News – Thursday, February 20th 2025

Associated Electric Cooperative, the wholesale power generator for Intercounty Electric, is requesting members conserve energy due to extreme winter weather and maximum load on the electric grid. The City of Salem is also asking citizens to conserve energy as well. To help safeguard the grid, please help conserve energy Thursday morning from 6:00 to 10:00 by lowering your thermostat a degree or two and turning off any non-essential electric devices. By taking these small steps to save energy together, we all can make a big difference. Remember, if a new peak demand is reached, it causes everyone’s bill to be higher.

An accident happened in Maries County on Highway 63 north of the Highway 28 junction. According to the highway patrol report, a 2012 Chrysler driven southbound by a 59-year-old male of Rolla, was slowing as the driver’s view was obstructed by snow. As the Chrysler was slowing down, a 39-year-old male from Vichy driving a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, failed to notice the reduction in speed and struck the Chrysler from behind. Suffering minor injuries in Chrysler was the driver and a 44-year-old female passenger from Columbia, Missouri. They were both taken by the Osage Ambulance to the Phelps Health Hospital with minor injuries. Everyone involved in the accident was wearing a seat restraint. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage. The Chrysler was removed from the scene by Plaza Towing while the Volkswagen was secured roadside.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting today at 5:30 in the R-80 Board Room. After the Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance the Board will approve the agenda and the consent agenda. The Board will hear communications from the Parker Family, student recognition of Salem High School by Maggie Hogan and be updated on ACT by Robyn Taylor. In the Superintendent’s Report CSIP Goals will be addressed, surveys will be discussed, and the WL/UE 1st grade transition plan will be reviewed. Administration reports will be heard from William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Athletics and Activities, Special Education, Technology, and Maintenance. In new business the board will approve the 2025-2026 School Calendar, dishwasher purchases, moving $18,264.56 from YOP checking to general account, budget revisions updating salaries, FEMA change orders, BalanceHQ contract, and Summer School dates of May 27 to June 13. The Board will address resignations, hires and transfers before adjourning and moving into Executive Session to hear personnel issues. Due to the recent weather this meeting could be cancelled or postponed. Visit KSMOradio.com and click on “Current Closures” to stay up to date.

Compass Health Network is seeking participants in Dent County for a focus group in order to gain valuable insights into the criminal justice system. You can share personal insights or experiences from friends and family. Their goal is to develop community-based strategies to enhance our community’s response to behavioral health needs. This program is being funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health. Please contact Julie Riggs, the Community Coordinator for Compass Health, at 573-247-9921 to share your feedback, and to ask any questions you have.

Missouri’s Drought Assessment Committee will meet at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon, February 26th, to coordinate a comprehensive state and federal response to drought conditions affecting portions of the state. The meeting is open to the public and will be live streamed via Webex at stateofmo.webex.com. The Drought Assessment Committee is composed of representatives from state and federal partner agencies who provide information, recommendations and coordination to mitigate impacts of the drought. Executive Order 24-13 declared a drought alert October 29th, 2024, until March 31st, 2025, for Missouri counties that are in moderate, severe, extreme or exceptional drought. Nearly all of Missouri has experienced at least abnormally dry conditions over the past year. Missouri was previously under a Drought Alert from May 2023 to September 2024 as well as from July 2022 to March 2023. This will be the committee’s first meeting in 2025. Residents are encouraged to assist local, state and national decision makers better understand drought conditions in their area by submitting a survey form via the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports service. Updated drought information, including a link to the U.S. Drought Monitor map of Missouri, is available at dnr.mo.gov/drought.