Local News – Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019

An accident happened Sunday night at 9:10 in Dent County at the junction of Highway 72 and Route J that took the life of a Salem man. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara driven southbound by 23-year old Megan Caesar of Salem, was stopped in the merge lane to turn onto Route J when a 2018 GMC Pickup driven northbound by 61-year old Cynthia Fruehauf of Greenbrier, Arkansas, crossed the center line and struck the Suzuki head-on. A passenger in the Suzuki, 72-year old Timothy Gibson of Salem was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead by Dr. White at 11:11 Sunday night. Fruehauf suffered serious injuries and was Air Evac’d to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Caesar suffered serious injuries as well and was Air Evac’d to the University Hospital in Columbia as was another passenger in the Suzuki, 61-year old James Gibson of Salem who also suffered serious injuries. Everyone but James Gibson was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night for their regular scheduled board meeting. The board approved the request from Randy League of the Midwest Blue Oval Club to close the streets around the courthouse square on September 7th for the Current River Blue Oval Car Rally. Public Works Director Mark Nash presented five bids for used tractors for the street department and the board approved his recommendation of a 2014 John Deer 6115R that includes a diamond boom mower for $52,000 delivered. This tractor can clean ditch lines and also can extend in the air to clear overhanging branches and vines as well. It does the work of two tractors with one man. City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to remind everyone of the Independence Day Parade starting at 6:00 Thursday night followed by the fireworks display at about 9:15 to 9:30 at the Commons. He wanted to remind the public they are not allowed to bring and shoot fireworks on the Commons property before, during or after the display. Walden said the city offices would be closed on Thursday for the 4th of July. He also said MoDOT gave the go ahead to advertise for bids for the TAP grant to build the trail from the City Park pavilion to the Salem R-80 Administrative Offices. The bids will be due on Tuesday, July 23rd at 1:30 at the city administrative offices and a pre-bid meeting will be held July 11th at 1:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Walden reported the Salem Community Center had 4,120 participants in April and 5,017 in May. He also stated an Economic Development Workshop will be held on July 11th at 5:30 at the Dent County Fire Station. He also said he would send the aldermen a list of meeting dates to set up a nuisance workshop that would be open to the public. They can get back with him as to the dates that fit their schedule best. The board approved Resolution #16-2019 with the Dent County Commission, Collector and Treasurer that would allow the county collector to bill and collect the City of Salem real estate, personal property and Salem Public Library taxes through 2023. The board also approved Bill #3422 to create an ordinance to allow the subdividing of a parcel of land at 202, 204 and 206 West Fourth Street. On Bill #3423 to approve a change order agreement for the old middle school, there was a lot of discussion that the city should not have to pay all the additional monies for asbestos abatement as they felt the engineering firm, Environmental Operations, Inc., did not do enough due diligence in their assessment of the old middle school. It was found that there was additional caulking behind each window that was assessed in the school from the original windows that were put in the building which must be removed. Alderman Shelton and Hinderliter voted to approve the additional monies to keep the project moving with the possibility of recourse against Environmental Operations, Inc. while Aldermen James and Nash voted against the bill. Mayor Brad Nash voted to move forward and approved the ordinance with the tie breaking vote. City Clerk Mary Happel said that the Park Street Trailer Court still has not submitted an application for a new license and she was going to contact them and let them know they are in violation and may be subject to penalties. She also has been approached by some people about the UTV ordinance that states they must have turn signals. Many of the models do not have signals and she wanted direction of the board as to leave the ordinance as is or change it. The board voted to remove the requirement to have turn signals on UTV’s from the ordinance. The board approved the repair or replacement of a number of transformers for the Electric Department from Solomon Corporation that totaled $14,680.00. Administrator Walden said $30,000 had been budgeted for this project. The board then went into closed session to discuss contracts and personnel.

Captain Eddie Blaylock, commanding officer of Troop I, announces that during the 4th of July holiday weekend, troopers will conduct a hazardous moving enforcement operation, in Crawford County. This is one of many enforcement projects being conducted through the holiday weekend, which starts today and ends on July 7th. Troopers assigned to this project will direct their efforts to Interstate 44 in Crawford County. Special emphasis on speed, following too close, aggressive driving, and driving impaired will be their primary focus. Captain Blaylock would like to remind travelers to designate a sober driver or sober captain if your holiday plans include alcohol. Captain Blaylock also reminds the public that emergencies on the road or on the water can be reported by dialing *55 on their cellular telephone.