Local News – Wednesday, March 7th, 2018

The Salem Park Board met Thursday night at City Hall Council Chambers. Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon gave an update on the Outdoor Adventure Camp, Youth Soccer, Alice Lou Craig Swimming Pool, Lifeguards, and Summer Kick off Sponsorship. The Outdoor Adventure Camp will offer a number of different activities for children and will start June 2nd. It will be held from 8:00 in the morning until noon, Monday-Friday. Each camper will receive a free healthy lunch. A person will come each day of the week through June and teach different skills. The cost of the total camp has not yet been determined, but Lydon wants to have an option of allowing participants to be able to pay day to day. Lydon said the Youth Soccer League will start April 7th through 28th on four consecutive Saturdays with five different age groups with more players this year than last. He reported on the work being done on the pool. New guttering is in place around the pool and through the shallow end for water return. The piping has been completed in the shallow end, and the concrete is being readied to be poured for the deck, zero depth area and behind the gutters. Crews are still working in the pump room. The pool will be completed by the 1st week of May. Lydon said he is still accepting lifeguard applications and he has 15 guards that are already hired. They will take part in the lifeguard training course taught at the swimming pool from May 21st-25th. He will have 5-6 guards at the pool at all time due to the water features and high volume of swimmers. Lydon reported Fidelity Communications will sponsor our bandstand at the Summer Kick off June 2nd. The sponsorship is $500 and they will have their banner on the stage. Lydon also reported on a grant he applied for called “Pitch in for Baseball.” This grant is for gently used Baseball equipment and he received that grant. Once soccer season is finished and signups for baseball takes place, he will know how much equipment he will need. Tye reported that Church League Signups are going on now for $250/team and the league will be on Monday nights starting April 2nd. The board discussed two Pool House bids that were received. The bid for renovation was advertised as required by ordinance and 2 bids were received. Cahill’s Construction Co. and Westport Pool Co. bid, but Cahill’s proposal did not have a stated dollar amount in the packet and was deemed to be an RFQ. After discussion, the board voted to recommend the Westport Pool Company’s proposal with option to change the sound system to the Board of Aldermen who approved the recommendation. Pool fees were also discussed but no decision was made yet on single day admission, family passes and parties. Joyce Bradley, with the Salem Garden Club came in to discuss planting seven additional trees at the entrance of the City Park that they will play for. The board approved recommending her proposal to the aldermen and the alderman approved the recommendation. Bradley presented the board with an idea for an Park Entrance sign that would be easy to see and read from both directions that would be made out of stone. The Garden Club will put $500 toward the sign and hoped the concrete work could be provided by the city. The meeting was then adjourned.

The deadline to sign up for the “Freeze Branding Workshop” at the University of Missouri Wurdack Farm, near Cook Station this Friday is TODAY! The workshop will be held from 3:00 to 5:30. The program is hosted by the University of Missouri Extension. There are still some openings available for those interested. The cost of the workshop is $10 per person. This workshop is designed to provide participants with “hands-on” training required to successfully administer freeze brands to their livestock. Topics for the workshop will include all necessary steps required for properly freeze branding livestock using liquid nitrogen or dry ice, as well as information pertaining to the Missouri Brand Law. To provide hands-on instruction, participants will have the opportunity to assist in freeze branding replacement heifers at MU Wurdack Farm. For more information or to reserve a space, please contact Ted Cunningham, Livestock Specialist at the Dent County MU Extension Office at 729-3196.

An accident happened in Dent County on Route C about five miles west of Salem Tuesday morning at 5:30. According to the highway payroll report, a 1994 Chevrolet Silverado driven westbound by 36-year old Randy Turner of Edgar Springs, crossed the centerline and struck head-on an eastbound 2006 Ford Freestyler driven by 35-year old Jovan Young of Rolla. Young suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital before being flown to SSM St. Clare Health Care in Fenton. Young was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident while Turner was not. Both vehicles were totaled in the accident and were removed by American Muffler and Tire.

The Salem Area Arts Council is sponsoring “Art Across the Ages” now through March 30th at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center (ONCRC) in Salem to celebrate Youth Art Month. This is a wonderful display of the amazing talent found within this area, and the work of artists of all ages and all types of media. The display is free to visit at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center is located at 202 South Main in Salem.
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