Local News – Tuesday, November 26th, 2019
The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the District Administrative Offices. Superintendent John McColloch stated that parent-teacher conferences were held at all the schools and each building reported excellent attendance. The Internship Program Director Elizabeth Wright along with three students discussed the program and the benefits it brings to students working with participating businesses. McColloch then updated the board on the status schools health insurance. McColloch stated the Salem R-80 district is currently considered an unhealthy district and the consortium they are part of is also considered unhealthy. The district is currently running at 123% claims to premium. Mr. McColloch discussed all the possible insurance options with the board. He was to attend the consortium meeting Friday to vote on the options. Mr. McColloch gave an update on the sports booster clubs. He will be meeting soon with the booster clubs to discuss possible rules and protocols so as to avoid the same situation that occurred with the softball booster club and senior players. After the building principals gave their reports, the board approved the auditor’s report for the last fiscal year and they approved the election filing dates from Tuesday, December 17th through January 21st during normal business hours excluding holidays. The board agreed to pay the insurance assessment in the amount of $353,711.63 and accepted the resignation of Jenni Summers, the middle school girls’ cheerleading, effective at the end of the school year. The board then went into closed session where two personnel issues were discussed. The meeting was then adjourned.
The City of Salem will hold a “Meet and Greet” for new Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois at the Salem Community Center@The Armory tonight from 5:00 until 6:30. Stop by and visit with Melissa and talk with her about the city parks, new and old programs and more. Following the “Meet and Greet,” there will be a Salem Park and Recreation Board meeting at 6:30. The board will hear a report from Dubois before they get an update on the TAP grant for the trail from the Salem R-80 Administrative Offices to the Pavilion #1. The board will review and discuss an updated three-year plan for the Park and Recreation Department before voting on removing a Park Board member. After any miscellaneous or other business, the board will adjourn. The “Meet and Greet” for new Park and Recreation Director Melissa DuBois and the Salem Park Board meeting are both open to the public.
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday at the courthouse. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson was appointed as acting Presiding Commissioner. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported on the CART tax received in November and it came to $58,261.50 and that is $1,829.66 more than for November of 2108 when the county received $56,441.84. Year-to-date, the CART receipts are up $4,632.21. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5615, 6090 and 6350 and if time on county road 5530. Purcell said brush would be cut on county road 6380 and two men were clearing out pipes on Dent County Roads 6370. Commissioner Larson reported grading would be done and materials added on Dent County Roads 3250, 3270 and 3273 while grading only would be done on county road 3275. He went on to say brush would be cut on county road 2055 and 3230. Larson wanted to remind everyone the courthouse would be closed this Thursday & Friday for Thanksgiving and the commissioners wished everyone a safe & happy Thanksgiving. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she continued to work on the fiscal year 2020 budget or the county. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday, December 2nd at the courthouse at 9:00.
A Rolla man was injured in a one vehicle accident in Lincoln County Monday morning at 6:40. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2014 International Conventional Tractor being driven by 53-year-old William Hotaling of Rolla was traveling north on Route D when he failed to negotiate a curve causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and overturn. Hotaling was transported to SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital Lake St. Louis by the Lincoln County Ambulance District for treatment of moderate injuries. The International sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Skyline Towing.