Your World Today

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the CART receipts for the month of April. Williams reported monies received in April totaled $71, 534.88 which is down from last April by $4,543.34. She said year to date, CART Funds are down from $301,489 in 2023 to $298,652. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading was being done on Dent County Roads 5015 and 6470 while brush was being cut on county road 6460. Mobray said two trucks were helping District 2 crews by hauling conservation rock. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk stated rock would be added and grading done on county road 2550 which is a Missouri Department of Conservation road, while only grading would be done on county roads 4050 and 5260. The commissioners also reported at least six county vehicles had windows damaged from the hail storm. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson had nothing to report. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the county received a packet from NACO which is the National Association of Counties containing two booklets called, “ The Marvelous Adventures of Countyland.” This booklet was written and illustrated using new generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) apps! They are available to the public at NACO.org. She also said there was a tie in the Bunker School Board election and a special election will be held on June 4th. To help the school district save money, Curley said everyone from Dent, Shannon and Reynolds counties will vote at the Bunker Firehouse. She said letters will go out to voters to let them know. Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer said 2023 Assessment Forms were due March 1st, but she is giving those who have not turned in their forms yet until May 1st to submit the form without any penalties. Forms MUST be in the Dent County Assessor’s Office by that day or postmarked by that day to avoid paying a penalty. You may drop off your assessment list at the assessor’s office at the courthouse and they are open from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, weekdays. There is also a drop box on the front lawn of the courthouse for your convenience if you can’t make it by until after hours. You can also mail in your assessment list forms but make sure you have the postal clerk postmark your envelope. You can also e-file your assessment list form online until April 30th. If you have any questions or need assistance with the online form, call Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer at the Dent County Courthouse at 729-6010 or stop by during regular business hours at the corner of Highway 19 and 4th Street in downtown Salem. Delbert McCarter came in to ask about the condition of Dent County Road 3210 and was told by Commissioner Polk that road will be getting some work done to it before it is rechipped and sealed this year. He also asked about the speed limit which is currently at 45 mph saying it is too fast for the road. A petition to request a lower speed limit would be needed to be submitted to the commission in order to reduce the speed limit. The county approved the low bid of $12,500 from Deidiker, Alvarado & Associates from West Plains for a one-year financial audit. The commission will meet again Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

An accident happened Sunday afternoon at 3:30 in Miller County on Blue Springs Drive just south of Hicks Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 2018 Ford F-150 being driven north by 19-year-old Charlton Lerma of Salem, ran off the right side of the roadway. The Ford thereturned to the roadway, crossed the center line and went off the left side of the roadway and struck several trees before coming to rest in a ditch. Lerma, who was wearing a seat restraint, suffered minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene. The Ford sustained moderate damage and was towed to the drivers residence by Wood’s Towing.

The Salem Area Community Betterment Association, better known as SACBA, is accepting nominees for the their “Gift of Time” volunteer awards to recognize volunteers who have made a significant contribution to Salem and Dent County. Individuals or organizations who have volunteered or made a significant impact for our community for the years 2022 and 2023 are eligible. Nomination forms are available online on the Salem Area Community Betterment Association Facebook page. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, April 26th. This year’s nomination categories are: Education & Youth, Community Enhancement or Preservation, Arts & Culture, Humanitarian, and Outstanding Youth Volunteer for those who are 18 and under. Only one category nomination per submission may be accepted. You can submit separate nominations if nominating a nominee for more than one category. Refer to the Nomination Form for additional eligibility information and nominee questionnaire. An awards banquet to honor the category winners will be held May 16th at 6:00 at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center at 202 S. Main St. As always, SACBA values the support of the community, and looks forward to honoring those who support our community.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education in closed session last Tuesday approved student appeals on the condition that they achieve 90% attendance by May 10th or attend school everyday until May 17th. The board approved the employment of Sydney Hulbert as an Upper Elementary School 4th grade teacher, Diana Welch as the 7th grade English Language Arts instructor, Kaitlin Benson as a 6th grade math teacher, Christopher McSwain as a 6th grade science teacher and Howard Hawkins as a middle school social studies instructor. The board approved Deanna Atkinson to return as the head volleyball coach as well as approving assistant coaches and extra duty assignments for Shelby Botkin, Robbie Owen, Calvin Malone, Bella Jadwin, Terrie Welch, Rocky Wade and James Tomnitz. The board also approved Dr. Herman Blau to be the Federal Programs Director before going back into open session.

