Local News – Thursday, December 23, 2021

Everyone at Your World Today and KSMO Media wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. Due to the holiday, there will not be a new edition of Your World Today on Christmas Eve.

The Salem Utility Committee meeting was held Monday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Jeff Medows from Archer-Elgin Engineering gave an update on all the active projects going on as well as an update on the wastewater treatment plant improvements. The city and Missouri Department of Natural Resources met at the end of November to discuss what to do next after the EPA did not like the variance submitted in 2020 and approved by the Cleanwater Commission. DNR suggested the city go through the permitting process that would have a long schedule of compliance to meet the TMDL limit. They also suggested going for a bigger improvement in the facility that would make an improvement in water quality. If going that route, Medows recommended pursuing the DNR Economic Resilience Grant for the facility plan update and then pursue ARPA funding and a potential bond issue for SRF grant funding. It was noted the city bills were late in November due to a sickness in the office. City Administrator Ray Walden said staff is being cross-trained so that there should be no delays in the future, and if there would be a special circumstance, the city will use the local media, the city’s text blast, and social media to get out the information. The committee discussed and approved keeping the 1% discount for customers. The committee also discussed having another cost and rate study done by Missouri Rural Water, but Walden recommended to wait until the city gets more information about phase two of the wastewater treatment plant upgrade before getting another study done. The committee pondered having an audit performed on the utility billing and the meter project update, but a proposal of a one-year audit was $70,000 and a two-year audit was $120,000. There is also a request for proposals for new utility billing and financial software that is due at the end of January. The committee agreed to put the audit on hold until there is more information on the new utility billing and financial software and a need to have an audit done. Walden then went over the survey results to see if there would be interest in the city offering a prepaid utility plan and offer view usage if available. From the survey results, 68% of those responding would like to know their usage, but only 9% were interested in a prepay option. The committee also recommended submitting an updated “hot and cold” weather rule for electric disconnection to the Board of Aldermen for their approval that is based upon temperature. The meeting was then adjourned.

In Pulaski County in front of Judge John Beger, former Texas County Sheriff James Sigman was sentenced to three years supervised probation and a fine for forging an employee’s timecard in 2018. Sigman’s girlfriend at the time and former Texas County jailer Jennifer Tomaszewski, also received three years supervised probation and a fine in a related case. The case was moved on a change of venue and each defendant was originally charged with eight counts. All the other counts aside from the forgery charges were dismissed during their trials in September due to insufficient evidence. The forgery charges involved the former sheriff approving a timecard for Tomaszewski for hours she didn’t work. In the end it was determined by Judge Beger that there was enough evidence to show that Sigman and Tomaszewski knew the timecards were false.

Have you and your family members finished their wish list for the holiday? Is safe, crash free travel on those lists? If not, please add it! Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers wish everyone a merry and safe Christmas. One way for it to be merry is for everyone to arrive at their holiday celebrations safely. Last year over the Christmas holiday, there were 746 traffic crashes during the counting period. In those crashes, 10 people were killed and another 310 were injured. This year’s traffic crash counting period begins at 6:00 this evening and ends at 11:59 Sunday night, December 26th, 2021. Please remember to wear your seat belt, pay attention to your driving, and please, don’t drink and drive. Travelers are reminded that holiday drivers will affect traffic patterns. If you’re planning a trip during the holiday, please keep this in mind. Drivers are encouraged to make sure they are well rested, and their vehicle is in good working condition before driving to their destination, no matter how short the distance. Check the weather forecast and plan accordingly. The Road Condition Report number is 1-800-222-6400. If bad weather is expected, make sure your vehicle is winterized. Allow extra time to reach your destination and obey all traffic laws. If faced with a traffic emergency, motorists can contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. This emergency number will ring into the nearest Highway Patrol headquarters. Motorists should use this number if they are in a traffic crash, witness a crash or crime, or pass a stranded motorist in need of assistance, etc. The Patrol encourages motorists to protect themselves from all types of hazardous drivers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Please obey all traffic laws, and if alcohol is part of your holiday, designate a sober driver. Every driver can help make our roadways safer this holiday season.

The Dent County Sheriff’s office has released the following reports. On Monday, December 13th, deputies traveled to a residence on Highway 19 North to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the event, a 59-year-old Salem man was arrested on two warrants out of Dent County. He was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated on the warrants. Then on Saturday, December 18th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at Highway 32 and Dent County Road 4235. During the course of the stop, a 73-year-old Viburnum female was arrested on a warrant out of Crawford County. She was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated on the warrant. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s office at 729-3241 if you have any information on any investigation.