Archive for 2018

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for the regular meeting at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell indicated materials were going to be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6240 while county roads 6630 and 6633 were to be graded. Materials were also going to be added to Dent County Road 6090 while brush was going to be cut on county roads 6150 and 6370. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2530 and 2540, while only materials were going to be added to county road 4050. Larson said grading would also be done on Dent County Road 4340 while brush was going to be cut on county roads 3233 and 3235. He did report that a pipe was being installed on county road 4050 and Dent County Road 5260 was back open at the low water crossing. The county will address the new issue they found at the crossing next week and the road is expected to be closed again on Monday and for a few days after. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated he attended the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Board meeting Tuesday where they were able to award 15 grants, most of which were partially funded. He said five applications were not funded at all as they scored too low. He said the Salem Memorial District Hospital’s grant application for internal recycling was funded at $10,995 or about 60% of the amount requested. Skiles said that right now rates for recycled materials are very low. He did want to report that an electronics and tire collection will be held at the Vichy Community Park on Saturday, October 6th. If people are interested in taking their old electronics or tires to the collection, they should contact the MRPC at 265-2993 for more information about any fees. This is for residential purposes only and not commercial businesses. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to register to vote is October 10th. She also said absentee voting is going on now through November 5th in her office and the last day to mail out an absentee ballot will be October 31st. Curley said her office will be open in the courthouse on Saturday, November 3rd from 8:00 in the morning until noon. She said sample ballots are now available in her office and recommends people pick one up before voting to read and possibly research the amendments and propositions. This will make it easier when you come in to vote as some of the wording can difficult to understand. It was reported by Commissioner Purcell that the Road and Bridge Department will be taking bids for the purchase of diesel fuel, and Commissioner Larson said the handicapped accessible automatic door opener has been installed on the west side doors of the courthouse. At the last meeting, Teresa Sellers who is the Dent County Court Advocate for the Phelps County Family Crisis Services, was at the meeting asking to use the gazebo on the courthouse lawn to display a banner and sign during the month of October to make people aware that October is Domestic Awareness Month. Her request was approved. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred at 4:12 Thursday morning in Phelps County on Joseph Road two miles east of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2017 Ford F-250, driven by 30-year old Joshua C. Mathews of Thompson, Missouri, failed to negotiate a curve and struck a wood pile. Mathews suffered moderate injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps County Regional Medical Center. The report stated that Mathews was not wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and taken from the scene by Dishman’s Towing of Rolla.

An accident occurred in Texas County Wednesday night at 11:50 on southbound Highway 63 about five miles south of Houston that took the life of a Houston teenager. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Chevrolet 2500, driven by 19-year old Connor Clifton, traveled off the right side of the road, struck a guard rail and overturned several times, ejecting the driver. The report stated that the Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Jay’s Towing of Houston.

If you are wanting to get prepared for the November 6th election by researching the candidates, propositions and amendments, you can pick up a sample ballot at the Dent County Clerk’s office at the Dent County Courthouse. These ballots are available at no charge. There are contested races for a US Senator, US State Representative for District 8, State Auditor, State Senator, Circuit Judge Circuit 42 Division 1, Associate Circuit Judge, Dent County Prosecuting Attorney, three Supreme Court judges, four amendments and three propositions. The sample ballot will also be printed in the Salem News closer to the election. By getting you ballot ahead of time, you will be able to read the issues and research them before you vote, giving you the chance to take your time and read about the issue. Additional information on each state amendment or proposition can be found online by simply entering the title of the proposition or amendment in your browser. If you have trouble reading the legal ballot language, a fair ballot language explanation is available at the Missouri Secretary of State’s website: www.sos.mo.gov. Click on elections, then initiative referendums and petitions, then 2018 ballot measures.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Wednesday, September 12th, at 5:13 in the evening, an officer was dispatched to the Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health Center located at Third and Grand reference an unresponsive female that was not breathing. The investigation of the report revealed a female in her 20’s had quit breathing due to a suspected overdose. The female was revived by the officer by use of Narcan which is used to revive a person who overdoses on opioids. The female was transported to the Salem Memorial District Hospital where she received medical treatment. That same day at approximately 9:03 in the evening, an officer was dispatched back to the Southeast Missouri Behavioral Center in reverence to another female that had possibly overdosed and was not breathing. The investigation of the report revealed that a 37-year old female of Dixon was found to be deceased. The body was released to the Coroner with further investigation to follow. On Thursday, September 13th at approximately 4:36 in the morning an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of West Roosevelt in reference to someone shooting a residence. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown had thrown a rock through a large picture window of a residence. The value of the damage is approximately $500.00. The report is under investigation. Later that day at approximately 12:31 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of North Walker in reference to damage to a vehicle. The investigation of the report revealed a person unknown broke the front windshield and damaged the dash of a red 2005 Dodge truck by throwing a piece of steel pipe through it. The value of the damage is approximately $295.00. The report is under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an investigation.

