Archive for 2018

An accident happened in Dent County at 7:10 Wednesday morning on Route H near Dent County Road 2400. According to the highway patrol report, a 2016 Chevy Malibu driven westbound by 61-year old Eva Lewis of Salem, began to slide on wet pavement, crossed the centerline and traveled off the left side of the roadway where the Malibu struck a mailbox. The Malibu continued forward and traveled down a steep embankment and overturned. Lewis suffered minor injuries and was transported to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by the Salem Hospital Ambulance. Lewis was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The 2016 Chevy Malibu was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold a tax rate hearing at 5:50 this evening followed by the regular board meeting at 6:00 at the Salem District Administrative Offices Boardroom. At the meeting, the board will hear from Superintendent John McColloch about Professional Development Days before the principals from all the schools will give their reports on open houses and the first day of school. The school board will review and approve the annual Secretary of the Board’s report, discuss the proposed tax rate from the hearing held prior to the regular meeting, approve the Dent County Developmental Preschool Lease, consider a truck purchase for the Construction Trades Program an consider a construction bid for the Phase 10 Project. The board will then go into closed session to discuss personnel. The Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting for Thursday will start with the tax rate hearing at 5:50 followed by the regular board meeting at the District Administrative Office and both are open to the public.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a semi-pro rodeo, sanctioned by MRCA/URA and produced by Outlaw Rodeo Productions this Labor Day weekend at the Commons on Highway 72 North. On Saturday, September 1st and Sunday, September 2nd beginning at 7:30 each night, you can watch the spirit of the Old West come alive with events such as team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and the all-time crowd favorite, bull riding! Saturday night is also Red, White and Blue Night in honor of our Veterans. Advanced tickets are available at The Bank of Salem, Town and Country Bank, Riverways Federal Credit Union, Progressive Ozark Bank and the Salem Chamber office at 200 S Main. Prices are $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 5-11. If you have any questions, or would like to become a vendor, contact Tabatha at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at 729-6900.

Today is the first day of school in Dent County and the Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds drivers this brings a change in traffic patterns as school buses will be back on the road and parents will be taking their children to school. Add this to the other motorists on the road and it could affect the morning and afternoon commute. It is critical for drivers to be alert, especially near school zones, playgrounds, and bicycle paths. Whatever route you drive, expect this additional traffic and prepare by allowing extra time to reach your destination. In 2017, five people were killed and 401 people were injured in 869 traffic crashes involving school buses. Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about riding a bus, walking, or driving to school in a safe manner. They should remind their children not to be on their cell phone while driving. Texting is against the law for anyone under the age of 22. Distractions are one of the major causes of traffic collisions with young people before and after school. Missouri law states that on a two-lane road, if a school bus is stopped and displaying warning signals while loading or unloading children, drivers must stop when meeting and following the bus. However, it is only necessary to stop on a four-lane highway when following the bus. Drivers, when you see a stopped school bus, stay alert and follow the law. Children may not be aware of traffic and dart unexpectedly into the roadway.

Labor Day weekend brings a surge of travel across the nation. During the summer’s last holiday many will make the conscious mistake of driving impaired. Getting arrested could be the least of your worries. An impaired driving arrest could cost you thousands of dollars in fines, court costs and lawyer fees, not to mention you could also lose your license, lose your job or even take someone’s life! This year’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” high-visibility crackdown will run this Friday, August 17th through the Labor Day holiday on September 3rd. Statewide, law enforcement made 242 driving while being intoxicated arrests, 27 driving under the influence drug arrests and 23 minors in possession arrests during this campaign last year. In 2017, 196 people were killed and 605 seriously injured in Missouri crashes that involved at least one substance-impaired driver. We are all a part of the solution. To learn more about impaired driving and how you can Arrive Alive, visit saveMOlives.com.

