Local News – Tuesday, March 26th, 2019
An accident happened in Reynolds County Monday morning at 1:30 on Highway 72 about five miles west of Bunker that took the life of a man from Richland, Missouri. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Ford F-250 driven eastbound by 62-year old Dennis Bounds of Salem, struck 28-year old Seth Bryson of Richland in the roadway. Bryson was pronounced dead at the scene by Reynolds County Coroner Jeffrey McSpadden. Bryson’s body was taken to the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington. The 2002 Ford sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene. The highway patrol was assisted by the major Crash Team and the Reynolds County sheriff’s Department. The 2002 Ford sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the R-80 Administration Boardroom. At the meeting, State Fire Marshall J.T. Beam presented Salem Middle School student Charles Enloe a proclamation from the Governor Parsons. Charles recently saved his father from a fire at their house. Superintendent John McColloch discussed summer school for R-80 students. He said this year Summer school will begin on May 20th and run for 14 days and is available to students entering Kindergarten through 6th grade next year. He also said credit recovery is available for students grades 7-12 who qualify and drivers’ education will be available. Mccolloch then reported on the health insurance costs for the 2019-2020 school year. The schools insurance premiums are increasing by 12% from $406 a month per employee to $456.53 per month per employee. In the facilities update, McColloch reported that the bathroom project at the football field is complete, new lighting structures will be placed in the circle drive and some new doors are still being installed. McColloch wanted thanked Keith Inman for his donation of a washer/dryer for the Upper Elementary. He also said the Dent County Community Foundation received a $10,000 grant award from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks partnering with the Missouri Foundation for Health and the money will used to put in a shower and a washer/dryer at William Lynch. Also as part of the facilities update, board Member Larry Maxwell gave an update from the Athletic Advisory Committee meeting. After the building reports, the board organizational meeting date and the regular April Board meeting will be moved to Tuesday, April 16th at 6:00 at the district administrative offices. The MSBA Policy Service Agreement was approved and the board set the tuition rate for 2019-2020 for $7,570.91. The board approved the resignations of John Brewer, the William Lynch special education instructor; Amanda Walker the Middle School physical education instructor and head volleyball coach; Jennifer Headrick, a Middle School math instructor; Kim Cooper as the Middle School track and High School assistant volleyball coach; and Jared Patterson as the 9th grade boys’ basketball coach. The board went into executive session where they employed a number of probationary instructors from William Lynch Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle and High Schools. They also employed coaches, coordinators and team sponsors for all schools before the meeting returning to open session and adjourning the meeting.
The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of February. The Salem Police issued 4 equipment repair orders, 5 summons to appear in court, 5 warning tickets, and 9 traffic tickets, plus they also served 6 city warrants and 2 fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated 10 traffic accidents, one assault, one report of counterfeiting, one dog bite, and a lost or stolen license plate. They also wrote one report on domestic violence, two domestic assaults, one endangering the welfare of a child, one fraud report, a property damage report, three stealing reports, and 1 trespassing report. The department investigated one driving while intoxicated, one harassment, two sex offenses, plus had five reports of driving while having a license revoked and suspended, two possessions of a controlled substance reports, three possession of drug paraphernalia reports and had one vehicle towed. The department was also dispatched for 31 animal calls, 33 ambulance assist calls, 10 well being checks, 10 requests for information, and performed 39 traffic stops for the month. The department received 806 calls during the month of February and 87 walk- ins to the station. The department drove 6,581 miles during the month of February and spent 4 hours in court testifying and 10 hours as court Bailiff. There were 13 males and six females arrested in February.
The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wants to remind teens how dangerous a car ride can be if they don’t take wearing their seat belt seriously. Law enforcement will be out in full force now through March 31st to help improve teen seat belt use and save lives. The national average for seat belt usage is 90 percent. Missouri is a bit below that average at 87 percent, but teens in Missouri come in even lower at 74 percent. Consider some of the reasons you should choose to wear your seat belt. Of the 88 teenagers killed in Missouri traffic crashes in 2017, 77 were vehicle occupants and 54 of them (70 percent) were not buckled up; when properly used, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injuries to front-seat passenger vehicle occupants by 45 percent and reduce the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50 percent. With no primary seat belt law or all-driver texting ban in Missouri, teens and all motorists are asked to personally take the challenge to Buckle Up Phone Down. Put your cell phone down while driving and always make sure you and your passengers are buckled up. For more information, visit saveMOlives.com.