Local News – Monday, November 22nd, 2021
At the SCA Choral Festival held Saturday at the Mountain Grove High School, The Salem Chamber Singers took 1st place in the SCA Conference under the direction of Elaine Russell. The Mountain Grove Women’s Choir and the Willow Springs Concert Choir. Way to go Tigers!
An accident happened in Texas County Friday morning at 11:30 on Route K about five miles south of Summerville that took the life of a 16-year-old female. According to the highway patrol report, a 1998 Jeep Cherokee driven southbound by a 16-year-old female juvenile from Summersville, went off the right side of the roadway and overturned, ejecting the girl from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead by Texas County Coroner Marie Lasater at 1:00 that afternoon. Her body was taken to the Bradford Funeral Home in Summersville. The 16-year-old was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Jeep Cherokee sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Gentleman Jim’s.
An accident occurred Friday evening at 7:30 in Dent County on Route H about four miles west of the Salem City limits. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 22-year-old Matthew Lowrance of Salem, was traveling westbound and fell asleep. The Chevrolet ran off the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned. Lowrance suffered moderate injuries and was transported to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by the Salem Memorial Ambulance. He was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday night at the Salem High School Library. At the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed discussed the recent tin gym meeting in which the next planning stages were discussed. She also discussed the current COVID numbers affecting the district. Enrollment for each school in November was given indicating there were 239 students at William Lynch, 323 at the Upper Elementary School, 256 at the Salem Middle School and 597 at the Salem High School. It was also reported there were 12 students attending virtually at the middle school and 38 at the high school. There was a discussion on the vaping and vandalism problem at the high school in the bathrooms and how the school is going about correcting the issue. In new business, the board approved to let bids for a new high school gym floor and to revise the school calendar setting the seniors last day as May 13th and to set graduation for May 20th at 7:00 PM. The motion to set the board election filing dates for December 7th through the 28th was approved by the board as well as the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan, also known as the SRCSP, with no revisions. In closed session, the board approved the hiring of Dr. Nathan Wills as the next assistant superintendent and to give him a two-year contract beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. He will be replacing John Smith who will be retiring. Dr. Reed also discussed a personnel issue in closed session before the meeting was adjourned.
The Salem Area Arts Council is offering a Barn Quilt class on Monday and Tuesday, November 29th and 30th from 9:00 in the morning until noon at the Creative Arts Center. Tana Kettner and Terrie Welch will be the instructors and the cost is $55 per person which includes all the supplies to take home a 2-foot by 2-foot plywood painted barn quilt. What a unique Christmas gift to give! This class is most appropriate for older children to adults and no experience is necessary. You can register for the class at the Salem ONCRC lobby from 9:00 until 4:00 daily, on the Salem Arts Council Facebook page or by e-mailing the arts council at salemartscouncil@outlook.com. People can also get a $25 gift certificate for any Creative Arts Center events that would make a great gift! For more information, call 247-0651 or 247-5306.