Archive for 2017

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, Commissioners Dennis Purcell and Gary Larson reported the ground was too frozen to grade, so workers were doing general shop maintenance. Purcell also said he had a team replacing and repairing some road signs. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wanted to remind all vendors that by state statute, no bills received after Thursday by the county can be paid until the 2018 budget is approved which will be late January. The only money the county can spend until the budget is approved by law is for payroll. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the bank deposit bids at 10:00. She reported Town and Country Bank and US Bank did not submit bids. The Bank of Salem one year bid stated the county would not have to pay fees on services from the bank and would receive 1.05% on their deposits. Progressive Ozark Bank, who is the current bank the county uses for the deposits with an interest rate of 0.65%, proposed an interest rate of 1.26% on county deposits for 2018. The commission unanimously approved the bid from Progressive Ozark Bank. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said there were bills to approve and pay, and she continues to work on the 2018 County Budget. City of Salem Mayor Brad Nash came in to discuss the possibility of the county looking into using the city’s recycling bins and trailers that would provide a service to the county residents. After some discussion about the current city program between the commissioners and a location for the sorting of the recyclables, Commissioner Larson said he would get with Jill Hollowell from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission and talk with her about any funds that might be available to assist with paying for the recycling program. Nash also talked with the commission about a visit from Brett Hendricks from the State Emergency Management Agency and he said the Dent County Emergency Management Plan met all the states guidelines. Nash said Hendricks had told him there may be some changes coming next year that could affect the plan, but he was not certain when or if that would occur. Commissioners Larson, Purcell and Skiles, and the county clerk wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and remind everyone the courthouse will be closed on New Years Day. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday, January 4th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to anyone.

The Dent County Service Unit of The Salvation Army would like to announce that they have successfully surpassed their $30,000 goal during this year’s Christmas Kettle Campaign. The total raised was $37,363.42 to date. Along with the monetary donations received this year, 181 local children were adopted at the Angel Trees located at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory; 20 Christmas food baskets were distributed to homebound elderly clients of the Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging and lap blankets, socks, gloves, scarves and hats were distributed locally to the nursing homes. The local Salvation Army Board would like to thank everyone who made monetary donations and/or adopted an angel. They also extend their greatest appreciation to the dedicated volunteers that took time out of their busy holiday season to ring the bells at the kettles. The community’s continued generosity will be distributed throughout 2018 to those less fortunate in Dent County. Thank you Dent County!

The Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages everyone to make good decisions regarding their New Year’s celebration. A traffic crash would be an unfortunate way to begin 2018. Last year over the New Year’s holiday counting period, eight people died and 302 people were injured in 539 traffic crashes during the 2017 New Year’s holiday counting period. Thus, a person was killed or injured every 15.1 minutes during that time frame. The counting period will begin tonight at 6:00 and last until Monday, January 1st at 11:59 PM. If inclement weather is expected, allow extra time for traveling or be flexible with your plans. The Road Condition Report number is 1-888-275-6636. Depending on the weather, staying home might be your best option. Remember: Missouri law states if you’re using your windshield wipers, your headlights must be turned on. It takes only a second to turn on your vehicle’s headlights. That second could make you more visible to other drivers and prevent a traffic crash.

