Archive for 2017

An accident happened Saturday afternoon at 12:15 in Crawford County on Highway 19 about two miles north of Steelville. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Ford Escape driven southbound by 33-year old Jesse Auten of Bixby, crossed over the centerline and struck a 2007 Chevy Malibu driven by northbound by 25-year old Tyler Turnbough of Cuba, virtually head-on. Auten suffered serious injuries and was flown by Arch 6 to the Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. Turnbough also suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to the Mercy Hospital as well. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. Both drivers were wearing their seat restraints at the time of the accident.

An accident occurred Saturday afternoon at 12:09 on Interstate 44 at the 147.4 mile marker in the westbound lanes. According to the highway patrol report, a 2011 KIA Sportage driven by 58-year old James Paulson of Ft. Leonard Wood, was traveling westbound when he did not slow in traffic due to a prior crash. The KIA rear ended a 2012 Acura TL driven by 63-year-old James Kistner of St. Louis, which caused the Acura to rear end a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by 60-year old Donna Loper of Salem. The driver of the Kia, James Paulson suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Pulaski County Ambulance to General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital. Also suffering minor injuries in the accident was an occupant of the Acura, Donna Payne of St. Louis. She sought her own treatment. All persons involved in the accident were wearing safety restraints. The Kia sustained extensive damage and was towed by TC Towing of Waynesville. The Acura was totaled and towed by Jacks Towing of Waynesville, and the Hyundai received moderate damage and was driven from the scene.

An accident occurred in Texas County Thursday morning at 11:32 on Highway 137 near the Licking City Limits. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Hyundai Elantra was northbound and driven by 26-year old Angel M. Rodabaugh of Salem. The report stated that a pedestrian, 39-year old Elizabeth Edmonds of Licking, stepped into the path of the Hyundai. Edmonds suffered moderate injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps County Regional Medical Center. There was minor damage to the Elantra.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met on Monday, December 18th. At the meeting, Administrator Kendra Mobray gave an update on recent building renovations. She said the flooring, countertops, privacy fencing, and wall mural have been completed. She also said the outpatient lab supplies have been ordered from Boyce and Bynum with lab services tentatively scheduled to begin January 2, 2018. The Health Center will offer a variety of lab tests at a discounted rate. The only cost to clients will be the cost charged by Boyce and Bynum and no lab draw fee will be collected. In order to get the lab tests, a physician’s order is required. In new business, staff from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services were in the office on December 12th and December 13th for WIC monitoring. The monitors gave positive feedback during an exit interview with Roma Jones, Joan Raulston, and Mobray as they await the final report. In aneffort to choose the next health issue for the years 2018-2021 that will pose the biggest threat to Dent County’s maternal and children’s health population, the Health Center has created an online survey open to the public. They encourage Dent County residents to answer the three simple survey questions via Facebook (on Dent County Health Center’s page), www.surveymonkey.com, or in person at the Health Center. Mobray reported influenza activity in Missouri is widespread with several cases of influenza now having been reported for Dent County since November 26th. Flu shots are still available at the Health Center. She also wants people to know that filings for the Board seat that will be expiring in April of 2018, has began and will run through January 16th, 2018. Those persons interested in filling a Board seat for this position must file in person at the County Clerk’s office at the Dent County Court House during regular office hours. It was also announced at the meeting that the Health Center, in partnership with Diaper Bank of the Ozarks, will soon begin a “Healthy Rewards” program. Each WIC client that keeps three WIC appointments will receive a free pack of diapers. Their next meeting will be held on Monday, January 18th at 5:00 and is open to the public.

Congratulations goes out to the three winners of the KSMO Radio Big Christmas Giveaway sponsored by Bottorff’s Southtown Furniture in Salem, the Fidelity Communications Salem office and Fairground Auto Plaza in Rolla. The three winners this year were Sandy Gibson, Leon Turnbough and Ron Ice. Thanks to everyone who participated in this years contest and have a very Merry Christmas from KSMO and YWT.

The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting Thursday morning. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6080, 6210 and 6220 while chip and seal county roads 5015 and 5083 would receive some patch work. Purcell said he attended the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency meeting Tuesday and they have seven programs that are available to the public including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Weatherization program, a home repair program, Head Start and Early Head Start and others. There are some income guidelines that apply and to find out more information, contact Sara at 729-3500. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson indicated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 3410, while materials only would be added to county road 3265, and only grading would be done on county road 4403. Larson also said some repair work needed to be done on brush cutter #6. Skiles updated the commission on the Rock Island Railroad Trail saying that currently there are 300 landowners that have deeds that stated once the railroad was abandoned, that property would go back to the original landowner. He felt it was wrong for the MRPC to offer to help support a project that denies private citizens their private property rights. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she continued to work on the budget and the courthouse would be closed on Monday and Tuesday for the Christmas holiday. Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells brought in bids to provide meals for the prisoners in 2018. Three bids were submitted and the lowest bid came from KFC/Taco Bell at $4.80 per meal. The Commissioners approved the low bid and wanted to thank the other restaurants for their bid submission. Sheriff Wells also recommended raising the jail board fee to $45 a day from the current $40 per day to house prisoners. The commission approved his request. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday, December 28th at 9:00 at the courthouse.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met Thursday night for their regular meeting. The board heard from auditor Kristen DeLuca about the audit for the last fiscal year ended June 30th, 2017. She gave an unmodified opinion of the financial statements which is the best that can be given as she said the financial statements are fairly stated. She showed increases in the net position for the city in their governmental operations of $382,951 and their commercial operations of $300,188. DeLuca told the board the audit went smooth with full cooperation of the city employees. Jeff Meadows from Archer Engineering presented the bids for the Ultraviolet Disinfection Equipment needed for the Salem Wastewater Treatment Facility. Meadows explained the process of equipment procurement as well as calculating operating costs and useful life in determining the best bid. He said the bid from Trojan Technologies for the horizontal bulb alignment of $114,740 with expected operating costs of $239,000 over 20 years was the best bid for the city. The board approved that bid. The board also approved the bid from Erb Equipment Company in Cuba of $10,287.47 to remove and rebuild the transmission of the Crawler for the Street Department. After the consent agenda was approved, City Administrator Ray Walden said he would bring information requested by Mayor Brad Nash on how many employees the CDL Policy and differential pay would affect to the next meeting. He will also bring to the January meeting definitive dates for the Visionary meetings with the Drury University Students about the old middle school property, and he will discuss with the Park Board about a proposed change in the baseball and softball league sponsors to raise additional funds by Parks and Rec. Director Tye Lydon before bringing the request back to the aldermen. The City Administrative offices will be closed today, Christmas Day and New Years Day. The board approved Bill #3352 that created an ordinance to annex into the city some property on Highway 32-72 West owned by the Inman Living Trust, Max and LaWanna Inman Trustees. They also approved Bill #3353 that allows the mayor to execute task order #4 pertaining to an agreement between the city and Archer Group to perform services on the project named the Highway J & 72 Water and Sewer Extension. The board approved the destruction of old police records prior to 2011 except for felony reports as permitted by state statute, and they approved the purchase of fuel for the airport in the amount of $13,853.19 from Naeger Oil from Springfield, Missouri. The board then went into closed session.