News

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their regular meeting Thursday evening at the district administrative offices. A Calendar Hearing was held in accordance with state law for schools who start before Labor Day and there were no objections to start school in August. After approval of the agenda, Superintendent Cindy Rumpf stated that summer school would be held May 29^th through June 15 and packs have already been sent with pre-kindergarten through 5^th grade children. Senior High Principal John Smith said that the school renewed the memorandum of understanding with the Missouri College Advising Corps where the senior high has a no-cost college advisor. Kelly Sample is the current advisor and will return next year. Michael Walden was then recognized for being a Merit Scholarship finalist and he was also named to the Missouri Scholar 100 Program as being one of the top 100 scholars in the state. Upper Elementary Principal Melanie Wisdom announced that 12 children would be going to the MoNASP competition in Warrensburg on March 24^th. Elementary School Principal Kriste Crocker said that there were 68 children registered for kindergarten next year. The board set the organizational meeting date for April 5^th at 7:30 that will also include a budget workshop. The board approved the MSBA policy service for $1,710 and another $950 for network service for website, plus they approved the school calendar for the 2012-2013 school year starting August 15^th and ending on May 14^th. The board also approved a surplus property list that will include old weights from the weight room and other equipment. The board accepted the resignations of Theresa Walker, a resource aide at the Upper Elementary School, ag-ed instructor Cindy Danehy, Junior High 9^th grade American History teacher Natalie Sellers, and David Beeson as the JV Girls and Junior High Girls Basketball Coach. The board then went into closed session to discuss personnel and coaches. In closed session, Carey Davidson resigned as the girls softball coach while all the other coaches were rehired. The teachers for all the Salem schools were also rehired. The meeting was then adjourned.

Dent County Coroner Gina White has released her report on the human remains that were found back in January near Wal-Mart. According to her report, the Coroner’s Office was contacted by the Salem Police Department on January 26, 2012, at 11:28 in the morning to request assistance in the woods just west of the Wal-Mart parking lot. An individual walking in the woods found a skeleton and contacted the Salem Police Department. Scott Harris, Deputy Coroner, collected the skeletal remains and assisted the Salem Police with the collection of evidence. Coroner Gina White transported the remains to the Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office on January 27, 2012. Dr. Russell Harrison, Forensic Odontolgist, made positive identification from the dental records. At the scene Danny F. Fleming’s backpack was located with his ID. The family was located and spoke with the Salem Chief of Police Keith Steelman and Dent County Coroner Gina White. They confirmed that Mr. Fleming had last been seen around April of 2009 when they dropped him off at the Salem Treatment Center. At that time, he stated that he didn’t know if he would check in or go to the Motel and drink for a couple of days. The family also stated that he liked to go to the woods by Wal-Mart and drink. A description of the clothing he would have worn matched what was found at the scene. The family assisted in obtaining the dental records that were used to make the Positive ID. No trauma or foul play was suspected. The exact cause of death is unknown.

An accident occurred at 9:18 Sunday morning in Crawford County on Interstate 44 about two miles west of Sullivan. According to the highway patrol report, a 1933 Ford driven by 69-year old Charles Hadley of St. James ran off the right side of the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned while ejecting Hadley. Hadley suffered moderate injuries and airlifted to the St. Johns Hospital in Creve Coeur. An occupant, 65-year old Betty Krulik, suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. Neither were wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled in the accident and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

Sports [TOP]