A meeting was held Wednesday afternoon at the Salem Community Center@The Armory to discuss the future of the recycling bins and trailers that have been at the Salem Upper Elementary School for years. Since the City of Salem included in their new contract with WCA to offer recycling to residents within the city, they have decided to eliminate the use of the recycling bins effective Wednesday, December 27th. With that decision, the bins will no longer be at the Upper Elementary School. The city received the bins and trailers from the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District through grants and they really want to keep the bins and trailers in this district to help local folks with their recycling needs if at all possible. The bins accepted #1 and #2 plastics that included clear or opaque plastic as well as the colored bottles like laundry detergent or bleach jugs, tin cans and glass. The city has a number of bins. The items collected had to be re-sorted by workers as sometimes people would include non-recyclable materials where they had to be separated before being taken to the Rolla Recycling Center. The city workers during peak times would take the bins to Rolla two to three times a week. City Administrator Ray Walden said the new contract with WCA allows for more items to be recycled and put into one provided cart at the home where the items can be taken to Lebanon and separated by a machine. The new contract does not allow for the recycling of glass. Walden said the Scenic Rivers Industries will be taking two of the bins and a trailer for their aluminum can collecting. The Scenic Rivers Industries does NOT and never did recycle glass, only the city provided that service with the bins. No one at the meeting was ready to commit to offering the same recycling services the city had in the past, but discussions will continue to see if something can be done to help county residents with their recycling needs, possibly at a different location or on a part time basis.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting at the City Hall Council Chambers Wednesday night. The board approved Bill #3354 that authorized the Mayor to execute and the City Clerk to attest to a quit claim deed for the old railroad right-of-way between the City of Salem and the Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, Inc. that is a non-profit corporation of the County of St. Francois, and the board also approved an ordinance that authorized the mayor to execute a public improvement funding agreement with Ridge Properties 1, LLC for commercial improvements on Highway 32-72 West. The board then adjourned.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways and Missouri State Parks will be hosting a Winter Paddling Clinic on Sunday and a First Day Float on Monday, January 1st. The Winter Paddling Clinic will be held at Echo Bluff State Park on Sunday in conjunction with their New Year’s Eve Celebration. On Monday, January 1st, paddlers will celebrate the New Year with a float on the Current or Jacks Fork Rivers and gather at Current River State Park in the afternoon for a bonfire and warm beverages. Millions of floaters enjoy Missouri rivers each year from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Experienced paddlers continue to visit our rivers in September and October, but paddling activity can continue during the winter months with the right equipment and a few simple precautions. Winter paddling offers several advantages, including the opportunity to experience solitude on the river and the ability to more easily view wildlife and other river features often blocked by heavy vegetation during the summer. For the First Day Float, experienced paddlers are welcome to float any section of the Current or Jacks Fork River that is open. Less experienced paddlers are encouraged to float the Current River between Pulltite and Round Spring. An instructional float will be conducted from Current River State Park to Round Spring, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Space is limited to 20 participants for this free, guided activity. Reservations can be made by contacting Ranger Dave Tobey at (573) 323-8093 by Friday, December 29th. Once the First Day Float is filled to capacity, participants may sign up for the guided Last Day Float to be held on Sunday, December 31st. Instructors for the guided floats are ACA-certified. A First Day Hike will be offered at Echo Bluff State Park at 8:00 a.m. Current River State Park will provide a bonfire complete with warm beverages for paddlers and hikers throughout the day. Echo Bluff State Park is located 14 miles north of Eminence on State Highway 19. The Current River State Park is located approximately 1 mile north of Echo Bluff State Park.

The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of November. During the month, they wrote 2 equipment repair orders, 6 summons to appear in court, 3 warning tickets, and 9 traffic tickets. The Salem Police Department investigated 13 accidents, three assaults, one burglary, one report of domestic assault, four reports of domestic violence, one report of driving while being intoxicated, and three fugitive warrants. The department also responded to six requests for information and investigated one leaving the scene of an accident, one lost or stolen license plates, one minor in possession of intoxicants, one missing person, nine reports of possession of a controlled substance, two possessions of a drug paraphernalia, seven reports of property damage, 10 reports of stealing, and two reports of unlawful use of a firearm or weapon. The police department received 840 calls for service during the month and handled 115 walk-ins to the station. They spent 36 hours in court testifying and ten hours as court bailiff. The Salem Police Department drove a total of 6,653 miles and arrested 13 males and 7 females during the month of November.

The City of Salem has announced that after today, Wednesday, December 27th, the City will no longer continue processing the collection of recyclables currently done at the Upper Middle School. As part of their newest waste collection contract with WCA, they have incorporated curbside recycling in the trash service offered for their residential utility customers. City Administrator Ray Walden is inviting individuals, other businesses and community organizations to a luncheon meeting today at noon at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory to discuss the prospect of recycling options being available beyond that available for City residential utility customers. Information will be shared regarding the City’s recycling support prior to including recycling in our trash contract and what equipment and other resources might be available should there be interest in someone else offering a recycling option. Some resources might be available even for an employee based program vs. just programs open to everyone. If there is no interest in continuing the old recycling program, the city will return the related equipment (trailer and bins) purchased with grant funds from the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District. If you have questions or need more information, contact City Administrator Ray Walden directly at (573) 729-4811.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released their report. On December 14th, Dent County deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 6493. The driver, a 24-year old Salem woman, was arrested on a misdemeanor Dent County Warrant. She was taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On December 17th, deputies took a report of harassment. The victim reported several voicemails and emails that were lewd and threatening in nature. After an investigation, a 58-year old Salem man was arrested and charged with 1st Degree Harassment. He is currently incarcerated in the Dent County Jail with a $25,000 cash only bond. On December 21st, deputies responded to a residence on Dent County Road 4155 to serve an arrest warrant. Deputies located a 29-year old male who had violated his bond conditions. He was taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated with a Capias bond. On Christmas Eve, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 32 West at Dent County Road 6150. The driver, a 28-year old Salem man, was arrested for driving while having his license revoked and a Phelps County warrant. He was fingerprinted, issued a citation, and released after posting bond on the warrant. On Christmas Day, deputies took a burglary report at a barn in the 5000 block of Dent County Road 2240. Numerous items were missing from inside the barn. This report is still under investigation. If you have information regarding an ongoing investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.