Local News – Monday, October 5, 2020
The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be implementing their approved hybrid learning plan (A/B days) on Friday, October 9th. The motivation behind this recommendation was to keep the students in school as long as possible and avoid a full school closure. The number of students and staff being quarantined, particularly at the high school level in grades 9-12, has been very high and is disruptive to the educational process. In order to reduce the number of students in the building, and allow students and staff to socially distance and avoid quarantining, the school be transitioning to a hybrid learning plan for students in grades 9-12 effective Friday, October 9. High school students will be divided into two groups. Students with last names beginning with A-K are part of the A Day group and will be in seated classes Monday and Wednesday, with virtual learning Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Students in Group B will be those with last names beginning with L-Z are in the B Day and will be in seated classes Tuesday and Thursday, with virtual learning Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Students in the same family but with different last names will go on the same days. The plan is implemented for a minimum of four weeks.
Along with the A/B plan in effect this Friday, the Salem R-80 Administration board approved a voucher system for Salem sports, grades six through 12. The system is for events held at their facilities. For football, the district is providing 700 vouchers for home games, with 450 vouchers provided locally and 250 to the visiting school for their dispersal. Each player and coach from Salem will be allowed four vouchers. One hundred vouchers will be available for students and staff. For volleyball and basketball at the high school gym, R-80 will provide 300 vouchers, with 225 provided locally and 75 provided to the visiting school for their dispersal. Each player and coach from Salem will be allowed four vouchers. Fifty vouchers will be available for students and staff. Attendees must have a voucher to enter the gym and will still have to pay to enter. Any media outlet, law enforcement and school administration will not need a voucher for entry if they are working the contest. A voucher system is also in effect at the upper elementary gym.
The City of Salem Board of Alderman will hold a meeting tonight at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers. City Administrator Ray Walden will update the Board on city projects, the remodel update to the Administration Building and temporary changes in City services, and talk about the City Communications Workgroup. In new business the Board will set hours for Halloween. The board will go into closed session to talk about real estate. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting may be attended by Zoom by calling the administrative offices.
An accident occurred Saturday evening in Phelps County at 9:00 on Phelps County Road 3520 6 miles southwest of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by a 16-year old male juvenile of St. James was traveling eastbound and traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a ditch. An occupant of the Pontiac, 18-year old Tessa Hartley of Rolla, suffered minor injuries and sought her own treatment. Tessa was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Pontiac sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by A&A Towing of Rolla.
An accident occurred Friday afternoon at 2:14 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about three miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2019 Nissan Sentra driven by 30-year old John Eikenberry of Edgar Springs was traveling southbound and was passing on the shoulder when the Nissan struck a 2001 Lexus GS300 driven by 70-year old Paul Reynolds of Mountain Home, Arkansas that was traveling southbound, as well as striking a mailbox The Nissan then traveled across the center of the roadway and struck a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 31-year old Kyle Leivian of Rolla who was traveling northbound, then traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a fence. Eikenberry suffered minor injuries and was transported to Phelps Health in Rolla by Phelps Health Ambulance. Eikenberry was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. Both the Nissan and the Chevrolet were totaled. The Nissan was removed from the scene by C&C Towing and the Chevrolet was removed by Dishman Towing. The Lexus sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.