Local News – Thursday, March 7th, 2019

The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Tuesday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon reported on the soccer program and said 185 players signed up with Town and Country Bank sponsoring the shirts and the Salem Memorial District Hospital sponsoring the fields. There are nine 6 and under teams, five 8 and under teams, three 10 and under teams and two 14 and under teams. Lydon reported on the “Start Smart” Soccer program and 10 parent/child combos signed up for the initial class. The next “Start Smart” program will be for baseball and softball. Lydon said the regular registration for the Youth Baseball/Softball and T-Ball leagues would begin March 18th and last until April 12th for $25 per child. Late registration will be from April 13th through the 26th for $35 per child. The league is for boys and girls from 14 years of age and under. Lydon said he would like to do another Opening Day at the city park on May 23rd. The board discussed swim lessons this year and there will be three sessions: June 10th through the 21st; July 8th through the 19th; and July 29th through August 9th. The board approved leaving the cost of lessons at $45 per person, and the daily admission to the pool at $4.00 for children, $5.00 for adults, and $4.00 for seniors who are 62 years of age and above. Lydon said the pool would be open from noon until 7:00 Monday through Saturday and from 1:00 to 6:00 on Sunday. Pool parties will again be available this year for $150 for the first hour and $50 per half hour after that. He also said water aerobics would be held Monday through Friday from 11:00 until 12:00 noon at $4.00 per day or a monthly pass of $50. A Season Family Pass will now cost $160 for two adults and two children and $45 for each additional family member. Lydon asked the board about rental fees for the use of the pavilions. The board agreed the larger pavilion with the fireplace rental would be $45 for the day and the other pavilion would be $35 for the day. Pavilions and Pool Parties can now be booked for the 2019 season in the office of Tye Lydon at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. The board did approve opening the pool on May 25th and closing the pool on August 14th. Only pool parties will still be available through Labor Day at the pool on the weekends. Lydon said an LWCF Grant application was submitted for the soccer fields on Highway 19 south and he hopes to know on that by mid April. The board discussed the possibility of employing an Assistant Park and Recreation Director to assist Lydon. There also may be the possibility of getting a college intern for a stipend and lodging for the summer. The Park Board agreed that a job description needs to be compiled and approved before the search for an assistant or intern can be done. With that said, the board approved looking into hiring an Assistant Park and Recreation Director along with an intern for the first and possibly second year once the job description has been approved. Park Board President Stan Podorski reported the budget is pretty well on track for this time of year and budget preparations for the next fiscal year budget will begin soon. Tye Lydon opened the one bid received for a Kubota Mower for the Park and Recreation Department that would be used only on playing fields from Wayde’s Equipment in Cuba for $12,967.72. A fair/foul line forming attachment for the machine may be available for another $400. The bid was approved by the board to be recommended to the Alderman for their approval. This is a budgeted item. The meeting was then adjourned.

A one vehicle accident occurred Tuesday night at 10:00 on Highway 21, about five miles North of Ellington in Reynolds County. According to the highway patrol report, a 1999 Ford Ranger, driven by 21-year old Tiarra Light of Black, was southbound when she fell asleep at the wheel. The vehicle continued to travel south into the northbound lane. The driver overcorrected and overturned off the left side of the roadway, striking a tree. Light suffered minor injuries and was transported by Reynolds County EMS to Iron County Hospital. The driver was wearing a safety restraint at the time of accident. The Ford Ranger was totaled in the accident and removed from the scene by Aissie Towing of Ellington.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports. On Tuesday, February 26th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at East Highway 32 and Dent County Road 4180. During the course of the traffic stop, a 33-year old Rolla male was arrested for active warrants through Rolla, Missouri. The male was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond. On Thursday, February 28th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at the Casey’s General Store on East Highway 32. During the course of the traffic stop, a 42-year old Saint Louis male was arrested for active warrants through Jefferson County. The male was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s office where he later posted bond. Finally, on Friday, March 1st, deputies were contacted by an individual requesting a well being check on a female subject, who was possibly involved in a domestic disturbance. Deputies traveled to the 200 block of Dent County Road 4155. During the course of the investigation, a 30-year old Salem man was arrested for Domestic Assault in the 3rd Degree. The male was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Jail and incarcerated If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.