Local News – Monday, April 20th, 2020
The State of Missouri has awarded $3 million in grants to help expand broadband internet access in Missouri. In a press release from Governor Mike Parson’s office, it says sixteen companies are getting the funding to offer high-speed service to more than 4,400 Missouri homes, businesses and farms. The latest Federal Communications Commission data shows nearly 600,000 rural Missourians lack access to broadband internet. According to Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon, it is crucial that Missourians have an opportunity to get connected during this time in which many citizens have been instructed to stay home. Reliable internet access is critical to meet needs for education, telemedicine, telecommuting, and overall quality of life. One of the recipients was the Steelville Telephone Exchange and they are to provide service to the Bixby area. They received $445,917 to do the project.
A fatal accident occurred on Friday afternoon at 2:48 in Crawford County on Highway 19 on Lindberg Road about four miles south of Cuba. According to the highway patrol report, a 2004 Western Star Tractor Trailer driven by 32-year old James Kramer of Park Hills, MO, was traveling southbound when he swerved to avoid striking an unidentified vehicle in front of him. The tractor trailer crossed the center line where the tractor trailer stuck a 2009 Chevrolet Express Van driven northbound by 52-year old Sergio Navarro from Cuba. A 2011 GMC Yukon also driven northbound by 40-year old Betty Counts of Steelville, swerved to the right to avoid hitting the Chevrolet Express Van. The Yukon crossed Lindberg Road and came to rest against an embankment. Navarro was pronounced dead at the scene by the Crawford County Deputy Coroner Darren Drake at 2:56 that afternoon and the body was transported by the coroner to Hutson Funeral Home in Cuba. Counts suffered moderate injuries and was transported to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan by North Crawford Ambulance. Two occupants of the Yukon, a 12-year old female and a 15-year old male, also suffered moderate injuries and were transported to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan by Steelville Ambulance. All injured parties were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident except Counts. The tractor trailer sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Big Boys Towing. The Chevrolet Express Van was totaled and removed from the scene by Chris and Sons Towing. The Yukon also sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. The highway patrol was assisted by the Crawford County Sheriffs Department, North Crawford County Ambulance, the Steelville Ambulance, the Cuba Police Department and the Cuba Fire Department.
The Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 7:00 at the City Hall Auditorium at 202 North Washington. The board will hear bids on tearing off the old roof at the City Administration Building and installing new shingles, as well as bids on fireworks for the 2020 Independence Day Fireworks Display. After the consent agenda, the board will hear from City Administrator Ray Walden about current city projects and a records management policy. The board will also hear feedback on the City of Salem branding color logos that were presented in an online video conference. In the introduction and reading of bills, the board will hear Bill #3446 which is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to act as a representative of the city to execute a tower lease agreement between the city and Wave Internet Technologies, LLC for the installation of a wireless broadband access point on the water tower at the corner of Tower and Condray Streets for one year. They will also hear Bill #3447 that allows the mayor to sign all the documents necessary to proceed with the purchase and installation of a RAS/WAS pump station and associated appurtenances. Finally, the board will hear Resolution #7-2020 that would authorize the mayor to sign a proposal between the City of Salem and Donald Maggi, Inc. for drainage improvements to be made at the Salem Little League Baseball Field at 1100 West Rolla Road. The meeting will then be adjourned. The meeting is open to the public and social distancing will be enforced. The meeting can also be live streamed on the KSMO radio website at www.ksmoradio.com.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education in closed session Thursday night hired Derek Freeman as the Head Track Coach along with Dylan Wyrick and Travis Sampson Assistant Track Coaches. They also employed Kristen Williams as the Middle School Volleyball Coach, Courtney Smith as the Middle School Cheerleading Coach, and Andy Felkerson as an assistant Boys basketball Coach and High School Math Teacher. Also in closed session, classified staff building lists were shared with the board and a personnel issue was discussed before they adjourned.
Salem R-80 High School Principal Marty Anderson reported at the Salem R-80 Board meeting Thursday night that Salem will utilize the 3rd Quarter Grades as of March 6th as the core of the 2nd Semester Grades. He said students completing extra credit homework will impact their established 3rd quarter grades, plus for each week of homework a student completes, they will receive an average daily grade of extra credit in a class of their choice. Anderson stated that if the school cannot arrange for students to physically turn in the homework packet handed out on the last day of school by May 1st, extra credit will be awarded automatically. He said the semester grades will be posted on May 15th and Senior Transcripts will be ready for post secondary requests.