Local News – Wednesday, July 22, 2020

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Monday at the City Hall Council chambers. The board approved the request from Ahleesha Elwood, the director of His Place, to close off East Center Street from Pershing to Oak Street on July 31st for the purpose of holding a fundraiser to raise money for back to school supplies and to support His Place. Public Works Director Mark Nash presented the bids for the painting of the retention tanks and recommended the board go with Hogan’s inc. for $54,356 and the board approved his request. After the consent agenda, City Administrator Ray Walden said the final walk through of the TAP grant for the walking trail from Pavilion #1 to the Salem R-80 Administrative offices is close to completion. There were a few minor things yet to do before it is finished. Walden said bids to provide trash service for the city are being advertised. Bidders have the option to offer recycling or not of the type of recycling they do. The current contract with WCA expires at the end of September. Walden reported improvements have been made with the utility software vendor. He said the staff will be entering payment contracts for those who selected option 3, and it will have to be done before the next read cycle. Then the staff will enter the payment plan those who selected Option 2. Walden said if everything goes well, billing will be out the middle of next week for the June billing. Walden said the city has received the last shipment of water meters and they are scheduling them to be installed. Walden also said customers who pay with automatic withdrawal from their checking account are being called by staff to verify their status. Walden also reported work will going on at the administrative offices for about the next eight weeks. The board approved Bill #3454 that allows the mayor to sign the agreement with the Department of Natural Resources for the energy loan program for the City Administrative Offices, the Police Station, Old City Hall and the Salem Community Center @ The Armory. The board approved Bill #3455 that allows the mayor to sign the agreement with McKinstry Essention LLC for the installation of the energy system components and to measure and verify energy savings. The board went on to approve Bill #3456 that exchanges two pieces of property owned by Sherman and Marsha Odom for a piece of property owned by the city where the old jail was located. The board approved Resolution #16-2020 that allowed the mayor to sign the agreement between the city and People Centric Consulting Group. They have been working with the city and created an onboarding process for new employees to understand the different departments and the role they play as well as setting up manager meetings to attain goals. The board postponed action on Resolution #17-2020 which was an agreement with the Salem R-80 school district for the new pad mount transformer for the ag building, and they also postponed any discussion on airport hanger rental fees. The board did approved raising the midnight differential pay for the police department for the hours between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM from 20 cents per hour to $1.15 per hour above their regular hourly rate. The meeting was then adjourned.

The afternoon judging at the Expo on Friday started with the small animal show. Judge Brad Buttram from Hollister, Missouri selected Hunter Ryberg’s Market Meat Chicken Pen as Champion and Brystalin Ryberg’s as Reserve. Champion Market Meat Rabbit Pen went to Preston Perkins. Champion Senior Buck Rabbit went to Perkins, while Champion Junior Buck went to Ross Dunlap. Senior Doe Champion was won by McKinlee White and Junior Doe Champion went to Ross Dunlap. Junior Poultry Showmanship winner was Brystalin Ryberg. Junior Rabbit Showmanship award went to McKinlee White.

Judging at the Expo concluded late Friday afternoon with the Dairy and Beef Show, which started at 2:00. In the Dairy Division Kennedy Chapman exhibited the Champion Dairy Female, as well as the Reserve Champion. Bryce Mobray exhibited the Champion Angus Heifer, Ray Cunningham showed the Champion Hereford Heifer, while Brady Schafer had the Reserve Champion. Kaden Garrison showed the Champion Charolais Heifer, while Tiffany LuCerne exhibited the Reserve Champion. Bryce Mobray showed the Champion Crossbred Heifer. The Champion All Other Breeds Heifer was shown by Kallen Garrison. The Overall Champion Grand Heifer award went to Kaden Garrison’s Charolais Heifer and Bryce Mobray’s Angus Heifer won the Overall Reserve Grand Champion. John Cunningham exhibited the Champion Cow/Calf Pair with his Hereford cow and her heifer calf. During the Market Steer Show Class 1 winner was Kolten Stricklan’s 1075 pound steer, Class 2 was won by John Cunningham with a 1145 pound steer and Class 3 was won by Ray Cunningham with a 1195 pound calf. Class 4 win went to Tyffany LuCerne’s 1310 pounder, Class 5 was won by Byce Mobray’s 1380 pound calf, and Class 6 was won by Colson Seay with a 1495 pound steer. Tyffany LuCerne’s steer won the Champion trophy and Byce Mobray’s took home the Reserve Champion award. Pee-wee Bucket Calves were exhibited by Paige Cunningham, Henley Headrick and Ella Yates. Senior Showmanship honors for exhibitors 16 to 19 years of age went to Kaden Garrison, while Tyffany LuCerne won the 13 to 15 year old Intermediate Division and Kallen Garrison took home the trophy in 12 and under Junior Division.