Local News – Thursday, May 9th, 2024

An accident happened Wednesday afternoon at 5;40 in St. Francois County on Highway 67 southbound at Barney’s Crossover. According to the highway patrol report, a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 driven southbound by 28-year-old Heather Stewart of Bixby, age 28 was traveling south on Highway 67. At that time, a 2010 Dodge Journey driven by 46-year-old David Young of Bonne Terre, attempted to cross southbound Highway 67 and failed to yield to the Dodge Ram. The front right of the Dodge Ram struck the right rear of the Dodge Journey. Suffering minor injuries from the Ram were the driver, Heather Stewart, an adult passenger, 24-year-old Nathaniel Yount of Belleview, two female juveniles ages newborn and two years of age, and a two-year old male juvenile. Everyone from the Dodge Ram was taken by a private conveyance to the Parkland Health Center. A male juvenile pasenger in the Journey suffered minor injuries and was taken by the St. Francois County Ambulance District to the Parkland Health Center in Bonne Terre. Both vehicles sustained moderate damages. The Dodge Ram was removed from the scene by Buckley’s Towing, while the Journey was removed from the scene by Marler’s Towing. Everyone involved in the accident was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

The City of Salem Utility Committee meeting scheduled for May 8th has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 15th, at 6:15 in the evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. At the meeting, the committee will hear about utility billing and payments as well as changes in the office. The committee will hear about the Service Protection Program and be updated on the MMMPEP who will be holding their next meeting on May 9th. The committee will also hear work reports from city employees before there is a draft budget presentation and rate discussion. The Utility Committee meeting will be open to the public.

The Mudbugs are back! The Mudbugs will spend time outdoors, exploring the grounds and, if we are doing it right, getting a little dirty! The activities last about one hour and will target kids between the ages of 6 and 12 or so, but all ages are welcome. They will try their best to accommodate younger children. On Thursday, May 16th, the Cicadas are coming! Lots and lots of them! How are they different from annual cicadas? The Mudbugs catch some and see. If they find lots of shells, they’ll do some crazy art with them! This Mudbugs event will be followed by a campfire weenie roast. All the events will be held at the Bonebrake Center from 2:00 until 3:30. A donation to the Bonebrake Center of $2.00 per child is appreciated. They ask that a parent or legal guardian accompany your children (in case any emergency medical situations should arise). Assistance with the kids from those who can move about the grounds would be greatly appreciated! For more information, e-mail Janet Price at moonshadowmomentsllc@gmail.com. Don’t forget to check them out on Facebook for the latest!

May is Bicycle Safety Month, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages motorists and bicyclists to stay alert and be courteous. Preliminary statistics for 2023 indicate eight people were killed and 438 injured in 522 traffic crashes involving a bicycle. Please know the law regarding operating a bicycle and be a safe rider. Did you know that a bicyclist is required to ride as near the right side of the roadway as is safe, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction; except when making a left turn, when the lane is too narrow to share with another vehicle, or when on a one-way street. Bicyclists may ride abreast when not impeding other vehicles and they must also obey all traffic signals and signs, the same as required of drivers of other vehicles. Use hand signals to let others know you will turn left, right, or stop. A bicycle must be equipped with a brake or brakes that will enable its driver to stop the bicycle within 25 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement. Bicycle riders, when riding on a street or highway, are granted all the rights and are subject to all the traffic regulations applicable to drivers of motor vehicles, except those that by their very nature do not apply. It is important that bicyclists understand local ordinances regarding riding a bicycle. For instance, in some municipalities, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk in a business district is prohibited. There are also some regulations for riding a bicycle at night. Penalties for violations of this law range from not less than $5 to not more than $25 for people 17 years of age or older. For those under 17, a provision allows an officer witnessing a violation to impound the bicycle for a period not to exceed five days. Riders should check with municipalities for other local rules and regulations.