Your World Today

Utility Committee Chairman Shawn Bolerjack has called for a meeting of the city of Salem’s Utility Committee tonight at 6:00 at City Hall Council Chambers. The agenda for the meeting includes a review of a high water consumption discount, a discussion of a discount incentive on electric usage from February 8th through May 15th, 2021 for customers paying their bill in full and having no prior balance due. There will also be a discussion to review a sample bill for usage from February 8th, 2021 through May 15th, 2021 and an informational cover letter to be sent to customers followed by an update on fiscal year-to-date utility financials before adjourning. Following the utility committee meeting, the City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers. After the roll call, Skip Dahms will ask the board to permit the blocking off of a section of Fourth Street between Henderson and McArthur Streets for a kids’ festival to be held on June 12th. After approval of the consent agenda, the aldermen will discuss bids for renovation of the Police department dispatch call center and for undercarriage repair on a John Deere 555G crawler. Bill #3477 will be introduced and read which is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign and execute task order #10 pertaining to an agreement between the city of Salem and C.M. Archer Group P.C. dated February 3rd, 2020 for engineering design services related to the Phase 2 improvements at the wastewater treatment facility. Resolution #16-2021 would adopt a policy on the utility committee recommendation of utility credits for the city of Salem. The aldermen will then hear a report from City Administrator Ray Walden on issues concerning the city. Also at the meeting, a library committee appointment will be made by Mayor Brad Nash. The board may go into closed session before adjourning. The City of Salem Utility Committee meeting and the Board of Aldermen meeting this evening are both open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of April. They served 18 summonses to appear in court, gave out 69 warning tickets, and 13 traffic tickets, plus they also served 2 fugitive warrants. The Salem Police department investigated 17 traffic accidents, wrote 5 property damage reports, 17 stealing reports, and investigated 2 identity thefts. The department also investigated three driving while having a license revoked or suspended, a resisting or interfering with an arrest, a violation of an exparte or full order of protection, four possessions of a controlled substance as well as three domestic violence reports, investigated two nuisance violations and conducted two death investigations. The department was also dispatched for 37 animal calls, 21 ambulance assist calls, and performed 88 traffic stops for the month. The Department also conducted 59 follow-up investigations, one leaving the scene of an accident, and responded to 26 suspicious subjects and also performed 24 well-being checks. The Salem Police Department received 951 calls for service during the month of April and had 43 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 8,180 miles during the month of April. There were 16 males and 13 females arrested during the month. The Police Department also served 4 hours as court bailiff during the month.

A summer “kick off” will take place at Akers for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The free event features an open-air celebration of the
Akers community beginning at 9:00 this Saturday. The lawn around the Akers Visitor Center will host information booths and exhibits about historic communities on the banks of the Current River. Those with a connection to the upper Current River community will have an opportunity to share memories with everyone in attendance. In accordance with the federal mask mandate, face masks will be required for entry into Mt. Zion Church. Social distancing will be implemented for outdoor activities and face masks will be required whenever visitors are unable to maintain a six-foot distance from those outside their household. Participants will be able to take part in activities including a paddle from Welch to Akers, a self-guided hike to Welch Spring and cave, a tour of Mt. Zion Church, and a tour of Akers Cemetery with a civil war “ghost”. Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding natural resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/ozar or call (573) 323-4236.

A carnival with proceeds to benefit Grace Harbor Homeless Shelter will be held this Saturday afternoon May 22nd from 2:00 until 5:00. Tickets may be purchased in advance by contacting Kathy Bryant at 739-9163 or Jenny Summers at 247-7062. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. You are invited to bring your lawn chair, blanket, family and friends. Smoking, vaping, drugs and alcohol are not allowed on the grounds of the church.

City utility bills for consumption from January 9th, 2021 through February 8th, 2021 were mailed last week. If you have not received your bill or if you have questions about your bill, please stop by or call the utility office at (573) 729-4117. In response to user requests for utility billing to reflect more recent consumption the next utility bills will be for consumption from February 8th, 2021 through May 15th, 2021 with customers having the option to pay their account in full or if eligible, to request a payment plan. Penalties and disconnects for non-payment will resume on July 1st, 2021. Information about the upcoming bills for consumption through 5/15/2021 along with any updated information regarding utility bills will be mailed to utility customers on or around May 19th, 2021. If you have a past-due balance, please bring your account current or make payment arrangements by July 1st, 2021 to avoid being disconnected. Are you in need of utility payment assistance? Make it easy to seek financial assistance through the South Central Community Action Agency, Catholic Charities, and The Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit. These organizations will be available each Tuesday through the end of May from 10:30 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. Check the www.salemmo.com website for information on available resources for assistance or call (573) 729-4117.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has announced it has updated its website to offer a new look and better navigation for users. According to MDC, most of the web content will remain where it was while other content has been moved to better fit where visitors expect to find it. MDC had about 6.8 million visitors to its website last year. You can visit MDC’s updated website for a new look and easier navigation at mdc.mo.gov. Key improvements users may notice are better search results thanks to a new search engine powering the site, easier to find information on buying permits, and a new section on invasive and nuisance animal and plant species. Popular webpages that have been improved include “Places to Go” to discover nature on MDC areas, the online “Field Guide” to help users identify Missouri plants and animals, and the hunting and fishing “Species A-Z” pages to help identify game species. The new website also provides a better user experience on mobile devices, specifically Android devices. Some Android users reported having navigation issues on our existing website, so MDC wanted to ensure the new site works smoothly on all devices. The number-one goal of the MDC website is to have as many visitors complete the tasks they came to the site for as quickly and easily as possibly. It was noted that the staff used input from the website’s public comment form and regular website survey results to determine changes and priorities when working on the website.

