News – Wednesday, July 5th, 2017

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the courthouse. During public comments, John McIntyre was in to discuss road conditions in the Adams Subdivision on county road 4170. In road reports, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that he had a small crew in light of the 4th holiday and that the crew will be grading on county roads 6660 and 6010. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he too had a small crew and grading would be done on county roads 2360 and 2200 while brush cutting would be finished up on county road 6150 and then started on county road 3220. Both Commissioners Purcell and Larson stated that their Road Supervisors from both districts were working on the FEMA forms that are due July 14th. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that the HUD hearing that was scheduled for last Thursday had gotten re-scheduled for Monday afternoon. And again he wanted to remind those who are in the HUD program to not only read but follow to the letter the contracts that they sign. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley had nothing to report other than that courthouse would be closed for the July 4th holiday. At 10:00 am, Sid Pearson, Circuit Judge; Nick Hutchison, Chief Juvenile Officer and Teresa Booker, Juvenile Secretary were in as a budget hearing was held on amending the Drug Court Fund budget and Juvenile budget. The Drug Court revenues were increased to $9,170 and expenses increased to $20,000. The Juvenile budget expense increased to$57,695.44 and that both budget requests were made by the Circuit Judges Division I & II. It was noted that the original requests were in error to what should have been requested by the Juvenile and Drug Court departments. The Commission voted 3-0 to increase the budgets. A motion was made to purchase a 2005 truck for the road and bridge department fro $70,000 from Ryan Truck Sales in Waynesville to replace the truck that was totaled. Dent County had received a check for the totaled truck in the amount of $68,000. The Commission voted 3-0 to purchase the truck. The Dent County Commissioners then voted to go into closed session for the purpose of discussing contracts. The Commission voted 3-0 to accept and sign the Septagon agreement for Construction Manager on the Jail Project. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred at 4:58 Sunday afternoon in Dent County on Dent County Road 4110 one third of a mile northeast of Salem. According to the Highway Patrol Report a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by 73-year old Neda Foster of Salem, was pulling out of the Foster driveway, traveled across county road 4110, where it impacted a shed which partially landed on an unoccupied 1976 Pontiac Trans Am. The Silverado continued on impacting an unoccupied 2016 Volvo 760, plus a concrete well and a house where it came to rest. The report state that both Neda Foster and a passenger, 85-year old Montie Foster, were wearing a seat restraint, suffered minor injuries, and were transported by EMS to Salem Memorial District Hospital. The Silverado sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing. The Pontiac Trans AM and the Volvo 760 sustained minor damage.

The Salem Police Department released reports involving a burglary and a traffic violation. On Saturday, June 17th at 10:52 in the morning, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to a burglary. The report that someone unknown entered a residence in the 100 block of South Carty and took three video game consoles valued $800. The report is under investigation. On Monday, June 19th at 11:03 am, an officer was detailed to Missouri Private Probation Services located on Fourth Street in reference to a 32-year old female of Viburnum that had violated the terms of her probation. The suspect was taken into custody and incarcerated for 10 days shock time. On Tuesday, June 20th at 9:25 pm, an officer transported a 51-year old Salem male from Phelps County to the Dent County Sheriffs Department due to an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. He was incarcerated pending a court appearance. On Wednesday, June 21st at 1:18 in the early morning a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. Investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 37-year old Salem male for driving while intoxicated. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

An accident occurred at 9:02 pm on Wednesday, June 21st on Macarthur at Highway 32. According to the Salem police report, a 2009 Dodge Ram driven by Tonya Lundy traveling eastbound through a green light, when a 2008 Ford Escape driven by Rebecca Stites was turning left at a flashing arrow and hit the Dodge head-on. Lundy reported injuries, and was taken to Salem Memorial District Hospital. Both vehicles sustained major damage and were towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.