Archive for 2018

An accident happened on Highway 54 two miles south of Laddonia, Missouri Thursday afternoon at approximately 2:00 that took the life of three people including a Licking couple. According to the Highway Patrol Report an eastbound 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, driven by 24 year-old Kierra Glispe of Justice, Illinois, attempted to pass an eastbound 2014 Freightliner, driven by 50 year-old Roby Sharp of Liberty, Illinois. The Monte Carlo struck a westbound 2008 Mercury Mariner, driven by 75 year-old Douglas Turner of Licking, head-on pushing it into the Freightliner. Douglas Turner, along with his wife, 72-year old Helen Turner, were both pronounced deceased at the scene. A passenger in the Monte Carlo, 18 year-old Kyreoin Glispie of Justice, Illinois, was pronounced deceased at 3:30 at SSM Medical Center. Kierra Glispie suffered serious injuries and was transported to University Hospital in Columbia. Both the Chevrolet and Mercury were totaled and removed from the scene by Ben’s Auto Body of Mexico, Missouri. The Freightliner sustained moderate damage and was driven from the scene. The report stated that the Turners and Roby Sharp were wearing their safety restraints at the time of the accident, while the Glispies were not.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their next regular meeting this evening at 7:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. Prior to the Aldermen meeting, there will be a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 6:30 with a request to vacate an undeveloped portion of South Oak Street. After the consent agenda has been reviewed and approved, the board will hear from planning and Zoning Chairman Gary Brown on their meeting. Alderman Ken Nash will talk about updating ordinances before City Administrator Ray Walden will give his reportthat will include a negative leave balance policy. Mayor Brad Nash will follow with his report. The board will then call for a public tax rate hearing to set the tax rate for the 2018 year. The hearing would be scheduled for Monday, August 20th during the regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen. The board will go into closed session to discuss contracts before they adjourn. The meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Community Garden is a place for Dent County residents to grow and harvest healthy food for their families, friends or to donate to those in need. Tonight, a free Summer Gardening Workshop hosted by Master Gardener Larry Galloway will take place from 6:30 to 7:30. The public is invited to attend. There will be a five Gallon Watering System demonstration where can learn a new technique for efficiently watering your plants. If you’d like to more information or a plot of your own, call the Dent County Extension office at 729-3196.

As part of the City of Salem’s Growth in the Rural Ozarks (GRO) Initiative, Healthy Dent County would like to implement a new program that will empower individuals and offer support as they strive to lead their families out of poverty. This program is titled “Project RISE”, (Reaching Independence through Support and Education). This program is modeled after the Northwest Project in Springfield, MO where they have been very successful in helping families rise out of poverty. This model will address root issues keeping families in poverty and works toward developing strategies to overcome these challenges and sustain long-term change. We will work with families over a 2-year time-frame, considering the unique situations and needs families are experiencing, and encouraging participants to choose their own goals and paths toward success. Families in Project RISE will work on reducing debt, improving credit scores, increasing income, strengthening confidence and gaining hope. Only 5-8 families will be selected for this two-year program. To participate in the Project the following requirements must be met: A family with at least one dependent child; adults should have a high school education (or be able to complete in 6 months); must reside in Dent County; and most importantly, the participants must be ready, willing and open to make changes to find new opportunities. To learn more about Project RISE a “Come and See” event will be held on Thursday, August 23rd from 6-7:30 pm at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Families interested in signing up for the program and individuals interested in serving as allies or other volunteer opportunities, or just waning to learn more are encouraged to attend. A dinner will be served. For more information or to determine eligibility should contact Kelsey Schatz at 729-8163 or kelsey@salemcommunitycenter.org.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Gary Larson was appointed to serve as the acting Presiding Commissioner in the absence of Darrell Skiles. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the sales tax report for the money received in July by the county. She said the General Revenue Fund and the Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $93,783.24 in July which is $22,509.12 more than these funds received in July of 2017 when that amount came in at $71,274.12. Williams said year-to-date, the General Revenue and Law Enforcement Sales Tax funds are up $88,133.64 and that is an 18.31% increase. Williams said the Road and Bridge Sales Tax Fund received $44,222.42 and that is $11,350.16 more than what was received in July of 2017. She said year-to-date the Road and Bridge Fund is up $34,359.14 over last year and that comes to an increase of about 15.55%. Williams also reported on the Justice Center Project sales tax funds and they each came in at $88,075.14 for a combined total of $176,150.28. The amount of sales taxes received since the tax started being collected in the Justice Center Project Fund since October of 2017 is $1,149,641.18. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said West Contracting was still working on numerous chip and seal projects. This will probably continue into early next week. Purcell does want to caution those traveling roads that are getting a new overlay to please drive slowly and with caution, and to look out for workers on the road. Purcell also said ditch work would be done and culverts would be installed on Dent County Road 5080 while brush was going to be cut on county road 6580. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said a man would continue to load the chips for the chip and seal road repair in the trucks of West Contracting. He also reported that materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2210, and grading only would be done on county road 2150 if there is enough moisture in the road. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley stated absentee voting for the August Primary is still going on at her office in the courthouse. She also wanted everyone to make sure their office has your correct address so that any mistakes can be corrected. If someone finds an error on their voter registration card, or has moved to a different address, those persons need to call the Dent County Clerk’s office at 729-4144 or stop at the Dent County Courthouse. You can also check the accuracy of your address only by going to the sos.mo.gov. Once on the site, click on the “Elections and Voting” tap and then fill out your information. Continue to follow the instructions until it tells you your current voter registration. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Earlier this year, Healthy Dent County embarked on a capital campaign to expand the Salem Community Center @ the Armory by adding a new regulation size gymnasium to the north end of the building. As part of the capital campaign to raise funds, Healthy Dent County was chosen to receive $350,000 in tax credits through the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). NAP helps not-for-profit organizations raise private-sector funds by providing partial state tax credits to businesses that make contributions to approved community improvement projects. The cost projection for this project is $1.2 million dollars and currently Healthy Dent County has raised nearly $900,000. The benefit to Dent County residents will be a regulation size basketball gymnasium as well as expansion of the Fitness Center that will provide recreational and health benefits for all ages. While the local school system has buildings with gyms, the community’s need for gym space far exceeds what the schools can handle. The new gymnasium will be used by various local groups as well as expanded and additional programming by Healthy Dent County. Additional local funds are needed to complete the $1.2 million dollar campaign. NAP tax credits totaling $100,000 are still available for local businesses as well. For additional information on this or any Healthy Dent County project, please call 729-8163 or e-mail sherry@salemcommunitycenter.org.