Archive for 2018

The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that the Bunker area had some wind along with the rain Wednesday and Wednesday night that caused some downed trees. Bunker’s Superintendent of Schools had called reporting that Dent County Road 5610 had a large tree down that was blocking the roadway. Purcell said there were also three trees down on Dent County Road 5630 and one down on county road 4110 and his crews addressed the trees first thing Monday morning. He reported that a crew was bringing in the loader from the brown rock site as the main hydraulic hose had ruptured and that the belly pan and other parts would have to be removed to replace the hose so it would be a major repair. Purcell also noted that grader #26 was in for maintenance, that the loader low-boy was to have a tire changed, and the others of his crew were out checking problem areas. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson was unable to attend the meeting due to a previous commitment. Road Supervisor Sam Gorman was in to report for District Two. He said that his crew was hauling and spreading rock on Dent County Roads 2530 and 4430, plus performing shop maintenance. Gorman said that the rest of his crew was checking roads for clogged pipes and downed trees. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that on Wednesday he attended the Meramec Region Emergency Planning Committee meeting in St. James. He said that three Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning Training sessions were approved for Dent County. One was for Salem Memorial District Hospital hazardous materials decontamination, another for Dent County Sheriff’s Office’s training for dealing with chemical suicides, and the third was for Dent County Fire Protection District training to deal with using foam to extinguish ignitable liquids. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that the Commissioners were approving bills for payment. She noted that absentee voting continues in her office and that she has sample ballots and “Fair Ballot Language” explanation available free upon request. Curley reminded voters to be sure and remember their ID when they come to the polls on Tuesday and that no electioneering is allowed within 25 feet of the polls. She noted that election judge training was to take place Thursday morning. Mike Elliott with Town and Country Insurance was in with details for the Builders Risk Insurance through Zurich Insurance. The Commissioner’s approved purchase of the policy. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Don’t forget to get your tickets for the Healthy Dent County “Old Hollywood Casino Night” that will be held this Saturday at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. The cost is $50 per person or $85 per couple. The ticket you purchase will include $10,000 of “gaming” money and if you wear “Old Hollywood” attire to the event, you will be given an additional $1,000 in “gaming” money upon your arrival. The doors will open at 6:00 with the casino activities beginning at 6:30 with Craps, Blackjack and Roulette being available for those in attendance. At 9:30, the games will end and prizes will be awarded. Numerous prizes will be given away or purchased through a silent auction. Those prizes include a week long vacation to the Lodges at Timber Ridge in Branson in May after graduation, a 55” LCD Television; a 12-foot kayak; 10-speed bicycle; 2 tickets to the Justin Timberlake Concert in St. Louis in December, St. Louis Blues Hockey Tickets for five games, Mizzou Basketball Tickets for three games and much, much more! Tickets for the “Old Hollywood Casino Night” fundraiser are available at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road, or go to the Facebook page to get them online. Tickets will be available at the door Saturday night. For more info, call 729-8163 to learn more about the “Old Hollywood Casino Night” fundraiser to benefit Healthy Dent County.

To reflect estimated changes in the wholesale cost of natural gas as well as a change in the Ameren’s Actual Cost Adjustment (ACA) factor, the natural gas customers of Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri will see natural gas rates change under a filing that takes effect today. The ACA factor is a mechanism which tracks any over-collection or under-collection of actual natural gas costs over a 12 month period. The net over- or under-collected balances are subsequently either refunded or collected the next year. Ameren Missouri residential customers in all of its service areas will see natural gas rates decrease by approximately $0.02 per Ccf (per hundred cubic feet of natural gas). This change will affect Ameren Missouri natural gas customers in areas such as Columbia, Rolla, Salem, Owensville, Jefferson City, Mexico, Wentzville, Cape Girardeau and Marble Hill. Approximately 50% to 55% of a customer’s current natural gas bill reflects the cost of natural gas from wholesale suppliers. The wholesale cost of natural gas (the cost your local natural gas company must pay to its suppliers for natural gas) is not regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission. The wellhead cost of natural gas is unregulated and is primarily driven by supply, demand and the weather. The Missouri Public Service Commission does conduct an annual regulatory review to ensure that regulated natural gas companies make prudent decisions in securing natural gas supplies for their customers. Ameren Missouri serves approximately 130,400 natural gas customers in Missouri.

