Archive for 2017

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. County Treasurer Denita Williams was in with tax receipt amounts and school payment figures. She reported that General Revenue receipts for June were $77,741.50, which leaves the year-to-date total down by $5,780.06. Williams was asked what the June 2016 amount was and she said it was $97,626.51. She also reported that the Road and Bridge Sales Tax receipts were $35,180.93, which makes the year-to-date in that fund up by $91.82. It was noted that the June 2016 receipts for R&B were $41,538.56. Williams stated the transfers from the School Fines Savings Account would take place based on Department of Elementary and Secondary Education percentages and the total amount dispersed would be $165,743.43. Salem R-80 will receive $75,976.80, the Oak Hill R-1 check will be in the amount of $13,226.33, the Green Forest R-2 check amount will be $19,391.95, Dent-Phelps R-3 $28,275.84, while Northwood R-4 will receive $20,933.40. Iron County C-4 will receive $3,596.64 while the Bunker Schools check will be in the mount of $4,342.47. Williams noted that the fines account total was up by $50,024.18 when compared to 2016. 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 6240, 5140, and 6230, while grading only would be done on county roads 6083, 6110, and 6070. Purcell went on to say that ditch work was being done on county road 5140 and that his crews would be caught up on road repairs from the last storm event and they are making progress on repairs from the big storm. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson was absent due to a prior commitment so Road Foreman Sam Gorman was in and reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3190, 5330, 5335, 3200, 2550, 2530, and 2533, while materials would be added to county roads 4430, 5330, and 3190. He added that patching of chip and seal pot holes would be done on county roads 3260, 3280, and 2300. Gorman noted that his crews were still working downed trees from the latest storm. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that Thursday afternoon he would be attending the MRPC Transportation Advisory Committee, as well as committee meetings and the board meeting during the evening. Skiles added that on Monday he attended the City of Salem Board of Alderman meeting to discuss street right of ways around the Justice Center and learned he would have to present the proposal to the City Planning and Zoning Committee before it would be presented to the Board of Aldermen. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley was attending the Urban Board Conference in St. Louis. Deputy Dent County Clerk Crystal Pilkington reported that the Clerk’s office balanced with the County Treasurer and County Collector. She said the Commissioners were reviewing those reports as well as approving bills for payment. One bid for a pickup for the Road and Bridge Department was received from Heavin Motors. The bid was for a 2011 Ford F-150 Super Cab with 146,600 miles for $9,700.00. The Commissioners decided that a decision would be made at a later date. 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.

An accident occurred in Dent County Saturday evening at 5:57 on National Park Service Road 154 approximately on tenth of a mile from Dent County Road 6510. According to the Highway Patrol Report a 1999 Ford Taurus, driven by 28-year old Jessica Olinger of Raymondville, ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Olinger suffered moderate injuries and was transported by private conveyance to Texas County Memorial Hospital. According to the report passengers 10-year old Ashton Glass and 26-year old Michael Glass, also of Raymondville, along with another passenger, 18-year old Zachary Fultz of Republic, suffered no injuries. The report stated that none of the occupants were wearing a safety restraint. The Ford Taurus sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing of Salem.

The Salem Police Department released reports involving a narcotics investigation, a physical assault, stealing, and a stolen i-Phone. On Sunday, June 4th, officers conducted a narcotics investigation in the 1800 block of South Oak Street. During the course of the investigation a 33-year old male was discovered to have a quantity of methamphetamine is his possession. The male subject was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. Later that night at 11:20 pm, officers responded to a complaint of a physical assault that occurred in a parking lot in the 200 block of North Jackson. A 38-year old female was arrested for assaulting a 20-year old male subject. The female allegedly struck the 20-year old male with a closed fist after slapping him several times. The female subject was arrested and issued a summons for court. On Monday, June 5th at 12:30 in the afternoon, officers were detailed to Wal-Mart in reference to a stealing report. Upon arrival a 25-year old female was found to have concealed merchandise, and had left the store without paying for the items. The female subject was placed under arrest and processed for the theft charge and was issued a summons and released. On Wednesday, June 7th, officers responded to a domestic dispute in the 200 block of East Center Street. Officers arrived and made contact with a 33-year old male and 32-year old female subject. The subjects had been involved in a loud verbal dispute. Reports that the incident had become physical were not able to be substantiated. The subjects were advised of the Missouri 12-Hour Rule and directed to avoid contact with each other. Also on Wednesday, June 7th at 7:31, a 19-year old male subject reported a stolen i-Phone 6 Plus form his vehicle in the Wal-Mart Parking Lot. An investigation is ongoing at this time. Anyone with any information regarding any investigation ongoing is asked to call the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.

