Local News – Tuesday, July 25th, 2017

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance due to a previous commitment. District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell acted as Presiding Commissioner and gave the road report for District 1. He said grading was going to be done and materials would be added to Dent County Road 6630 and 6633, while patch grading and ditch work would be done on county roads 5530 and 5680. He went on to say brush was going to be cut on county roads 6500 and 6510. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said patch grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2025, 2115 and 3130, brush was going to be cut on county road 3230 and two men would be hauling brown rock for screening. He stated a crew would be replacing a pipe on county road 3180 and another crew would be replacing missing roads signs on Dent County Roads 4040, 4260, 4300, 5240 and 5260. Both Commissioners Larson and Purcell said the county continues to have problem with road signs being stolen. Last year, it costs taxpayers $2,685.93 in sign costs alone and this year, that total from January to June is $1,061.50. These figures do not include the worker’s time to prepare and install the new signs. Commissioner Purcell said if anyone sees anyone damage or steal signs to please call the sheriff’s office at 729-3241. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she was working on establishing tax rates for the tax rate hearing to be held in August. Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells was in attendance in response to an online article in the Salem News and wanted to clarify that it the building of a new jail is the first and major concern. If funds allow and his office and a courtroom can be added, that would be great, but a new jail is critical that will make it safer for officers and help his budget by not having to transport and pay for inmates at other facilities. At the last meeting, the board approved the unleaded fuel bid for the Road and Bridge Department from MFA for $1.75.5 per gallon. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and it is open to the public.

The 4-H and FFA Expo saw 73 head of market hogs and 13 breeding hogs exhibited during the Friday morning show. The nine market hog class winners were Gabe Chang, Koty Fenton, Anna McDaniel, Daylen Harrison, Kash Howard, Olivia Wisdom, Silas Wulff, Bekah Kirker and Londyn Cook. Judge Chris Hudson of Middletown Missouri selected Daylen Harrison’s 257 pound barrow as Grand Champion Market Hog and Kash Howard’s 266 pound gilt as Reserve Champion. In the commercial breeding stock, competition class winners were Wyatt Martin’s February gilt, Bailey Martin’s January gilt, and Camryn Pryor’s December gilt. Bailey’s was awarded Grand Champion and Wyatt’s gilt was Reserve Champion. The Showmanship competition was very competitive as 28 juniors age 8-12, seventeen intermediates age 13-15, and fourteen seniors age 16-19 put their skills on display. Juniors making it to the final drive were Corbett Ball, Landon Cook, Kennedy Major, Wyatt Martin, Courtney Miller, Preslie Strader, Alexis White and Olivia Wisdom. Judge Hudson congratulated Wyatt Martin as the Champion Junior Showman. In the Intermediate class, the final drive consisted of Jonah Case, Londyn Cook, Kaden Garrison, Allison Manthey, Katarina Morris, and Bailey Martin. The Martin family took home another championship ribbon with Bailey’s selection. Senior showmanship came down to a competition between Gabe Chang, Joe Hayes, Bekah Kirker and Camry Pryor, with Pryor being named Senior Showmanship Champion.

Friday afternoon’s 4-H and FFA Expo Sheep, Goat and Small Animal Shows had 20 head of sheep, 6 goats, 3 pens of meat chickens, 1 pen of meat rabbits, plus 13 breeding rabbits and 3 breeding chickens competing. Market lamb class winners were Alyssa Bowers, Londyn Cook and Ryker Major, with Ryker’s lamb being chosen as Champion and Londyn’s as Reserve Champion. In the breeding sheep competition, there was only one class of ewe lambs with Tyffany LuCerne’s two entries taking Champion and Reserve Champion. Shaylee Harrison won Senior Sheep Showmanship, Londyn Cook was named Intermediate Sheep Showman and Tyffany LuCerne took home the Junior Sheep Showmanship Award. In the Market Goat Show, Kaden Garrison and Brady Schafer exhibited the class winners. Kaden’s goat was selected as Champion and Kallen Garrison exhibited the Reserve Champion Market Goat. Showmanship awards in the goat division went to Junior Brady Schafer, Intermediate Kaden Garrison and Senior Kenadee Barnitz. The Small Animal Show Meat Chicken Pen Champion was Owen Meusch and Reserve Champion was Alaina Ferguson. Marissa Holloway exhibited the Champion and Reserve Champion buck rabbits, while Raven Gilliam had the Champion Doe and Airslie Fletcher showed the Reserve Champion Doe. Tyffany LuCerne exhibited both the Champion and Reserve Champion Hens. In the Poultry Showmanship Competition, the Junior winner was Tyffany LuCerne, The Intermediate Division was won by Alaina Ferguson, and Rachel Paul won the Senior Division. The Junior Rabbit Showmanship went to Marissa Holloway.

The Livestock Shows at the 4-H and FFA Expo culminated in the Cattle Show Friday afternoon and evening. Mariah Cramer’s Hereford Heifer was selected as Champion and Kenadee Barnitz’ Heredord was Reserve Champion Female. Ray Cunningham exhibited the Champion Hereford Bull, while Kenadee Barnitz showed the Reserve Champion. In the Commercial Heifer division, Kaden Garrison showed the champion, which was a Charolais influence heifer, while Brook Adams’ Angus influence heifer was selected as Reserve Champion. The Market Steer show saw Judge Chris Hudson select class winners exhibited by Brayden Headrick, Brooke Shults, Texas Nall, Brooke Adams and Ray Cunningham. The Championship went to Brooke Adams’ 1345 pound steer with Brett Fore’s 1310 pound steer being selected as Reserve Champion. Fourteen Juniors, 5 Intermediates and 10 Seniors competed in the Beef Showmanship competition. In the Junior Division, Ray Cunningham, Brayden Headrick, Clayton Headrick and Brady Schafer were selected for the final drive and Clayton Headrick won the award, while the Junior Division winner was Dylan Thompson. The Senior Division competition was intense among Kenadee Barnitz, Alyssa Bowers and Moriah Cramer, with Kenadee taking home the award.