nash, and the special Board of Aldermen meeting are both open to the public.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday night just before 11:00 on Route HH approximately three miles south of Salem. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2012 Chevrolet Impala being driven by 46-year-old Robert Killian of Jadwin was traveling south on Route HH when he ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Killian was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident and was transported by SMDH ambulance to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The Impala was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of March. They served 8 summonses to appear in court, gave 44 warning tickets, and 3 traffic tickets, plus they also served 11 fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated six traffic accidents, wrote four property damage reports, seven stealing reports, and investigated one dog bite. The department investigated three driving while having a license revoked or suspended charges, one resisting or interfering with an arrest charges, one unlawful use of a firearm charge, one possession of a controlled substance charge, three domestic violence reports, investigated one nuisance violation, and conducted one death investigation. The department was also dispatched for 39 animal calls, 24 ambulance assist calls, and performed 53 traffic stops for the month. The Department also conducted 36 follow-up investigations, investigated two lost or stolen license plates and responded to 26 suspicious subjects and also performed 20 well-being checks. The Salem Police Department received 831 calls for service during the month and had 64 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 9,622 miles in March. There was a total of 15 males and four females arrested for the month. The Police Department also served four hours during March as court bailiff.

Spring and summer months bring both the buzz of lawnmowers and bees. These fuzzy flyers are important pollinators, playing a crucial role in the production of many favorite fruits and vegetables. The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages the public to “bee-friend” these valuable native pollinators. Most native bees only live about one year. They emerge in the spring as adults, visiting flowers and buildings nests. Many species, such as bumblebees, make their nests underground, while others, such as leafcutter and mason bees, will set up shop in small cavities found in wood or in the pith of plant stems. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri is home to around 450 species of native bees, but it’s not uncommon for more to be identified each year. The most common bees Missourians usually encounter include the bumblebee, carpenter bees, sweat bees, and the leafcutter bee. Bees may send some running for the hills for fear of being stung, but most native bees are harmless. The native bees biggest asset is doing their agricultural duty by pollinating flowering plants that provide food, fiber, and even medicines. To find out more about bees, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website and view their online field guide at mdc.mo.gov.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol have arrested a man and woman who were found walking in the Highway 63 and Highway 28 area in Maries County and they have now been charged in Phelps County in connection with the stabbing death of Donald Wethy at the Economy Inn Motel in St James. Arrested were 20-year-old Josue Martinez from Pennsylvania and his girlfriend, 29-year-old Kimberly Riston from California. Martinez is accused of stabbing Wethy twice while they were in the parking lot of Economy Inn Wednesday. Once Wethy fell to the ground, Martinez reportedly stabbed him at least 12 more times. After killing him, Martinez reportedly rummaged through Wethy’s pockets apparently for car keys to take the car. While this was going on, Riston is seen on video trying to get her dog into Wethy’s car. Martinez did not find the keys, so the couple left the area on foot, leaving Wethy dead in the parking lot. Martinez and Riston are both being charged with first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, robbery, and tampering with a motor vehicle. They are both being held without bond in the Phelps County Jail.

The Dent County Commissioners held a special meeting Tuesday where they went into closed session pursuant to the Revised Statutes of Missouri Section 610.021 at 1:20. The commissioners emerged from closed session at 2:20 and approved the bills and then signed the agreement with Anderson and Associates Engineers LLC for $8,980. This contract is for the assessment for the scope of work needed on the exterior of the courthouse. At the last regular meeting, Skiles signed the Missouri Department of Public Safety LESO Program agreement. Sheriff Bob Wells came in and they discussed the new jail elevator and the maintenance agreement. The Commission agreed 3-0 to sign the maintenance agreement with the vendor Kone, Inc. The meeting was then adjourned.

“Take Back Day” for unused and expired medications will be this Saturday at the Country Mart and Walmart parking lots. The event will be from 10:30 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon. “Take Back Day” is sponsored by a partnership with the DEA, Salem Police Department, Dent County Sheriff’s Department, and Health Dent County Prevention Coalition.

The Doe Run Company is offering two scholarships to Mineral Area College for the Fall 2021-Spring 2022 academic year. The scholarships cover $500 per semester, totaling $1,000 for each of two students annually at MAC. Local high school students should apply for the Doe Run scholarships by May 15th. Scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors from the following districts: Potosi R-III District; Iron County C-IV District; Bunker R-III District; Arcadia Valley R-II District; Valley R-VI District; Southern Reynolds Co. R-II District; Lesterville R-IV District; Mineral Area College Districts – North County R-I, Central R-III, Farmington R-VII, Bismarck R-V, West County R-IV, and Fredericktown R-I. Interested students can obtain a scholarship application from the financial aid office at MAC. Eligible students must meet the following scholarship criteria: Be planning to enroll in at least six credit hours per semester at Mineral Area College. Rank in the upper half of his or her senior class. Possess a genuine interest in preparing for a specific occupation. Express a desire to be employed locally. Scholarships are one of a number of ways Doe Run supports STEM education in the region. In addition to sponsoring scholarships for students attending MAC, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and Southwest Baptist University Salem Campus, the company has funded technology and other projects that support elementary, middle and high school STEM curriculum for local school districts.