Archive for 2018

Tonight is Homecoming at the Salem High School Football Field held prior to the football game. This year, the Homecoming Court will consist of freshman Evelyn Labastida, sophomore Ashton Mink, junior Addie Konkell and the senior queen candidates are Kristen Golden, Londyn Cook and Lexy Woolman. Salem football players who will escort the ladies on the field include Tristan Newman, Chandler Gray, Hayden Wilson, Nate Case, Cole Elliott and Aaron Pollard. Tonight is also “Pink Out 2018” at the Salem High School Football game. In honor of “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” the Salem Memorial District Hospital is encouraging everyone to wear something pink to the game to show our support as a community and also to raise awareness in Dent County. Breast Cancer Survivors are scheduled to be honored prior to the game. If you or someone you know who is a survivor and would like to be included in the pre-game activities, please contact Julie Malone at 729-5917, extension 2436 or e-mail Julie at JMalone@smdh.net. If anyone is interested, the Salem Memorial District Hospital will be taking donations to go into their Mammography Fund that will provide lifesaving mammograms to women who financially qualify.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the sales tax dollars received in October. She reported that all funds reported lower numbers after last month’s record setting numbers. In the General Revenue Fund, a total of $58,134.52 was received and that is down from the 2017 October figure of $64,197.61. The year-to-date amount for 2018 is $129,546.81 more than 10 months of 2017 which is an increase of 18.5%. The Road and Bridge Fund came in at $26,321.50 and that is down from the 2017 October collection of $30,477.25. The Road and Bridge Fund year-to-date is up $52,422.52 which is about a 16% increase over 2017. The jail funds each received $52,523.01 and those funds have received $748,247.76 year-to-date. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said materials would be added and grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 5140 and 5220 while patch grading was going to be done on county roads 5520, 5530 and 5550 as that area of Dent County received about 3.5 inches of rain Saturday night. Purcell indicated grading would be done on county roads 6040 and 6460, materials would be added to county road 4160 and brush was going to be cut on Dent County Roads 5070 and 5075. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated patch grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2120, 2160, 3300 and 2590 while grading only would be done on county roads 2313 and 4400. Materials would be added and grading done on county road 2040 while materials would be added and patch grading done on county road 2300. Larson went on to report brush would be cut on county roads 2315 and 3260 and that workers would be opening the low water crossing on Dent County Road 5260 that workers have reconstructed. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said the ground breaking ceremony to the jail and justice center was held Thursday afternoon at 1:00 at the corner of Iron and 5th Streets. He also reported that if anyone is interested in the Certificates of Participation for the jail and Justice Center, they should contact L. J. Hart and Company at 800-264-4477 for details and information. These certificates will be sold in $5,000 increments and will be tax exempt from federal and state income. Skiles attended the Transportation Advisory Committee and MRPC board meeting tonight. He did want to remind people the annual MRPC Awards Banquet will be held in Hermann this year on Thursday, October 25th and tickets are available by calling the MRPC at 573-265-2993. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said absentee voting will continue until November 5th at the courthouse. Her office will be open Saturday, November 3rd from 8:00 in the morning until noon for absentee voting. She said the last day to mail out a ballot would be Wednesday, October 31st. Curley said sample ballots are available in her office and she also has the fair ballot language explanations for the amendments and propositions for those who want them. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred Monday morning at 10:00 in Reynolds County about three miles east of Bunker. According to the highway patrol report, 22-year old Makanda Nelson of Bunker was driving a 2012 Polaris Ranger UTV eastbound on county road 856 when the UTV traveling off the roadway and Nelson overcorrected. The UTV then overturned in the roadway. Makanda Nelson received moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Two passengers: 4-year old Tatum Nelson and 2-year old Zachary Nelson received minor injuries. They were taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by a private vehicle. The driver and passengers were all wearing safety devices at the time of the accident. The Polaris sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by the owner.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Sunday, September 30th close to 1:23 in the morning, an officer located a 63-year old male of Salem at a residence in the 800 block of South Water who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. On Monday, October 1st at 12:30 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to Casey’s General Store located on Highway 32 in reference to a theft of fuel. The investigation of the report revealed a dark colored SUV pumped fuel valued at $35.04 and left without paying. The report is under investigation. A few minutes later at approximately 12:49, an officer located a 33-year old female of Salem near Highway 32 and Park who had an active arrest warrant from Callaway County, Missouri. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending extradition. Later that afternoon at approximately 4:37, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 39-year old female of Jadwin for stealing merchandise. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The 13th annual Trees and Trains “Winter Wonderland by Night” display is now accepting applications for your group, business, or individuals interested in securing a spot for a decorated tree. Applications can be picked up at Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center at 202 Main, or by calling 729-0029, or Judy Thompson at 573-368-0682 or emailing thompfam@embarqmail.com. The deadline for completed applications is October 30th.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will have one last Hunter Education Skills Sessions from 5:30 until 9:30 in Salem on Monday, October 15th at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Certification is limited to those who are 11 years of age or older. Students should be sure to bring either a completed study guide called “Today’s Hunter” or a copy of the certificate verifying the completion of the online portion. Missouri’s hunter education course is required for any hunter born on or after January 1, 1967. There is no cost for the class. You can just go to the Missouri Department of Conservation website at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov and search for hunter education. If you are having difficulty registering online, you can contact the phone registration vendor at 1-888-283-0364. Event call center hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon.