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•Spring Creek Artisans present Hearts Day
•Gift of Time nominees announced
•Dent County kids are better off than a year ago
•Salem’s history on display at ONCRC
•ALDERMEN: City continues to seek alterative power supply
•Commission will pay Nash trial bill, want more information
Father continues search for abducted children
by Dwayne McClellan
Staff Writer
newsstaff@earthlink.net
Jason Midyett had planned a perfect reunion for him and his two boys when they were to be reunited May 31, 2009.
He never got that chance even though a court order said he was supposed to have that opportunity.
The boys, Wilman, now eight, and Oliver, five and-a-half, along with their mother, Jetta Kae (Niehouse) Midyett, 29, have been on the run since that May 31 date avoiding law enforcement authorities.
Jason Midyett said his life has been turned upside down and he's missing valuable time.
"It's been frustrating, not knowing where they are, if they're safe or not, and the conditions they're living in," he said Wednesday afternoon. "It's extremely hard on me as a dad to know everyday that you have children out there, but you don't know where they are or when you will see them again."
Jason Midyett said there have been many sleepless nights and his nerves aren't what they used to be. The experience has taken its toll on him mentally and there have been battles against depression.
"What really hurts is missing out on their growing up, not being able to tell them stories and being with them during good or bad times. They grow up so fast and once you miss out on certain opportunities they're gone for good. I miss being a dad, going out and playing games with the boys, being able to laugh and cry with them, all the things that a parent should be doing."
Authorities have been searching for the boys and their mother, but no one seems to know where they are.
Jetta Midyett has two Dent County warrants out for her arrest on two felony charges of child abduction, a Class B and Class D felony. In addition there is also a federal warrant out for her arrest on a charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Dent County Sheriff Rick Stallings said his office continues to follow up on any and all leads.
"We're actively working on it all the time and we're being assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol," Stallings said Tuesday." It's not a case that is sitting there."
Any information on the boys or Jetta Midyett can be given to the Dent County Sheriff's Office at 729-3241. All information will be kept confidential.
The two boys had been living with their mother since the two parents separated in January 2006. But a May 2009 court order gave sole legal custody of Wilman and Oliver to Jason. A court order ruled that Jetta was supposed to deliver the two boys to Jason at the Dent County Sheriff's Office on May 31.
That's when Jason Midyett said he planned what he thought was a perfect reunion.
"I had planned on taking them camping at Montauk State Park," Jason said. "I bought some camping equipment, sleeping bags for the boys, a tent, got some firewood and some food. I loaded everything in my truck and started for the sheriff's department."
Midyett, now a conservation agent in Phelps County, said on the way to the sheriff's department, he was excited and couldn't get there fast enough. He had transferred from Cassville so he could be closer to the boys.
But that reunion never came. Jetta never showed up.
Court records indicate that Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Tyler Stewart and Dent County Sheriff's Deputy Rod Jackson followed Jason Midyett to Jetta's last known residence and her parents said Jetta was not there, that she had left several days before with the boys. Dave and Donna Niehouse said Jetta had taken the boys to protect them.
Jason said the last time he saw and spoke with the boys was a supervised visit Nov. 18,2008. He said the boys "really opened up to me" and when the court order came down he was looking forward to being a dad and telling them stories, taking them hunting and fishing, attending their ballgames etc.
"My family hasn't seen the boys since 2005 and I was looking forward to showing them they have another family that loves and cares for them very much," Jason said.
Law enforcement officials have posted flyers throughout the area, information on the case has been posted on the Internet and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has taken an active role in the search.
Jason Midyett said he's assisted law enforcement officials with any information he has and has decided to let law enforcement do its job.
In the meantime, he says he prays daily for their safe return and has the emotional support from his family, friends and co-workers.
"I just pray that if people see these flyers and know something that they'll do the right thing and step forward with any information," Jason Midyett said. ?Everyday that the boys are gone is an experience and time that can never be made up. I miss being a dad and having the opportunity of being a parent."
Spring Creek Artisans present Hearts Day
by Brenda Jessen
Staff Writer
newsstaff@earthlink.net
Spring Creek Artisans (SCA) spring Hearts Day event Saturday will offer unique sweetheart gifts and a memorial tribute to a longtime member.
The annual Hearts Day event will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, located at the corner of Hickory and Rolla Road.