Congratulations to the Salem Chamber Choir and instructor Elaine Russell for taking 1st place in their class and category at the Chamber Choir Nationals held in Washington, DC. this past weekend. The choir has once again been invited to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York.

The City of Salem Park and Recreation Board will be meeting this evening at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center at The Armory. After the roll call the Parks and Recreation Board will consider a property trade for a park on the east side of Salem. Members of the board of aldermen are requesting the Parks and Recreation Board consider trading the “old fairgrounds” property for 5 acres on 10th Street known as the “old middle school”. The meeting was called by Parks and Recreation Board President Carlos Lopez. The meeting will be open to the public.

An accident occurred early Sunday morning around 12:05 in Dent County at 1101 Dent County Road 6120. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Arctic Cat 500 4 Wheeler driven by 20-year-old Garrett Mueller of West Salem, Wisconsin, lost control while crossing a cattle guard and overturned. Mueller was ejected from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries. He was flown to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur by Air Evac. Mueller was not wearing any safety equipment at the time of the accident.

An accident occurred Friday evening in Phelps County at the intersection of Phelps County Roads 7360 and 7380. According to the highway patrol report, a 2019 Polaris Razor driven by 53-year-old Richard Barr of Rolla, was traveling westbound when he attempted to make a left turn and traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. A passenger. 33-year-old Austin Fann of St. James, suffered serious injuries and was flown by Phelps Air to the University Hospital in Columbia. Neither Fann or Barr were wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. The highway patrol was assisted by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office.

An accident happened Thursday afternoon at 2:15 in Laclede County on Route F about a mile north of Sleeper. According to the highway patrol report, a 2021 Caterpillar skid-steer being operated by 54-year-old Douglas Sidwell of Rolla, was working on the roadway in a construction zone. At that time, a 1993 Freightliner being driven by 73-year-old Marion Bishop of Urbana, was unable to stop due to a mechanical problem and struck the skid-steer. Sidwell suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. The Caterpillar and Freightliner both sustained extensive damage. The Freightliner was towed by Bledsoe Towing. The Caterpillar was secured at the scene.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their re-organizational meeting Tuesday evening at the R-80 Administrative Board Room. The board certified the election results and Assistant Superintendent Nathan Wills swore in newly elected board members Steven Patterson and Jason Green. New officers of the Salem R-80 School Board are Dru Howard as board president, Sammi Parker as board vice-president, Andrew Wynn as the board secretary and Philip Mercer as the board treasurer. Marjorie Pyatt was elected the MSBA delegate and Jason Green was elected the MSBA delegate alternate. The re-organizational meeting was then adjourned with the regular board meeting being held. Superintendent Lynne Reed gave an update on the FEMA building and a per-bid meeting was held with bids due by April 30th. She said the administration and previous board president Steven Patterson stopped by a practice of the wrestling club and found good attendance and much enthusiasm by the students. Dr. Reed reported a staff meeting was held with five teachers from the senior high, four from the upper elementary, three from the middle school and two from William Lynch as well as three principals, the SPED process coordinator and two board members to discuss how the school moves forward with the budget after the bond issue and tax levy increase failed. That discussion lasted over an hour. It was reported the school principals have submitted master schedules with class size each hour to Dr. Wills and Dr. Reed. They are working on creative solutions to filling open positions from within. Dr. Wills attended a meeting of the Salem Public Schools Foundation and updated the board on their plans to support Dent County schools. It was reported that surveys for students, staff and parents will be distributed that are aligned with the CSIP plan. The school developed exit interviews for departing staff to gather data. After the building principals gave their reports, the board approved the Opaa! food contract, approved the revised head lice policy and heard the first reading of an MSBA policy. The board accepted the resignations of Jordan McLaurin as a high school social studies teacher as well as head golf and assistant boys basketball coach, assistant high school principal Lacie Kolbe, middle school special education teacher Kathleen Cole and kindergarten teacher Emalee Wiseman. They also accepted the retirement of Karen Jones who was the William Lynch Title Teacher and Tracy Leathers in high school math. The board also accepted the resignation of two custodians: Brittany Steelman and Aaron Steelman. The board then went into closed session.