Your World Today

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell indicated that materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5170, 5380, 5450 and 6580. Purcell stated brush would be cut on county road 6280. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2240, 2360 and 4437 while brush would be cut on county road 2380. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he has attended a number of COVID-19 updates and there are still no positives in Dent County. He wanted to thank folks for continuing to practice social distancing and he also wanted to remind people that many food establishments are still open providing services, be it delivery or carry out, and to support them whenever possible if you can. Remember many other local businesses are still providing their services everyday and if you are not sure they are open to please contact them by phone. Continuing to support local business during this time may be vital to their very existence in the future. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said absentee voting will continue to June 1st and that May 20th will be the last day to ask to mail out a ballot. The Road and Bridge Department took bids for 2,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline and the low bud came in from County Fuels at 98 cents per gallon. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in with the CART money receipts for this month. She said the county received $50,168.39 and that was down $1,690.65 from the March receipt of $51,859.04. She said year-to-date, the county is down $104.81. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday, April 6th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Park and Recreation Department will hold a Park Board meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@ The Armory. The meeting will be open to the public through live streaming on the KSMO Radio website. Social Distancing will be enforced at the meeting. After the Roll Call and approval of the agenda, the board will review the previous meeting minutes. Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois will then give her report before the board discusses the Spring Soccer Program and COVID-19. Following that discussion, the Park Board will discuss the Spring Baseball, T-Ball and Softball League signups and schedules that will include the Opening Day Festivities and possible late start due to the State of Emergency with the coronavirus. The board will hear from Dubois about early pool pass and pool party sales as well as pavilion rentals. Sometime during the meeting, the board will be given a tour of the new Salem Community Center@The Armory Gym shell by Healthy Dent County’s Sherry Lea. After hearing any other business, the meeting will be adjourned. The Salem Park Board meeting will be open to the public through a live stream through the KSMO Radio website at ksmoradio.com.

A two vehicle accident happened Saturday afternoon around 2:25 in Crawford County on Highway 8 about five miles west of Steelville. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2008 Toyota Corolla being driven by 23-year old Stephanie Matthes of Rolla was eastbound when the Toyota crossed the center line of the roadway and struck a 2013 Toyota Venza driven by 55-year old David Woods of Potosi. Matthes suffered serious injuries and was transported by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Woods and a passenger, 52-year old Shelly Woods also of Potosi, both suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment at the scene. Both occupants of the Woods vehicle were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident while Matthes was not. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

A one vehicle accident happened early Monday morning shortly after midnight in Phelps County on Phelps County Road 1140 about one mile east of Route B. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2004 Ford truck being driven by 23- year old Michael Christenson of St. James was traveling east when the Ford went off the left side of the roadway striking several trees and a fence before overturning. Christianson, who was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, suffered minor injuries and was transported by a private vehicle to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.

With so many Missourians stuck at home, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is offering teachers, parents, students, and others its free Discover Nature Schools (DNS) nature-based curriculum for pre-kindergarten through high school online. Find Discover Nature Schools information and curriculum for all age groups online at nature.mdc.mo.gov and then put in discover nature in the search box. With the current public-health emergency caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19), MDC reminds people to continue to heed recommendations for hand washing, social distancing, and all other public-health measures during outdoor activities.

The Salem Area Arts Council announces that artwork that was displayed in Art Across the Ages needs to be picked up as soon as possible. While they don’t know if the next event is going to occur, they need to get their stuff out just in case. Access to the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center can be arranged by contacting Libby Sanders. Text or call her at 573-247-0279. Thanks to all who participated! If you need information, please contact (573) 247-0279 or e-mail saac@embarqmail.com.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met at the city hall auditorium for a special meeting Monday afternoon at 5:00. At the meeting, the board approved Resolution 6-2020 that authorized the non-renewal of the city being under contract with the Midwest Public Risk of Missouri for insurance coverage for property and liability as a member municipality with MPR Missouri. They also discussed a problem with waste water treatment plant. Jeff Medows from archer-Elgin Engineering was on a conference call to discuss the problems with the RAS WAS pump station between secondary clarifiers #2 and #3 and that it is no longer working properly. The replacement of the pump station was scheduled for the second phase of the waste water treatment facility update as the city is currently in Phases 1A and 1B. Medows said by having to replace the pump now would not alter the plan for Phase 2 except it was not scheduled to begin until 2022 into 2023. The approximate cost for this replacement would be about $480,000. The city could lease a pump for a short duration ffor about $3,500 a month but it would not provide the same flow which could cause more problems. City Administrator Ray Walden said there is money available to make the repair now as part of Phase 1 using the current contractor with a change order needed. The board will have to make a decision on this at their next meeting on Monday, March 6th. The meeting was then adjourned.

