Local News – Tuesday, January 9th, 2018
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that the southern half of Dent County received about 3/5ths of an inch of rain and freezing rain on Sunday. He said crews were out treating roads that have been reported to be slick, especially the hills and curves to make sure they are passable. District 2 Commissioner Larson said his crews will also be out sanding slick spots that have been reported as well as the hills. Larson went on to report workers would be retrieving and installing a radiator in Loader #3. Other workers would be doing shop maintenance and would be stockpiling white rock at the shop if time allows. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles attended a SACBA Board meeting Monday night. Deputy County Clerk Crystal Pilkington indicated the treasurer and the county clerk balanced on all accounts for the month of December. The commissioners continue to work on budgets in all departments. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
An accident happened in Phelps County Monday morning at 5:35 on Phelps County Road 3060 about 1/10th of a mile west of Glassphalt Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer driven by 53-year old Lon Reising of Salem, was traveling eastbound when he lost control of the Trailblazer and it went off the north side of the roadway and overturned. Reising suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by the Phelps County Ambulance. He was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Trailblazer was totaled in the accident and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing of Rolla. The highway patrol was assisted by the Rolla Police Department and Rolla Rural Fire Department.
An accident in Phelps County Sunday night at 8:28 on Route B about 1.8 miles north of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Ford F-250 driven by 49-yaer old Steve Lorts of Rolla, traveled across the center of the roadway when Lorts overcorrected and the truck traveled back across the center of the road before going off the right side of the Route B striking several trees. Lorts suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by a Phelps County Deputy. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing. Lorts was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.
The Salem Police Department has released some reports for the early part of the new year. On New Years Day at approximately 4:48 in afternoon, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 59-year old male of Salem on an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was later released after paying all fines and court costs associated with the warrant. Then on Wednesday morning, January 3rd at 7:06, an officer located a 28-year old male of Salem at a residence in the 300 block of North Walker who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. That same m,orning at about 10:30, an officer was detailed to Phil-Mart in reference a theft. That investigation revealed that a person or persons unknown took $3,450.00 cash from the business. The report is under investigation. That afternoon at about 1:37, an officer located a 75-year old female of Salem in the 600 block of South Elmer who had an active arrest warrant from Texas County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending extradition. That evening at approximately 9:56, an officer was sent to a residence in the 1000 block of West Hunt for a possible theft and drug activity. The investigation of that report led to the arrest of a 30-year old female of Black for the possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.