Local News – Friday, April 3rd, 2020
In the interest of not issuing messages that contradict community health experts the City of Salem and Dent County have been coordinating efforts with the Dent County Health Center in response to COVID-19. Salem Mayor Brad Nash and Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles have been meeting with Dent County Health Center Administrator Kendra Mobray and other stakeholders on a regular basis since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. As of Thursday, April 2nd at noon, there have been no reports of positive cases in Dent County. Nash, Skiles, and Mobray wanted to commend the public and local businesses for following the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Governor Parson. While some cities and counties in Missouri are adopting stay at home orders, officials from Dent County, Salem, and Bunker do not feel issuing a stay at home order is deemed appropriate at this time. If a stay at home order is issued in the future, the public should be aware that grocery stores and other essential businesses will remain open. Questions about individual health concerns should be directed to your health care provider but questions regarding the public aspect of COVID-19 can be directed to the Dent County Health Center. Call 573-729-3106 or e-mail questions to dentcountymocovid19@gmail.com.
Friday morning at about 8:30, Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles along with Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge will be on KSMO Radio AM 1340 and online at ksmoradio.com to discuss the economic stimulus package passed by Congress last week known as the CARES Act. Burbridge will discuss many of the aspects of the act that can help local business owners including the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and Economic Injury Disaster Grant Program, the Payroll Protection Program Loans and the Small Business Debt Relief Program. Burbridge will provide data for those who may be interested in these programs and where they need to go to get more information.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports for March 26th and 27th. On Thursday, the 26th, a Deputy traveled to an apartment on Odom Drive to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 22- year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. Then on Friday, the 27th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 7000 block of Highway 68 for a report of a disturbance between a man and woman. During the course of the incident, a 34-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through Gasconade County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. Also on the 27th a deputy traveled to a residence in the 200 block of Route H for the report of a domestic dispute. During the course of the incident, a 39-year-old Salem woman was arrested for an active warrant through Probation and Parole. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. If you have information regarding any investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.
Remember, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Conservation Commission have temporarily waived permit requirements for sport fishing and daily trout tags for Missouri residents and nonresidents whose fishing privileges are not otherwise suspended. The waiver of needing a permit or trout tag to fish will run through April 15. Seasons, methods, and limits still apply and will be enforced. The Department of Conservation continues to emphasize that it is still critical for everyone to continue to heed all recommendations for physical distancing, avoiding overcrowding, hand-washing, and other public-health measures while fishing.
An accident happened in Phelps County Thursday afternoon at 12:50 on Highway 72 at Phelps County Road 5420. According to the highway patrol report, a 2003 Ford Escape driven westbound by 21-year old Misty Sprow of Rolla, was slowing to make a left hand turn when the Ford was struck from behind by a 2007 Chevy Malibu driven westbound by 21-year old Samantha Burghardt of Rolla. The collision caused the Escape to travel off the right side of the roadway. The Chevy continued across the center line where it collided with a 2010 Dodge Ram driven eastbound by 56-year old John Russell of Salem. Burghardt suffered serious injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. Suffering minor injuries were John Russell of Salem as well as an occupant in the Ram, 59-year old Becky Russell of Salem. They were both taken by the EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Chevy Malibu and the Dodge Ram were both totaled in the accident while the Ford sustained moderate damages. The Ford and the Chevy were removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing while Whitaker’s Towing removed the Dodge Ram. Everyone except Burkhardt was wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.
The Salem Public Library will be closed until further notice in the best interests of patrons and staff because of the current national health emergency. Director Glenda Wofford said the decision was based on the recommendations of the White House and Missouri governor’s office with the best advice from federal, state, and local public health officials. Updates will be posted on the library’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Patrons are encouraged to access the virtual library at salempubliclibrary.net. Library staff will work throughout the closure. Please call 729-4331 with any questions you may have.
The Salem License Bureau office in the Crossroads Shopping Center will be closing the office from Monday, April 6th through Friday April 17th. At this time, they plan to re-open the office on Monday April 20th.