Local News – Tuesday, June 13th, 2023

The Dent County Sheriffs Department has released several reports. On Saturday, June 3rd, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of East Fourth Street. During the stop, it was discovered a passenger in the vehicle, a 34-year-old Salem man, was in possession of suspected methamphetamine. He was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. Charges against the suspect are pending. The next day, a deputy responded to the 10000 block of South Highway 19 for a suspicious subject. The person was located and found to have an active arrest warrant. The a 35-year-old Salem man, was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated on the warrant. On Monday, June 5th, a deputy responded to Dent County Road 4170 for a reported domestic incident. During the investigation, a 39-year-old Salem woman was arrested for driving while having her license suspended or revoked. She was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where she was issued several citations. Finally on June 9th, a deputy arrested a 25-year-old Lake Ozark man at the Dent County Courthouse for failure to obey a judge’s order. He was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated on the warrant. Please call the Dent County Sheriffs Office at 729-3241 if you have any information regarding an investigation.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting this evening at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. The consent agenda will be reviewed by the aldermen which features the Department of Revenue Sales tax distributions received this month for the General Revenue Fund, Park and Recreation Fund and the Capital Improvement Fund; plus the Salem Police Department monthly report and minutes from the previous meetings as well as a recommendation by the Salem Public Library for Harold Hamilton to be approved as Library Board of Trustee. After the consent agenda is approved, the board will hear a request from Larry and Karen Shelby on Red Bud Lane for permission to keep their mini-pigs at their property. In New Business, the board will hear from Public Works Director Mark Nash about bids on tools for the Electric Department as well as bids for new fire hydrants. Up next, City Administrator Sally Burbridge will discuss with the board grant funding for the airport expenses the city is eligible for in the amount of $51,000 from three different grants. Two of the grants have already been executed and she will be asking the board to approve Mayor Greg Parker signing and then submitting the third grant for airport operation and maintenance funds which is an ARPA grant for $22,000. The board will also hear from City Building Inspector Jarred Brown on a conditional use permit for Jordan and Sarah Watson for property at 305 West 2nd Street qualifying the property to be a vacation rental. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the issuance of the conditional use permit. He will then address the rezoning of the property at 502 West Dillon Street from residential to commercial as requested by Four Rivers Community Health Center who has property adjoining this property which would be used for expansion and additional parking. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the zoning change. Brown will also present a request for a conditional use permit for an automobile detail shop at 906 West Center by Joe Enloe. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approving the conditional use permit with certain conditions that must be followed or the permit would be revoked. Brown will also discuss the request from C&A Investments, LLC for a conditional use permit to have equipment sales at 1002 East Scenic Rivers Blvd. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the approval of the conditional use permit provided a visual barrier be installed between this property and residential property. Lastly, Brown will discuss with the board a new subdivision and replatting of lots as requested by Briceno Properties, LLC at 1000 South Main Street. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended to approve the subdivision plat. In Old Business, Public Works Director Nash will discuss the purchase of electric materials for the Al Brown Lighting Project from Fletcher-Reinhardt for $21,871.57. City Treasurer Stacey Houston will ask the board to approve allowing the mayor to sign the Financial Assistance Agreement as well as the General Terms and Conditions document necessary for the city to receive reimbursement from the ARPA Drinking Water Grant Award. The Department of Natural Resources has already approved the engineering portion of the contract and the city would receive a partial grant of $628,000 to pay for that along with the city match of $6,342.80. In the reading of bills, the first reading of Bill #3540 which would create a lease agreement between the City of Salem and Wave Internet for the use of the bottle rocket tower will occur, and the second reading of Bill #3539 that would authorize the mayor to sign and execute the contract between the City of Salem and Hogan’s, Inc. for contact painting service to Well #2 and Well #4 will be held. Following the reports of city officials, the board will go into closed session to discuss contracts. The Salem Board of Aldermen regular meeting tonight is open to the public.

Barbara Johnson will be teaching Needle Tatting at the Creative Arts Center this Thursday from 6:00 until 8:00 in the evening. The class is for participants 14 years old and older. Learn how to make beautiful tatted lace with a long needle! Using a blunt, 6” needle, learn the process of creating frothy, delicate lace. You only need to master the double stitch — all other things develop from this. You will make rings, chains, picots, joins and finishing techniques. You will also make a simple small ornament. The cost is $30 per person and all supplies are provided. If interested, you can sign up online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and go to the Creative Arts Center link or email salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com.