Local News – Thursday, December 22, 2022
With the impending storm expected to cripple travel and make exposure to the cold dangerous, and with the number of city and government offices closing due to the holiday or weather, KSMO Media has elected not to publish a paper version of Your World Today for Friday. A new version will be available Friday morning online at ksmoradio.com. Also, with the Christmas holiday being observed on Monday, Your World Today will NOT be published in recognition of the holiday on December 26th. From everyone at KSMO Media, KSMO Radio and Your World Today, Merry Christmas!!
A one vehicle accident happened late Tuesday afternoon in Miller County on Highway 17 just north of Airport Road that took the life of an area man. According to the highway patrol report, a 1992 Peterbilt being by 70-year-old Barry Wisdom of Dixon, formally of Bunker, traveled off the right side of the roadway then returned to the roadway and began skidding. The unit being towed jack-knifed and separated from the cab which then traveled off the left side of the road and struck a guardrail before overturning on the passenger side and striking a tree before coming to a rest. The trailer then traveled off the left side of the road, striking a guardrail and overturning. Wisdom, who was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident, was pronounced dead by Miller Coroner Tim Bradley at the scene at 6:05. Wisdom was taken to the Francher-Rekus Funeral Home. The Peterbilt was totaled and removed from the scene by Hi Tech Towing.
Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released results from a couple of court cases heard Friday in front of Judge Michael Randazzo in Dent County. In the first case, a probation hearing was held for Michael Shaw of Rolla who was on probation for stealing and burglary in the second degree. Judge Randazzo revoked the probation and sentenced Shaw to serve five years in the Department of Corrections as requested by Prosecutor Curley. In the second case of the day, another probation hearing was held for John Birdsong of St. James who was on probation for resisting arrest and for the possession of a controlled substance. Randazzo revoked Birdsong’s probation and he was sentenced to serve nine years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the prosecutor.
State Fire Marshal Tim Bean is urging Missourians to be extra cautious heating their homes as the most frigid temperatures of the season push into the state. Each year, space heaters account for about one-third of home heating fires and 80% of heating fire deaths. Space heaters are the leading cause of home fires in the months of December, January and February, according to the National Fire Protections Association. When temperatures in Missouri plunged in February 2015, space heaters and supplemental heating sources were suspected in seven deaths and six injuries in less than a week. This weekend temperatures across most of Missouri are expected to drop below zero with wind chill values as low as 30 degrees below zero due to wind gusts as high as 40-50 miles per hour. Fire Marshal Bean stressed two key factors leading to heating fires: not using space heaters and other heating sources as they are designed to be used, and not having smoke alarms in their homes. Space heaters are designed to be used to supplement primary heating sources; that’s where the name comes from, they’re meant to help heat limited spaces in a residence that do not warm sufficiently from the primary heating source. Also, people need to think of space heaters and smoke alarms as working together. Smoke alarms are essential in the home. Remember these safety tips whenever heating equipment is used: Turn off portable heaters whenever leaving the room or going to bed. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment. The three-foot safety zone includes furniture, drapes, Christmas trees and electronics – anything that can burn. Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters. Do not overload extension cords or outlets. Many extension cords and power strips are not designed to handle the load of an electric heater. Never place an electrical cord under a rug, to prevent the cord from overheating and causing a fire. Never use an oven or other cooking devices to heat your home. Never use an outdoor propane heater indoors. Make sure your home has working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by testing them monthly.
Due to the incoming weather system and pending road conditions, the City of Salem offices will be closed today. They are asking the public to please be safe and stay home if possible. If residents are in need of a warm place during the frigid cold and below-zero wind chills, they are asked to go to the Salem Police Department lobby. If there are several requests, the basement of the old city hall may be opened as a warming station. For weather or utility outage issues call the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.
The volunteers for the Salvation Army red kettle campaign will not be ringing the bell at the kettles this weekend at Country Mart and Wal-Mart, due to the expected cold temperatures. Anyone wishing to help the local unit raise funds to meet this year’s goal of $37,500 is invited to send a check to P.O. Box 190 in Salem, MO 65560 or you can drop it off at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Please call 729-8163 for more information.