In memory of longtime SCA member and past president Edythe Gayle Gable, her folk art will be available during Hearts Day.
Edythe passed away Jan. 8. She was a treasured member of the Spring Creek Artisans for eight years, serving as its president for three of those years.
"She was a mentor to all SCA members, ensuring that we all stuck to our creed of producing handmade, original, quality art for sale to our customers," said Kathy Freeze, current SCA President.
Freeze recalls Edythe giving her words of wisdom when she took over the volunteer position.
"Edythe told me to make sure to always tell new members to finish their work before presenting it for sale, ensuring quality art," Freeze said. "Edythe will be truly missed at our shows."
A showing of Edythe's work also will be featured by The Bank of Salem and co-sponsored by the SCA. Exhibit dates will be announced later and her art will be for sale while at the bank.
As part of the artisans? Hearts Day "Have a Heart" campaign this year, the SCA is asking visitors to bring a can or small bag of dog or cat food to be donated to the Dent County Animal Shelter, or feel free to make a monetary donation to be taken to the Shelter the next week.
Hearts Day offers knit items, jewelry, stained glass, oil, acrylic and water color, wooden rocking horses, hand-carved birds and fish, treenware, baskets, homemade soap, candles, embroidery, quilted pillows, hand-sewn items, folk art, special valentine gifts such as candy, decorative boxes, comic valentine dolls and hearts.
The show is sure to offer something for everyone. Members of the Spring Creek Artisans will display and sell unique crafts made by talented local crafters and feature a variety of gifts, many perfect for Valentines Day. Everyone is invited to stop by for coffee and spiced cider. In addition, free blood pressure screening will be available.
Salem's Artisans group has been making handcrafted collectibles and fine art for more than 20 years. The Bonebrake Center serves as the groups meeting place and contact office for information about the group.
They lean toward the old, traditional arts stemming from our American heritage. Their products are made from scratch. The artisan creates from raw materials as opposed to assembling ready-made objects.
Founded in 1987 as a non-profit organization promoting both original craft and fine art media, Spring Creek Artisans has about 20 juried members. To be juried, an Artisan's work must be reviewed and approved by the Spring Creek Artisans.
Artisans showing during Hearts Day include: Bill Germain, Tana Kettner, Wanda Nickles, Carole Oster, Bob and Pat Perry, David Plank, Ellen Reynolds, Shirley Seay, Donald Stokes, Harold Thomas, Kathy Freeze, Wayne Lough, Davis Spurlock, Eddie Schmid, Elizabeth and Kevin Nenno.
For more information contact the Bonebrake Center at (573) 729-3400.
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Gift of Time nominees announced
by Brenda Jessen
Staff Writer
newsstaff@earthlink.net
Salem Area Community Betterment Association (SACBA) has announced nominees for its annual Gift of Time Awards.
SACBA will host its annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at The Gathering Room, Grace Community Church.
The awards honor citizens and organizations for their volunteer contributions to community betterment and enhancement.
Individuals nominated include:
•Jim and Jan Almond;
•Jay Anderson;
•James Coffman;
•Jann Craig;
•Verla Floyd;
•Bonnie Gray;
•Houlie Ibrahim;
•Pat Johnson;
•Gary and Shirley Larson;
•Dan Salyer and Jeff Sellers;
•Julie Salyer;
•Mary Lou Smith;
•Rev. Doug Walter;
•Pam Webber;
•Deloris Gray Wood;
Organizations nominated include:
•Dent County Fire Protection District Firefighters;
•Dent County Salvation Army Service Unit Board of Directors; and
•Salem Memorial District Hospital Auxiliary.
An anonymous selection panel, non-members of the SACBA board, will select award winners.
Nomination categories included education; community enhancement; arts and culture; youth: adult organizations that work for youth; youth or youth organizations; humanitarian; and historic preservation.
Gift of Time Awards will be presented to an individual and an organization in each category for volunteer work done during 2009.
Tickets are available at the Visitors Center and from SACBA board members. There is a cost. For more information contact Liz Gruendel at 729-7194.
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Dent County kids are better off than a year ago
by Brenda Jessen
Staff Writer
newsstaff@earthlink.net
Dent County ranked 51st out of Missouri's 114 counties and St. Louis City, when it comes to the well being of children, according to the latest KIDS COUNT in Missouri 2009 report.
The county's new composite ranking improved from its 59th ranking a year ago.
Locally, children are faring better now than in previous years in eight of the 10 measures used to assess their well being, according to the report.
For a sixth consecutive year, Dent County's annual high school dropout rate has shown improvement. The latest report shows a one-percent improvement over last year to a dropout rate of 2.0 percent between 2004 and 2008. The county's rank is 27.
Salem R-80 School Superintendent Steve Bryant was out-of-town and not available for comment.
Schools implementing specialized programs and dedicated efforts by faculty have had a positive impact on the local dropout rate, according to school officials. R-80 has also implemented intervention programs, even at the elementary level, to help students who need it as early as possible.
These programs include the Alternative Program and the GED Options program, (a computer-based catch-up program) to assist students who have fallen behind in credit eligibility.
Other areas that changed for the better from a year ago included: child abuse and neglect; child deaths ages one to 14; out-of-home placement entries; births to teens ages 15-19; births to mothers without a high school diploma; and violent deaths ages 15 to 19.
The Kids Count report ranked each Missouri county and St. Louis City from one to 115. Osage County, located just outside the State Capital in Jefferson City, was ranked as the state's most kid-friendly area, based on a composite of all Kids Count measures. St. Charles County was second, with Platte, Andrew and Worth counties rounding out the top five.
The bottom five on the county rankings list include, St. Louis City with the lowest ranking, with Dunklin, Pemiscot, Ripley and Sullivan counties at the bottom.
The only changes for the worse in Dent County again was in the number of students eligible for the free or reduced school lunch program with Dent County ranked 95th statewide, up from 93rd last year; and low birth weight infants ranking was 98th.
The annual report, produced by Citizens for Missouri's Children (CMC), shows that statewide, children fared better on six out of 10 primary indicators of child welfare, but increasing signs of poverty and lack of access to affordable healthcare continue to pose serious challenges for their future well being and success.
The annual report looks at the status of Missouri's children in such areas as health, education, financial security, juvenile justice and child protection. Despite improving trends in several of these areas, leading child advocates caution that many more families are now struggling to provide adequate care for their children.
According to the report, children in the state are facing increasing challenges brought on by higher levels of poverty, lack of affordable health care and a lack of high-quality educational opportunities for all Missouri's children.
CMC is a statewide public interest organization serving as an independent voice for children on issues, policies and government programs that affect their lives. The organization's mission is to advocate for the rights and well being of all Missouri children, with a primary emphasis on those with greatest need.
The KIDS COUNT in Missouri 2009 report is available via the CMC web site at http://www.mokids.org.
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Salem’s history on display at ONCRC
by Dwayne McClellan
Staff Writer
newsstaff@earthlink.net
As Salem Mayor Gary Brown was sorting and putting up pictures for display Saturday at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, the experience allowed him to walk down memory lane.
There were pictures of many of Salem's former mayors such as Jack Masters, Heeters, where Brown said a person could find some of the best tasting burgers and sloppy joes in the area, the old swimming pool at Elmer Park on Highway 19 North near today's entrance to the Charles and Shirley Whitmire home and the former McGrath Dairy where today's Salem Housing Authority is.
"It's a pictorial display of history of how the town used to be," Brown said. "The pictures along with the different maps show how the town has changed over the years."
What Brown, Sherry Lea, Jay Anderson and Stan Podorski were working on is a pictorial display that is one of the many events for Salem's Sesquincentennial event. The pictorial display, and there is more than 200 at this time, opened Monday and runs through March 3 at the ONCR Center. This display is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday and by appointment.
Minutes of the court that established Salem are also on display.
The displays also include a city of Salem fire truck; an old farm wagon made by Key and Pace, a display of the original electric rod for a piston from the old city electric generator plant, both items donated by Frankie Schwartz; Craig Distribution memorabilia; and the development of old businesses such as American Sales, McIntosh Furniture and the old Preston Theatre.
The list goes on and on and on, Brown said.
However, more items are needed.
Brown said the committee is searching for items dealing with the old Coca-Cola plant where K & H is now located, the fire which burned American Sales in 1953 and the fire that burned Dent Brothers in the 1920s.
Anyone with those pictures or any others that tell of Salem's development can drop them off to Brown at the city administrative offices. An enlargement will be made and the original given back to the owner.
