Local News – Friday, November 3rd, 2017
An accident occurred at 3:41 Thursday morning in Phelps County on Route CC about two miles west of Highway 63. According to the highway patrol report, an unknown vehicle and driver was driving eastbound on Route CC and struck a pedestrian who was walking in the east bound lane with the front left of the vehicle. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a ditch and some trees. The vehicle then left the scene. The pedestrian, 60-year old Bobby Cooley of Rolla, was transported by Phelps County Ambulance to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Olusan at 4:50 that morning. The highway patrol was assisted by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. Captain James W. Remillard, commanding officer of Troop I in Rolla, is requesting the assistance of the public for any information pertaining to this accident. The suspect vehicle that left the scene will have damage to the left front fender and bumper area, undercarriage and the right side. Video surveillance from a local business close to the crash scene is being reviewed. Troopers are interested in speaking with an unidentified white male who reportedly stopped at the crash scene approximately ten minutes after the incident. If you have any information pertaining to this incident, please call the Missouri State Highway Patrol at (573) 368-2345.
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done on and materials would be added to Dent County Roads 6600 and 6633, while grading only would be done on county roads 6620, 5220, and 5100. He said that brush would be cut on Dent County Road 5360. Purcell noted on Tuesday, the Road and Bridge Department ran out of diesel fuel and that phone bids were taken. The low bid of $2.11 per gallon for 7,000 gallons of diesel by Phil Mart was approved, along with the low bid of $2.065 per gallon for 1,000 gallons of no-lead by MFA Oil. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4030, 2150, and 2303, plus materials would be added to and grading done on county road 2360. Larson added that brush was being cut on Dent County Road 2090. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles had nothing to report. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley noted that her office was continuing to work on the 2018 budget, plus bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley was in to discuss the Burlington Railroad right-of-way between Dent County and Larry and Linda Branson. Larry Hart of L.G. Hart & Company was in to visit about a preliminary financial analysis for Dent County and Lease Certifications of Participation. Due to the timing differences between the sales tax revenue collections and purposes of constructing a new jail, they recommended the commissioners have a private financial audit of the county to get a better rate plan. The commissioners took no action on the recommendation. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
The City of Bunker is under a Boil Water Order until further notice by the Department of Natural Resources. The order was issued on Wednesday when the city’s routine bacteriological water samples resulted in total coliform positive samples. DNR recommended to the city of Bunker to overflow their storage tank and monitor the overflow screen for insects and /or bird feathers to determine if there was a potential problem with the storage tank. After the tank was overflowed, the city discovered bird feathers in the overflow pipe. Ozark Applicators out of Van Buren have been contacted to inspect the storage tank for deficiencies and to disinfect the tank. Once that has been done, the city will be collecting bacteriological samples to be sent to DNR. Residents should continue to boil any water used in drinking, food preparation, teeth brushing or for ice for at least three minutes. Let water cool sufficiently before drinking. Water used for bathing does not need to be boiled.