Local News – Monday, September 12, 2022
The City of Salem Parks and Recreation Board met Wednesday, September 7th, in closed session pursuant to Section 610.021 of the Revised State Statues of the State of Missouri. The Park Board voted unanimously not to move forward with the City of Salem Soccer Field Complex with the LWCF 50/50 match funded project. The Salem Parks and Recreation Board have found it in the best interest of the Parks and Recreation Department to decline the LWCF 50/50 grant funding for the City of Salem Soccer Complex. After reviewing the new project budget and scope of work, current budgets, time constraints, and economic uncertainties, the board felt they are making a hard but educated decision to not move forward with the soccer complex at this time. Parks and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois said this will not affect the growing soccer program and is confident using our current multi-purpose field, located at Al Brown Park, will accommodate the current soccer program and potential growth of our program in the future.
An accident occurred Friday morning in Dent County at approximately 7:00 on Highway 19 about a half mile south of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a northbound 2001 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by 18-year-old Brooke Scott of Salem, swerved to miss a deer in the roadway, then traveled off the right side of the road and struck an embankment. Scott suffered moderate injuries and was transported by the Salem EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. The report stated that Brooke Scott was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.
An accident happened Thursday night at 9:15 in Texas County on Highway 63 about six miles south of Licking. According to the report released by the highway patrol, a 2010 Ford F-150 being driven by 20-year-old Michael Longrie of Licking, was traveling south when he traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Longrie, who was not wearing a safety restraint, was taken by Air Evac to Cox Health South Medical Center for the treatment of serious injuries. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Jays Towing.
An accident happened in Douglas County on Highway 5 about two miles south of Ava Sunday morning at 12:55. According to the highway patrol report, a 2011 Chevy Silverado driven northbound by a 16-year-old juvenile, was towing a Trailer World trailer that had a 1986 Chevy 4 by 4 pickup on it, when it went off the right side of the roadway. The Chevy and trailer went down an embankment and struck several trees and overturned. Suffering moderate injuries was a passenger, 46-year-old Buddy Brazier of Licking, who was transported to Cox South in Springfield with moderate injuries. He was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The 2011 Chevy Silverado and the 1986 Chevy pickup were both totaled while the Trailer World trailer sustained moderate damages. They were all removed from the scene by Jim’s Body Shop in Ava. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and the Ava Rural Fire Department.
Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge gave her monthly report at the Dent County Commission meeting Thursday. She said one of the economic prospects that was interested in Salem’s Certified Site has changed their requirements and wants a location that has 150,000 people within a 45-minute commute time eliminating Salem from their list. She said there were nine new business licenses issued in August and the city and county to date have a total of 471. She said the old Wal-Mart building on Highway 32 East is now called Salem Pointe and they have two large square footage units for rent. There are some other pending sales of commercial property in the city as well. Burbridge reported on the Welcome Home program and the paperwork is now signed on the first three rounds. For the first round, contracts for work will be brought before the Salem Board of Aldermen while the homes in Round Two have had their pre-inspections completed to determine the scope of the work. Two homeowners are ready to sign paperwork for Round 4, but Burbridge still needs two applicants to complete that round. One applicant needs to fit the “Very Low Income” criteria which can include a family of four that makes up to $31,450. The other applicant would have to fit the “Special Needs” criteria. If you would like to know what the income limits are to qualify for “very low income” or what the “special needs” criteria may be, please contact Burbridge at 729-2428. She updated the status of the certified site at the industrial park and continues to answer some questions being asked by the state. The site clearing is complete, and the grass seeding is in process. Burbridge also said she is working on the new sign for the Masters Industrial Park which can no longer be on MoDOT right-of-way. She reported for the month of July, the Dent County workforce dropped by about 250 people and is down almost 400 people since May. She said many times the unemployment numbers are revised later on as that number sounds odd. If you have any questions about economic development in Salem or Dent County, contact Sally Burbridge at 729-2428 or e-mail her economic@salemmo.com.
As announced at the City of Salem Park Board meeting on Wednesday, Mayor Greg Parker has received a letter of resignation from Alderman Tod Kinerk that will be effective this Tuesday, September 13th. Parker will be appointing a replacement for Alderman Kinerk at the next meeting which will be at 6:00 Thursday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers.