Archive for 2017

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance due to a previous commitment. District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell acted as Presiding Commissioner and gave the road report for District 1. He said grading was going to be done and materials would be added to Dent County Road 6630 and 6633, while patch grading and ditch work would be done on county roads 5530 and 5680. He went on to say brush was going to be cut on county roads 6500 and 6510. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said patch grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2025, 2115 and 3130, brush was going to be cut on county road 3230 and two men would be hauling brown rock for screening. He stated a crew would be replacing a pipe on county road 3180 and another crew would be replacing missing roads signs on Dent County Roads 4040, 4260, 4300, 5240 and 5260. Both Commissioners Larson and Purcell said the county continues to have problem with road signs being stolen. Last year, it costs taxpayers $2,685.93 in sign costs alone and this year, that total from January to June is $1,061.50. These figures do not include the worker’s time to prepare and install the new signs. Commissioner Purcell said if anyone sees anyone damage or steal signs to please call the sheriff’s office at 729-3241. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she was working on establishing tax rates for the tax rate hearing to be held in August. Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells was in attendance in response to an online article in the Salem News and wanted to clarify that it the building of a new jail is the first and major concern. If funds allow and his office and a courtroom can be added, that would be great, but a new jail is critical that will make it safer for officers and help his budget by not having to transport and pay for inmates at other facilities. At the last meeting, the board approved the unleaded fuel bid for the Road and Bridge Department from MFA for $1.75.5 per gallon. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and it is open to the public.

The 4-H and FFA Expo saw 73 head of market hogs and 13 breeding hogs exhibited during the Friday morning show. The nine market hog class winners were Gabe Chang, Koty Fenton, Anna McDaniel, Daylen Harrison, Kash Howard, Olivia Wisdom, Silas Wulff, Bekah Kirker and Londyn Cook. Judge Chris Hudson of Middletown Missouri selected Daylen Harrison’s 257 pound barrow as Grand Champion Market Hog and Kash Howard’s 266 pound gilt as Reserve Champion. In the commercial breeding stock, competition class winners were Wyatt Martin’s February gilt, Bailey Martin’s January gilt, and Camryn Pryor’s December gilt. Bailey’s was awarded Grand Champion and Wyatt’s gilt was Reserve Champion. The Showmanship competition was very competitive as 28 juniors age 8-12, seventeen intermediates age 13-15, and fourteen seniors age 16-19 put their skills on display. Juniors making it to the final drive were Corbett Ball, Landon Cook, Kennedy Major, Wyatt Martin, Courtney Miller, Preslie Strader, Alexis White and Olivia Wisdom. Judge Hudson congratulated Wyatt Martin as the Champion Junior Showman. In the Intermediate class, the final drive consisted of Jonah Case, Londyn Cook, Kaden Garrison, Allison Manthey, Katarina Morris, and Bailey Martin. The Martin family took home another championship ribbon with Bailey’s selection. Senior showmanship came down to a competition between Gabe Chang, Joe Hayes, Bekah Kirker and Camry Pryor, with Pryor being named Senior Showmanship Champion.

Friday afternoon’s 4-H and FFA Expo Sheep, Goat and Small Animal Shows had 20 head of sheep, 6 goats, 3 pens of meat chickens, 1 pen of meat rabbits, plus 13 breeding rabbits and 3 breeding chickens competing. Market lamb class winners were Alyssa Bowers, Londyn Cook and Ryker Major, with Ryker’s lamb being chosen as Champion and Londyn’s as Reserve Champion. In the breeding sheep competition, there was only one class of ewe lambs with Tyffany LuCerne’s two entries taking Champion and Reserve Champion. Shaylee Harrison won Senior Sheep Showmanship, Londyn Cook was named Intermediate Sheep Showman and Tyffany LuCerne took home the Junior Sheep Showmanship Award. In the Market Goat Show, Kaden Garrison and Brady Schafer exhibited the class winners. Kaden’s goat was selected as Champion and Kallen Garrison exhibited the Reserve Champion Market Goat. Showmanship awards in the goat division went to Junior Brady Schafer, Intermediate Kaden Garrison and Senior Kenadee Barnitz. The Small Animal Show Meat Chicken Pen Champion was Owen Meusch and Reserve Champion was Alaina Ferguson. Marissa Holloway exhibited the Champion and Reserve Champion buck rabbits, while Raven Gilliam had the Champion Doe and Airslie Fletcher showed the Reserve Champion Doe. Tyffany LuCerne exhibited both the Champion and Reserve Champion Hens. In the Poultry Showmanship Competition, the Junior winner was Tyffany LuCerne, The Intermediate Division was won by Alaina Ferguson, and Rachel Paul won the Senior Division. The Junior Rabbit Showmanship went to Marissa Holloway.

