Local News – Wednesday, April 8th, 2020

Tuesday night at the Salem R-80 District Administrative Offices in a special meeting of the R-80 Board of Education, Superintendent John McColloch submitted his resignation effective July 1st and it was accepted by the board. McColloch has served as R-80 Superintendent for five years and will be moving on to be the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations at the School District of Washington. The board then went into closed session to discuss personnel.

The Dent County Sheriffs Department has released reports on their activities from March 29th through April 5th. On Sunday, March 29th, a deputy spoke to a 39-year-old woman at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office who was the reported victim of a violation of a full order of protection. Suspect information was obtained from her and the deputy began an investigation. Then on Thursday, April 2nd, the deputy met with a 43-year-old Salem man at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The man was arrested for harassment in the 1st degree and a violation of a full order of protection. The man was incarcerated at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and that same day, he posted bond and was released. On Wednesday, April 1st, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of Dent County Road 2110. During the course of the traffic stop, a 31-year-old Salem woman was arrested for operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license, a 1st offense. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Friday April 3rd, a deputy traveled to Dent County Road 6080 for a report of littering. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered a large number of tires in a creek. That report is still under investigation. Later that same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 3500 block of South Highway 19. During the course of the traffic stop, a 20-year-old Salem man was arrested for Blood Alcohol Content. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Finally on Sunday, April 6th, a deputy traveled to the Salem Memorial District Hospital because a subject in the emergency room was acting aggressive. Upon arrival, the deputy arrested a 19-year-old Salem man for Assault in the 4th degree. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If anyone has information on any ongoing investigation, call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

Missouri law prohibits individuals and businesses from price gouging — raising prices on necessities during an emergency. Missouri Attorney General Schmitt and Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley advises consumers to watch out for and report large increases in prices, including on gas, water, food, hand sanitizer, medical masks, soap, over-the-counter medicine and other necessities. The public is asked to report any and all instances of price gouging or other COVID-19 related scams to the Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline by calling 1-800-392-8222 or by filing a complaint online with attorney general’s office: https://ago.mo.gov. Instances of crime will continue to be investigated and prosecuted in Dent County. The Dent County jail will continue to house inmates accused and convicted of serious crimes. Efforts are being made by Sheriff Bob Wells, Dent County Prosecutor Curley, City Prosecutor James Weber and local judges to prevent the introduction of any symptomatic inmates that have been recently incarcerated in jurisdictions with COVID confirmed cases. Criminal Court proceedings are being conducted with social distancing and additional preventative measures.

Southwest Baptist University is adjusting its admissions process on all campuses including the Salem campus during the COVID-19 global pandemic, including making applications test optional. Darren Crowder, dean of enrollment management says prospective students may have concerns about not having access to information needed to complete an application, and we are removing those barriers. With ACT and SAT canceling spring testing dates, we may have applicants who have yet to take one of these tests. As a result, SBU is making these temporary amendments to the application process for undergraduate students. Test scores are not required at this time. Scholarships and other financial aid will be awarded. However, to potentially improve academic scholarship eligibility, students may elect to take the online Classic Learning Test or CLT also high school GPA scores may be self-reported. Additionally, the University is offering individual online visits for as long as in-person visits are suspended. Group visit events are cancelled for the remainder of the academic year, but the Admissions Offices are working to develop online experiences for these events. Admissions counselors remain available to visit with students and their families and help walk them through the admissions process and they are available by phone, email or social media. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu or you can call the Salem Campus at (573) 729-7071.

Time is running out to get a variety of low cost native tree and shrub seedlings from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking. Right now they are offering residents a variety of those low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife food and cover. Orders are being accepted through April 15th which is next Wednesday. The Department of Conservation has extended the seedling shipping timeframe through the end of May. According to MDC, the shipping season typically winds down in early May after nursery staff has shipped millions of seedlings to schools, landowners, and MDC staff for planting all over the state. Since the precautionary measures were4 put in place to decrease the spread of COVID-19, the nursery has been closed to the public and they have plenty of seedlings left. Order your seedlings online: mdc.mo.gov/seedlings, or fax an order form to 573-674-4047. Contact the nursery at 674-3229 or email them for an order form: StateForestNursery@mdc.mo.gov. You can take a virtual tour of the nursery are available at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zey.

Due to the Covid-19 guidelines recommended by the Center for Disease Control, the Salem Memorial District Hospital are no longer allowing visitors in the hospital until further notice. Also, no patient visitors are now allowed to attend patient visits at SMDH Family Medicine until further notice.