Archive for 2018

An accident occurred Friday morning at 8:17 in Phelps County on Highway 63 five miles north of Edgar Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Ford F-150, driven by 28-year old Jacob Miller of Kirksville, Missouri, was southbound when the Ford traveled off the right side of the roadway, returned to the roadway, crossed the center line and traveled into the path of a 2011 Cadillac SRX. The Ford collided with the northbound Cadillac, operated by 68- year old Johnny Chastain of Edgar Springs. Chastain suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps County Regional Medical Center by Phelps County Ambulance. According to the report, Chastain was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The report also stated that Miller was wearing his safety restraint. The Ford sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Lucas Garage. The Cadillac was totaled and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing.

An accident happened in Crawford County Saturday afternoon at 3:58 on Highway 19 about a fifth of a mile north of Becker Road.
According to the highway patrol report, a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix driven southbound by 38-year old Karen Foster of Steelville, went off the right side of the roadway and continued traveling down a ditch where the Pontiac struck two trees before coming to rest facing east. Foster suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Steelville Ambulance to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. A passenger in the car, 37-year old Karen Warbe of Newburg, also suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Steelville Ambulance to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center. The Grand Prix was totaled and removed form the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. Both were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 7:00 in the city hall council chambers. After the consent agenda, the board will hear the report from City Administrator Ray Walden. Bill Number 3406, an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement between the City Of Salem and RFB Construction Company, Inc., for tree clearing at the Salem Memorial Airport in the amount of $179,345.00 will be introduced and read. In new and miscellaneous business, Police Chief Keith Steelman will update the Board on destruction of old records at the Salem Police Department and the Board will discuss who has the authority to cancel a Board of Alderman meeting. The meeting will then adjourn and the Board will enter closed session to discuss real estate. The regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen is open to the public.

Something new tonight will be a Skywatch Event at Bonebrake Center from 7:00 to 9:00. Dress warmly and come view the Christmas sky! Who knows–maybe the Star of Bethlehem might show up! The absolutely awesome Dent County Astronomers will be on site using powerful telescopes, including the Bonebrake Center’s kid and adult-friendly telescopes, dubbed “Charles” and “Shirley,” to explore the winter sky. This is a totally incredible experience! Call 573-247-0279 to check if the weather will interfere.

The Healthy Dent County Fitness Center will once again hold line dancing classes this January on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 7:30.
Everyone is invited to attend! The cost is $5.00 per person, per class payable at the door. Rosalie Wright will be the instructor.

The Dent County Commissioners met for the regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5630, 5670, 4160, and 6500, plus brush would be cut on county road 5680. He also noted that he had a man hauling brown rock. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that brush was being cut on Dent County Road 2330, plus he had two men working on backhoe 430 and a man was repairing a shop heater. He also said he had a man hauling brown rock and another man screening it. Larson noted that his crews graded county roads on Wednesday. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said Thursday evening he would attending a Meramec Community Enhancement Board meeting and a Transportation Advisory Committee meeting where regional transportation priorities would be established. Skiles said he also had an External Relations Committee meeting and the MRPC Board during the evening where legislative priorities will be shared with Missouri Legislators that are in attendance. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment and that she balanced with the Collector and Assessor on monthly collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of November. She noted that the Commissioners reviewed her reports. Curley said that filings for the Municipal Election began on Tuesday and that her office continues to work on budget requests from the office holders. Steve Davis with Shive-Hattery and Nick Smith with Septagone Construction attended the meeting to update the Commission on the Justice Center Project. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Congressman Jason Smith will visit the Salem Memorial Hospital this morning at 9:00 and meet with regional hospital representatives to discuss increasing quality of care for rural Missourians. Representatives from Salem Memorial District Hospital, Iron County Hospital, Texas County Memorial Hospital, and the Phelps County Regional Medical Center will be on-site to discuss prescription drug pricing, behavioral health programs, enhancing Medicare to provide seniors more efficient healthcare, and maintaining hospital access for rural Missourians.

Time is running out if you are in the market for health insurance. Now is the time to visit the website www.HealthCare.gov for this year’s Open Enrollment and review your 2019 plan options. The marketplace closes TOMORROW at midnight. 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.

The Salvation Army’s “Angel Tree” at Wal-Mart has just a few “angels” left as of Thursday evening and the last day to adopt an “angel” will be Monday. It is the goal of the Dent County Salvation Army Service Unit to try to make sure that every Dent County child’s Christmas morning is bright and you can help by adopting an angel. It is easy to help out. Just follow these steps: Select a tag representing a specific child from the “Angel Tree” at Wal-Mart. Then shop for gifts based on the parent’s suggestions. You do not have to purchase everything on the list, just use it as a guideline. Once you are finished shopping, bring the unwrapped gifts to the Wal-Mart Service Desk along with the “angel tag” by Monday. Your gifts will be distributed to your adopted “angel” on Wednesday, December 19th. For questions about the ‘Angel Tree,” please contact the Dent County Service Unit of the Salvation Army at 729-8163.