Local News – Friday, December 1st, 2023
The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem will hold the Christmas Parade of Lights in Salem this Saturday starting at 5:30 with this year’s theme: “Winter Wonderland.” The Grand Marshall for the parade this year is the Salem High School’s “Marching Blue.” The parade will run from the corner of South Grand and Franklin at the SBU Campus, traveling east to MacArthur, then going north to 4th Street before going heading east to the Dent County Courthouse square. If you can’t make it to the parade, KSMO Media will video stream the parade from 4th and Jackson beginning about 5:45. The video will be available on KSMO Stream Facebook Page, KSMO YouTube Page and at ksmoradio.com. There is no charge to watch the video stream. Following the parade Saturday night, the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center located at 202 South Main Street will be open from 6:30 until 8:30 for those who want to enjoy the incredible “Trees and Trains” exhibit titled ‘ A Snowy Tree Lot.” If you can’t make it Saturday night, the “Trees and Trains” exhibit is available for viewing from 9:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 9:00 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon. If you need more information, call the ONCRC at 729-0029.
The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said his workers would be cutting brush on Dent County Roads 2430 and 2440, doing shop work on grader #38, and would be cleaning out a crossing on county road 6500. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said his crews would be adding materials and grading Dent County Road 3050 while only grading would be done on county road 3020. Polk said brush would be cut on county roads 3120 and 3180 and a grader blade was being changed out. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson wanted to remind everyone to enjoy the Salem Parade of Lights Saturday starting at 5:30 from SBU and ending up around the Dent County Courthouse which is expected to have its new Christmas lights in operation. Larson also reported Dent County Emergency Management Director Brad Nash has resigned his position immediately and the commission will have to find his replacement. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she is working on the budget and that election filing will begin on Tuesday for the municipal elections, school boards, the hospital board, the health center board and fire protection district boards. Filing will end on Tuesday, December 26th. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday at 9:00 and it is open to the public.
The Salem R-80 School Board recently received the second round of test results for lead content in the water. This test was conducted to determine where the lead content was emanating. The re-test used a flush method by running the water for 30 seconds prior to collecting a sample. Some water outlets were not re-tested as they were determined to be outlets not used for drinking water or food preparation. Signage was placed on those water outlets not re-tested to illustrate that they are not to be used for drinking or food preparation. The hydrant near the track is the only water outlet that re-tested above the 5 parts per billion threshold on the second round of testing after flushing. A total of 27 outlets were re-tested using the flush test method which indicates that supply lines are not contributing substantive amounts of lead into the water supply, but rather the outlets themselves are at fault. Some of the older faucets may have been manufactured before the lead/copper rule went into effect. The district is currently working to remediate the affected water outlets and will re-test in January. The Remediation Plan Recommendations by Get the Lead Out LLC for test points at or above 5 pbb lead content are permanent signage stating that the outlet is “Non-Potable Hand Washing Only”, the removal or replacement or the unit, or the installation of point of use filtration systems that have have lead reducing filters. Also, those sinks that have aerators should be checked to ascertain if the aerators are dirty, have scale build up, calcification or other blockages that could be trapping contaminants. If any are noted, then it may be worthwhile to clean or replace the aerators and retest after a thorough flush. Additionally, with the number of sinks that passed flush testing, sediment filtration is recommended to be installed in-line with the water main at the building entry points. If you desire further health information, call the Dent County Health Center at 1010 East Scenic Rivers Blvd in Salem or call 573-729-3106.