Local News – Wednesday, January 6th, 2021

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the consent agenda was approved, City Administrator Ray Walden reported that a workshop will be held to review funding for the Wasterwater Treatment Plant on Monday, January 11th at 7:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Training for city employees that will edit the new website is being conducted with the new site being active soon. The materials for the renovation work at the City Administration Offices would be in this week and look for the work to be completed soon with an open house to follow. The City offices will be closed on Monday, January 18th for MLK Day with the next Alderman meeting being held on Tuesday, January 19th. Public Works Director Mark Nash stated the new meters and modules have been ordered with a change file from Next Grid expected soon. Alderman Kevin James suggested an explanation being posted explaining the two billings that went out in December. Walden mentioned that after the October billing cycle goes out, the will have a better idea of a timeline to send out a press release. Citizens are encouraged to contact the city administration offices for questions regarding their billing. The board then went into closed session to discuss litigation.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports from late November into early December. On Monday, November 23rd, a deputy began an investigation regarding a violation of an order of protection. The deputy discovered that a 44-year-old Viburnum woman was the reported victim. She gave a brief statement of what had occurred and this investigation is ongoing. On Friday, November 27th, a Missouri Department of Conservation Agent contacted the Dent County Sheriff’s Office to report an abandon vehicle on Dent County Road 5220. Deputies traveled to the location and during the course of the incident, it was discovered that the vehicle was stolen from Phelps County the day prior. The vehicle was towed and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office was notified. On Saturday, November 28th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Route B and Highway 72. During the course of the traffic stop, a 42-year-old Salem man was arrested for operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Later that same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 119 and Route E. During the course of the traffic stop, a 44-year-old Salem man was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Wednesday, December 2nd, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the Walmart parking lot. During the course of the traffic stop, a 21-year-old Salem woman and a 24-year-old Salem man were arrested for possession of a controlled substance. The man and woman were both transported to the Dent County Jail where they were incarcerated. On Friday, December 4th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 6500 block of Highway 68 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 40-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

University of Missouri Extension will hold a Soils and Crops Conference on-line using Zoom to reach farmers with updates on crops and forages Tuesday evening, January 12th from 7:00 until 9:00. There will be no cost to participate in the conference. Topics featured in the conference include Sudden Death Syndrome in Soybean presented by Kaitlyn Bissonette, Plant Pathologist, Weed Control Update for Row Crops and Forages by Kevin Bradley, Extension Weed Scientist and Nitrogen Management for Cool Season Grasses by Gatlin Bunton, Field Specialist in Agronomy. All speakers are MU Extension specialists. The conferences are structured to provide both the row crop and forage producer with education designed to address topics relevant to their farm. To register for this event call the Franklin County University Extension Center at (636) 583-5141. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link to participate.

The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) wants the public to know that you can take a stand for your land and combat illegal dumping. Late fall and late winter are the best times for identifying illegal dumps and they encourage anyone to report illegal dumping activities. The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) provides surveillance camera services as a courtesy to cities and communities. To make a request, contact Jill Hollowell at the Meramac Regional Planning Commission by calling (573) 265-2993. This project is funded by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is extending the deadline to January 15th for landowner enrollment into the Missouri Outdoor Recreational Access Program. MRAP provides incentive payments of $15 to $25 per acre and habitat improvement financial assistance to participating landowners in return for allowing public access to their land for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Participating landowners can choose the recreational activities allowed on their property by selecting one of the following MRAP access types: all access hunting and fishing, small game and turkey hunting, youth only hunting and fishing, archery hunting, fishing only, or wildlife viewing. Offered lands must meet minimum eligibility requirements such as being 40 contiguous acres in size or 5 contiguous acres for wildlife viewing access types or 1 pond acre for fishing-only access types. MRAP properties must also consist of at least 20% quality wildlife habitat which includes native grass fields, crop field buffers, or managed woodlands to be eligible for the program. For information on how to apply to the MRAP program, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/Zcs.