Archive for 2017

Two men lost their lives in an accident Sunday morning at 8:25 in Phelps County on Highway 68 about one and a half miles south of Highway 8. According to the highway patrol report, a northbound 2004 Ford Pickup, driven by 78-year old Richard Brown of Cook Station, crossed the center line and hit a southbound 2001 Dodge Pickup, driven by 34-year old Adam Peck of St. Peters, Missouri. After impact the Ford traveled off the right side of the roadway, while the Dodge traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Both men were pronounced deceased at the scene by Phelps County Coroner Andy Davis and their bodies were transported to Rolla Cremation by Phelps County Coroner. According to the report, Peck was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, but Brown was not. The pickups were totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.

Two Salem residents were involved in an accident Sunday afternoon at 3:45 in Crawford County on Highway 19 about five miles south of Steelville. According to the highway patrol report, a northbound 2004 Ford F-150, driven by 35-year old Jessica Busbey, lost traction causing it to cross the center line and travel off the left side of the roadway where it rolled on the passenger side before coming to rest after striking a tree. The report stated that the driver, along with a passenger, 17-year old Jay Busbey, were both wearing their safety restraints. They suffered minor injuries and were transported by Steelville Ambulance to Phelps County Regional Medical Center. The Pickup was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Son Towing.

The Salem Police Department has released the report on an accident that occurred October 20th at 1:44 in the afternoon. According to the report a 2016 KIA Sedona, owned and operated by Daniel Pewitt of Salem, was northbound on Jennifer Boulevard pulling a home made trailer with two juveniles riding on the back of the trailer. The trailer came unhooked from the KIA and traveled across the left side of the roadway colliding with a 1994 Chrysler Concord owned by Rhonda Beyer of Salem. B. McDonald and T. McDonald were ejected from the trailer and thrown into the middle of the street. B. McDonald suffered moderate injuries and was air lifted by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, while T. McDonald suffered minor injuries and was transported by private vehicle to Salem Memorial District Hospital. Both the trailer and the Chrysler sustained extensive damage and were towed from the scene.

The Salem Police department has released some reports. On Sunday night, October 29th at approximately 9:22, an officer located a 39-year old female in the 300 block of East Third who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and released to the Dent County Sheriffs Department. Later, that night at about 10:25, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. That investigation led to the arrest of an 18-year old male of Salem for possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Monday morning, October 10th at 9:30, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to a stolen firearm. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown took a 25-caliber semi-automatic handgun valued at $200.00 from a residence in the 700 block of North Pershing. The report is under investigation. On Wednesday, November 1st at approximately 10:20, an officer located a 43- year old male of Salem who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County at a residence in the 200 block of East Margaret. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6580, 5180 and 5130, plus patching would be done on county roads 6380, 4122 and 4185, while brush would be cut on county road 5360. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4480 and 4010, plus brush would be cut on county road 2070. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles had nothing to report. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills were being approved and that she balanced with the Dent County Treasurer on all accounts for the month of October. She added that she would be attending the South Central County Clerk’s Regional meeting in West Plains on Wednesday. It was noted that the Dent County Courthouse will be closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day Saturday, November 11th. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

A Santa Gourd Painting party will be held at the Creative Arts Center (formerly know as the Teachers Closet) this Friday night from 6:00 to 8:00. You can paint an adorable Santa on a gourd for a one-of-a-kind Christmas decoration for your home or as a gift. Led by Sally Haines, all materials are provided including the gourds for only $25. You can pay and register at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center at 202 S Main in Salem.

An accident occurred at 3:41 Thursday morning in Phelps County on Route CC about two miles west of Highway 63. According to the highway patrol report, an unknown vehicle and driver was driving eastbound on Route CC and struck a pedestrian who was walking in the east bound lane with the front left of the vehicle. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a ditch and some trees. The vehicle then left the scene. The pedestrian, 60-year old Bobby Cooley of Rolla, was transported by Phelps County Ambulance to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Olusan at 4:50 that morning. The highway patrol was assisted by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. Captain James W. Remillard, commanding officer of Troop I in Rolla, is requesting the assistance of the public for any information pertaining to this accident. The suspect vehicle that left the scene will have damage to the left front fender and bumper area, undercarriage and the right side. Video surveillance from a local business close to the crash scene is being reviewed. Troopers are interested in speaking with an unidentified white male who reportedly stopped at the crash scene approximately ten minutes after the incident. If you have any information pertaining to this incident, please call the Missouri State Highway Patrol at (573) 368-2345.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done on and materials would be added to Dent County Roads 6600 and 6633, while grading only would be done on county roads 6620, 5220, and 5100. He said that brush would be cut on Dent County Road 5360. Purcell noted on Tuesday, the Road and Bridge Department ran out of diesel fuel and that phone bids were taken. The low bid of $2.11 per gallon for 7,000 gallons of diesel by Phil Mart was approved, along with the low bid of $2.065 per gallon for 1,000 gallons of no-lead by MFA Oil. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4030, 2150, and 2303, plus materials would be added to and grading done on county road 2360. Larson added that brush was being cut on Dent County Road 2090. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles had nothing to report. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley noted that her office was continuing to work on the 2018 budget, plus bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley was in to discuss the Burlington Railroad right-of-way between Dent County and Larry and Linda Branson. Larry Hart of L.G. Hart & Company was in to visit about a preliminary financial analysis for Dent County and Lease Certifications of Participation. Due to the timing differences between the sales tax revenue collections and purposes of constructing a new jail, they recommended the commissioners have a private financial audit of the county to get a better rate plan. The commissioners took no action on the recommendation. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The City of Bunker is under a Boil Water Order until further notice by the Department of Natural Resources. The order was issued on Wednesday when the city’s routine bacteriological water samples resulted in total coliform positive samples. DNR recommended to the city of Bunker to overflow their storage tank and monitor the overflow screen for insects and /or bird feathers to determine if there was a potential problem with the storage tank. After the tank was overflowed, the city discovered bird feathers in the overflow pipe. Ozark Applicators out of Van Buren have been contacted to inspect the storage tank for deficiencies and to disinfect the tank. Once that has been done, the city will be collecting bacteriological samples to be sent to DNR. Residents should continue to boil any water used in drinking, food preparation, teeth brushing or for ice for at least three minutes. Let water cool sufficiently before drinking. Water used for bathing does not need to be boiled.