Local News – Wednesday, July 10th, 2024

The City of Salem Utility Committee meeting will be held tonight at 6:15 at the Old City Hall Auditorium at 202 North Washington. The committee will hear receive updates on the financials from Stacey Houston which will include the end of the year reports on electric, water and sewer funds. The committee will hear reports from the utility crews, hear about the effective dates of the utility rates, discuss the removal of the availability fee for the 7/15 through 8/15 bill that would be received on September 1st, trash rate changes as per the new three-year agreement that will begin September 1st raising to $18.90 the first year, sewer rate changes with a public hearing to be held on July 23rd. The rate changes would be scheduled to go into effect for the bill your would received October 1st. The committee will discuss the mutual aid agreement with MPUA and discuss water meter fees. The committee will hear questions and comments before adjourning. The Utility Committee meeting tonight at 6:15 at the City Hall Auditorium is open to the public. 

The Lifeway Center has rescheduled it’s hours to be open today. They had to close yesterday due to the heavy amounts of rainfall the Salem area received. The Lifeway Center is located at 701 N. Main St. in Salem. If you have any questions you can give them a call them at 730-1030.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the following 2024 July Fourth holiday statistics for the counting period of 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 3, through 11:59 p.m., Sunday, July 7, 2024. Troopers worked ten boating crashes, which included seven injuries and zero fatalities. Troopers made 11 boating while intoxicated arrests. One person drowned over the holiday weekend. In 2023, there were 11 boating crashes, which included two injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned during last year’s July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 10 boating while intoxicated arrests over last year’s July Fourth holiday weekend. Troopers worked 382 traffic crashes, which included 159 injuries and eight fatalities. Troopers also made 147 DWI arrests. During the 2023 counting period, 15 people were killed and 646 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,505 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated. The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, if other departments report fatalities after this news release was sent out, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition rather than a traffic/boating/drowning incident.

An accident occurred in Crawford County Monday afternoon at 12:25 on I-44 at the 214-mile marker in Bourbon. According to the Highway Patrol report a westbound 2023 GMC Sierra crashed as the driver, 56-year-old Travis Hall of St. James, had a medical issue. The GMC

travelled off the right side of the roadway striking a sign and a bridge. Hall suffered serious injuries and was flown by Arch Helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. The report stated that Hall was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The GMC was totaled and removed from the scene by Chris and Sons Towing.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is conducting an environmental study, called Forward 44, of more than 250 miles of Interstate 44 from the Oklahoma state line to the Route 100 east interchange near Gray Summit in Franklin County. This summer, MoDOT is holding a series of public meetings and encourages the public to give input on their concerns and observations along I-44. I-44 is a vital east-west link across Missouri. A 2008 study showed the aging route needs additional roadway capacity to accommodate the increased travel demand. Since the highway was built more than 50 years ago, evolving engineering standards and safety components mean many portions of I-44 are inconsistent with current design standards, and the pavement and bridges need repairs. The Forward 44 project is an effort to update and validate the outcomes of that 2008 Purpose and Need Study and provide the opportunity for input from stakeholders and the public along the I-44 corridor. MoDOT Assistant Southwest District Engineer Greg Chapman and lead for the Forward 44 study said that I-44 continues to be one of Missouri’s most important corridors for passenger travel and commercial trucking. This study is the first step in preparing for future projects along this interstate. He went on to note that getting input from the public who travel the roadway daily will help identify areas of concern and can assist MoDOT with improving safety and mobility for generations to come. The public is invited to attend one of the public meetings to be held along the I-44 corridor in Missouri. Of the five scheduled meetings the closest for Dent County residents will be Thursday evening, July 18th, from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street in Rolla. The public is welcome to attend the session and location that is most convenient. All meetings will share the same information which will also be available on the project website. The public will be able to provide comments in person or online at modot.org/forward44 from July 10 through Aug. 21. For more information on the I-44 Corridor Study and the dates and locations of other public meetings, call MoDOT at ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit the Forward 44 website for the latest updates and to sign up for Forward 44 news.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council are accepting nominations for the 2024 Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence. The annual award recognizes communities, institutions, businesses, organizations and individuals that make significant and long-lasting efforts to care for trees in their communities. The Arbor Award of Excellence shines the spotlight on anyone who has improved trees in their community. Any significant program, project, or event that contributes to the care or maintenance of trees could qualify for an award. Winners receive a framed award, a full registration scholarship to the MCFC conference in August, an extra ticket to the award banquet during the conference, a community forestry reference book, and a $50 gift card. Nominations are due by Monday, July 15. For more information and nomination forms, visit mdc.mo.gov.