The Livestock Shows at the 4-H and FFA Expo culminated in the Cattle Show Friday afternoon and evening. Mariah Cramer’s Hereford Heifer was selected as Champion and Kenadee Barnitz’ Heredord was Reserve Champion Female. Ray Cunningham exhibited the Champion Hereford Bull, while Kenadee Barnitz showed the Reserve Champion. In the Commercial Heifer division, Kaden Garrison showed the champion, which was a Charolais influence heifer, while Brook Adams’ Angus influence heifer was selected as Reserve Champion. The Market Steer show saw Judge Chris Hudson select class winners exhibited by Brayden Headrick, Brooke Shults, Texas Nall, Brooke Adams and Ray Cunningham. The Championship went to Brooke Adams’ 1345 pound steer with Brett Fore’s 1310 pound steer being selected as Reserve Champion. Fourteen Juniors, 5 Intermediates and 10 Seniors competed in the Beef Showmanship competition. In the Junior Division, Ray Cunningham, Brayden Headrick, Clayton Headrick and Brady Schafer were selected for the final drive and Clayton Headrick won the award, while the Junior Division winner was Dylan Thompson. The Senior Division competition was intense among Kenadee Barnitz, Alyssa Bowers and Moriah Cramer, with Kenadee taking home the award.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday night at the District Administrative Board Room. Superintendent John McCulloch announced the open house for William Lynch Elementary will be on Monday August 14th from 5:30-6:30, and that same evening at the Upper Elementary from 6:30-7:30. The open house at the High School will be on Tuesday, August 15th from 4:30-6:00 followed by the open house at the Middle School from 6:00-7:30. McColloch said the football field bathroom and locker room project will be rebid in October. He said an HVAC unit is out above the band room and bids are coming in for a new unit, plus an issue with some bricks at William Lynch will be fixed prior to school starting. McColloch said the new Tech Center in the high school library is close to completion and everything should be done in plenty of time for the start of school. The board approved the bid for milk from Hiland Dairy, the bread bid from Bimbo (Sara Lee), the food and supply bid from US Foods, the bid for fuel from County Fuels, and the pest control bid from Integrity Pest Solutions. They also set the tax rate hearing for August 17th at 5:50 p.m., to be followed by the regular August Board meeting. The board approved for Durham Transportation to provide bus services for the Early Childhood Special Education students, and approved the 6-12 Chromebook policy/handbook. In closed session, the board agreed to hire Lauren Prugh as a Kindergarten teacher before the meeting was adjourned.

The City of Salem Board of Alderman will conduct their regular meeting tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers located 202 North Washington beginning at 7:00 pm. During the hearing of persons, Randy League will be requesting the closing of streets around the courthouse for Saturday, September 9th for the annual car show and arts & crafts festival conducted by the Midwest Blue Oval Club. In bids, the city requested bids for a Kubota Zero Turn Mower for the Cemetery; the city also requested bids for 2 servers and a copier for the administrative office and all bids will be presented to the Board. City Clerk Mary Happel will present a trailer court license for the Board’s approval in unfinished business. City Administrator Ray Walden will then report on various current and future projects as well as discuss the city holiday pay policy and also discuss a policy on fund raising for city departments. Mayor Brad Nash will then present his report. During the introduction and reading of bills and resolutions, Bill #3335 an ordinance required in order to purchase property from the Wanda L. Parks Trust for a runway protection zone; Bill #3336, an ordinance to amend Ordinance #3333, changing the monthly commercial manufacturing averaging from 400,000 to 350,000 gallon of water per month and Bill #3337 an ordinance to authorize the Mayor to execute a contract between the City of Salem and MFA Cooperative Association for the sale of property will be presented to the Board’s approval. In new and miscellaneous business, the Board needs to call for a public tax rate hearing in order to set the tax rate for the year 2017 and the Salem Police Department will be requesting approval to apply for a LLEBG Grant. The Board may then vote to go into closed session to discuss real estate, contracts and personnel. The regular meeting of the City of Salem Board of Alderman is open to the public.

The Salem 4-H and FFA Livestock Auction was held Saturday at The Commons. A total of 104 animals were auctioned off including a pen of rabbits, two pens of chickens, one market goat, nine market lambs, 67 market hogs and 24 market steers. The auction brought in a total of $189,366.50. Top buyers at the auction this year were the Bank of Salem who purchased 12 animals comprised of seven hogs and five steers; Phil-Mart who purchased ten animals made up of one lamb, six hogs and three steers; Intercounty Electric who bought seven hogs; Town and County Bank and Jadwin Lumber who each purchased five animals comprised of one lamb, three hogs and one steer; Smith Valley Angus who bought five animals made up of three hogs and two steers; Salem Livestock who purchased four animals broken down into one lamb, two hogs and one steer; and Phelps County Regional Medical Center who bought two hogs and two steers. There were 47 different buyers on the initial sale and there were 11 resales with their proceeds donated to the Love Pack Backpack program, the 4-H Chapters in Dent County, Salem FFA and 4-H Council. The proceeds from the resales totaled $4,246.90.

