Archive for 2018

At approximately 10:15 Thursday morning, offender John Toy Long walked away from the grounds of South Central Correctional Center in Licking. Long, who is assigned to the minimum security unit, left his work assignment, which is located outside the secure perimeter of the facility. Local law enforcement and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are working with the Department of Corrections to apprehend Long. K-9 Units from Farmington Correctional Center and Ozark Correctional Center have been dispatched, and the Corrections Emergency Response Team has been activated. A helicopter is involved in the search. The 41-year-old Long is a white male who is 5 feet, five inches tall and 166 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. Residents are asked to contact local law enforcement or the Missouri State Highway Patrol if they see him. Long is serving two concurrent six-year sentences for receiving stolen property and second-degree burglary. He was received into Department of Corrections custody from Texas County on June 2nd, 2017, and has a presumptive parole date scheduled for September 14th, 2019. He has previous convictions for second-degree assault, operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting in injury, possession of a controlled substance, resisting/interfering with arrest, second-degree domestic assault and misdemeanor stealing.

The Dent Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported CART funds have been received from the state and came in this month at $56,355.12 and that is $1,348.05 more than January of 2017 when the county received $55,007.07. That increase is about 2.5%. Richard LaBrash was in to pick up the resolution from the commission supporting a state funeral for the last Medal of Honor winner from World War II when he passes. No enlisted man has ever received a state funeral. LaBrash also said the 6th Annual 16th District Veterans Affairs Day will be held April 27th at the American Legion/VFW Hall on Highway 32 West from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. This allows veterans with any question about their benefits to be answered by VA staff in Salem instead of the veterans having to travel to get answers to their questions. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6240 while just grading would be done on county roads 2400 and 6380. He also indicated two men would be hauling brown rock to the shop. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2120, 3250 and 4290. He said another crewwould be patching damages to Dent County Road 3240 that was recently chip and sealed. He said the crews want to get the work done before we have any precipitation that can get under the surface and break up more of it. Larson went on to say two trucks would be hauling brown rock to the shed and another man would be screening the brown rock. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported on the “MRPC Day at the Capitol” Tuesday where he and other members of the MRPC met with Representatives Jeff Pogue, Robert Ross, Steve Lynch and Keith Frederick as well as Senators Mike Kehoe, Dan Brown, Mike Cunningham and Dave Shatz. Skiles said he was told discussions on prevailing wage would be continuing and that could help with the Dent County Jail project. Skiles also attended a Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee meeting Thursday. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind everyone the budget hearing will be held Monday morning at 10:00 in the Commissioners office at the Dent County Courthouse. Remember, the preliminary 2018 county budget is available at the Dent County Clerks office and they are free. Kurt Hagge from Shive-Hattery was in attendance to provide the commissioners with some preliminary drawings of the new jail and if there are enough funds, the new sheriff’s office and new court room. The commissioners had some questions including a larger waiting room outside the proposed court room that could be used as a waiting room with seating for jury duty as well as no direct entrance to the proposed sheriff’s office from the back. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse followed by the budget hearing at 10:00, and both are open to the public.

An accident happened Thursday morning at 8:00 in Phelps County on I-44 at the 186 mile marker eastbound on the ramp. According to the highway patrol report, a 2016 Nissan Altima, driven by 77-year old Imogene Griffith of St. James, was slowing on the ramp and a 2005 Ford Ranger, driven by 59-year old Michael Willis of Rolla, failed to observe the slowing car and collided with the Nissan. Griffith suffered minor injuries and was transported by private vehicle to Dr. Schultz offices in St. James. Griffith and Willis were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Nissan had minor damage, while the Ford had no damage, and both vehicles were driven from the scene.

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley announced Phelps County resident Christa Mueller has been sentenced to 20 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for her role in severely abusing her 17-month child in April of 2006. Mueller was convicted by a Phelps County jury in September 2017. Mueller and boyfriend, Calvin Alford, were both charged with Assault in the First Degree after her 17-month-old child was treated for bleeding on her brain, contusions to her brain, a skull fracture, three fractures to her right arm, two collapsed lungs, and multiple bruises and abrasions to her face, arms, legs, and back, all consistent with severe child abuse. The evidence was clear that sometime between 10:00 at night on April 5th and 11:00 in the morning on April 6th, the baby was struck or struck against something multiple times over a period of time. After sustaining these devastating injuries, the Mueller and Mr. Alford failed to seek medical treatment for between 8 to 16 hours, calling 9-1-1 only at the insistence of a neighbor. As a result of these injuries and the failure to seek medical treatment, the child is blind, unable to walk or sit up, unable to speak or understand language,requires feeding through a tube, and has seizures multiple times a day. The case was investigated by the St. James Police Department with assistance from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the Rolla Police Department. The case was tried by Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Szczucinski with assistance from investigators Haley Porter, Susan Clevenger and Victim Advocate Carrie Boessen. Calvin Alford’s trial is set for trial the week of March 26th later this year.

