Your World Today

As our health communities continue to assess the spread of COVID-19, the Salem R-80 School District and all the Dent County Rural School Districts are receiving guidance from local and state health officials. The decision was made Tuesday, March 31st to extend the closure of all Salem R-80 School facilities as well as all the Dent County Rural School facilities through Friday, April 24th. Classes will be set to resume on Monday, April 27, 2020. This closure also applies to all co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and practices. The school districts thank you for your patience and continued support of our efforts to work proactively during this time. Our primary focus is the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community.

Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley has released the results from cases heard Monday in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court in front of Judge Kelly Parker. In the first case, Zach Melead of Festus pled guilty to the possession of methamphetamine. His sentence was suspended with three years supervision by Community Services of Missouri with community service and drug treatment required. Melead had no prior criminal history. In the next case, Kenny Stuart of Salem pled guilty to statutory rape in the 2nd degree for having sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 17 while he was 21 years of age or older. This is a Class D felony it carries a range of punishment not to exceed seven years in the Department of Corrections. Stuart was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections under the RSMo Section 559.115 where he will be placed in a 120 day program with the possibility of probation. In the final case of the day, Shawn Smith of Salem pled guilty to resisting arrest. He was on probation at the time of the offense after completing a Department of Correction 120-day program under Section 559.115. Prosecutor Curley recommended the execution of the 15-year sentence while the Counsel for the defendant asked for continued probation. After arguments were heard, Judge Parker sentenced Smith to serve his 15-year sentence in the Department of Corrections.

The Dent County Sheriff's Office has released the following reports for March 19th through the 25th. On Thursday, March 19th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 500 block of Dent County Road 2370 for a report of property damage. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a 63-year old was the reported victim. This report is still under investigation. Then on Monday, March 23rd, a deputy spoke to a 29-year old at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office who was the victim of property damage. The total value of the damaged property is approximately $17,000.00. This report is still under investigation. Finally on Wednesday, March 25th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Highway 19 South and Dent County Road 5080. During the course of the traffic stop, a 22-year old Salem man was arrested for driving while being intoxicated. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released to a sober party. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff's Office at 729-3241 if you have information pertaining to any investigation.

The Salem Park Board met Tuesday night at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Sherry Lea from Healthy Dent County gave the Board a tour of the improvements made to the Fitness Center including the new gym shell and explained how it will be set up with six retractable goals and with a retractable curtain that can split the floor into two courts. Salem Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois gave the board an update on the 2020 Missouri Parks and Recreation Conference she attended with some different ideas she will look into including a master plan for community tennis, a parent/child lesson workshop for babies to toddlers to learn about water safety, and e-sports. She said she had to delay the Start Smart Soccer program after the first two sessions due to the COVID 19 restrictions and will continue that once the restrictions are lifted as that is an inside activity. She also discussed shaved ice and the selling of that at the pool this year. This item could be sold from the concession stand window not only to pool attendees but also to the general public. She mentioned the Summer Camp at the Park this year has been put on hold as the dates are currently up in the air due to COVID-19. Also in her report, she talked about the National Alliance of Youth Sports organization which can help parents learn how to coach youngsters with online training videos and in person training, and help train young officials with videos and in person training. She also mentioned the playgrounds and pavilions remain closed due to the COVID-19 virus and the social distancing requirement. The board discussed the youth soccer program at length as that program would normally be starting their games this weekend. Those teams had already been created and some had already practiced. The board voted to delay the soccer program until after the Salem Summer baseball, softball and T-Ball program and have games on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights. They also discussed the summer ball program and that it will have to be delayed due to the COVID-19 virus. After another lengthy discussion, the board voted to go ahead and take registrations for the Summer Ball Program through May 1st for $25 per child, and $35 per child from May 2nd through May 8th. A coaches meeting would be held on May 14th with practices to begin shortly thereafter around Memorial Day with the first games beginning the second week of June at times to be determined. The season will go into July so that the teams can get all the games in. If the season should have to be cancelled, all monies would be refunded. The board also voted to open the pool on Memorial Day as Westport Pools will be in town at the end of the April to prepare the pool for opening. The pool hours may have to be altered due to the availability of lifeguards and them being able to get Red Cross Certified. The pool would remain open until August 23rd which is the day before school is scheduled to begin. Pool passes are being sold and pool parties are still being reserved and right now are being sold at discount prices. That will continue until the end of April. Refunds would be issued if the parties had to be cancelled or if the pool would have to be closed for an extended period of time for the passes. With no other business, the meeting was then adjourned.