An accident occurred at 6:25 Saturday morning in Jefferson County on southbound Route V just north of Brittany Lane that took the life a DeSoto resident. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer driven by 22-year old Katherine Knox of Desoto was traveling southbound and traveled off the right side of the roadway. Knox then overcorrected and the Chevy Blazer overturned. Knox was pronounced dead 6:39 by Valle Ambulance District personnel and the body was transported to the St. Louis County Morgue and Schaefer Mortuary. A passenger, 21-year old Alonzo Moore, III of Salem suffered minor injuries and was taken to St. Anthony’s Medical Center by the Valle ambulance. No one was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet Blazer was totaled and removed from the scene by T and T Towing.

Have you thought about having an art party for kids or adults as birthday party? It’s a perfect mix and the Salem Area Arts Council can accommodate up to 20 people for a party which would be led by a professional artist and would also include all the materials and a pitcher or two of lemonade. Group rates are available! For more information, call or text the Salem Area Arts Council at 573-247-0279 or you can e-mail saac@embarqmail.com.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the courthouse. In road reports, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that he had a crew that would be installing a new culvert, repairs would be performed on an existing culvert and materials would also be hauled to Dent County Road 5680. He said that patch grading would be done on county roads 5015 and 5220 while materials would be hauled to county road 5615. He went on to say that the patching of chip and seal would take place on Dent County Roads 4120, 4210 and 4243. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that although he has a skeleton crew, brush would be cut on county road 3230 while materials would be hauled to Dent County Roads 3220 and 2115. Larson reported that Dent County Road 4060 is now open and any missing road signs would be replaced. Patching was also going to be done at the intersection of chip and seal road 6150 and gravel road 6160 as the apron where they meet has holes. He said that repairs would be done on truck #116 as it appears to be over charging. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he attended a meeting Tuesday with the staff from the MRPC, the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, City Administrator Ray Walden and the caterer in planning the awards banquet that will be held October 26th in Salem. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that the 2017 Dent County assessment valuation came in at $167,383,430 and was up about 5.4% which is $9,098,331 over the 2016 assessment valuation of $158,285,099. She stated that representatives from SEMA and FEMA stopped by her office and dropped off applications for individual persons still needing to apply for assistance from the flooding late in April and early May or from the storm damage. For more information you call 1-800-621-3362 or go online to www.disasterassistance.gov. Commissioner Larson wanted to go on record as to clarify any misconceptions regarding the jail project. There were 2 propositions on the April ballot and both needed to pass in order for the county to proceed forward with the jail project. Proposition 1 stated, “Shall the County of Dent, Missouri impose a county wide sales tax at the rate of one-half of one percent for a period of twenty-one years from the date on which such tax is first imposed for the purpose of paying for the construction of a new jail for detention facilities and to the extent funds are available, construction of law enforcement administrative space and an additional courtroom? Collections for this Proposition are not to begin until the one-half of one percent sales tax of Proposition 2 is also approved.” Proposition 2 read the same as Proposition 1 and was contingent on Proposition 1 passing. The only difference between the two is that Prop 1 is for 21-years and Prop 2 is perpetual for the operation of the jail, with no sunset. Both propositions were passed by the voters of Dent County back in April. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open the public.

The Salem Police Department released their reports. On Thursday, July 13th at 10:37 pm, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The stop led to the arrest of a 30-year old Bunker female for driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana as well as a 27-year old Bunker male for possession of marijuana. Both suspects were issued summonses to appear in court and released. On Friday, July 14th at 2:29 am, an officer located a 32-year old Salem male in the 600 block of West Fourth who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. He was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. At 3:00 that afternoon, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to a theft investigation. The report revealed a 46-year old male of Steelville took money to do a tree trimming job and did not return to do the work. On Saturday, July 15th at 2:48 pm, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 800 block of East Hunt in reference to a theft. The report revealed someone unknown took a gold, 20-inch boys bicycle valued $100.00 from the yard of a residence. On Sunday, July 16th at 6:30 am, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference ti damage to vehicle tires. The report revealed someone unknown cut four wheel valve stems on a vehicle. At 2:37 that afternoon, an officer was contacted in reference to a theft. The report revealed someone unknown took a metal dog kennel from the carport of a residence in the 500 block of East Roosevelt. That evening at 5:09, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 1200 block of Jennifer in reference to a runaway juvenile. The report revealed a 12-year old Salem male juvenile had run away from home. Further investigation led to the detention of the juvenile who was later released to a parent. The report will be forwarded to the Juvenile Office. Then at 7:43, officers were conducting a narcotics investigation at a residence in the 1500 block of South Highway 19 that led to the arrest of a 31-year old Salem male for possession of methamphetamine. He was incarcerated pending an application for a warrant. On Tuesday, July 18th at 9:33 pm, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The stop led to the arrest of an 18-year old Salem male on an active arrest warrant from Dent County. He was later released after paying fines and court cost associated with the warrant. Late that night at 11:53, an officer responded to a residence in the 300 block of East Truman in reference to a theft. The report revealed a 30-year old Salem male had stolen a 32 inch Vizio television valued $200.00. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.