Your World Today

The State of Missouri has awarded $3 million in grants to help expand broadband internet access in Missouri. In a press release from Governor Mike Parson’s office, it says sixteen companies are getting the funding to offer high-speed service to more than 4,400 Missouri homes, businesses and farms. The latest Federal Communications Commission data shows nearly 600,000 rural Missourians lack access to broadband internet. According to Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon, it is crucial that Missourians have an opportunity to get connected during this time in which many citizens have been instructed to stay home. Reliable internet access is critical to meet needs for education, telemedicine, telecommuting, and overall quality of life. One of the recipients was the Steelville Telephone Exchange and they are to provide service to the Bixby area. They received $445,917 to do the project.

A fatal accident occurred on Friday afternoon at 2:48 in Crawford County on Highway 19 on Lindberg Road about four miles south of Cuba. According to the highway patrol report, a 2004 Western Star Tractor Trailer driven by 32-year old James Kramer of Park Hills, MO, was traveling southbound when he swerved to avoid striking an unidentified vehicle in front of him. The tractor trailer crossed the center line where the tractor trailer stuck a 2009 Chevrolet Express Van driven northbound by 52-year old Sergio Navarro from Cuba. A 2011 GMC Yukon also driven northbound by 40-year old Betty Counts of Steelville, swerved to the right to avoid hitting the Chevrolet Express Van. The Yukon crossed Lindberg Road and came to rest against an embankment. Navarro was pronounced dead at the scene by the Crawford County Deputy Coroner Darren Drake at 2:56 that afternoon and the body was transported by the coroner to Hutson Funeral Home in Cuba. Counts suffered moderate injuries and was transported to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan by North Crawford Ambulance. Two occupants of the Yukon, a 12-year old female and a 15-year old male, also suffered moderate injuries and were transported to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan by Steelville Ambulance. All injured parties were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident except Counts. The tractor trailer sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Big Boys Towing. The Chevrolet Express Van was totaled and removed from the scene by Chris and Sons Towing. The Yukon also sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. The highway patrol was assisted by the Crawford County Sheriffs Department, North Crawford County Ambulance, the Steelville Ambulance, the Cuba Police Department and the Cuba Fire Department.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 7:00 at the City Hall Auditorium at 202 North Washington. The board will hear bids on tearing off the old roof at the City Administration Building and installing new shingles, as well as bids on fireworks for the 2020 Independence Day Fireworks Display. After the consent agenda, the board will hear from City Administrator Ray Walden about current city projects and a records management policy. The board will also hear feedback on the City of Salem branding color logos that were presented in an online video conference. In the introduction and reading of bills, the board will hear Bill #3446 which is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to act as a representative of the city to execute a tower lease agreement between the city and Wave Internet Technologies, LLC for the installation of a wireless broadband access point on the water tower at the corner of Tower and Condray Streets for one year. They will also hear Bill #3447 that allows the mayor to sign all the documents necessary to proceed with the purchase and installation of a RAS/WAS pump station and associated appurtenances. Finally, the board will hear Resolution #7-2020 that would authorize the mayor to sign a proposal between the City of Salem and Donald Maggi, Inc. for drainage improvements to be made at the Salem Little League Baseball Field at 1100 West Rolla Road. The meeting will then be adjourned. The meeting is open to the public and social distancing will be enforced. The meeting can also be live streamed on the KSMO radio website at www.ksmoradio.com.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education in closed session Thursday night hired Derek Freeman as the Head Track Coach along with Dylan Wyrick and Travis Sampson Assistant Track Coaches. They also employed Kristen Williams as the Middle School Volleyball Coach, Courtney Smith as the Middle School Cheerleading Coach, and Andy Felkerson as an assistant Boys basketball Coach and High School Math Teacher. Also in closed session, classified staff building lists were shared with the board and a personnel issue was discussed before they adjourned.

Salem R-80 High School Principal Marty Anderson reported at the Salem R-80 Board meeting Thursday night that Salem will utilize the 3rd Quarter Grades as of March 6th as the core of the 2nd Semester Grades. He said students completing extra credit homework will impact their established 3rd quarter grades, plus for each week of homework a student completes, they will receive an average daily grade of extra credit in a class of their choice. Anderson stated that if the school cannot arrange for students to physically turn in the homework packet handed out on the last day of school by May 1st, extra credit will be awarded automatically. He said the semester grades will be posted on May 15th and Senior Transcripts will be ready for post secondary requests.

Thursday, Governor Mike Parson extended the statewide “Stay Home Missouri” Order through Sunday, May 3rd and announced the state’s initial framework to help Missouri safely and gradually move into the recovery phase of COVID-19. Between now and May 4th, the Governor’s Office will continue to monitor the situation and work with Missouri’s hospitals, health care providers, public health experts, business leaders, and state departments to develop a plan. The state’s approach to recovery will be deliberate and data-driven with two initial phases intended to protect those most at risk of exposure to COVID-19 while returning Missouri to a new normal. This approach will combine a number of sources data specific to Missouri, allowing state leaders to evaluate the situation locally, regionally, and statewide.

