Local News – Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021
The Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit volunteer bell ringers will begin raising funds for those in need at Country Mart, Dollar General and Wal-Mart around the familiar red kettle tomorrow, and then every Friday and Saturday through Christmas Eve. Counter kettles will also be located at various locations throughout the community. The kettles are the primary way funds are raised locally to continue to meet the needs of the less fortunate in our community. For those who do not want to handle cash, you can donate digitally with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo at any Red Kettle across the country. You can also give any amount by texting “KETTLES” to 51555. Every donation helps hope march on for those in need, and all gifts stay within the community in which they are given. The Salvation Army continues doing the “most good” around the country. In 2021, The Salvation Army was ranked No. 2 on the list of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. If you would like to volunteer to ring the famous Salvation Army bell, please call Susie at 729-6771 or 247-7099. You can also call the Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit office at 729-8163. Don’t forget the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree and Dent County Toy Drive signups will be Tuesday, November 30th and Thursday, December 2nd from 3:30 to 5:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road.
Businesses or organizations still have to sign up to be a part of the “Light up the Park 2021” at the Salem City Park starting the night of December 4th and lasting until December 31st. Contact Melissa DuBois at 729-6290 or e-mail her at salemparks@salemmo.com to reserve your spot. The lights and displays will go on nightly at dusk and remain on until late in the night. Those who want to participate must have their display set up by Friday, December 3rd.
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their November meeting Tuesday night at 6:00 in the hospital library. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations and statistics for the month of October, followed by the Chief of Nursing Report with Ashley Sullins and a COVID-19 update. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards will give the hospital foundation report as well as the marketing and community perception report. In old business, Lucas will give a report on the Cerner conversion. In new business, the election filing dates for the hospital board will be set, a CMS COVID-19 vaccination update will be provided, the December meeting date and time will be set, and there will be a review of any purchases made or that need to be made since the last meeting. The board may vote to go into closed session. The SMDH Board meeting Tuesday night is open to the public.
The Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 6:00 in City Hall Council Chambers. After the roll call, the minutes of the special Board of Aldermen meeting from November 12th will be reviewed. The introduction and reading of bills will include Resolution #34-2021 authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Energy Solutions Professionals, LLC for the HVAC Maintenance projects; and Resolution #35-2021 authorizing the mayor to execute and agreement between the city and the Department of Social Services for the low-income household water assistance program. The board will discuss Bill #3495 that would create an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign and execute task order #12 pertaining to an agreement between the city and C.M. Archer Group, P.C. dated February 3rd, 2020, for engineering design services related to water well #9 and elevated storage tank. City Administrator Ray Waldon, Mayor Kim Steelman, Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge, Public Works Director Mark Nash, and Parks and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois will address the board before any alderman reports. Bids will also be discussed about a new skid steer for the city and in new and miscellaneous business, the aldermen will address a street closure for the 2021 Santa Dash. The Board may then vote to go into closed session before adjourning. The meeting of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen tonight at 6:00 is open to the public.
More Missourians are expected to travel and gather together this year for much larger Thanksgiving and holiday celebrations after a quieter holiday season in 2020 because of COVID-19. State Fire Marshal Tim Bean is advising folks to reduce the risk of fires as Thanksgiving begins a five-week period of elevated fire hazards, with the three tops days of the year for cooking fires all occurring between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas and Christmas Eve. Also with the holidays comes another fire risk: candles. From 2015-19, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 7,400 fires started by candles. These fires caused an annual average of 90 civilian deaths. The peak days for candle fires are Christmas, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve. Fire Marshal Bean reminds everyone to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors along with fire extinguishers in advance of the holidays and entertaining to make sure they are working properly. Installing smoke alarms reduces the chance of dying in a fire by more than one-half.