Local News – Wednesday, March 21st, 2018
The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night at the Salem City Council Chambers. The board approved the chip and seal bid from Missouri Petroleum out of St. Louis for 30,000 square yards of chip and seal for $2.37 per square yard for a total of $71,100. The board made no decision on the purchase of a backhoe for the construction company before hearing from Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon. He was informing the board he will purchasing refrigerators, freezers, ice maker and other equipment through funds provided by Healthy Dent County for the Health Foods Initiative that will be in effect at the park. He also reported that SACBA will be paying $7,000 toward a new entrance sign for the city park that includes the materials, concrete pad and electric lights. Lydon also let the board know that he wanted to sell signs to businesses for the city park fences and offer team sponsorships if they wanted. City Administrator Ray Walden gave the traffic survey results of the study done on Grand Street by Officer Allan Kimrey that showed 36 cars parked on the east side of the street while another 12 cars parked on the west side. There were 262 private parking spaces available in the lot and very few were being used. The board decided to eliminate parking on both sides of Grand Street from 1st to 3rd Streets. Walden gave his report where he thanked Rob Benowitz and all those involved with this year’s 100-Acre Wood Road Rally for making it another success. He said the school will have another volunteer day on April 3rd, and another visioning meeting will be held April 9th from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory which the public is invited to attend. The board approved Bill #3367 that corrected the fee for sewer inspections from $25 to $30; approved Bill #3368 that establishes a Commercial Plan Review Fee of 65% of the building permit fee for commercial projects; and approved Bill #3369 that allows the Mayor to execute an agreement between the city and Westport Pools, Inc. for a change order for the bath house renovations at the city pool. The board approved adopting a policy for Livable Streets as presented by Alderwomen Shelton that says any new street development would have to have sidewalks unless exempted by the aldermen. The board approved the appointment of Sarah Ziske Swindell to the Library Board and the re-appointment of Doris Stempniak to the Housing Authority Board. The board went on to approve setting a public hearing for the annexation of property into the city recently purchased by the Phelps County Regional Medical Center on Highway 32-72 West. The board then went into closed session.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On March 13th, deputies received a report of an identity theft. It was reported that a Verizon account had been falsely open in the victim’s name. This report is still under investigation. On March 15th, deputies responded to a residence on Dent County Road 5320 for a theft. It was reported that a black, singe axle, ten-foot trailer was stolen from a barn. The trailer has a metal frame with wooden boards on the sides and has white wheels without hubcaps and fender flares. It also has a lift gate and a toolbox on it. This report is still under investigation. That same day, deputies responded to call to the Seville Care Center parking lot for a verbal domestic. During the investigation, it was revealed that 43-year old Salem man involved had a felony warrant from Lafayette County. He was arrested, taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. If you have any information about an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.
Highway 106 in Shannon County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction as the Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform bridge maintenance. The bridge over the Jacks Fork River is located at Alley Springs between Shannon County Road 308 and Shannon County Road 423. Weather permitting, work will take place Wednesday, March 21 through Thursday, March 29 from 7:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).
An accident happened in Texas County Monday afternoon at 12:25 on Route AT about six miles northwest of Licking. According to the highway patrol report, a 1995 Mercury Cougar driven by 33-year old Sarah Tow of Licking traveled off then roadway and struck a tree. Tow suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to Texas County Medical Center. The Mercury sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by a family member. Tow was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.