Local News – Monday, April 26th, 2021

Mayor Brad Nash of the City of Salem has called a special Board of Aldermen meeting for tonight at 6:45 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, Nash will appoint members to the utility committee before the board discusses Resolution #7-2021 which would authorize Nash to execute an agreement between the city and Global Rental Company, Inc. for the lease of a digger truck. The meeting will then adjourn before the Utility Committee will meet at 7:00 also at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At that meeting, the committee will get an update on the AMI/utility billing, discuss a proposal for a prepay option, consider resuming disconnects, discuss option to bill for more recent consumption, discuss options to pay for the February 2021 extreme weather costs and discuss a request to review high water consumption discount rate. The utility committee meeting, called by Mayor Brad Nash, and the special Board of Aldermen meeting are both open to the public.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday night just before 11:00 on Route HH approximately three miles south of Salem. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2012 Chevrolet Impala being driven by 46-year-old Robert Killian of Jadwin was traveling south on Route HH when he ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Killian was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident and was transported by SMDH ambulance to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The Impala was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of March. They served 8 summonses to appear in court, gave 44 warning tickets, and 3 traffic tickets, plus they also served 11 fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated six traffic accidents, wrote four property damage reports, seven stealing reports, and investigated one dog bite. The department investigated three driving while having a license revoked or suspended charges, one resisting or interfering with an arrest charges, one unlawful use of a firearm charge, one possession of a controlled substance charge, three domestic violence reports, investigated one nuisance violation, and conducted one death investigation. The department was also dispatched for 39 animal calls, 24 ambulance assist calls, and performed 53 traffic stops for the month. The Department also conducted 36 follow-up investigations, investigated two lost or stolen license plates and responded to 26 suspicious subjects and also performed 20 well-being checks. The Salem Police Department received 831 calls for service during the month and had 64 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 9,622 miles in March. There was a total of 15 males and four females arrested for the month. The Police Department also served four hours during March as court bailiff.

Spring and summer months bring both the buzz of lawnmowers and bees. These fuzzy flyers are important pollinators, playing a crucial role in the production of many favorite fruits and vegetables. The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages the public to “bee-friend” these valuable native pollinators. Most native bees only live about one year. They emerge in the spring as adults, visiting flowers and buildings nests. Many species, such as bumblebees, make their nests underground, while others, such as leafcutter and mason bees, will set up shop in small cavities found in wood or in the pith of plant stems. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri is home to around 450 species of native bees, but it’s not uncommon for more to be identified each year. The most common bees Missourians usually encounter include the bumblebee, carpenter bees, sweat bees, and the leafcutter bee. Bees may send some running for the hills for fear of being stung, but most native bees are harmless. The native bees biggest asset is doing their agricultural duty by pollinating flowering plants that provide food, fiber, and even medicines. To find out more about bees, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website and view their online field guide at mdc.mo.gov.