SEMO Behavioral Health’s Show Me Hope Crisis Counseling Program will host the first annual Mental Health Awareness Walk/Run this Saturday at the Salem City Park in Salem. This free event will begin at 3:00 and is designed to raise awareness and remove stigmas associated with mental health in our community during Mental Health Awareness Month. In addition to the Walk/Run, there will be food available for purchase including burgers, hot dogs and baked goods. Local vendors will also be on hand to display their products and community mental health partners will distribute information about local services and there will be prize drawings in addition to activities and giveaways for the kids. For more information taking part in the Mental Health Awareness Walk/Run please contact Jodie Richter, Crisis Counselor, by emailing hrichter@semobh.org or call 573-330-2544.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their May meeting at noon on Tuesday in the hospital library. After the approval of the minutes from the April 20th meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations and statistics for the month of April followed by the Chief of Nursing Report from Debbie Hines. A report on the hospital foundation, plus the marketing and community perception report will be given by Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards. Lucas will give the Chief of Staff report before he gives an update on the Hospital expansion and renovation, Cerner conversion, and a report on the Finance Committee Meeting. New business may consist of the review of purchases since the last meeting and a report on the SMDH imaging. The board may vote to go into closed session. The SMDH Board meeting is open to the public provided they wear a mask to the meeting.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released some reports from court held in Dent County on May 6th with Judge Megan Seay presiding. Curley indicated that Sheena Hodge of Waynesville pled guilty to two counts of the distribution of prescription pills to an undercover South Central Missouri Drug Task Force officer. Hodge was sentenced to 15 years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO 559.115 as requested by the prosecutor. Also on May 6th, Kendall Collins of Poplar Bluff pled guilty to two counts of felony driving while her license had been revoked. Collins was sentenced to serve two years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the state and agreed to by Collins who had a prior felony history.

An accident happened Wednesday morning just after 7:00 on Highway 19 about 9 miles south of Salem. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 1997 Chevrolet pickup being driven by 28-year-old Zachary Quick of Salem, was traveling south when the vehicle traveled off the right side of the road. Quick then overcorrected, crossed over the roadway and
traveled off the left side of the road before overturning. Quick was transported by the Salem Ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for the treatment of minor injuries. The Chevrolet sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The report went on to state that Quick was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The highway patrol was assisted on the scene by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department.

Hunters may apply for this falls elk and bear season permits through May 31st. Five permits will be available for elk. At least one permit will be approved area landowners with qualifying property and the remainder for the general public. The nine-day archery season for eld will be October 16th through October 24th and a 9-day firearm season running through December 11th through the 19th. The five permits will be for bull elk and will be valid for both portions. All permits will be assigned through a random drawing. Only Missouri residents are eligible to apply for and purchase elk hunting permits. MDC will require a $10.00 nonrefundable application fee for all applicants. Those selected for each of the five permits must pay a $50.00 application fee. All permits are nontransferable. Results of the random elk permit drawing will be available by July 1st. Applicants can check to see if they’ve been selected for and elk hunting permit at online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits by logging into “Mange your account” and selecting “view my special hunt history”. Those hunters interested in hunting black bear will find four hundred permits offered for the state’s first black bear hunting season, taking place October 18th through October 27th in the outlined bear management zones. Each permit will be for a specific bear management zone and may be used on public or private property within the BMZ. Hunters who are issued permits must call MDC prior to hunting each day to determine if the BMZ specific harvest quota has been met. If a BMZ specific harvest quota has been met then the season for that particular zone will be closed. Should harvest quotas not be reached the season will end at the end of the 10 designated hunting days. Hunters can apply until the end of May for either the fall elk or black bear season online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, through MDC’s free MO Hunting app, or through a permit vendor.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, a premier law enforcement agency, is testing for new troopers. The Patrol is encouraging qualified individuals of all backgrounds to apply, and will offer testing at nine different locations in Missouri. Those who successfully complete testing will be eligible to continue in the selection process for the 113th Recruit Class which is scheduled to begin training on January 18, 2022. The application deadline is September 18, 2021. To be eligible, candidates must possess a minimum of 30 college credit hours from an accredited college/university or served in any component of the United States Armed Forces, including National Guard, for a minimum of two years, with an honorable discharge if separated, or a minimum of two years’ experience as a full-time, POST-certified peace officer when recruit training begins. The starting annual salary for trooper is $49,536, and following three years of service, the trooper first class’ salary is increased to $52,200. Other benefits include group health insurance, contributory retirement, career advancement, and more. Interested persons can find out more about the qualifications by contacting a Patrol recruiter at telephone number 1-800-796-7000, or may apply online at www.motrooper.com.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Expo will be Saturday May 22nd from 10:00 in the morning until 1:00 that afternoon at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center parking lot at the Crossroads shopping center. The Business Expo is an exceptional opportunity for area businesses to advertise their products and services. Sales are allowed at the Chamber Expo however no alcohol, tobacco or drug related item are permitted on the property. No food sales will be allowed, only samples and giveaways will be permitted. One table will be provided for each chamber member who reserves a booth and tents are welcome. Non-members who wish to participate may contact the Chamber office to purchase booth space. Giveaways, drawings, and samples are encouraged from participants however exhibitors are not eligible for prizes. Participants will be able to set up during the morning of the 22nd between 8:00 and 10:00 and the setups must be complete when the event starts at 10:00. For more information or to get an entry form, call Tabitha at the Salem Area of Commerce office at 573-729-6900 or e-mail her at chamber@salemmo.com or stop bv in the Crossroads Shopping Center.