Local News – Thursday, August 19th, 2021
City of Salem Public Works Director Mark Nash wants to remind people who may have had their utilities shut off that they can still come to the Utility Office and set up a payment contract. If you are or know of someone in this situation, the city wants to work with these residents to get their utilities back on. If they have any questions about setting up a payment contract with the city, please call the city utility office at 729-4117 for more information or to setup a time to come by.
This past Fourth of July, the National Park Service in Missouri and Arkansas partnered with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Region 7 and local law enforcement by participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” impaired-driving awareness campaign. An increased presence of officers worked together in and around Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri and Buffalo National River in Arkansas during the holiday weekend to take impaired drivers off the roads. These expanded efforts were conducted in a fair and equitable way. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign at the National Park Service sites in Arkansas and Missouri resulted in 653 traffic stops with 30 arrests for impaired driving. Of those contacts, 428 traffic stops and 20 arrests for impaired driving were associated with the campaign at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, as park rangers and other local law enforcement officers joined forces to keep the roads safe on a busy holiday weekend. This law enforcement mobilization was an effort to draw attention to the dangers of impaired driving to drivers, passengers, and everyone on the roadways.
The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting Thursday evening at 5:45 at the Salem Community Center at 1200 West Rolla Road for the purpose of discussing Resolutions #24-2021, #25-2021 and #26-2021. These resolutions are to accept the contracts for the demolition program at 500 East 4th Street owned by Casey Jadwin, 702 West Butler owned by Connie Riggins and 1003 East Hawkins owned by Tracy and Stephanie Hughes. Following that special Board of Aldermen meeting at 6:00, a joint meeting of the Finance and Utility Committees will be held. The two committees will give an update on the city’s financial audit, utility billing, and Exceleron Pre-Paid Project. They will look at the American Rescue Plan Act, electric rates from February 2021 cold snap, review utility bill layouts, review the electric rate auto adjustment in city codes, and go over the hot/cold weather rules. The meeting will be open to the public.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Office released some reports for Wednesday, August 4th. The first incident occurred when a deputy traveled to a residence in the 500 block of Dent County Road 3270 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 48-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. Another incident occurred when a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of South Pershing Street and East Highway 32. At the traffic stop, a 37-year-old Salem was arrested for having an active warrant through Probation and Parole, the unlawful possession, transport, repair, for manufacture or sale of an illegal weapon; and for operating a motor vehicle on a highway without a valid driver’s license, a 1st offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. The final report occurred when a deputy conducted a traffic stop at Highway 72 and the Route C intersection. During the traffic stop, a 19-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active arrest warrant through Cuba Police Department. The woman was taken to the Dent County Jail where she later posted bond and was released. If you have information regarding any ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting this evening at 5:45 in the R-80 Board Room for the tax rate hearing, followed by the regular August meeting. After the tax rate hearing, Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed will report on a variety of issues followed by principals’ reports, as well as the athletics and facilities report. In new business the board will approve the 2020-2021 Annual Secretary of the Board Report, 2021 tax rate, Head Start MOU and Transition Agreement and consider revision of Board Policy GBEBC. Other new business will include the board approval of the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (SRCSP), ESSER III Plan/Budget, consider extension of Extended Paid Sick Leave (COVID), consider FFA National Convention out of state trip, and approve fuel bids. The Board will then go into closed session. The Tax Rate Hearing and the regular meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education Thursday evening are both open to the public.