Archive for 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.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. Richard LaBrash from the American Legion was in to remind the public about adopting a veteran from the St. James Veteran’s Home. The cost to sponsor a veteran is $50 and the money goes to providing them a banquet with a Christmas dinner that they can invite their loved ones to along with live entertainment from the band Second Time Around, a baseball cap with the words “United States Veteran” with an American flag on it, a grab bag with camouflage gloves, soft chocolate and a letter of Honor. Labrash said for the last three years, Dent County has adopted all 150 veterans at the home. If anyone would like to sponsor a veteran this year, call Richard at 729-1394. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the sales tax dollars received by the county from the state in November. She reported that the jail sales taxes brought in $7,839.47 for each fund for a total of $15,768.94. The Road and Bridge Fund sales taxes received were $29,127.14 which is up form the 2016 November figure of $24,314.51. Year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Funds tax receipts are up $7,506.08 or about 2.16%. The General Revenue Fund sales tax receipts came in at $59,048.75 and that is up from the 2016 November figure of $53,545.27. The year-to-date increase in the General Revenue Fund is $3,744.20 or about a one-half of one percent increase. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell indicated that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Road 6020 and 6040, while only grading would be done on county roads 4122, 4124, 5050 and 5060. Purcell said workers were continuing to work on patching the chip and seal on Dent County Road 6510 also known as the Cedar Grove Road. He is asking anyone using that road to use caution and be aware of the road crews on the road. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading was being done on Dent County Roads 3250 and 5240, while brush was being cut on Dent County Road 2160. Larson stated that two men were doing maintenance on Dent County Truck #124 and other crew members were picking up a mattress with sheets on county road 3250. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said her office balanced with the collector’s office and the assessor’s office on all collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of October. She also reported on her meeting with the South Central County Clerks Regional meeting in West Plains Wednesday. District Ranger Thom Haines and US Forest Hydrologist Kelly Whitsett from the Rolla office were in attendance to discuss the Cooley Bridge on Dent County Road 5610. Whitsett said there are three preliminary options to replace the low water crossing on the road. The first option has the least changes to the road, but it is the least preferable for stream health, aquatic life and water quality. The 3rd option was the best for the stream but had the most changes to the road alignment. The second option was in between the first and third option. Whitsett said the Conservation Department and her office prefer Option 3, but it would be the most expensive with the need for additional right-of-way. She said the engineers have provided a full conceptual design and a NEPA analysis would need to be done to make the sure the changes would not negatively impact the environment. One problem is funding as Whitsett said there are no federal funds for 2018 with all the federal disaster money being used and she wasn’t sure when funds would be available any time soon from the US Forest Service as their budget has been reorganized. They will keep the commission posted on any funding changes or possibilities. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Catch and Release Trout season in Missouri begins today and goes through February 28th, 2018. The second Friday in November marks the opening of the annual winter “Catch and Release” no creel trout season at Montauk State Park. The Dorman L. Steelman Lodge restaurant, snack bar, and store will be open on Friday through Sunday for limited hours of each weekend during the winter season to accommodate visitors. Some housekeeping cabins, motel rooms and a meeting room will be available throughout the winter season. Fishing is allowed Friday through Monday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For more information, call 548-2201.

The Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, located at 202 S. Main here in Salem is currently accepting applications for exhibits for the 2017 Trees and Trains. Trees and Trains has been a time-honored tradition in Salem for the past 12 years and is visited each year by over 4,000 people. This year the exhibit begins with an open house on November 19th, and will remain open through December 24th. Applications and guidelines can be picked up at the ONCRC or by calling 729-6384, or 453-6091. They can also be requested by emailing mbcook16@gmail.com. The deadline for submission is TODAY. There is no charge to exhibit a tree or display, and all are invited to do so.