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ALDERMEN: City continues to seek alterative power supply
by Brenda Jessen
Staff Writer
newsstaff@earthlink.net
Salem and 15 other communities currently served by Sho-Me Power have started looking at other options.
Sho-Me announced recently that it plans to end contracts with Salem and several other communities by March 25, 2013. Sho-Me is the city's wholesale power supplier.
Mayor Gary Brown reported to aldermen Monday night that he met with other city leaders Friday in Rolla to discuss future electric supply alternatives.
"We discussed whether we want to be in the utility business," Brown said. "No one wants to buy us out, since most electric suppliers are looking at ways to cut back."
Brown said the city leaders also discussed the possibility of forming a co-op among the affected cities and purchasing power from Associated Electric. Cost would be about 20 percent of the total electrical supply costs and the power would still have to be delivered by Sho-Me Power lines.
The mayor said the meeting was organized by Senator Frank Barnitz. He said other meetings are planned in the future as municipalities look for solutions to their electrical supply needs when their contracts with Sho-Me Power expire.
Brown also reported that a meeting would be held at 12:30 p.m. Thursday with Pro Energy representatives to discuss biomass electrical generation.
Sewer System Update
Jeff Meadows with C.M. Archer Engineering updated aldermen on progress of the city's sanitation system sewer shed projects.
The projects will deal with collection and treatment of storm water and specifically reducing extraneous flow into the sanitation system.
"The city's overflow basin at the sewer treatment plant discharged 19 times during 2009," Meadows said. "We have a lot of work ahead of us."
The engineer said the city's plan must be submitted to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by the end of the city's permit period, within the next five years.
He said DNR is recommending that affected cities submit a compliance agreement by April which will require the city during the five-year period to: improvement to its collection system; identify inflow and infiltration (I&I); and report progress in the system annually to DNR.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued its interpretation of the Clean Water Act that forces cities to do more to prevent excess storm water from entering sanitary sewer systems and discharging into creeks during peak flow.
Meadows said priority storm water improvement areas include Center Street between Askins and Missouri Avenue and Sligo Street area.
He said efforts would have to be made to monitor dry and wet weather days once improvements have been made to the system in these priority areas.
Meadows said phase one of the project, which included mapping, smoke-testing and video of the west side sewer lines, was done during the past year. He said the next phase of the project will be sewer shed #3 on the east side.
Aldermen approved a request from Relay for Life Co-Chair Vickie Loveday for use of the Salem City Park for the all-night fundraiser June 11-12.
Ordinances
Aldermen approved separate ordinances authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and:
• The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce for services provided to the city and the city provides $10,000 to the chamber;
• The Salem Area Community Betterment Association (SACBA) for service to the city and the city provides $5,000 to SACBA for beautification efforts;
• The University of Missouri Extension Council for service to the city and the city provides $5,800 to Extension, $4,000 for youth programs (4-H) and $1,800 to assist with office operation.
Reports
Brown reported that aldermen discussed the need for new ordinances during a recent closed session. These ordinances were recommended during the citizen petitioned audit and include ordinances for: seniority pay; superintendent usage of city vehicles; and lease waiver contract for the Salem Fitness Center. Aldermen agreed to proceed with preparation of these ordinances.
City Clerk Mary Happel asked that her request made at the last meeting to be taken off as a co-signer on city checks be rescinded.
Economic Development Director Sharon Tubbs reported that the Tourism Tax Committee has approved two lighted promotional Salem billboards located at Hwy. 63 and 72 in Rolla and one near the St. James entrance along the interstate to promote local tourism.
The mayor reported that an all-time record 190 children were signed up to participate in the city's youth basketball program during recent registrations.
He said 1,503 people used the Salem Fitness Center during the past month and 914 people used the Salem TCRC services.
Brown said Feb. 20 is recycling day at the city drop-off bins at Third and Grand. He said Scenic Rivers Industries (SRI) would also offer document shredding the same day for a fee.
Brown said the next aldermanic meeting would be Feb. 16, a day later than usual due to the President's Day holiday.
Alderman Jim Jackson asked if the city's new snow removal equipment and trucks were operating properly; progress report on installation of a fuel system at the airport; and progress on clean-up at the old Middle School property; and cost of electric paid to Sho-Me Power during the past month.