The Current River State Park will host a special class on how to make apple butter the old fashioned way from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon on Saturday, September 29th at the park. The class is free and open to the public, but registration is required due to limited space. Part of a series of summer classes on traditional skills offered at the park, the class will teach participants how to make apple butter over an open fire and how to safely finish it by using a water bath for the canning process. This is a hands-on class, and participants can take the food they canned home! Participants are encouraged to bring their own snack or a lunch and something to drink (no alcohol please). To register or for more information, call Connie Weber at 573-751-1224. The Current River State Park is located on Highway 19, approximately 23 miles south of Salem, and approximately 15 miles north of Eminence.

Predicting the peak of fall color can be difficult. Missouri is blessed with a great variety of trees, shrubs, and vines. Their leaves turn at different times, so Missourians enjoy a fall color season that may last four to six weeks. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the only locations beginning to change colors is the northeast region of the state in the Hannibal and Kirksville area. Unlike last year, the Department is actually expecting a fairly decent fall color season because of a good amount of moisture we’ve had in the last month and a half. Right now, most of the fall color consists of the golden yellows of ash, honey locust, cottonwood, and black walnut. Along roadsides, pastures, and field edges, the wild sunflowers and goldenrods are putting on a beautiful display. Soybean fields are changing to yellow rather quickly, too. The beautiful deep reds of sumacs, Virginia creeper, and poison ivy are in full swing. The norm for the peak of the fall color in Missouri is usually around mid-October. This is when maples, ashes, oaks, and hickories are at the height of their fall display. Normally by late October, the colors are fading and the leaves beginning to drop from the trees. Fall color is usually finished by the middle of November. The progression of color change starts earliest in northern Missouri and moves southward across the state. Generally, the color change is predictable, but it can vary from year to year. Much depends on the weather. For more information about the leaves color changes, persons can go to nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/fall-colors. To check out the colors nationwide, go to www.fs.fed.us/fallcolors/2018.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met in closed session last Thursday. After the resignation of Lisa Jadwin as the elementary yearbook sponsor in regular session, the board made a motion to hire Mary Beth Patrick as elementary yearbook sponsor and the motion was approved. The board approved a motion to grant an A+ appeal of a student before the board issued a letter of reprimand to Volleyball Coach Amanda Walker and a three day suspension from coaching for the period of September 24th through the 26th with pay. The closed session was then adjourned and the board adjourned the meeting at 8:15.

This is National Child Passenger Safety Week and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wants to ensure all caregivers of young children know the importance of buckling children in an appropriate child restraint. Motorists can also expect increased enforcement of Missouri’s child seat safety laws during this campaign. In 2017, 12 children less than eight years of age were killed and 43 suffered injuries as occupants in motor vehicle crashes in Missouri. Thirty-one percent of the children killed were not restrained in a car seat or safety belt. Missouri law requires all children under eight to be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat, unless: They are at least 80 pounds or they are at least 4’9” tall. Child safety seat technicians will provide education and car seat inspections at locations across the state during this campaign, and throughout the year. You can get your car seat inspected at City of Rolla Fire and Rescue located at 1490 Route BB in Rolla. For more information or to make an appointment, call Jason Goebel at 573-364-3989.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will conduct their October meeting on Tuesday, October 2nd, at the fire station beginning at 6:00 pm. After approval of the agenda as well as the minutes from the September meeting, the Board will review and approve bills. The Board review financial reports for the district 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 November meeting to be held at the station beginning at 6:00 pm. The October meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors is open to the public.