Local News – Tuesday, November 14th, 2017
A private property accident happened in Phelps County Sunday evening at 6:35 on Private Drive 17365 just south of Highway 8. According to the highway patrol report, 13-year old Andrew Hennigh of St. James was backing up a 2001 Dodge Ram when the pickup struck 27-year old Cassandra Robbins of St. James. Robbins suffered serious injuries and was transported by Phelps Air to the Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. There was no damage to vehicle and it was driven from the scene.
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance due to a prior commitment. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson was appointed by Dent County Clerk Angie Curley to preside over the meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading was being done on Dent County Roads 6080, 6083 and 6085, while materials would be added and grading done on county roads 5080 and 5085. Purcell did state that only materials would be added to Dent County Road 4150. Larson said in District 2 that materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2270. He also said brush would be cut on county road 2050. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said payroll would be done. At the last meeting, the commissioners unanimously agreed to renew the 2018 health insurance through the consortium and to keep the deductible the same as it was in 2017. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 94,977 deer during the opening weekend of the November portion of the fall firearms deer season November 11th and 12th. Of the 94,977 deer harvested, 54,027 were antlered bucks, 9,535 were button bucks, and 31,415 were does. Top harvest counties for opening weekend were Howell with 2,095 deer checked, Franklin with 2,060 and Texas with 1,855. In Dent County, 1,484 deer were harvested while Crawford County reported 1,363 deer taken. Shannon County hunters harvested a total of 1,169 deer while Phelps County totals came in at 1,084 deer taken and Reynolds County had 838 deer harvested. Last year hunters checked 96,131 deer during the opening weekend of the 2016 November portion of firearms deer season. The November portion of fall firearms deer seasons continues through November 21st.
The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their November meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. Bills were reviewed and approved and the Board also reviewed their calendar of upcoming events at the fire station. In the monthly reimbursement report, there were a total of 15 calls for September, as the October statistics were not available yet, that included: one structure fire, four brush fires, one car fire, five calls for first responders, one call for a vehicle accident, two calls for training and one other call. Total calls to date for the year are 208, with an average cost per call of $80.02, which totals $16,645.00 reimbursement year to date. In old business, it was reported that the USDA wanted changes and those will be sent to the engineers for update and then be returned to be approved by DCFPD Board and the USDA. It was also reported that the CDBG Grant is still pending. During new business, it was noted that ladder inspections are done and no official report has been received, but it appears all have passed. It was brought up that due to current events it is possible that the firefighters may need training in new areas, such as clean up and equipment needed after mass tragedies. Chief Nash was directed to put something together relative to the issue for review. The Board then set their next meeting for Tuesday, December 5th at the fire station beginning at 6:00 pm and the meeting was then adjourned.
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will hold a November meeting tonight in the hospital library beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting will begin with the annual audit report for the fiscal year 2016-2017 from BKD. Once the audit report is complete, the regular meeting will commence. The Board will approve the minutes from the October 23rd regular meeting. Chief Financial Officer Monica Gargus will update the Board with the summary of operations and statistic reports for the month of October followed by the Chief Nursing Officer’s report. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will then report on the hospital foundation and give a report on the hospital auxiliary as well as presenting the Chief of Staff’s report. Lucas will update the Board on any new purchases before the board elects to go into closed session. The November meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public and will be held Tuesday, November 14th in the hospital library at 6:00.