Archive for 2018

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that the southern half of Dent County received about 3/5ths of an inch of rain and freezing rain on Sunday. He said crews were out treating roads that have been reported to be slick, especially the hills and curves to make sure they are passable. District 2 Commissioner Larson said his crews will also be out sanding slick spots that have been reported as well as the hills. Larson went on to report workers would be retrieving and installing a radiator in Loader #3. Other workers would be doing shop maintenance and would be stockpiling white rock at the shop if time allows. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles attended a SACBA Board meeting Monday night. Deputy County Clerk Crystal Pilkington indicated the treasurer and the county clerk balanced on all accounts for the month of December. The commissioners continue to work on budgets in all departments. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened in Phelps County Monday morning at 5:35 on Phelps County Road 3060 about 1/10th of a mile west of Glassphalt Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer driven by 53-year old Lon Reising of Salem, was traveling eastbound when he lost control of the Trailblazer and it went off the north side of the roadway and overturned. Reising suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by the Phelps County Ambulance. He was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Trailblazer was totaled in the accident and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing of Rolla. The highway patrol was assisted by the Rolla Police Department and Rolla Rural Fire Department.

An accident in Phelps County Sunday night at 8:28 on Route B about 1.8 miles north of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Ford F-250 driven by 49-yaer old Steve Lorts of Rolla, traveled across the center of the roadway when Lorts overcorrected and the truck traveled back across the center of the road before going off the right side of the Route B striking several trees. Lorts suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by a Phelps County Deputy. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing. Lorts was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports for the early part of the new year. On New Years Day at approximately 4:48 in afternoon, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 59-year old male of Salem on an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was later released after paying all fines and court costs associated with the warrant. Then on Wednesday morning, January 3rd at 7:06, an officer located a 28-year old male of Salem at a residence in the 300 block of North Walker who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. That same m,orning at about 10:30, an officer was detailed to Phil-Mart in reference a theft. That investigation revealed that a person or persons unknown took $3,450.00 cash from the business. The report is under investigation. That afternoon at about 1:37, an officer located a 75-year old female of Salem in the 600 block of South Elmer who had an active arrest warrant from Texas County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending extradition. That evening at approximately 9:56, an officer was sent to a residence in the 1000 block of West Hunt for a possible theft and drug activity. The investigation of that report led to the arrest of a 30-year old female of Black for the possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.

An accident happened in St. Francois County Thursday afternoon at 3:05 at the intersection of Loughboro and Rock Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Chevy Malibu driven southbound by 18-year old Steven Wirey of Bismarck was traveling southbound on Rock Road when Wirey failed to stop for a posted stop sign. The Malibu struck the right side of a 2008 GMC Savanna G3500 Van driven westbound on Loughboro Road by 40-year old Richard Champney of Salem, sending the van off the left side of the roadway where the van struck a fence, ejecting Champney from the vehicle. Champney suffered serious injuries and was transported by Air Evac Helicopter to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Wirey and a passenger in the Malibu, 16-year old Michael Bass, Jr. of Bismarck, suffered minor injuries and were taken to the Parkland Health Center in Farmington by a private vehicle. Another passenger in the Malibu, 17-year old Emma Simonton of Bismarck, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to the Parkland Health Center by the St. Francois County Ambulance. No one in either vehicle was wearing a seat restraint. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage and were towed from the scene by Buckley’s Towing.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports for shoplifting at Wal-Mart before the end of 2017. The first incident occurred on Thursday, December 28th at 9:28 in the evening. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 19-year old male of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $0.99. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. The on Saturday afternoon, December 30th at about 1:35, an investigation led to the arrest of a 27-year old male of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $71.60. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Another report came in on New Year’s Eve at about 8:19 in the evening. That investigation led to the arrest of a 21 year-old male of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $0.78. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released.

Schools, churches or charitable organizations contemplating a small community project that needs funding should apply for a small grant from the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF). For the last six years, MRCF has awarded grants to further local projects through its community grant program. An estimated six grants of $250 each will be available to nonprofit, 501(c)3 organizations, schools, faith-based organizations and governmental entities looking to address local needs that will enhance the quality of life within the community. 2012 marked the inaugural year for this grant program, and in the last six years, $9,400 in grant funds have been awarded to 34 community projects throughout the region as a result. Awardees in 2017 included the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History in Salem, Esther’s House of Redemption, Newburg Community Revitalization Program, Owensville Chamber of Commerce, Pulaski County Salvation Army and the Washington County Community Partnership. Applications for the 2018 grant round will be accepted online only until 5:00 PM on January 31st. Organizations, schools and governmental entities must be based in the Meramec Region to qualify. This includes Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. For more information, contact Maria Bancroft at mbancroft@meramecregion.org or 573-265-2993 extension 114. Online applications may be found and submitted at www.formstack.com/forms/CFO-mrcfgrantapp.

Wondering what the GRO Salem economic development project is all about? Come out to support the Salem High School basketball team at their January 12 home game against the Thayer Bobcats and hear about student internships at local businesses, downtown streetscape improvement plans, old city hall improvements, “I Heart Salem” and more! Representatives from GRO will be in attendance starting at 6:00 at informational tables will be located in the lobby of the high school to provide with you with details and more information, and you can buy “I Heart Salem” t-shirts, decals and signs that evening to show your support!

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said his crew was replacing a seal in a pump on the spreader box for Truck #119, plus servicing Cat Loader #24. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that part of his crew was responding to a call from the Dent County Sheriff’s Department about a water line break on Dent County Road 6680. He said since 6680 is chip and sealed, his men would be putting sand on the icy roadway instead of salt. Larson went on to say that some of his crew would be doing maintenance at the Road and Bridge Department. In relation to the county possibly adopting the recycling program that the City of Salem had, Larson said he was contacting Jill Hollowell with the Ozark River Solid Waste Management District about possible funds for the program. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles credited and complemented county office holders for staying within their budgets and that at year’s end all funds were in good financial shape. Larson noted that it had been a challenge for Road and Bridge due to the spring floods and the wait on FEMA reimbursement funds. Skiles again reminded vendors that, according to state statues, only payroll can be paid until the 2018 budget is approved. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she was continuing to work on the budget and that a notice would be posted in next week’s paper as to when the tentative budget would be available and when the budget hearing would be. The Commissioners set January 18th for the tentative budget to be available by 3:00 pm and the budget hearing to be held at 10:00 am on January 29th. Richard LaBrash was in to report that the Adopt-A-Vet program was a huge success with all the veterans at the St. James Veterans home being sponsored. He expressed his gratitude to Dent County residents for their support of the program. LaBrash also reported that the Salem VA Clinic would be getting a van for transporting veterans to the VA Hospitals in Poplar Bluff and Columbia. He noted that volunteer drivers are needed and those interested in volunteering could contact him at (573) 729-1394. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Health Center will be holding the “Billion Step Challenge” again this year starting January 8th and ending April 8th. Last year’s challenge was a great success with over one billion steps walked and Dent County captured national recognition for the effort of their citizens. They hope to do even better this year! In this year’s competition, teams cannot consist of more than four members and you will also be responsible for turning your steps in as no one will be calling to get step counts. The weekly step counts will run from Monday through Sunday and all steps must be reported by the following Wednesday or they will not be counted. To register for the “Billion Step Challenge,” call the Dent County Health Center at 729-3106 or stop by the health center at 601 South McArthur. You can also register by going to the Dent County Health Center Facebook page or their twitter account, access the “Billion Step” link and enter your information. You can also submit your step totals each week this way as well. For any questions you may have or if your need more information about the “Billion Step Challenge,” call 729-3106.