The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Wednesday, June 7th, at the Salem Communuity Center@The Armory. After a closed session meeting on personnel, officers were elected for the 2017-2018 year. Re-elected president and vice-president were Stan Podorski and Kyle Williams, respectively, and Angie Curley was elected secretary. Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon and Podorski discussed the problems with swimming pool that has prevented it from being opened. After a visual inspection of the pool by Lydon, the pool was filled to a level of about two inches below the skimmer line and it would not rise any higher. Before attempting to fix leaks in the pool with a product that works in water, Lydon, Podorski and Water and Sewer Superintendent Jack Emory checked the drain line at the creek that comes from the drain system under the pool and found the pool was leaking at a pace of about 16 gallons per minute or over 24,000 gallons per day. The decision was made to drain the pool where it was found that old patch work done on the pool had failed and all three seams in the pool had failed. A permanent corrective action was sought that required sandblasting the pool at a cost of between $15,000 and $20,000, but no sandblaster could be found that would come to the area. Making the decision then to re-patch the pool and do a permanent fix after the season was decided on only to find the required patch product was not available and would take 7-10 business days to be shipped, followed by the scraping and applying to the pool which would take another two days at a minimum, followed by a curing period of another 5-7 days. It is still the desire of the Park Board to get the pool open this year if possible so the board unanimously voted to hold off making a final decision for two weeks to allow pool companies and/or contractors to assess the damage to the pool, see what they recommend for the pool this season, and what can be done to the pool to upgrade it for the next season as well as how much it would cost. This would include not only the surface structure of the pool but also pipe replacement. For the baseball, softball and T-Ball program, Lydon reported the T-Ball Fields now have foul lines, base lines, batters boxes and foul poles to make them look like a real ballfield. He purchased a new pitching machine to replace the old that was over 20 years old, new bases and new catching gear. Also food items are being served this year at the Little League Field. It was also noted the concessions at Al Brown Fields are being done through June and for a tournament in July by the NASP parents to raise funds to send the archery kids down to Orlando, Florida. The board reviewed and approved the proposed 2017-2018 budget for the Parks and Recreation Department with the understanding that depending on what needed to be done to the pool could force some changes to be made on getting some other projects done. The board also reviewed a priority list of projects to be done this summer, plus projects that will attempt to be done in the next three years depending upon what needs to be done with the pool. The meeting was then adjourned.

An accident happened in Dent County on Highway 68 about five miles north of Salem Wednesday afternoon at 4:05. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis driven westbound by 52-year old Ardean Ashelman of Salem, was attempting to make a left hand turn onto a county road when at that time a 1998 Peterbilt driven westbound by Lawrence White of Salem attempted to pass on the left, striking the Grand Marquis. Suffering serious injuries was the driver, Ardean Ashelman, and was she was transported by Air Evac to the Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Also injured in the collision was 25-year old Bethany Ashelman of Salem who was taken by the Salem Ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Another passenger in the vehicle, 29-year old Andrew Ashelman of Salem, was not injured. Everyone involved was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Grand Marquis was totaled and removed from the scene by American Muffler while the Peterbilt had minor damage and was driven from the scene.

Salem Public Library has partnered with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to make fishing more accessible through MDC’s Fishing Tackle Loaner Program. Through the Rod & Reel Loaner Program individuals can check out fishing poles and tackle boxes for free using their library cards at Salem Public Library. The fishing poles are equipped with standard spin-cast reels. The tackle boxes are supplied with hooks, sinkers and bobbers for basic fishing opportunities. People need to bring their own live bait or desired lures to bait the hook. Mary Scott, Fisheries Management Biologist with MDC summarized the program by emphasizing the importance of activities like fishing in getting children to spend more time outdoors. This program is an effort by MDC to increase fishing opportunities for all Missouri citizens. To learn more about where or how to fish go online to mdc.mo.gov.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will hold a public auction of various used Department vehicles and equipment on Saturday, June 10th, starting at 10:00 a.m. At the Salem Maintenance Center located at the junction of Highway 72 and Highway 32 in Salem. The auction will include boats, outboard motors, tractors, dozers, farm equipment and vehicles. Cash, check, and credit/debit cards will be accepted. As required by state statute, MDC must charge a convenience fee to all customers who pay by credit or debit card. Those interested can view auction items today at the Salem Maintenance Center from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with pre-registration starting at 9:00 am. Registration the day of the sale begins at 7:30 am. A complete lot listing and terms of sales will be available at the registration desk the day of the auction. There is also a list of auction items is available online at mdc.mo.gov/auction.