A two vehicle accident occurred in Phelps County Tuesday at 5:00 in the afternoon on Route V about a mile north of Rolla. According to a report released by the highway patrol, the accident happened as a 1997 GMC Sierra driven by 35-year old Christopher Kean of Vichy, was eastbound when he crossed the centerline. A 1997 Ford Explorer driven by 27-year old Michael Davis of Rolla was westbound and attempted to avoid the Kean vehicle and was sideswiped by the GMC. Davis was taken to Phelps County Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Both vehicles sustained moderate damage. The GMC was removed from the scene by C&C Towing and Both drivers were wearing safety devices at the time of the accident.

An accident happened in Tuesday night at 9:10 in Maries County on Route H about a mile south of High Gate. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 GMC Terrain, driven by 39-year old Jennifer Gipson of St. James was westbound when the GMC struck a cow that was standing in the road. Gipson received minor injuries and was transported by Ozark Central Ambulance to Phelps County Regional Medical Center for treatment. The GMC sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. Gipson was wearing a safety device at the time of the accident.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will conduct their November meeting on Tuesday, November 6th at the fire station beginning at 6:00 in the evening. After approval of the agenda as well as the minutes from the October meeting, the Board will review and approve bills. The Board will review financial reports for the district, a note to the board that the budget for 2019 will be due in December, and there will be a review of the calendar for upcoming events. The monthly reimbursement report will be presented and the Board will address any old or new business. The Board may then vote to go into closed session to discuss personnel, if necessary and they will also set the date for the December meeting to be held at the fire station beginning at 6:00 on December 4th. The November meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors is open to the public.

The City of Salem has again designated the hours from 6:00 until 8:00 tonight as Trick or Treat Hours in the city limits. Make sure all children have reflective tape or a light costume on so that they can be seen when traveling from house to house. Children also need to be very alert when crossing well traveled streets. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Halloween drunk-driving fatalities are on the rise. From 2012 through 2016, 44% of traffic fatalities on Halloween night involved at least one drunk driver. In total, 168 people were killed in these alcohol related crashes. In 2017, there were three serious injury crashes in Missouri on Halloween night. Children out trick-or-treating, and those who accompany them, are also at risk. In those same years, 14 percent of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night involved drunk drivers. Drivers between ages of 21 to 34 accounted for the most drunk-driving fatalities (46%) on Halloween night in 2016. Driving impaired has scary consequences. On average, a DUI can set you back more than $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing and repairs, and more. Even worse, you could injure or kill someone. Do your part to keep Halloween fun and safe.

An accident happened near the intersection of Center and Washington on Wednesday night at 9:36, October 17th. According to the Salem Police report, a 2002 Lexus ES300 owned and operated by Evelyn Randall of Salem was west abound on West Center approaching Washington Street. At that time, Randall began to accelerate instead of braking and failed to stop at the stop sign. Randall then made a wide right turn on to North Washington and made contact with the west side curb. The vehicle then ran off the left side of the road into the front yard of #3 North Washington and continued north and struck a city of Salem utility pole before coming to a rest. The Lexus received extensive damage. Randall suffered moderate injuries and an occupant in the vehicle received minor injuries. Both were transported by ambulance to the Salem Memorial District hospital for treatment. The landscaping at #3 North Washington sustained minor damage as did the City of Salem utility pole.

Are you going to be in the market for health insurance? Now is the time to visit the website www.HealthCare.gov to get ready for this year’s Open Enrollment and review your 2019 plan options. The marketplace open enrollment starts Thursday, November 1st and will last until December 15th. As has been the case for a couple of years, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is the only provider for Dent County on the marketplace. You can go online to compare your plan from last year to the new plans offered this year, or you can just start shopping your choices for the 2019 year. Remember, if you do not enroll by December 15th, you will not have insurance as of January 1st, 2019.

Runners, walkers and bikers in the Salem area, do you think Salem needs more trails? Healthy Dent County invites you to voice your opinion on the website www.salemmotrails.com. At that websight, you will see a number of proposed trails around Salem with descriptions of the trails. It is their goal to find out where the community wants and would use additional trails. You can leave your comments on the website and if you do, you will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 gift card. Healthy Dent County is orking in conjunction with PedNet out of St. Louis on this project. If you have questions about the site or want more information about the trails presented, call Kelsey at Healthy Dent County at 729-8163.

The City of Salem will be hosting a public reception for their new economic development director, Sally Burbridge, the evening of Monday, November 5th from 5:00 until 7:00 in the City Hall Auditorium. Light refreshments will be served at the reception which is open to everyone.