Local News – Thursday, July 27th, 2023

Excessive heat this week could mean the City of Salem electric utility might set a new peak. There is no specific action required at this time, but things could change quickly, and the city administration asks that all electric utility customers conserve or reduce your electrical usage as much as reasonably possible. Missouri Public Utility Alliance, or MPUA, the City of Salem’s electrical supplier, is not seeing huge price increases or reliability concerns at this time. A peak warning means there is a chance that a new peak could be set for City of Salem electric customers. Although there are no electric market supply and demand issues right now, setting a new peak does have many consequences. Setting a new peak demand would have cost impacts on the cost to the city to purchase power and that would be reflected on your utility bill moving forward. For tips and ideas on how to conserve electricity and reduce your monthly utility bill check out the “Summer Home Efficiency Tips from MPUA” available on the city of Salem website at salemmo.com. This flyer was also included as an insert in last month’s utility bills. The City appreciates everyone’s understanding and assistance in keeping electric usage as low as possible during this time of excessive heat. For questions about your bill call the city of Salem utility office at 729-4117.

The City of Salem Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet this evening at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers for a public hearing to be followed by a public meeting. The hearing will allow the public to speak on the request for a variance from the Salem Code of Ordinances to move the current McDonalds sign on Highway 19 to their new location at 202 East Scenic Rivers Blvd owned by the McDonalds Real Estate Company. After the hearing is closed, the board will discuss whether to accept or reject the request before they adjourn. The hearing and meeting are both open to the public.

An accident happened Tuesday morning just after 9:00 in Phelps County on Highway 8 east of Highway 68. According to the highway patrol report, a 2011 Ford F-150 being driven by 80- year-old Floyd Haffer of St. James, was traveling eastbound when he traveled off the right side of roadway and struck a mailbox. The Ford then returned to the road and began traveling east again. Haffer stopped and started traveling in reverse, striking the front of a 2016 Freightliner being driven by 36 year old Allen Williams, also of St. James. Haffer suffered minor injuries and was taken to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla by St. James ambulance. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeons Towing while the Freightliner had minor damage and was able to be driven from the scene. The report went on to state that both drivers were wearing safety restraints.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released some reports from cases heard Wednesday in front of Judge Michael Randazzo in Dent County. In the first case heard, Clayton David Korman of Rolla pleaded guilty to a felony charge of resisting arrest and driving while having his license revoked as a persistent felony offender. Randazzo sentenced Korman to serve ten years in the Department of Corrections under the RSMO Section 559.115 program as requested by Prosecutor Curley. In the next case, Robert Michael Lee of Salem pleaded guilty to driving while being intoxicated, his third offense. Lee had two prior convictions from the year 2000 or earlier. Lee was sentenced to serve seven years in the Department of Corrections with the execution of that sentence being suspended with five years probation. Lee was ordered to complete the alternative sentencing court. The next case of the day was a sentencing hearing for Mitchell Allen Warren of Salem who pleaded guilty pursuant to an alford plea to felony stealing. Prosecutor Curley sought ten years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 559.115. Warren sought probation with a credit for the 121 days served in jail. Randazzo sided with Prosecutor Curley and sentenced Warren to serve ten years under RSMO Section 559.115. The next case presented was for Tyler Ray Nichols of Rolla who pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance for meth and fentanyl, plus one count for the felony stealing of a firearm and one count of stealing a motor vehicle. Nichols was sentenced to 12- years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 559.115 as requested by Prosecutor Curley. In the next case, Judge Randazzo revoked the probation of Austin Dwain Hill of Bunker for the commission of new offenses, and executed his 14-year sentence to be served in the Department of Corrections. He had been sentenced to the RSMO Section 559.115 program after pleading guilty to a litany of stealing offenses, property damage and felony possession of a controlled substance. The next case to be heard was that of Timothy Michael Wilson of St. Louis. His probation was confessed and then revoked, and he was required to serve his seven-year sentence as requested by Prosecutor Curley. Judge Randazzo then held a probation revocation hearing. Defendant Austin Tyler Light of Salem was found to have violated his probation. Light sought continuance of his probation while Prosecutor Curley sought the execution of a ten-year sentence. Judge Randazzo sentenced Light to a total of 10 years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the prosecutor.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission has announced that Gasconade County and the city of Hermann will host MRPC’s 2023 annual dinner and award ceremony on October 26th at the Hermannhof Festhalle in Hermann. The annual dinner highlights some of the best volunteer efforts and hopefully inspires others to serve and provides an idea for an activity or program in another community. MRPC will also recognize some youth volunteers in hopes of encouraging other youth to volunteer in their communities and to promote life-long volunteerism. Residents in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties may purchase tickets at a cost of $40 to attend the dinner and awards ceremony beginning in September. To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook.