Archive for 2018

Thursday, the South Central Drug Task Force and the Dent County Sheriff’s Office concluded a short term narcotics investigation in the 600 block of East Gibbs in Salem. A search warrant was served at a residence in connection with the investigation. As a result of the search warrant officers located and seized suspected methamphetamine packaged for sales and drug paraphernalia. Arrested in connection with the items seized were 51-year old Carla A. Loughridge of Salem and 63-year old Stephen E. Cochran of Salem. They were incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending warrant applications. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Salem Police Department assisted with the incident. The charges for which Loughridge and Cochran were arrested are only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. Jan Gott from Country Mart
Pharmacy, Sherman Odom from Vandivort Drug, and Kendra Mobray, Administrator of the Dent County Health Center, were all in concerning the proposed Dent County Ordinance to join the St. Louis County Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PCMP). Questions were posed concerning costs, enforcement, and penalties. It was noted that the grant for the program from the Department of Justice is a two-year grant ending in May of 2019. After lengthy discussion, the Commissioners voted 3-0 to postpone adopting an ordinance until more information is obtained. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Roads 5100, 5103 and 5105, plus grading only would be done on county roads 5590 and 5615. He added that he had an operator cleaning flood debris from the bridge on Dent County Road 6080. Purcell went on to say that his crews were also cleaning debris from culverts on Dent County Roads 5105, 6200 and 5030. He said the County’s maintenance program of cleaning culverts and ditches has been beneficial in reducing roadway damages during times of excessive rainfall. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2185, 5320 and 5325, while materials would be added and grading would be done on county roads 2180, 2183 and 4060. He also noted that he had a man cutting limbs on Dent County Road 3230. Deputy Dent County Clerk Crystal Pilkington reported the Clerk’s office balanced with the County Treasurer on all accounts for the month of May and that she was working on verification of signatures on the medical marijuana petition. The next regular meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

A special waste collection for electronics, appliances and tires will be held from 8:00 a.m. until noon on Saturday, June 9th in the parking lot of Brewer Science at 2401 Brewer Drive in Rolla. Stoves, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, and other appliances will be collected free of charge. Free electronics also include computer components, laptop computers, keyboards, hair dryers, VCR/DVD players, cell phones or anything that runs on a cord or battery. Oil and gas must be removed from tanks of any items such as push mowers, weed eaters, etc. Fees on certain items will be collected. There will be a fee of $25 collected for CRT TVs over 27 inches and wood console TVs, $20 for CRT TVs under 26 inches, $15 for flat screen TVs, $10 for all computer monitors and refrigerated appliances with freon. Fees for tires are $2 each for passenger tires, $7.50 each for truck tires and $35 each for tractor tires. Program participants are required to unload the items themselves. The collection is open to any households in the Ozark Rivers District. For more information on what is and is not accepted or the fee structure, please contact Jill Hollowell at MRPC at 573-265-2993 Ext. 109.

On Tuesday afternoon at about 3:00, a train collision in a remote canyon outside of Truxton, Arizona, left a Salem man with significant injuries. A freight train belong to BNSF Railway collided with maintenance equipment belonging to Herzog Railroad Services, Inc being pushed by the other train as the equipment had been derailed. A man from Lenexa, KS was killed and 26-year old Matthew Thompson of Salem, Missouri sustained significant injuries. He was airlifted from the scene and taken to the University Medical Center in Southern Nevada where he was listed in stable condition. Thompson was an employee of Herzog Railroad Services. All the occupants in the BNSF train were accounted for and no other injuries were reported.

Highway 106 in Reynolds and Shannon Counties will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews seal the roadway with a mixture of rock and oil. This section of roadway is located from Highway 21 to Route H. Weather permitting, this work will take place starting on Monday and lasting through Thursday, June 14th from 7:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon daily. Fore more information, log onto to www.modot.org or call 1-888 275 6636.

Captain James W. Remillard, commanding officer of Troop I, announces that sometime during the month of June, troopers assigned to Troop I will be conducting an impaired driving enforcement patrol in Dent County. Troopers assigned to these special enforcement operations will patrol those highways where in the past a higher number of alcohol-related arrests and traffic crashes have occurred.
Captain Remillard would like to remind motorists that they can report highway emergencies and serious traffic offenses to the nearest troop headquarters by dialing *55 on a cellular telephone.

A number of reports have been released by the Salem Police Department. On Sunday afternoon, May 27th, at about 3:02, an officer was dispatched to Country Mart in reference to an assault. The investigation of the report revealed a 37-year old male of Salem had assaulted a 28-year old male of Salem. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect for assault, property damage and disorderly conduct. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and was released. Later that afternoon at approximately 4:22, an officer was contacted in reference to a theft from a storage unit. That investigation revealed that a person or persons unknown took items valued at $332.00 from a storage unit located at 404 East Second Street. The report is under investigation. At about 1:35 Tuesday afternoon, May 29th, an officer was dispatched to the Casey’s General Store located on Highway 32 East in reference to a disturbance. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of an intoxicated 36-year old female of Salem for disorderly conduct, assaulting a law enforcement officer, plus the suspect had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and was released to the Dent County Sheriff’s Department. On Wednesday, May 30th, at approximately 9:00 in the morning, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to a violation of an order of protection. The investigation of the report revealed that a 40-year old male of Salem had violated an order of protection. The report is still under investigation. That evening at about 10:51, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1800 block of South Oak Street in reference to a disturbance. That investigation led to the arrest of a 21-year old male of Salem on an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem and another from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrants and incarcerated pending a court appearance. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 4:55 on Interstate 44 near Route WW in Franklin County. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 Ford F-250 driven westbound by 37-year old Laura Picker of St. James, had a tire blowout and the pickup truck veered to left and went off the roadway, strking the median cable. The truck continuing going west along the cable struck a median guardrail. Picker suffered serious injuries and was taken by the Sullivan EMS to the Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. A passenger, 17-year old Cacie-Sophia Bedrosian of St. James, suffered moderate injuries and was also taken by the Sullivan EMS to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. The Ford was totaled and was removed from the scene by Chuck’s Towing. Picker and Bedrosian were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

Tonight at the Creative Arts Center from 7:00 to 9:00, adults can learn about knot-tying in a workshop led by an “old sailor,” Wayne Douglass. The cost of the workshop is $25.00 and all the supplies are provided including the rope and instruction. You will be guided through the process of making a lanyard and even get directions to take home a monkey fist! You do not need to have any experience or talent to try knot tying, just the spirit to learn! Reservations can be made by calling the ONCRC at 729-0029 or Salem Area Arts Council at 247-0279 to arrange payment and secure your spot.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the fire station. The meeting was called to order and the roll call taken with one member absent. The financial report included bills received and approved along with the budget reviewed and as of the end of May the district had a balance in the general revenue of $186,751.55. On the calendar for June, the department will be at William Lynch for the last day of school, participate in NARCON training as well as training on vehicle fire fighting. The monthly reimbursement report was presented with a total of 18 for the month of May including 4 structure fires, 2 brush fires, 3 car fires, 1 landing zone, 4 first responder, 2 vehicle accidents. There has been 149 calls year to date with the average cost per call being $120.82. In old business, the department is working on first responder certifications and Engine 85 is repaired with the total cost being $13,065.98. The Board set July 3rd at 6:00for the next meeting of the board at the Dent County Fire station at #2 South Main Street and is open to the public. The meeting was the adjourned.