Local News – Tuesday, April 9th, 2024
An accident happened in Phelps County Monday morning around 7:35 on Phelps County Road 4450 near Highway 68. according to the highway patrol report, a 1992 Ford Ranger driven northbound by a 17-year-old male juvenile of Salem, crossed the center of the roadway when the juvenile overcorrected and the Ford collided with a 2016 Chevy Silverado being driven southbound by 35-year-old Timothy Mosley of Salem. Mosley and a passenger in the Silverado, 25-year-old Douglas Harmon of Steelville, suffered minor injuries and were transported by the Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health. The juvenile also suffered minor injuries and declined treatment. The Chevy Silverado was totaled and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Ford Ranger sustained extensive damage and was taken from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. Mosley and Harmon were wearing seat restraints while the juvenile was not.
The Salem Board of Alderman will be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. After they approve the consent agenda, the board will canvass the certification of the election results from the April 2nd Municipal Election and Resolution 9-2024 approving those results. The oath of office will be given to the newly elected officials before their is a reorganization of the Board of Aldermen. Mayor Parker will then make committee appointments before public comments are heard. The board will hear bids for a 25 HP motor for the aeration in the North Digester before rejecting bids for a “Welcome Home” project and the Downtown Renovation Project. The board will hear the second readings of Bill #3604 which would create an ordinance amending the amounts of utility deposits for the City of Salem; Bill #3605 that would amend the provisions for the delivery of utility bills and statements for the City of Salem, and Bill #3606 that would allow the mayor to enter into a power supply and administration agreement among the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission DBA Missouri Electric Commission. In the reading of bills for the first and second time, the board will hear Bill #3608 authorizing the issuance of a sewerage system revenue bond, series 2024, of the City of Salem prescribing the form and details of said bond, and the covenants and agreements to provide for the payment and security thereof. After the reports of city officials, the board will go into closed session to discuss contrcts and pending litigation. The meeting tonight is open to the public.
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 3,721 birds over the past youth weekend, April 6th and 7th. The top harvest counties were Gasconade with 92 birds harvested, Osage with 90, and Franklin with 89. In our area, Texas County youth harvested 57 adult gobblers, 21 juvenile gobblers and bearded hens for 79 total turkeys; Phelps County recorded 31 adult gobblers, eleven juvenile gobblers and two bearded hens for 44 birds taken; Dent County had 32 adult gobblers and eight juvenile gobblers taken for a total of 40 birds harvested; Crawford County youth took 17 adult gobblers, 19 juvenile gobblers and one bearded hen for a total of 28 birds harvested while both Shannon and Reynolds counties had 16 turkeys harvested. For more information on this season’s harvest totals, visit the MDC website. Young hunters checked 2,550 birds during the 2023 spring youth weekend. The regular spring turkey season runs April 15 through May 5.
The City of Salem has announced with Alderman Williams stepping down from his West Ward Alderman seat this evening, Mayor Parker has cancelled the April 10th Utility Committee Meeting until a new committee chair is named and that chairperson can work with the committee to set dates and times for the future meetings.
Century farms and ranches have shaped our nation and state. The Missouri Century Farm Program celebrates the lasting contributions farmers and ranchers have made to our country’s and state’s heritage. In 1976, the Centennial Farm project was initiated in Missouri, awarding certificates to persons owning farms that had been in the same family for 100 years or more. Ten years later, the University of Missouri Extension and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources created the annual Century Farm program and recognition. Since the program began in 1976, more than 8,000 Missouri farms have received the Century Farm designation. To have a farm be designated as a Missouri Century Farm, the same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years or more as of December 31, 2024; the line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings and nephews and nieces, including through marriage or adoption; and the present farm shall consist of no less than 40 acres of the original land and shall make a financial contribution to the overall farm income. The application period is open until May 1st and you can apply through an online application process. A fee of $140 is required to cover processing costs, a certificate, a booklet and one two-sided, 2-foot by 2-foot metal sign for each approved farm. No late applications will be accepted. To apply, go to extension.missouri.edu/programs/century-farms.