Archive for 2017

A drowning occurred in Phelps County Saturday at 2:58 in the afternoon on county road 5285 about five miles south of Rolla at Fugitive Beach. According to the highway patrol report, 18-year old Kalon D. Green of Belleville, Illinois failed to surface after traveling down a water slide. Green was located by life guards and CPR was performed on the scene. Green was later transported to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased by Dr. Abusbeth at 4:15 that afternoon. Green’s body was then transported to the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In public comments, Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley was in to inform the Commission that the Prosecutors Office has taken a more active role when a convicted felon is found in possession of firearms. The firearms are seized and then sold. Curley presented Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams with a check for $2,192.40 less expenses of $300 which is in accordance with statute 542.301. He stated that there would be future checks and that depending on the judges ruling in each case that would determine if the monies would go to the Dent County General Revenue or the Sheriff’s Revolving Fund. In road reports, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated that he had two operators out. He went on to say that grading as well as ditch work would be performed on Dent County Roads 6070 and 6460. He went on to say that crews would be patching chip and seal on county roads 4170 and 6300. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2115, 2120, 4330, and 5335 while materials would be hauled to county roads 2120 and 2130 and brush would be cut on county road 4060. While Larson was on vacation last week he did receive some calls and took care of those calls. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he attended the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting last Thursday. He noted that crews have started on the temporary bypass on Highway 32 East over Dry Valley and the project is expected to completed by October 1st. Future projects will include bridge replacement on “F” Highway and two-foot shoulders on Highway 19 from Salem to Highway 8 in St. James. He stated that work continues for the Annual Awards Banquet to be held October 26th at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory in Salem. The Commission would be attending a Hazard Mitigation Planning meeting Monday afternoon and the Salem Area Betterment Association meeting Monday night. Skiles stated that he would be attending a Meramac Community Enhancement Corporation Board meeting and the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District meeting today. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that payroll was being approved and that she balanced with the Dent County Collectors Office and the Dent County Assessors Office on monthly collections for May as well as balanced on abatements and add-on’s and the Commission would review the reports. The Commission then voted 3-0 to accept the bid from Heavin Motor’s for a 2011 Ford F-150 Super Cab with 146,000 miles in the amount of $9,700 for the Road and Bridge Department that came in last week. Donald Dodd came in to visit with the Commission about the need for a City Economic Development Director and would like the county to help with the cost. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department released reports involving a physical assault, a stolen wallet, a harassment complaint, a stabbed male and a traffic stop. On Tuesday, May 30th at 6:09 pm, officers were detailed to the Salem Chamber of Commerce in reference to a physical assault that had occurred. Officers arrived and discovered that a 43-year old male had been assaulted by a 35-year old male. The 35-year old male fled the scene on foot, but was located a short time later and was placed under arrest and was incarcerated at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. On Wednesday, May 31st at 8:17 pm, officers were dispatched to Wal-Mart, in reference to a stolen wallet report. Officers conducted an investigation and were able to identify a female suspect. The female suspect was located in Dent County. The Dent County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Salem Police Department with the investigation, which led to the recovery of the wallet, cash, and assorted cards. A 45-year old female was arrested and charged in the theft. On Thursday, June 1st at 7:35 pm, Officers responded to the 700 block of North Henderson Street in reference to a harassment complaint. Upon arrival officers spoke with the reporting party and learned that a 47-year old male was intoxicated and acting aggressively towards his neighbors. Officers contacted the male subject and he became combative and non-compliant. The male was arrested for a peace disturbance, harassment, and resisting arrest and was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail. On Friday, June 2nd at 11:08 pm, officers responded to the 100 block of Highway 19 in reference to a male subject that had been stabbed. Officers arrived on scene and rendered aid to the 31-year old male of Salem. The victim was flown from Salem to the St. Louis for treatment. The case remains under investigation at this time. On Saturday, June 3rd at 2:10 pm, officers contacted a male subject during a traffic stop in the 1100 block of West Highway 32. During the traffic stop it was revealed that the 17-year old male driver did not possess a valid license and was placed in custody, processed and released on a summons. Anyone with any information regarding any investigation ongoing is asked to call the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.

Mid-Day 10 Minute closures are planned on I-44 now through June 23rd at noon each weekday between mile markers 182 and 185 (Rolla). For safety reasons, all traffic must stop when contractors on a private construction project conduct controlled blasts in nearby rock.