Archive for 2017

On Monday morning, the Dent County Commission met at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated that ditch work was going to be done on Dent County Road 6515 to install a crossover pipe. He said brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 4150, 4155, 4157 and 6510 and one crew member is going to be picking up a load of material for chip and seal repair on Dent County Road 4220. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated that although it is getting very dry, work crews will be grading on Dent County Roads 4280 and 6160 while materials will be added and grading done on county road 3220. He also said materials would be added to county roads 4060 and 4290 and brush was going to be cut on Dent County Roads 3220 and 3233. Larson went on to say Dent County Road 4060 would remain closed through Thursday as the crew has finished pouring the concrete for the new low water crossing, but they still have to move the dirt and materials back around the road and the crossing. Larson went on to report that later this week, workers will be rebuilding and working on Private Drive 401 to get it ready to be given a new County Road number. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be meeting today at the Salem Community Center@The Armory with members from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission to make plans for the MRPC Annual Awards Banquet to be held in October. Steve Davis from Shive-Hatterly Engineers and Nick Smith from Septagon Construction Management discussed a number of building options with the commissioners for the Jail and Justice Center project from a three story justice center with underground parking, to basically just the jail with a shell for further expansion of the Dent County Sheriff’s Office or courtrooms. From the current jail bid project in Webster County, they had numbers for the commissioners that showed the jail project alone could cost about $12.3 million dollars. There were a number of assumptions made in calculating those numbers according to Smith since the grade level of this project is different with a 30 foot drop from the southwest corner to the northeast corner that can add to the cost per square foot, other specialization costs and more. Both men said they would go back to look at the design to see if there some areas for cost savings measures that could be found that would include all the “must haves” of the jail. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred at 10:30 Saturday night, July 15th in Shannon County on county road 367-B about 15 miles south of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 1993 Ford F150 driven by 19-year old Jason Piatt of Salem was driving in a field in circles, when he failed to notice a tree and struck the tree causing a passenger, 17-year old Heath Ball of Salem, riding in the bed of the truck to strike his head on the truck. Ball suffered minor injuries and was transported by private vehicle to the Salem Hospital. No one was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford F150 sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

An accident occurred at 3:20 early Sunday morning in Gasconade County on Highway 19 about 74 feet south of East Franklin Street in Owensville. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Nissan Sentra driven by 23-year old Jacob Clonts of Steelville was traveling southbound and attempted to make a left turn where a left turn was not present. The Nissan Sentra traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a telephone box. Clonts suffered minor injuries and received treatment on scene. He was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Nissan Sentra sustained moderate damage and was towed by Triple L Towing of Owensville.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their July tonight in the hospital library beginning at 6:00 pm. After approval of the minutes from the June 20th meeting, Chief Financial Officer Monica Gargus will update the Board with the summary of operations and statistics reports for June followed by Chief Nursing Officer Debbie Hines report. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will then give reports on the hospital foundation as well as auxiliary activities. In old business, the Board will address the City of Salem water/sewer expansion. During new business the Board will discuss purchases made of the hospital, there will be the election of officer’s and the Board will then set a public tax meeting for August 22nd beginning at 5:45 pm. The Board may vote to go into closed session. The July meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors is open the public.

On Friday morning, Govenor Eric Greitens announced more Missouri homeowners, renters and businesses, and local government agencies can receive vital federal disaster assistance after the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved his request to expand the federal disaster declaration for spring flooding and severe storms in Missouri. FEMA has approved the Governor’s request to expand assistance to eligible homeowners, renters and businesses in Christian, Crawford, Dent, Greene, Iron, Ste. Genevieve, Wayne and Wright counties. Homeowners and renters who sustained damage or losses due to the flooding and severe storms can register for disaster assistance by calling the FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, or by going online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Homeowners, renters and businesses are urged to apply quickly as the FEMA deadline to apply for assistance is August 1st. In all, more than $71 million in payments – including FEMA grants, National Flood Insurance Program payments to policyholders and U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans – has now flowed into Missouri, helping fuel the recovery of Missouri families. SEMA is now working to schedule regional state Applicant Briefings to inform county and municipal governments; public water, sewer and other special districts; and nonprofit agencies of the FEMA Public Assistance application process. Meeting notifications will be made once the briefing schedule has been set. Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available in Crawford, Dent, Iron, Wayne and Wright counties because of FEMA designation of those counties in the disaster declaration. Claimants must file by August 14th by calling their Regional Claims Center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or online at uinteract.labor.mo.gov. Beginning July 17, 2017, all private water samples received at the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory for bacteriological testing will require the normal $10.00 handling fee in order to be approved for testing. Visit Recovery.mo.gov for more flood recovery resources. The site is updated daily.