Street Department Superintendent Benny Bryson reported that the new equipment was operating properly. He said progress on the airport fuel system was moving slowly. He said there are apparent computer and server problems and the company representatives would be back again on Thursday.
Brown reported that he is still waiting for a letter of intent from the Western Cherokee regarding clean-up and improvements at the Old Middle School property.
City Clerk Mary Happel reported that Sho-Me's last month billing to the city was $395,000.
Alderman Kenneth Nash asked about progress on the city employee handbooks; bids on collection of delinquent utility bills; and reported on complaints about snow removal at the Salem Housing Authority.
Brown said bids have been received for collection of old utility bills, but it will require some review. He said a recommendation would be made at the next meeting.
City Attorney Nanci Wisdom said work on the employee handbook is still under way.
Bryson reported that in the past excess snow has been removed by Salem Housing Authority personnel after city crews completed initial snow removal, but that wasn't done this time.
Due to a lack of quorum, no Planning and Zoning Committee meeting was held prior to the aldermanic meeting, the mayor reported.
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Commission will pay Nash trial bill, want more information
by Dwayne McClellan
Staff Writer
newsstaff@earthlink.net
Dent County Commissioners said Monday they are not balking at and have every intention of paying the remaining $14,979.63 balance owed to Phelps County as part of the Donald Nash capital murder trial held last October in Rolla.
"But we want to know what we are paying for," said Commissioner Gary Larson.
At Monday's commission meeting, commissioners discussed two letters sent Friday to Phelps County Clerk Carol Bennett and Phelps County Circuit Clerk Sue Brown requesting specific information. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wrote in the letters that the county is requesting this information under provisions of the Missouri Sunshine Law.
In the letter to Bennett the county is asking for copies of law enforcement certifications for the 10 officers who provided guard duty for the trial and if those officers are fulltime employees of the Phelps County Sheriff's Department or any of those officers reserve officers plus copies of payroll records and timesheets of those officers that verify all hours worked from October 1, 2009, to Nov. 15, 2009.
The Phelps County bill listed total guard duty payroll of $12,935.55.
The letter to Brown had 14 questions. These included who specifically in addition to the jurors were provided rooms at Comfort Suites and who in addition to the jurors were provided meals at the county's expense at Matt's Steakhouse, Sybill's, St. James and The Hub, Waynesville, who was responsible for leasing the two vans for the one week trial and did this individual check lease prices at all the leasing firms in Phelps County, who made the decisions as to where the jurors would eat each evening, who specifically, in addition to the jurors, were provided meals when 26 dinners were ordered, who authorized additional personnel other than the jurors to be provided meals, are meals ever provided to sequestered juries in Phelps County at restaurants other than those this jury ate at, what purpose did the extra meeting rooms serve at Comfort Suites costing an additional $250 to the county, why did so much overtime staff have to be used for this trial, why are there 51 hours of guard duty charged to the trial for a Sunday before the trial started, why were three officers due mileage of 1,082 miles, how many other sequestered jury trials have there been in Phelps County in the past three years and what were the names of those trials and how long did each last.
According to the bill, Dent County was charged $925.65 for a one-week rental of a 2010 Chevrolet and $702.64 for one week rental of a Chrysler Town and Country van, each from Enterprise Rental in Rolla; $7,633.45 for jury rooms at Comfort Suites, although sales tax charges were later taken off the bill; $525.18 in evening meals at The Hub in Waynesville, $674.40 at Sybill's in St. James and $713.53 at Matt's Steakhouse in Rolla.
"The information obtained through this request will be used for the education of the public of Dent and Phelps counties concerning trial expenses," Skiles said in his letter. Skiles also asked that all fees of locating and copying be waved.
Skiles asked if these requests are not honored that the specific statutory provision for any denial be provided.
The total bill was $24,979.63 bill the county received.
The county is under a court order to pay the remaining balance by March 1 or a court hearing would be held to discuss it. The court order was filed by Judge Douglas Long, who presided at the trial held in Rolla held in October, in Crawford County Circuit Court Jan. 21.
According to the order "The court found that these costs to be reasonable and necessary for the trial of Mr. Donald Nash."
The Dent County Commission authorized a $10,000 partial payment and said the balance would be paid out of 2010 budgeted funds.
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