Local News – Monday, April 17th, 2023

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their re-organizational meeting followed by their regular meeting last Thursday at the Salem High School Library. After the agenda was approved, Assistant Superintendent Nathan Wills swore in the newly elected board members comprised of Andrew Wynn, Marjorie Pyatt and Drusilla Howard. The election of officers was then held with Steven Patterson being elected board president, Sammi Parker as vice-president, Andrew Wynn as secretary and Phillip Mercer as the treasurer. Marjorie Pyatt was named the MSBA delegate with Drusilla Howard the alternate MSBA delegate. In the regular meeting, the board was updated on the Tin Gym and Locker Room renovation project, the CSIP update and were updated on legislation that may affect the district by Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed. The building principals all gave their reports before the board approved MSBA policies with the exception of Form KC-AF1, and approved the annual renewal of food services provided to Salem R-80 Schools by Opaa!. The board accepted the resignations of Kolson Seay as a teacher and coach, teacher Katie Sapp, teacher Lauren Prugh, teacher Janelle Wesson, and Dustin Bell for his coaching responsibilities only. The board then went into closed session where two student issues were discussed, an employee spoke to the board and a parent spoke to the board. The board approved employing Hayden Harris as a teacher, Dr. Rachel Green as the Middle School Principal and Lacie Kolbe as the Assistant High School Principal. Closed session and the regular board meetings were then adjourned.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. Bills were reviewed and approved with an ending balance as of March 31st of $210,121.79 in the general fund. The budget was then reviewed and compared to the 2022 budget noting that everything is virtually on track with last year. Treasurer Dave Wells reported all accounts have been reconciled. The department received a total of 23 calls for the month of March bringing the year to date calls to 88. After the election earlier this month, David Greenshields was elected to a 6-year-term and Leigh Ann Price was elected to a 2-year-term. The board accepted the election results and welcomed Price to the board before Secretary Wells administered the oath of office to both Greenshields and Price. After the adjournment of the outgoing board, the secretary called to order the incoming board. Officers were then selected with Craig Smith named the board president and Dave Wells be retained as the secretary/treasurer. Chief Brad Nash was also named the budget officer and custodian of records. In new business before the board, a motion was made to remove Randy Weldon from all checking accounts and add Leigh Ann Price to the checking accounts. Two new candidates for firefighters, Scott Montoya and Patrick Marchbanks, were interviewed and placed on the department for a one year probationary period. Fire Chief Brad Nash then reported to the board that the radio repeater went out and is being repaired by Wireless USA. Chief Nash was expected to go to Jefferson City to pick up the repaired radio for re-installation. The date for the next public meeting was then set for May, 9th at 6:00 at the fire station. The public portion of the meeting was then closed and the board went into closed session to discuss personnel.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office released some reports. On Sunday April 2nd, deputies responded to the 1400 block of South Gertrude Street to serve an active Dent County arrest warrant. The suspect, a 30-year-old Salem woman, was found hiding in a bedroom closet and taken into custody. She was taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated on the warrant. On Wednesday, April 5th, a deputy attempted to stop a 1999 Dodge truck for an equipment violation. The operator of the truck failed to yield to the deputy and a pursuit ensued. The Missouri State Highway Patrol deployed stop sticks on Route O, disabling the vehicle and two suspects were arrested. The driver, a 23-year-old Rolla man was taken into custody and taken to the Dent County Jail where he was placed on a 24-Hour Hold pending the issuance of a warrant. The passenger, a 27-year-old Rolla man, was arrested on an active Phelps County warrant and turned over to Phelps County deputies. The next day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at Shawnee Mac Lakes. The operator, an 18-year-old Salem man, was arrested for driving on a suspended driver’s license. The man was taken to the Dent County Jail where he was processed and released on a citation. Later that day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Highway 68. The operator, a 56-year-old Salem man, was arrested for driving on a revoked driver’s license. The man was taken to the Dent County Jail where he was processed and released on a citation. On Friday, April 7th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on North Franklin Street. During the course of the stop, the driver was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. The suspect, a 40-year-old Salem man, was arrested and transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. If you have any information regarding an investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.