News – Wednesday, November 13th 2024

MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge, MRPC Planning Manager Anne Freund. MoDOT Central District Area Engineer Preston Kramer, the Dent County Commission, Zach Moser from the Dent County Health Department, Salem City Administrator Sally Burbridge and Salem Public Works Director Steve Paine were in attendance to the Dent County Transportation Needs annual meeting held at the Dent County Courthouse, November 4th. Kramer said the “Standing Rock Bridge” in Gladden on Highway 19 is on the STIP program and the contract has been awarded on the project, but no pre-construction meeting has yet been held. The group discussed all the identified transportation needs from previous years and then added four new ones to the list. They are the Highway 19 Bridge in the north part of Salem over Spring Creek, the bridge on Route B at the Meramec River near Max, the intersection on Routes K & Z as well as Dent County Road 6180, and the intersection of Highway 32 and 72 at the west end of Salem. There was also discussion on the issues caused by the new entrance to McDonalds on Highway 32-72 at Highway 19 where people heading eastbound are turning left into McDonalds from the designated westbound left turn lane to go south Highway 19. The priorities determined from the meeting are still a new bridge on Route TT over Crooked Creek and that work is currently being scoped by MoDOT engineers, a new bridge over the West Fork of the Huzzah Creek on Highway 32 which is also being scoped by MoDOT engineers, new this year is to replace the Highway 19 Bridge in Salem over Spring Creek, and the addition of a right turn lane heading north on Highway 19 at the intersection of Roosevelt. If additional money becomes available for road repair, the high priority unfunded projects would be for new shoulders and alignment on Route B about two-tenths of a mile from County Road 5390, and for new shoulders and safety improvements on Highway 119 to Montauk. The board also reviewed multimodal needs such as the need for increase or availability of public transportation for everyone such as the services provided by the SMTS busses for the public as well as for non-medical needs after hours, adding sidewalks on the east side of Highway 19 from Center Street to Highway 32, adding sidewalks from Route J to Highway 72 north, and adding sidewalks from Carty Street to the Craig Industrial Drive on Highway 32 East (Scenic Rivers BLVD). Also discussed was adding crosswalks at Highway 32-72 and Babb Lane, crosswalks at Highway 32-72 at the Warfel/Doss Road intersection, and adding crosswalks at Highway 19 at Center Street as well as Highway 19 at Franklin. There was discussion to possibly turn the Second Street bridge in the city that is currently closed into a pedestrian and/or bike bridge, to paint bike paths on the shoulders of Highway 32-72 east from the city limits to Highway 19 where it is wide enough, and more. Prigge said this information will be discussed when the MRPC and other regional commissions get together with MoDOT to address transportation issues on December 12th at the MRPC Transportation Advisory Committee meeting.  

Between October 5th to October 18th there were a total of 194 calls to the Salem Police Department for service. Officers conducted 24 traffic stops for various traffic violations with 5 resulting in a summons or arrest. Officers conducted 5 traffic accident investigations along with 5 informational reports. The following reports were generated from those calls. On Sunday, October 6th, at approximately 12:00 noon officers were dispatched to the intersection of Missouri Highway 19 and Truman Street for a report of a disturbance. It was reported that a group of 17–18 year-olds were fighting. While investigating the incident one of the male subjects was very intoxicated and continuing to try to fight and be belligerent. As a result, an 18-year-old Rolla male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. The next day at approximately 5:00 in the afternoon officers were dispatched to Wal Mart for a report of shoplifting. It was reported that a female employee had been caught stealing approximately $150 worth of items. As a result, a 74-year-old Salem female was arrested and released on summons for shoplifting. Then on the evening of Tuesday the 8th 6:00 officers arrested a male subject who had an active capias warrant out of Dent County. The male subject was contacted during another unrelated investigation. Found on the male was a syringe that field tested for Methamphetamine. As a result, a 26-year-old Salem male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Finally on Thursday night of the 10th at approximately 10:00 officers were dispatched to Dirt Cheap for a report of shoplifting. It was reported a male subject had stolen items from the store. After a brief investigation a 37-year-old male from Sullivan, Missouri was arrested and issued summons for shoplifting. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Creative Arts Center in Salem will hold a class on personalizing “Little Golden Books” this evening from 5:00 to 8:00 with Gail Phelan. Attendees will take a Little Golden Book and personalize it with additional pages, pockets, and tags as well as hidden places for notes and stickers. The class is open to those ten years of age and older, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The cost of the class is $20 and all supplies are included. There must be four people sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to eight. On Friday, there will be a “This or that” Fall Paint N’ Sip class from 6:30 to 9:00 in the evening with Danielle Norris. You choose which painting you would like to paint, and the artist will walk you step by step through the whole process! Guests may bring their favorite beverages and snacks to this event. The class is open to those 13 years of age and older, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The cost of the class is $25 and all supplies are included. There must be six people sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to 25. To sign up for either class you can go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center.