Your World Today

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington. In the hearing of persons, the board will hear from Mark Bottomley from 910 North Main Street who is requesting additional lighting be put up around the roadside park off Highway 19. The next person to be heard will be Ted and Crystal Kiddy from 805 North Jackson who are requesting “No Parking” signs as well as “Children at Play” signs in the alley. They want to report an excessive number of speeders going up and down North Jackson Street. They also want to report the alley is broken up and rocks are striking cars when people drive or speed up and down the road. The board will also hear from Teresa Stark about her neighbor who continues to build fires and play loud music as well as other ordinance concerns. After the consent agenda is approved, the board will discuss Bill #3476 that would create an ordinance for the Mayor to sign any and all documents for the city of Salem to pursue entering into a lease purchase funding agreement with Signature Public Funding Corporation for the guaranteed energy savings project improvements included in Resolution #4- 2021 that was approved by the Aldermen on February 16th of this year. The board will also discuss Bill #3477 that would authorize Mayor Brad Nash to sign and execute task order #10 pertaining to the Phase 2 Improvements at the Wastewater Treatment facility. These improvements in Phase 2 in the variance report have already been approved by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The board will then canvass the election results of the Municipal Election held on April 6th as provided to the temporary city clerk by Dent County Clerk Angie Curley. The city attorney will then present Resolution #6-2021 declaring the acceptance of the results of the Municipal Election. After the resolution is approved, the temporary city clerk will administer the oath of office to Shawn Bolerjack as the East Ward Alderman and Kenneth Nash as the West Ward Alderman. Following the swearing in, the board will elect a new President of the Board. City Administrator Ray Walden will then present updates on a number of city projects currently underway. The meeting will then be adjourned. The City of Salem Board of Aldermen meeting tonight is open to the public.

The 11th Annual Salem FFA Alumni Labor and Dessert Auction held Friday night at the Smith Valley Angus Barn raised $13,805 setting a new record for the auction. The alumni wanted to thank the Dent County Commissioners for the donation of the meat and grilling, all those who prepared the desserts for the auction, all those who helped set up and then take everything down at the conclusion of the event, Brady Hagler for the auctioneering service, and the Smith Valley Angus Farm for the use of their event barn. The alumni wanted to especially thank everyone who purchased labor time or the desserts. All the money raised by the event will be used for scholarships for graduating seniors.

A motorcycle accident happened Wednesday morning just before noon in Shannon County on Highway 19 about five miles north of Timber. The highway patrol reports states that a 2019 Yamaha being operated by 79-year-old Michael Osmer of Jackson, Michigan, was traveling south when he traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Osmer was transported by air ambulance to the Mercy Hospital in Springfield for treatment of serious injuries. The report stated that Osmer was wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. The Yamaha was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

An accident happened Friday morning at 8:05 in Phelps County on Interstate 44 at the westbound 196-mile marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2017 Ford Fiesta, driven by 31-year-old Laura Giebler of Gerald, struck the rear of a 2019 International Tractor driven by Latoya Willingham of Houston, Texas. Giebler suffered moderate injuries and was transported by the St. James Ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. The report stated that both Giebler and Willingham were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing, while the International had minor damage and was driven from the scene. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the St. James Police Department.

The 6th Annual Veteran Affairs Day will be held Friday, April 23rd from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon at the American Legion Walker Roney Post 99 and All-American VFW Post 6280 on Highway 32 West in Salem. The Veteran Affairs Day is an annual outreach to all veterans from parts of central rural Missouri to provide easier access to VA services. It includes the American Legion District 16 and the VFW District 2 which includes Camden, Cole, Crawford, Dent, Howell, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Phelps, Osage, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas and Wright counties. Representatives from the Department of Veteran Affairs, including enrollment and claims processing specialists as well as benefit advisors, will be in attendance. The Truman VA Hospital will also have the COVID vaccine available for veterans and their spouses. The Columbia Veteran Center will have counselors and advisors on hand in their mobile unit. In addition, the Missouri Veterans Commission will have Service Officers at the event. A light lunch will be provided around noon. It doesn’t matter when you served, if you are a veteran and have questions, have a claim or need to enroll into the VA healthcare system or get the COVID vaccine, please attend. Don’t miss out on your hard-earned benefits. Call the American Legion Post 99/VFW Post 6280 at (573) 729-3710 for questions, to schedule private time with a counselor or if you would like to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Salem Memorial District Hospital and the Dent County Health Center will hold a mass vaccination event for COVID-19 to include ALL Missouri residents over the age of 16 at the Dent County Fire Station TODAY. The booster vaccine being held at the same location on Friday, May 7th. Please go to the Dent County Health Center or Salem Memorial District Hospital Facebook page for more information and how to register for this event. There is also a registration link on the Salem Memorial District Hospital website at SMDH.net.

The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages drivers to be cautious on the roads this spring and give turtles a brake! These reptiles are often hit by cars during the warmer months, but are at special risk this time of year because they are more active. Common turtles spotted crossing Missouri roads include three-toed box turtles, ornate box turtles, and snapping turtles. Turtles emerge from their burrows and begin the hunt for food and mates during warm and wet conditions, which can lead them to cross roadways, oftentimes resulting in their death. Thousands of box turtles are killed every year by vehicles. Young males make up most of the travelers, sometimes wandering as many as six miles searching for territories and mates. Females are also crossing the roads in search of nesting areas. Turtles are cold-blooded creatures and depend on external sources of heat to determine their body temperature. This explains why people see them on warm asphalt during cool, spring days. Vehicles are one of the leading factors in box turtle declines, and MDC urges motorists to be cautious and slow down when they see a turtle in the road. If helping a turtle make it safely across, check for traffic and move the turtle across the road in the direction it is traveling. Additionally, MDC encourages Missourians to leave turtles in the wild. Taking a wild animal, whether a turtle or other wildlife species, and keeping it as a pet normally ends in a slow death. Leave turtles in the wild, follow the speed limit, and keep your eyes on the road. Most Missouri turtles can live up to 30 years, but the common box turtle can live up to 80, occasionally living more than a century. For more information on Missouri’s turtles, visit the MDC online Field Guide at nature.mdc.mo.gov

The Dent County Commissioners will not be meeting Monday, but will be holding a closed session meeting Tuesday at 1:00 at the Dent County Courthouse. That meeting is not open to the public.