Local News – Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019
According to sources at the Missourinet, the Missouri Supreme Court issued an opinion Tuesday which overturns the death sentence of 51-year old Marvin Rice who was convicted of killing Annette Durham and her boyfriend, Steven Strotkamp in Dent County in December 2011. In a unanimous decision, the Missouri Supreme Court has ruled that the circuit court committed errors during the trial. The first degree murder conviction for Rice was upheld by the Supreme Court, but they have ordered a new penalty phase trial. The Supreme Court stated the circuit court abused its discretion in overruling Rice’s objections that prosecutors said in their closing arguments that Rice declined to testify. The Supreme Court also reversed Rice’s second degree murder conviction for Strotkamp’s death and ordered a new trial. The court said this was because of what they call instructional error. The circuit court erred in refusing to submit to the jury Rice’s proposed instructions for the lesser-included offenses of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. Rice is currently incarcerated at the maximum-security Potosi Correctional Center.
The Salem Board of Aldermen regular meeting was held Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the board heard bids for the installation of water meters as part of the Automated Metering Project. This installation was budgeted for $165,000 and will be paid out of the C.O.P. funds. Two bids were received after a Request for Proposal was published. One bid was for $100,176.76 from Second Site Systems and another bid was for $266,880.00 from Wofford Brothers Plumbing. The board approved the lower bid from Second Site Systems. After the consent agenda, the board tabled the request from Black’s A-1 Septic LLC to dump port-a-pottie waste in the Waste Water Treatment facility. Further information is needed from the engineer. City Administrator Ray Walden reported he is having budget meetings with Department Supervisors, then will meet with the Capital Improvements Committee and Finance Committee in preparation for next year’s proposed budget for approval by the Aldermen. A Request for Proposals for Liability and Workman’s Compensation insurance has been advertised and quotes will be presented at a future meeting. Last Friday was the deadline for the public to present proposals for development of the former high school building. No proposals for development were received, but several proposals for demolition were submitted. The committee will review the proposals and submit a recommendation to the Alderman in the near future. Harold Tubbs, Chair of the Airport Advisory Board, presented recently drafted policies for the Airport. He thanked the City for the recent improvements made to the airport and reported on the frequent use of the airport by several local businesses. The policies include: development of a seniority list for hangers; rent fees due when contract is signed; refunds for yearly rent when hanger is not used by rentee and can be re-rented; eliminate hangers being used for plane storage only (not air worthy planes); and establishing a fuel charge policy. Resolution No. 8-2019 for these policies was not approved, but will be brought back after City Attorney Camm Seay can review. The board approved the spring clean up weeks of May 6th and May 13th. These weeks follow the annual spring City Wide Yard Sale that will be held on Saturday, May 4th. Nuisance Officer Jarrod Brown requested approval to add additional fees to Nuisance Violations. He proposed a minimum of $75 fee for abatement of the nuisance and an additional $100 fee for the city’s administration costs. Attorney Seay recommended that Brown keep records of time spent on each nuisance violation, because fees cannot be charged without a vote of the people, as stated in the Hancock Amendment. The board approved creating an Ordinance that would include fees based upon the time spent on each nuisance violation by Brown. The board then went into closed session to discuss real estate.
The Municipal Election was held Tuesday in Dent County with only 640 total ballots being cast in the county which comes to just over 11%. The unofficial results given are for Dent County ONLY.
* denotes winner
City of Salem East Ward Aldermen
Rachel Hinderliter* 112 votes
Jerry (Jay) Gibbs, Jr. 57 votes
City of Salem West Ward Aldermen
Harley Elwood-Conaway 74 votes
Kevin James* 144 votes
Oak Hill R-1 School Board (3 Year Term)
Natalie Stevens 24 votes
Phillip Mercer 37 votes
Shena Terrill 18 votes
Matthew Sapaugh 15 votes
Tela Connors 19 votes
Michael Connors 25 votes
Oak Hill R-1 School Board (1 Year Term)
Phillip Thompson 9 votes
Allison Thompson 17 votes
Willie Strader* 52 votes
Green Forest R-1 School Board (2 Year Term)
Austin Konkel* 64 votes
Crystal Fleener 27 votes
Jeremy Patton* 52 votes
Nicole Brooks 24 votes