The Salem Police Department released a number of reports. On Thursday, July 6th at 10:04 in the morning, an officer received a report of a sexual assault. The investigation of the report revealed that a 14-year-old male juvenile of Salem had sexually assaulted a 5 year-old female juvenile of Salem. Further investigation led to the detention of the male who was later released to his parents. The investigation was turned over to the Juvenile Office. That evening at 5:15, an officer was conducting a theft investigation in the 600 block of South Jackson. During the investigation, a 22-year old Salem female was found to be in possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia. She was placed under arrest and later released to go to a treatment facility pending the application for warrants. On Sunday afternoon, July 9th at 12:05, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 1000 block of West Ellis in reference to theft from a vehicle. The report revealed someone unknown took a stereo unit valued at $90.00 from a red 2005 Pontiac Grand Am. That same night at 10:19, an officer transported a 26-year old Rolla female from the Phelps County Jail to the Dent County Jail due to an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. She was incarcerated pending a court appearance. Also on Sunday, July 9th at 10:41 at night, an officer transported a 34-year old male of St. Louis from the St. Francis County Sheriffs Department to the Dent County Jail due to an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. He was incarcerated pending a court appearance. Call the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

A new shower house will be installed in the Alley Spring Campground next week starting today. In order to ensure visitor and staff safety while heavy equipment and large trucks are on site for installation, most of the campground will be closed temporarily beginning at noon today. The 100 and 200 Loops will remain open during installation, and the entire campground is expected to re-open by the evening of Wednesday, July 19. During the temporary closure, access through the campground to the Bluff Hole swimming area will also be restricted. The new shower house is a CXT Concrete Building unit, a pre-fabricated concrete structure which is assembled on-site, requiring heavy equipment for installation. CXT structures are very durable for long-term use in an area prone to flooding. Following the initial on-site installation, park staff will need several days to complete final installation steps and ready the shower house for public use. For more information, contact 573-323-4236.

The Bonebrake Center of Nature and History will present “Mother Goose is Going Buggy” on Tuesday, July 18, starting at 6:30 p.m. Mother Goose will be sharing information about the world of insects and arachnids, the good, bad and ugly! This program is especially designed for toddlers, preschoolers, and up to early elementary school-aged children. The cost is $1.00 per person or $5.00 for the whole family. Phone reservations are requested to plan for snacks and activities. Please call the Bonebrake Center (573.729.3400) or e-mail at bonebrakecenter@embarqmail.com.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5420 and 6370 while tree limbs would be trimmed on Dent County Road 4120. Purcell went on to say brush would be cut on county roads 4210, 6300 and 6303 while materials would be added and spread on Dent County Road 5060. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported his entire crew would be working on the low water crossing on Dent County Road 4060 ad they will be using 18 yards of concrete. Larson said county road 4060 would be closed until next Thursday, July 20th to allow the concrete to cure. He said the county doesn’t want to take any chances of a larger truck going over the low water crossing before it is completely set up and damaging the new crossing. Larson appreciates everyone’s’ patience in this matter. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said Monday the City of Salem Planning and Zoning Commission approved their request to close Iron and water Streets from 5th Street to Rolla Road for the new Jail and Justice Center project, and made their recommendation to the Board of Aldermen. The Aldermen also approved the request with the stipulation the city retains the water and sewer easements on Iron Street. An ordinance will be drawn up that will be approved at the next meeting. Skiles also had a Quit-Claim Deed for Max and LaWanna Inman that was approved by Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley and the Commission agreed to sign to relinquish any interest they would have with the property that was used to improve approaches when the work on Highway 72 was done. The commissioners left the building to have the Quit-Claim Deed notarized. At 10:30, Commissioners Purcell and Larson had a conference call with FEMA to discuss the improvements made to the roads from the washouts from the flooding and set up a time they can come and visit. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department released reports involving property damage, a shoplifter, drug use, and theft from a vehicle. On Monday, July 3rd at 12:51 in the early morning, an officer located a 32-year old Salem female at a residence in the 900 block of South Oak who had active arrest warrants from Dent County, Crawford County, Franklin County and Phelps County. She was taken into custody on the warrants and incarcerated pending a court appearance and extradition. Later that morning at 11:22, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 500 block of South Jackson in reference to property damage and a theft. The investigation of the report revealed someone unknown broke the door glass out of a vehicle valued at $100.00 and took a gaming console valued at $599.00. The report is under investigation. That night at 8:03, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The report led to the arrest of a 28-year old Salem female for stealing merchandise valued at $27.92. She was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Tuesday night, July 4th at 11:49, an officer responded to a residence in the 400 block of East Ninth in reference to someone using drugs who would not leave the residence. The report led to the arrest of a 20-year old Salem male for possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and on an active fugitive arrest warrant from Crawford County, Missouri. He was incarcerated pending the application for warrants and extradition. On Wednesday, July 5th at 4:02 in the afternoon, a vehicle was stopped for an arrest warrant investigation. The investigation led to the arrest of a 46-year old Salem male on an active arrest warrant from Dent County and a 47-year old Salem male on an active arrest warrant from Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Austin, Texas. Both were incarcerated pending a court appearance and extradition. On Thursday morning, July 6th at 8:47, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 500 block of South Jackson in reference to theft from a vehicle. The report revealed someone unknown took items valued at $728.00 from a black 2000 Ford truck parked in the driveway of a residence. Further investigation led to the arrest of a 27-year old Salem male for the theft. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

An accident occurred at 8:35 Tuesday night in Phelps County on Highway F about eight miles southeast of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan driven by 36-year old Nicholas Fazzio of Rolla was traveling westbound and attempted to avoid a deer in the roadway. The Kawasaki struck the deer and slid off the roadway. Fazzio suffered minor injuries and refused treatment, while a passenger, 36-year old Laura Picker of St. James suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center. The Kawasaki sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

Naturally Meramec is a movement in the Missouri Meramec Region that works to capture the uniqueness of the region in the eight-county region including Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski, and Washington Counties making it a destination. This is accomplished by promoting local products and services and assisting small agriculture, tourism and culinary businesses through collective marketing efforts, education, training and technical assistance. You can become a member of Naturally Meramec. It’s free! Call Connie Willman at 573-578-6712 for more information.