Salem Mayor Brad Nash has called for a special meeting of the Board of Alderman for tonight at 5:00 in the City Hall Auditorium the purpose of which is the introduction and reading of Resolution #6-2020, a resolution by the Board of Alderman of the city of Salem authorizing the non-renewal of Midwest Public Risk of Missouri Insurance Policy. City Administrator Ray Walden will present a change order for WWTF Phase 1B. The meeting has been moved to the Auditorium to allow for social distancing at the meeting. The meeting will also be live streamed on the KSMO Radio website at ksmoradio.com.

The City of Salem Planning & Zoning Board of Commissioners Chairman Gary Brown has called a Planning and Zoning Commission public meeting to hear a request for a waiver to allow parking in the 30-foot front setback of new development which includes lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 of the South Aire Annex. This subdivision of land consists of fourteen (14) lots and being part of lot two of the Southwest Quarter of Section Nineteen (19), Township Thirty-four (34) North, Range Five (5) West, in Dent County with the owner being Central MO Investments, LLC. The meeting at the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington begins at 6:00 PM and it is open to the public. It will also be live streamed on the KSMO Radio website at ksmoradio.com.

Salem R-80 Schools Superintendent John McCulloch has announced that starting THIS MORNING, the school will be distributing breakfasts and lunches for pickup at a number of locations. In town meals can be picked up at Salem Upper Elementary at 1601 Doss Road from 10:30 until 12:00. This location is primarily for those living south of Highway 32/72 and those that live south of the city limits. The second in town location will be the US Foods Parking lot at 502 South Carty Street from 10:30 to 10:50 for those living north of 32/72 and east of Highway 19. The final in town location will be the Southwest Baptist University at 501 South Grand from 11:00 until 11:20 for those that live north of Highway 32/72 and west of Highway 19, as well as those living west and north outside the city limits. Out of town locations will include Junction of P Highway and Dent County Road 5070 from 10:30 until 10:50. This location is primarily for those living on P Highway and the surrounding county roads. The second out of town location will be the Junction of Highway 32/72 and Dent County Road 4235, near the old candy striped store, from 11:00 until 11:20 for those living east on Highway 32/72 and the surrounding county roads that are between Route P and Route W. The final out of town location will be at the Junction of Highway 32/72 and Highway W from 11:30 until 11:50. This location is mainly for those living east on Highway 32/72 past Highway W, as well as those living on Highway W and the surrounding county roads. Superintendent McCulloch indicated this is being done on a trial and error basis and is subject to change based on feedback from the locations.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As of this past Friday, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways will offer limited services outside those that support visitor or resource protection. The following facilities are now closed: All designated campgrounds and campsites, all shower houses, picnic pavilions and visitor contact stations. The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Ozark National Scenic Riverways are our number one priority. With this in mind, some outdoor areas where it would be extremely difficult to maintain safe social distance will be closed. These include the spring branch trail at Alley Spring, the spring branch trail at Big Spring, and the staircase into Devils Well. In order to provide some restroom facilities for visitors in outdoor spaces and at key river access points in our immediate area, several facilities will remain open as long as they can be safely maintained in accordance with the latest health guidance. These areas include the Baptist Camp vault toilet, the Akers contact station restroom, the Akers river access vault toilet, the Devils Well vault toilet, the Pulltite contact station restroom only (no showers), the Carr’s Store restroom and the Round Spring day use area restroom. The National Park Service encourages people who choose to visit the Ozark National Scenic Riverways during this pandemic to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, visitors are urged to continue to practice the “Leave No Trace” principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safe and healthy. Social distancing is strongly encouraged even in outdoor spaces. For up-to-date information about operations at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/ozar, or @ozarkriverways on Facebook. You can also call (573) 323-4236 ext. 0, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days per week.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for March 14th through the 20th. On Saturday afternoon the 14th at approximately 1206 an officer was dispatched to the 100 block of south Oak Street for a report of a domestic disturbance. It was reported that a physical altercation had taken place between a boyfriend and girlfriend that reside together. As a result of the investigation, a 39-year-old Salem man was arrested and issued a summons to appear in court. Then on Thursday evening, March 19th, at approximately 7:05, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of a shoplifter. It was reported that a juvenile female had been observed by Wal-Mart staff stealing items from the store. Contact was made with the juvenile female of Salem. As a result of the investigation, the juvenile was detained, and this report will be forwarded to the Dent County Juvenile Office for further investigation. Finally, on Sunday afternoon, the 20th of March, at approximately 12:43, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department for a report of fraudulent use of a credit or debit device. It was reported that $196.39 worth of transactions were made using the victim’s credit or debit card without authorization. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigations.