Local News – Monday, June 10th, 2024

A fatality accident happened Friday evening just after 6:00 in Crawford County on Highway 8 at Indian Springs Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Dodge 1500 being driven by 30-year-old Cody Carey of Steelville, was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane and struck head-on a 2019 Ford F-150 being driven eastbound by 37-year-old Joshua Morgan of Steelville. Morgan was pronounced dead at 7:14 by Dr. McCarthy at the Missouri Baptist hospital. A passenger in the Morgan vehicle, 40-year-old Leah Morgan of Steelville, suffered serious injuries and was taken by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Carey suffered minor injuries and was taken by the North Crawford County ambulance to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. All involved in the accident were wearing seat restraints. Carey was arrested by the highway patrol for DWI-causing the death of another, DWI-causing serious injury, failure to drive on the right half of the roadway, careless and imprudent driving causing an accident, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, and failure to properly affix a license plate. He was taken to the Crawford County Jail for an initial 24-hour hold.

The City of Salem’s Finance and Capital Improvements Committee will hold a meeting Monday evening at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center@the Armory. After the call to order will be the review of the proposed fiscal year 2024-25 Capital Improvement Plan and recommendation, to be followed by the fiscal year budget review and recommendation, which will be followed by adjournment. The meeting was called by Alderman Shawn Bolerjack, Chairman of the Finance Committee.

At the Dent County Commissioner meeting on Thursday, the commissioners heard from Jeff and Austin with Great Rivers Engineering on FLAP Project #077 which is for the paving and road improvements to be made to Dent County Road 6670 which is the back way into Montauk State Park. The cost of the project will be $725,000 which will widen the road, improve curves, stabilize slopes along the Current River and asphalt the road within the right-of-way. The county could do some of the work which would reduce the cost, but this project is 100% grant with no match, so the entire project will be bid out. The engineers then talked about the FLAP/TAP sidewalk project for the courthouse square. This is an 80/20 match grant. The survey has been finished and the project will include replacing the current sidewalks and the improving ADA access with sidewalks being moved to street level where possible, and installing a block retaining wall where the outside sidewalks still have to be elevated. They will eliminate the three angled sidewalks that don’t go to the entrance doors of the courthouse and replace them with wider sidewalks to the exterior doors. The projected budget is $491,603.75, the TAP portion would be $393,283 and the county’s portion would be $98,320.50. Great Rivers Engineering will be advertising bids this October with the bid opening this November with the construction expected to begin in October of 2025. Brandi Richardson and members of the Dent County University Extension Council came in to update the commission on recent programs. Richardson reported the extension office is short-handed and the University of Missouri has a freeze on hiring. The county has been impacted by the university’s youth program associate guidelines but is still well served with specialists. They wanted to let the commission know the 4-H and FFA Expo will be held July 18th through the 20th at The Commons. Richardson also said she would be attending an infrastructure meeting that will include a discussion on broadband in September and would like to have community leaders including the commissioners attend. She discussed the need for the Internet as she would like to see the Extension have a computer available to the public for those who could use it for telehealth services. She also discussed the university’s BioChar Climate-Smart Fieldscapes project program and a possible program with that in the future. Richardson also said the extension council would provide a monthly report from now on to the commission. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Fire Protection District board of directors will be meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the fire station at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda the board will review the minutes of the May meeting then review the financial report before approving bills and reviewing the budget. Following the monthly reimbursement report the board will deal with old business including the repair and sealing of the parking lot at the station. The board will then hear any new business before Chief Floyd gives his report. The board will then set the date for the July meeting before going into closed session if needed before adjourning. The meeting Tuesday evening is open to the public.

The Salem Public Library will host a sidewalk chalk competition! This program will take place outside, on the north side of the library on 5th Street on Tuesday, June 11th from 10:30 in the morning until 12:30 in the afternoon. Children are not required to attend the full length of time allotted to the program. There will be four categories: Elementary: K – 1st Grade, Juvenile: 2nd Grade – 4th Grade, Tweens: 5th – 8th Grade, Teens: 9th – 12th Grade. Winners will be announced by 1:30 that afternoon. The four winners will receive a small prize. No library card is necessary to participate. This program is intended for children from K -12th Grade.

On Friday, June 14th, Montauk State Park will pay tribute to Flag Day held in honor of the “birthday” or the adoption of the Stars and Stripes on June 14th, 1777. Numerous American flags will be on display throughout the park on cabins, the lodge, shelters, bridges and more. Drive by or walk through and see “Old Glory” flying throughout Montauk State Park.