Local News – Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem will hold their annual 4th of July Independence Day Parade Thursday evening starting at 6:00. This year’s Grand Marshall is Salem Police Chief Joe Chase. There will be a total of 93 entries in the parade which will leave from the SBU-Salem campus and progress east on Franklin to MacArthur. The parade will then make a left turn and travel north to 4th Street where the parade will veer right and head down to the Dent County Courthouse. Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the parade. Bring your lawn chairs and cold beverages to stay well hydrated. If you can’t make it to the parade, KSMO Media will be streaming the parade LIVE on the KSMO Stream Facebook page, the KSMO YouTube channel and on ksmoradio.com which is our Twitch channel. All three of the streams are free and will be available at the KSMO website home page (ksmoradio.com). The parade will probably begin streaming around 6:15. If you can’t watch it live, it will be archived for playback at a later time. Don’t forget about the fireworks display out at The Commons starting at dark Thursday night, plus there will be other activities going on there as well.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds Missouri’s travelers to make smart choices for a safe July Fourth holiday. Whether planning to visit one of Missouri’s recreational opportunities or hosting a backyard barbecue, everyone should make safety part of their plans. No matter how you decide to celebrate, your smartest choice is to follow all Missouri traffic or boating laws. During the 2023 traffic counting period, 15 people were killed and 646 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,505 traffic crashes. Last year, troopers arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri roadways to enforce traffic and boating laws, and offering assistance as needed. The Highway Patrol will participate in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort). And for those on the water, the Highway Patrol will participate in Operation Dry Water. Operation Dry Water specifically targets impaired vessel operators. Missouri’s boaters are asked to do their part by remaining alert for other boats and swimmers and being courteous on the water. During the  2023 counting period, 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. The 2024 July Fourth holiday counting period will be from 6:00 this evening, and lasting through 11:59  Sunday night, July 7th. Anyone needing assistance or who witnesses criminal activity while traveling on Missouri’s roadways can contact the nearest Highway Patrol troop headquarters by calling the Patrol Emergency Report Line at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone.

The Salem Memorial Hospital’s board of directors hired their current Chief Financial Officer Kayla Chamberlain as the new interim CEO Friday during a special closed session meeting to replace Wes Murray whose contract expired on June 30th. He was employed on May 13th as the Interim CEO until Brooke Bollman was to step in as the new CEO on July 1st. A release sent by the hospital made no mention as to the status of Bollman and why she did not take over on Monday. Murray was thanked by the board for his leadership and guidance during the continued transition of the hospital.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks encourages community members to take the plunge to save lives. Give the gift of life at the blood drive in Salem on Tuesday, July 9th from 12:00 noon until 6:00 at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at 201 North MacArthur. Successful donors will receive a plush, adult-sized beach towel, while supplies last. The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks donors provide all the blood for patients at Salem Memorial District Hospital, as well as over 40 other healthcare facilities across the Ozarks. To help avoid wait times, appointments are strongly encouraged. Donors can schedule an appointment at www.cbco.org/donate-blood/ or by calling 417-227-5006.

With dry weather around the state, the Missouri Department of Conservation reminds everyone to be especially careful with fireworks, campfires, and other sources of fire that could cause a wildfire. During this year’s 4th of July celebration, don’t light fireworks in any areas where the sparks could ignite dry grass, leaves, or other potential fire fuel. Always have an approved fire extinguisher and an available water supply to douse sparks or flames. Wet the area around where fireworks are being discharged. Remember that fireworks are not allowed on conservation areas. Be sure to check with local ordinances and authorities for bans or limitations on fireworks. Within the Salem city limits fireworks are allowed to be discharged between July 1st, through July 6th, from 8:00 in the morning to 10:00 in the evening with the exception of the 4th, when that time is extended to midnight. It’s important to remember that fireworks shall not be used on any public property, public roadway, or from a motor vehicle. Be aware of your surroundings as dry grass, high temperatures, low humidity, and wind make fire nearly impossible to control. Check with local fire departments regarding burn bans that may be in place. A person who starts a fire for any reason is responsible for any damage it may cause. Call 911 at the first sign of a fire getting out of control.