Local News – Monday, August 3rd, 2020
A fatal drowning occurred Saturday evening in Crawford County at 5:35 in Huzzah Creek just above the Confluence. According to the highway patrol report, 24-year old Dalton Newkirk of Highland, Illinois, was struggling in the water, went under the surface and did not resurface. Newkirk was not wearing personal floatation device while in the water. Newkirk’s body was recovered by family and was assisted by Corporal Hurt and Corporal Dunmire. Newkirk’s body was transported to the Hutson Funeral Home in Cuba.
An accident in Pulaski County at around 12:45 Saturday morning resulted in injuries to a Salem resident. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro being driven by 34-year old Danielle Quinn of Salem was traveling north on Route Y when she struck a deer in the roadway. An occupant in the vehicle, 52-year old Bobbie Laramie of Salem, suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to the Mercy Hospital in Lebanon. Both occupants of the Camaro were wearing safety restraints. The vehicle sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Onsite Towing.
An accident occurred Saturday evening at 7:15 in Dent County at the Shawnee Mac Lake Conservation Area. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by a 15-year old male juvenile of Salem was traveling southbound and traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. A 15-year old female of Salem was an occupant in the vehicle and suffered minor injuries and was transported by private vehicle to Salem Memorial District Hospital. The female occupant was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Cavalier sustained moderate damages and was towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office.
An accident happened Sunday morning at 9:18 in Dent County on Highway 68 about nine miles north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Mercury Mountaineer driven southbound by 25-year old Kelly Renee Cunningham of Rolla, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck the ground. Cunningham suffered minor injuries and was transported by the Salem EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Cunningham was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Mountaineer sustained only minor damage and was secured at the scene.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold a special meeting tonight at 5:30 the district administration offices boardroom. After approval of the agenda the board will address new business including approval of a COVID-19 plan, approval of the fuel bid and discuss MSBA training before adjourning. The Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting Monday evening is open to the public.
The Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular meeting as well as a public hearing on a new Floodplain Control Ordinance starting at 7:00 tonight at the city hall council chambers. At the meeting, the board will hear bids for refuse and recycling services for three years before hearing renovation bids for the Salem Police Dispatch Center. Bids will be heard on the cabinets and countertops, the demo and the hanging of drywall as well as putting in network lines plus phone and fax lines. The board will also hear bids on the equipment to outfit the new Salem Police Department vehicles just purchased. The bids will be followed by the public hearing to determine changes to the Flood Management Ordinance. After the consent agenda, the board will hear from City Administrator Ray Walden as he will give an update on city projects and also provide an update on Incode. The board will hear Bill #3451 which is an ordinance repealing Chapter-415 concerning Flood Control in the city adopted by Ordinance #3137 in July of 2008, and is replacing it with Ordinance 3451 to be codified in the Code of ordinance of the City of Salem. The board then discussed Bill #3457 that establishes new electric rates for electric services. The board will also discuss Resolution #17-2020 which would authorize the mayor to execute a payment agreement between the city and Salem R-80 School District for a pad-mount transformer for the ag-building. The board will discuss the Code of Conduct which is to be reviewed every two years for possible updates. The board will then vote to go into executive session. The meeting of the alderman and the Public Hearing are both open to the public. The meeting and hearing can be streamed live on ksmoradio.com and will be available after Monday night on You Tube for on-demand playback.