Local News – Friday, July 15th, 2022
According to a press release from the City of Salem, the City of Salem Board of Aldermen met in closed session pursuant Missouri Revised State Statutes on Monday, July 12th, and voted unanimously by a roll call vote not to renew city administrator Ray Walden’s employment agreement that is set to expire on August 31st, 2022. The mayor and board would like to thank Mr. Walden for his service to the city for the last nine years and wish him well in his future endeavors.
A fatal accident occurred Wednesday afternoon around 2:00 in Washington County on Gobbler’s Knob Road north of Skyview Drive. According to the highway patrol report, a 1998 Ford Ranger driven by 65-year-old Allen Arndt of Steelville, was traveling north bound when he travelled off the right side of the roadway. Arndt then overcorrected, re-entered the roadway, and lost control, then traveled off the right side of the roadway again. At that time, the front right of the Ford struck an embankment and the Ranger overturned onto its driver’s side. The bed of the truck struck a tree. Arndt was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:43 by the Washington County Coroner. The report goes on to state that he was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Elliott’s Towing.
The Pie and Pastry auction held Wednesday night as part of the 4-H and FFA Expo at the Commons in the Youth Building was well attended and raised over $16,000 in proceeds. The Dent County 4-H Clubs and Salem FFA Chapter thank everyone who attended and especially those who purchased items at the auction. They want to remind you that a number on incredible exhibits have been brought in by the children and are on display in the Youth Building during the Expo. Admission is free for the livestock show and the exhibits. A variety of food from local vendors is also available.
The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Stan Podorski from KSMO Media wanted to remind the public the 4-H and FFA Livestock Auction Saturday morning would carried live on KSMO Radio (AM 1340 and 95.7 FM) and streamed live by KSMO Media on ksmoradio.com, KSMO Stream Facebook Page and the KSMO YouTube page. Links to the any of the streams can be found on www.ksmoradio.com. In the road report, District 1 Road Supervisor Jason Akins filled in for Commissioner Wes Mobray who was at the 4-H/FFA Expo checking in animals. He reported ditch work would be done on Dent County Road 5600 and brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 5015 and 6580. He went on to say new blades were being put on tractor #8, service on pickup #73 would be finished and that crews installed a new culvert pipe through the old pipe opening under the bridge on Dent County Road 2400, then concreted it in. The crews would be removing the concrete forms from the site. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and repairs would be made to the low water crossing on Dent County Road 2330 while only materials would be added to county road 2240. Larson added brush would be cut on county roads 3233, 3235 and 3290. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said Governor Parson on June 29th signed Senate Bill 820 into law that says Missouri landowners will be compensated 150% of the fair market value of their property taken by eminent domain for the construction of power lines. This bill came into play due to the hard work of the members of the Missouri Association of Counties and the County Commissioners Association of Missouri and its lobbyists to protect property rights of the people they represent. This new statute was tied to the Green Belt Express electric project which is a massive transmission line meant to carry wind energy from southwest Kansas across three states toward the east. He also said he attended the Salem Chamber Luncheon where Marilyn Schweitzer gave a presentation on the Heroes Marathon which will be held on November 21st this year. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said absentee voting continues in her office and the last day to mail out an absentee ballot will be July 20th. Curley wants to remind everyone that campaigning cannot be done within 25-feet of a polling location. She also reported there is one person to address the Board of Equalization Monday at 1:00 in the afternoon at the courthouse. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
An accident occurred Wednesday evening around 11:40 in Miller County on Mo 17 about a quarter mile south of Bonnie Drive. According to the highway patrol report a 2006 Chevrolet Colorado driven by 25-year-old Kaden Jordan of Rolla was travelling northbound crossed the center line, travelled off the left side of the roadway, continued a short distance before striking an embankment, causing the vehicle to go airborne. The Chevrolet then struck another embankment and then a culvert before coming to rest off the roadway. Kaden suffered minor injuries and was taken to Lake Regional Hospital by Ambulance. Kaden was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Hi Tech Towing.