Local News – Tuesday, October 15th, 2019
The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Wednesday, October 9th at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Interim Park and Recreation Director Don Smith reported on the success of the softball, baseball and T-ball program this summer with the assistance of Jared Patterson with the baseball, softball and T-Ball program, and Melissa DuBois with the Summer Camp as well as the concessions at the Little League Concession stand and swimming pool. He also wanted to thank Eric Wood for all the work he did at the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Swimming Pool this summer with the personnel scheduling and maintenance. Smith reported there were some electrical improvements made and there were some lights replaced at the pool, a new fence and railing was installed on the concrete at the Little League Concession stand area near the creek, a new timer was installed at Al Brown Fields, additional gravel was taken to parking area at Pavilion #2, repairs were made to the two inch water line at the pool and new fireplace grates were added at Pavilion #1. He said the co-ed softball league had six teams this year compared to four last year and that was run by Greg Sanders. Smith discussed with the board the timing of the winterizing of the splash pad and the board suggested October 15th before it gets too cold. He also said the spotlights on the Salem City Park entrance sign have been vandalized and he would like to use rope lighting on the sign and the board concurred. Park and Recreation Board President Stan Podorski provided the park board with a summer program direct cost report that showed that the Park and Recreation Department lost a total of $10,624.70 from operations of the swimming pool, Summer Camp and the Baseball program. Most of this came from increased labor costs that had to be incurred due to the late spring resignation of Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon as additional positions had to be created to run the programs. Podorski recommended a review of all summer program operations to see where some direct labor costs can be reduced. This would be done once a new Park and Recreation Director is in place and has had time to get acquainted with the position. The board then went into closed session.
The Salem Police Department has release a number of reports for the period of October 3rd through the 7th. On Thursday night, October 3rd near 11:47, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The stop led to the arrest of a 30-year-old male of Mount Sterling, Missouri for driving while being intoxicated and driving while having his license revoked. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. The next morning at approximately 7:30, an officer was dispatched to the Mobil Convenience Store in reference to a theft of fuel. The investigation revealed that a female driver of a dark colored Ford car pumped fuel valued at $28.01 and left without paying. That report is currently under investigation. Later that night at approximately 8:54, an officer was dispatched to Jackson and Eighth Streets in reference to an intoxicated male acting violent and causing a disturbance. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 39-year-old male of Salem for disorderly conduct. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and incarcerated on a 12-hour hold. During the evening of Saturday, the 5th at approximately 7:20, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation during the stop led to the arrest of a 61-year-old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated and driving while having his license revoked. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. Finally, on the morning of the 7th, at approximately 11:39, an officer located a 37-year-old female of Salem in the 200 block of West Third Street, who had an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.
Time is running out to get your ticket for this year’s MRPC 2019 Annual Awards Dinner and Banquet that will be held Thursday evening,
October 24th at the Stonebrooke Center in Waynesville. Judy Apperson of Healthy Dent County was nominated by Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles to be awarded, while William S. Jenks III of Rolla, nominated by MRPC board member John Butz. The public is invited to attend the event in Waynesville. A reception will be held beginning at 5:30 and dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the program and awards presentation to follow. This year marks the MRPC’s 50th year of service. The deadline to get your ticket for the event is TODAY and they cost $30 per person. For reservations, contact MRPC at 265-2993.