In an effort to prevent taxpayers in need from being victimized by criminals using the recently approved stimulus payments as an opportunity to commit a crime, Special Agent in Charge Karl Stiften from the internal Revenue Service offers the following information and tips to spot a scam and understand how the COVID-19 related economic impact payments will be issued. Stiften says the IRS will deposit your check into the direct deposit account you previously provided on your tax return or if you received paper tax refund checks, you will receive a paper check. He says the IRS will not call and ask you to verify your payment details. Do not give out your bank account or any other account information – even if someone claims it’s necessary to get your check. It’s a scam. If you receive a call, don’t engage with scammers or thieves, even if you want to tell them that you know it’s a scam, or you think that you can beat them. Just hang up. Stiften said if you receive texts or emails claiming that you can get your money faster by sending personal information or clicking on links, delete them. Don’t click on any links in those emails or texts. He also said there are some reports about bogus checks being sent. If you receive a “check” for an odd amount, especially one with cents, or a check that requires that you verify the check online or by calling a number, it’s a fraud. Scammers may try to get you to sign over your check to them or use this as an opportunity to get you to “verify” your filing information in order to receive your money, and then use your personal information at a later date to file false tax returns in an identity theft scheme. Because of this, everyone receiving a COVID-19 related economic impact payment from the government is at risk. Don’t become a victim by allowing criminals to exploit your emotions. Stay strong, tell your family, friends and neighbors about these scams. The IRS Criminal Investigation is prepared to investigate and bring to justice those who seek to take advantage of citizens who are the intended recipients of these economic impact payments. You can always report scams to the IRS on the website at www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their regular meeting Thursday evening at the district administrative offices. Superintendent John McCollloch discussed the budget and said the R-80 district is in pretty good shape. He said the expenditures were about $370,000 over last year but that is after Salem was hit with the special insurance assessment of about $500,000 and another $250,000 for the LED lighting project. McColloch said with school being out there will be some savings on utilities and supplies, plus there will be money from the CARES act coming. He said this year should be fine, but he was worried about next year with the current economy. He said the Capital Improvement Fund has about 1.089 million dollars, but he said there will be no weighted ADA dollars added to that fund this year. It will be needed in Fund 1 for operations so large capital projects will be put on hold for the time being. McColloch said by keeping the money in Fund 1, the school will have reserves of about 30% for next year. He said the year-end balance should be about 3.8 million dollars. He said in preparing next year’s budget, he is being very conservative with revenue amounts. McColloch then talked about health insurance for employees for the upcoming school year. He said he was able to get MEUHP Self Funded Trust of about 90 schools to give him a quote of $466.00 per month per employee with a deductible of $4,500. He also said he was able to get a quote from United Health Care. Their base plan offers a $4,500 deductible with a maximum of $6,500 out of pocket costs. That policy is also a Health Savings Account. The CORE program though does not include Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and Mercy Hospital in Springfield. The cost of that program is $449.33 per month which is lower that the current rate of $456.53. That rate will save the school district about $16,500.00. The United Health Care plans will have buy up options for the employees to get better coverage or lower their deductibles. The board approved going with the United Health Care Plan 4500HSA CORE for $449.33 per month as their base rate with the offer to allow employees to pay for buy up options such as Choice and PPO plans. McColloch wanted to thank the Judson Young Foundation for the donation to pay for the property at 1407 West Rolla Road that cost $51,100 plus back taxes that were owed. McColloch said the house is in bad shape but invited board members to check it out to see if they would like to have the construction trade program work on it. He said the windows are broken out, the carpet is bad and a lot of work is needed. He went ahead and got a bid from Mike Godi to tear down the house and remove all materials and fill in for $5,500. The board took no action until they can visit the house. The board discussed the Vo-Ag Building electrical update that is needed. McColloch said only one bid was received and that was from McNew Electric for $69,500 that includes revamping the entire electrical system in the building plus rewiring. The board approved moving forward with the bid that will be paid for out of the Capital Improvement Fund. The board accepted the resignations of Sally McColloch as an art teacher, Kristina Bermudez as the Middle School Volleyball Coach, and David Schatz as the band director. High School Principal Marty Anderson made proposals for an alternative graduation ceremony. He proposed June 27th as the graduation date with June 25th being prom. This decision would have to be reached two weeks prior to the ceremony on June 13th by the superintendent based on the recommendation of the Dent County Health Center as well as other safety factors. If that date is not approved, Anderson suggested dates in late July or late August as well. If graduation is to be held, the school will distribute the information through their web page, KSMO and the Salem News. The board then went into closed session.