The “Fall’s-a-Comin” Art Party will be held this Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Creative arts Center behind the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center. For $25 per person, adults can paint a fun autumn scene and put their own creative spin on it. All supplies are provided including the acrylic paints, aprons, brushes, canvas and easel. Danielle Norris will lead the class. Make your reservation by calling 247-0279 t pay your registration and secure your spot

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse for their regular meting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said crews were out checking culverts to make sure they were free of debris before the anticipated rain this week. Purcell stated ditch work was being done on Dent County Road 4253 and materials were being added to the road as well. He mentioned brush cutting was being done on county road 2470 and fiber optic cable is being run under county road 2400 as the company will be drilling under the chip and seal to run the cable. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2120, 4040, 4285 and 4310 while brush would be cut on county road 5280. He said a crew was taking care of some downed trees on county road 4050 and some other men were working on the brush cutter. Larson said men would also be backsloping on county road 3200 to help with drainage after a fence was removed. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles attended a Transportation Advisory Committee meeting Thursday and they discussed the fuel sales tax issue in November that will increase the fuel tax ten cents over four years. They said that year-to date the fatalities statewide are up 35% over last year. Skiles said he was re-elected the chairman of the External Relations Committee and they discussed the upcoming legislative priorities and annual banquet. Skiles reported on the MRPC Board meeting where through the Central Workforce Development Board, St. James High School students are learning about manufacturing up close through businesses in the St. James area. Skiles said there are plenty of manufacturing jobs available through the Central Missouri Workforce Development Board and if anyone is interested, they should contact Sue Nardi at the Salem Community Center@The Armory for more information. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported the last day to register to vote for the General Election will be October 10th. If you need to update your voter registration information, please get in touch with her office at 729-4144. At the bid opening for the Justice and Jail Center Project held Thursday afternoon at the Bank of Salem Courtesy Room, bids were opened for general construction, food service equipment, laundry equipment, DEC, elevator, fire suppression and electrical. No decisions were made as Construction Manager Nick Smith from Septagon and the commissioners will review all the bids received. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse.

The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) is accepting grant applications for the 2019 grant round and they are due by noon on Friday, August 24th. Projects must be located or benefit the Ozark Rivers district, which includes the counties of Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. Grants are available to city and county governments, businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations and other interested parties to increase waste reduction, reuse and recycling rates in our district. A complete listing of priorities and target materials is included in the grant application and available online. The grant dollars awarded by Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District comes through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and represent a portion of the landfill tipping fees collected in the district. The grant application is available online at www.ozarkrivers.org. For more information, contact Jill Hollowell at jhollowell@meramecregion.org or call (573) 265-2993.

Elvis Tribute Artist Michael Florence will be participating in the semi-finals of the “Image of the King” contest in Memphis, Tennessee this Thursday, August 16th. Known as Sean Michael, Florence qualified for the semi finals in the preliminary round held Monday at the New Daisy Theatre in Memphis. The finals for the “Image of the King” contest will be held this Thursday evening, August 16th. Florence will also be singing this Saturday in Memphis to benefit St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Congratulations Michael!

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department reports that 48-year old Janice L. Bote of Salem, and 60-year old William E. Martin of Salem have each been charged with felony counts of being an accessory to the delivery of a controlled substance and for also being an accessory to unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges came from the result of a short term narcotics investigation held Sunday by the South Central Drug Task Force and the Dent County Sheriff’s Office in the 400 block of East First Street in Salem. The charges are a result of officers finding 5.5 grams of meth in Martin’s pocket, two glass meth pipes were found in a bedroom and an orange container that contained syringes and spoons was also located in a closet. A digital scale that police suspect was being used for distribution was found in Martin’s car. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Salem Police Department assisted with the case. Bond for Bote and Martin was set at $20,000 cash only.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will be holding a blood drive in Salem this Friday at the Salem Memorial District Hospital from 9:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. Supplies of all blood types right now are near normal levels, but demand will increase with the Labor day holiday looming in the near future. Those who donate blood at the event will receive a free T-shirt with a great summer message. To be eligible to give blood, a person must weigh 110 pounds, be in good health and bring with them a photo ID. If you need more information about the blood drive, please contact Jodie Gorman at 729-6626.