Archive for 2018

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Road 2490, while grading only would be done on county roads 5450 and 5220. He went on to say that he had a man piling the chips that are being hauled in for this summers chip and seal work. Purcell noted that a crew had installed two foot by two foot Missouri Farmers Care Agri Ready signs on the county roads at the county line. He went on to say that the Commissioners realize that roads are rough and there are potholes, but the crews are getting to them on a rotational basis and the roads will be graded. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4300, 6160, 2500, and 2520, while county road 3220 would have materials added and it would also be graded. Larson said that county road 2630 would have materials added to it. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that on Wednesday he attended the MRPC Investment Board meeting in St. James where the primary issues discussed were the budget and dues structure and there would be more meetings on these issues. He reminded everyone that there would be no meeting of the Commission on Monday as they will be attending the Missouri Association of Commissioners Legislative Conference in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for March and that she balanced with the collector and assessor on all monthly collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of March. She also said that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning, April 12th at 9:00 at the courthouse, and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred March 20th at the intersecting streets of Parkview place and route J. According to the Salem Police report, a 2000 Ford Ranger driven by Sheri Cline of Rolla and a 2013 Ford Edge driven by Donna Nichols of Salem were westbound on route J approaching Parkview when the Ranger signaled to make a left turn. The Edge failed to stop, and contact was made with the Ranger. Cline suffered minor injuries and sought her own treatment while Nichols also suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment. Both vehicles had moderate damage.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their April meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. After approval of the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting, the Board reviewed and approved bills as presented. The Board then reviewed the budget and saw that it was close to the same amount as this time last year. The monthly reimbursement report was presented with a total of 26 calls for the month that included five calls for structure fires, two calls for a brush fire, one call for a car fire, one call for a landing zone, four calls for first responders, four calls for vehicle accidents, five calls for mutual aid, two calls for Haz-Mat, and two calls for training. The total calls year-to-date is 96. There was no old or new business brought before the Boar. During reports, Fire Chief Brad Nash reported that the UTV the district purchased has arrived at the dealership and will be ready for possible pickup next week. The Board then set their next meeting for Tuesday, May 1st at the fire station beginning at 6:00 pm and the meeting was then adjourned.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced that bridge work will be done on Route F between Highway 32 and Route E starting April 9th. The maintenance work on the Holt Creek Bridge will close the road to through traffic, and traffic will be detoured around the work area. Once work is complete on the Holt Creek Bridge, contractors will begin work on the Dry Fork Creek Bridge. The project is scheduled to be completed in June. MoDOT asks drivers to plan an alternative route now ahead of the closure. For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central.

Country Mart and Council for a Healthy Dent County have partnered together to create a “Fresh Fruit for Kids” program. Displayed at the front of the produce isle inside the Country Mart store is now a three-tier basket display filled with fresh fruit. Children 12 and under are encouraged to take a piece of fruit to snack on while shopping with their family for free! This is a part of Healthy Dent County’s “Healthy Schools Healthy Communities” initiative through the Missouri Foundation for Health which they have been a part of since 2013.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Saturday, March 24th at about 10:32 in the evening, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 24-year old male of Rolla for driving while being drugged. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Later that same night at about 11:32, an officer from the Viburnum Police Department released a 22-year old male of Viburnum to an officer of the Salem Police Department. The suspect, who had an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem, was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. On Sunday morning. March 25th at about 1:57, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 39- year old female of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Monday morning, March 26th at approximately 11:45, an officer was detailed to Poplar Bluff to transport a 48- year old male of Poplar Bluff to the Dent County Jail due to an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. The suspect was transported to Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated pending a court appearance. That afternoon at 5:43, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to property damage to a vehicle. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown damaged the paint on a vehicle parked in the 300 block of West Ninth. The report is under investigation. On Tuesday, March 27th at about 1:16 in the morning, an officer was detailed to a disturbance at McDonalds Restaurant. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of an 18-year old male of Salem for the possession of drug paraphernalia and being a minor in possession of intoxicants. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. That same evening at about 11:02, an officer located a 34-year old male of Salem in the 900 block of East Center, who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect, who attempted to flee was taken into custody on the warrant and for resisting arrest. The suspect was incarcerated pending a court appearance and application for a warrant. On Wednesday morning, March 28th at about 10:53, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference a forgery. That investigation revealed a male juvenile of Salem had stolen a check, forged it and cashed it for $200.00. The juvenile suspect was detained for the forgery and theft and released to his mother. The report will be forwarded to the Juvenile Office. If you have information regarding any ongoing investigation, please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night at the city hall council chambers. There were no bids received on the Splash Pad Pump House construction according to Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon who then gave his report from the Park and Recreation Board March 29th meeting. The consent agenda was approved that showed the Capital Improvement Sales Tax received $50,598.53, the Park and Recreation Sales Tax Fund received $37,949.04, and the General Revenue Fund received $101,197.11. City Administrator Ray Walden reported the city is audited independently every year and the current fund balances in the city accounts come to $5.69 million dollars. He reported the Salem Community Center at The Armory had 5,552 participants for their activities in March. He said the third of four visioning sessions would be held on April 9th from 5:00 until 7:00 at the Salem Community Center and the Salem Business Expo will be held April 14th from 9:00 to noon also at the Salem Community Center. The board approved Bill #3370 that eliminates the parking on North Grand Avenue between West First Street and West Third Street, the approved bills #3371-3377 concerning the appointment of various city positions including city clerk, city attorney, public works director, director of engineering, city treasurer, chief of police and the economic development director. Those appointed positions will be for life, until resignation or they are terminated. The board approved Bill #3378 that lists the duties of the Public Works Director, approved Bill #3379 adopting a “Livable Street” policy, and Bill #3380 that adjusts the annual budget from the economic development position. The clean-up dates from WCA have been set for the weeks of May 7th and 14th. The board then went into closed session.