Local News – Wednesday, March 18th, 2020

As of Tuesday morning, March 17th, the City of Salem Administration Building has posted a sign on the front door of the building that indicates the lobby is currently closed in response to the coronavirus. The sign mentions using the drive-through or drop box to make utility payments. You can call the office at 729-4117, e-mail administration@salemmo.com, or visit the City of Salem Facebook page for all other needs.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a meeting Monday at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the consent agenda, the board heard from Public Works Director Mark Nash about Fire Hydrant Saver Equipment that can save the city the cost of replacing three to five fire hydrants a year. The bid from Schulte Supply, Inc of Edwardsville, Illinois, was for $12,155.24. The bid was approved by a 3-2 vote with Mayor Brad Nash breaking the 2-2 tie vote thatn was caused when Aldermen Nash and James voting for the purchase and Alderwoman Hinderlighter and Steelman voted against it. In the Planning and Zoning Commission hearing and meeting, Chairman Gary Brown brought the results to the alderman of the vote taken on two proposed bills before the Board of Alderman meeting. The results were three votes for and three against to recommend to the aldermen to approve the proposed bills. The City Attorney said the aldermen may override any recommendation or non-recommendation by the committee with at least a 2/3rds majority vote as per current city ordinances. After the consent agenda, City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to remind everyone to use good hygiene, wash your hands and stay home if you are feeling ill. The board approved Bill #3439 that approved establishing rules for licensing domestic wineries within the city of Salem and the zoning of those establishments by a 3-1 vote with Alderman Nash voting against the bill. The board also approved Bill #3440 that approved establishing rules for licensing microbeweries, microwineries and meaderies within the city limits of Salem and the zoning of those establishments by a 3-1 vote with Alderman Nash voting against the bill. The board approved Bill #3441 that will annex the land between Southtown Furniture and Tiny’s Automotive owned by the Charles and Janet Cunnngham Trust by a 4-0 vote. The board approved the re-appointment of Rose Kinerk to the Salem Housing Authority Board of Commissioners for another four-year term effective February 16th, 2020. The board also approved leaving the MPR Pool Insurance Group for property and liability insurance coverage before going into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released reports for March 6th and 7th. On Friday, March 6th, a deputy traveled to an apartment on Odom Drive in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 22- year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. Finally on Saturday, March 7th, deputies responded to a residence in the 6500 block of East Highway 32 for a report of a 46- year-old Salem man who was in possession of a firearm and was acting erratic. While deputies were enroute to the residence, further information was received that said the man was now holding two subjects at gunpoint inside the residence. Deputies arrived on scene and set up a perimeter around the residence. After a short time, the Salem man walked out of the residence and surrendered himself. The man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail. He was charged with the unlawful use of a weapon, subsection 4 –exhibiting, unlawful use of a weapon, subsection 11 – possession of a weapon with a felony controlled substance, plus harassment in the 1st degree, armed criminal action, kidnapping in the 3rd degree, possession of controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana and/or synthetic cannabinoid, and the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The Salem man is currently being held on a $100,000 cash or professional surety bond. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information about an investigation.

With an increasing number of school closures around the state in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Missouri Department of Conservation announces that it must cancel its Missouri National Archery in the Schools (MoNASP) virtual state tournament. MDC MoNASP Coordinator Eric Edwards added that all teams and student archers who competed in a state-qualifying event will be eligible to pre-register for the National Archery in the Schools (NASP) national championship and will be placed in their tier based on their highest score in a state-qualifying tournament that took place this season, including the current virtual qualifying tournament listed at nasptournaments.org. The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) national tournament is scheduled for May 7-9 in Louisville, Kentucky. Edwards added that schools will only be eligible to have one team qualify for nationals. He says if you were an individual shooter, your high score will count. If you were part of a team, your individual score for the national-tier setting will be the score you shot when your team posted its highest score.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it has cancelled most public events and programs at its nature centers, shooting ranges, and other locations around the state until April 15th. The cancellations are effective immediately and include scheduled hunter education classes, nature center programs and events, shooting range programs and events, and landowner workshops. MDC scheduled managed hunts, mentored spring turkey hunts, and native plant sales at nature centers will continue as planned. All conservation areas remain open to the public. MDC offices, nature centers, and shooting ranges also remain open under normal operating hours. According to MDC, the cancellations are in effect immediately to protect the safety of the public amid ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns. People can contact their local MDC office, nature center, or shooting range with questions on specific events or programs.