Local News – Wednesday, September 7th, 2022
Parks and Recreation Board Members Amanda Duncan, Angie Curley and Crystal Pilkington have called for a meeting of the Board for this evening at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory located at 1200 W. Rolla Road. After the call to order and roll call will be the review and approval of minutes, the Parks and Recreation Director Report, the election of officers, and a closed session, followed by adjournment. Except for the closed session the meeting will be open to the public.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that five people died in traffic crashes, one person died in a boating crash, and one person drowned during the 2022 Labor Day holiday weekend. The Patrol investigated four of the traffic fatalities while the Springfield Police Department investigated one traffic fatality. The 2022 counting period for the Labor Day holiday was from 6:00 Friday evening, September 2nd, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, September 5th. The Highway Patrol investigated 276 traffic crashes resulting in 97 injuries and four fatalities. The patrol also made 113 DWI arrests and 66 drug arrests. On the area waterways the patrol investigated seven boating crashes involving 3 injuries and one fatality. The patrol also made five boating while intoxicated arrests and investigated one drowning and made 8 drug arrests. The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, if other departments report fatal traffic or boating crashes after this news release was published, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition rather than a boating or traffic incident.
The Salem Nutrition Center needs volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels for the month of September. If you have an hour to give, that would help make a difference in their client’s lives to receive much needed meals. Please consider helping the seniors of Dent County! Call Jody Schaefer, the lead Senior Center Administrator with Aging Best at 729-2373 with any questions or concerns!
The Missouri Prairie Foundation and the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History will hold a native plant sale on Saturday, September 24th, at 601 N Hickory Street in Salem from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. Native plant vendor, Gaylena’s Garden, will sell native wildflowers, grasses, sedges, vines, shrubs, and trees. Five percent of plant sale proceeds will be donated to the Bonebrake Center. Shoppers can stroll through the sale and purchase plants. Gaylena’s Garden will accept only cash or checks at the sale. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own crates or boxes for bringing their purchased plants home. Shoppers can also pre-order plants and have their orders ready for pick up at the event. When placing your pre-orders, please include your phone number and note that the order is for the Bonebrake Center sale in Salem on September 24. You can see the list of plants at the Gaylena’s Garden Facebook page and email your order to gaylenasgarden@gmail.com by Friday, September 23rd, at noon.
The Dent County Health Clinic located at 1010 East Scenic River Blvd will have 50 doses of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine available this Thursday, September 8th. Novavax is a non-mRNa Covid-19 vaccine, that uses traditional vaccine technology. Call the Health Department today for more information at 573-729-3106.
Nature Journaling is part of the Women’s Outdoors Program. The class will be held at Echo Bluff State Park in the Bluff Top Pavilion on Thursday. During the class women will learn tips and tricks of journaling, explore water-colored pencils, and tonal paper. Please bring your own journal if you have one. For more information or to register contact Connie at 573-751-1224 or email connie.weber@dnr.mo.gov.
Salem has an increased risk of flash flooding when the spring and summer rains begin. In the past, severe flash flooding has caused damage to homes and property. However, major flooding can occur at any time of the year and cause millions of dollars of damage over a widespread area. The city of Salem participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that ensures the availability of flood insurance for homeowners, tenants, and businesses. It also brings with it some requirements in order for the city to participate. While severe flooding usually comes in cycles, it is not limited to certain decades or areas, warns the National Weather Service. Since January 1990, Missouri received 35 disaster declarations involving flooding that exceeded local and state response capabilities, marking the most recent for the flood events that occurred in July 2022. Each year, Missouri communities experience numerous localized flooding events that do not merit a federal disaster declaration. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Salem has had 13 flooding events between 2001-2020. Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) serves as the floodplain administrator for the city of Salem and is available to answer questions. The NFIP is managed by FEMA and delivered to the public by insurance companies. If there is not a federal disaster declaration that includes aid for individuals, flood insurance is the only financial protection for personal losses. Flood insurance is not provided in the basic homeowner’s, business, or tenant’s policy. Flood insurance must be purchased under a separate policy through your local insurance agent in participating communities. Salem residents need to know that a floodplain development permit may be required if they are planning construction, remodeling or substantial improvements to structures located within a floodplain. This includes rehab work to homes that have been flooded. For more information on permits, please contact Tammy Snodgrass at MRPC at 573-265-2993 or by email at tsnodgrass@meramecregion.org.