An accident happened Tuesday morning at 7:42 in Phelps County on I-44 at the 194 mile marker. According to the highway patrol report, both vehicles were westbound with a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, driven by 24-year old Jaclyn Thompson of St. James, in the right lane and the 2017 Peterbilt Tractor, driven by 60-year old William Casper, Jr. of Carterville, Illinois, in the left lane. The Cobalt skidded into the path of the Peterbilt and the vehicles collided. After impact both vehicles traveled off the south side of the roadway into the median. The report stated that Thompson suffered serious injuries and was flown by Phelps County Air to University Hospital in Columbia. The Chevrolet was totaled, while the Peterbilt sustained moderate damage. Both Thompson and Casper were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Friday, January 12th, deputies responded to a residence in the 17000 block of Route C in reference to a theft. It was discovered that a metal gate to the property had been damaged and ATV ramps, rolls of wire, and gas had been stolen. This report is still under investigation. On Sunday, January 14th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the McDonald’s parking lot. As a result, the driver, a 27-year old Osceola man, was arrested for driving while being intoxicated. He was fingerprinted, issued a summons to appear in court, and released. On Friday, January 19th, Dent County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Route O just north of Route OO. The passenger in the vehicle, a 32-year old Rolla woman, was discovered to have a Maries County warrant. She was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. On Friday, January 19th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on East Acuff Street in Salem. The driver, a 52-year old Salem man, was arrested after deputies found a socket with marijuana residue on him and a glass pipe with a residue that field tested positive for methamphetamine in his vehicle. He was taken to the Dent County Jail. On Sunday, January 21st, deputies responded to a residence in the 2000 block of County Road 4160 in reference to a stolen ATV. The ATV is described as a yellow 2008 90 Can-Am. This report is still under investigation. If anyone has information regarding any ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

Alderman Haydn Powell has called a meeting of the City of Salem Airport Board for today at 1:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. After approval of the minutes of the last meeting there will be an update on projects currently approved through FAA Grant Program that is administered through MoDOT. There will be an update on Air-Evac hangar status, as well as cold weather issues. Board President Harold Tubbs has requested consideration of the following project ideas; development of a formal policy on hangar assignment, fuel types, power gate openers, courtesy car and signage. The Thursday meeting of the City of Salem Airport Board is open to the public.

The City of Salem Parks and Recreation Board met Monday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon reported on the City Basketball League and said there were 126 participants which is 33 more than last year’s total of 93. There were six K-2nd grade teams, four 3rd-4th grade teams and two 5th-6th grade teams. The league ended this past Saturday. Lydon showed the board updated pictures of the excavation work at the city pool, and Westport Pools is forming up the zero depth entry as well as the main drain. The pool walls have been cut down for the new guttering and the new supervisor estimated the work on the pool will be completed by the first week of May. Lydon said he will advertise for pool employees in February and the Parks and Recreation Department will offer Lifeguard Certification for $125 beginning May 21st through the 25th. Lydon discussed the new Healthy Dent County Concessions Policy that will provide a minimum of 60% healthy choices to the public with lower prices than the non-healthy options where possible. By adopting this policy, the board will be working with Healthy Dent County as they have set aside $10,000 for healthy foods equipment. The Park Board approved recommending this policy be adopted and taken to the aldermen for their approval. Lydon said the spring soccer signups will start February 1st and run through February 23rd and the cost per player is $25. A late registration period will be held from February 24th through March 2nd for $35 per participant. The league will start on April 7th and last until April 28th at the Al Brown multipurpose field. Lydon also suggested with all the improvements made at the city park, a Summer Kick Off event should be held featuring food trucks, bands, free admission to the pool and a movie in the evening at the pool. The event will be free (with the exception of individual food purchases from the food vendors) and would be open to everyone. Lydon also discussed with the board the return of Summer Camps to the park that would offer a variety of events and not just be a sports camp held Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until noon. Each participant would also get a healthy snack. This program is in the early preliminary stages. Lydon also reported on new pavilion signs for those who rent the pavilion that would indicate who has rented the pavilion and their responsibilities as well as an emergency number. They will be mounted to each pavilion that can be rented. Park Board President Stan Podorski reported that all the parks in the city system need to have their own sign and that preliminary work is being done on that. Podorski reported a meeting is being held this week on the pool house improvements to determine what can be done with the budget set aside for the pool house. Once a decision is made, another park board meeting may need to be held to approve the proposed work so that a recommendation can be made at the next Board of Aldermen meeting in February. Podorski also said a meeting was held to discuss and update everyone on the TAP grant. It is moving forward and a slight change was made to run a sidewalk along the west end of the city park between the outfield fence and the Community Center driveway instead of adjacent to the driveway. Podorski reported to the board the Salem Community Center@The Armory did receive their NAP credits and that at a previous board meeting, the board did approve to allocate $50,000 to the project broken out over two fiscal years. Tye Lydon discussed placing a “Freedom Rock” near the entrance to the park with a wall with those who served from Dent County on the wall. This is another project in its preliminary stages and he will update the board more at a later date. Podorski discussed with the Park Board a new entrance sign to the Salem City Park that SACBA and the Garden Club would like to help with and design. He mentioned that he has not yet received their idea or design for the sign, but wanted to make the board aware of their desire to help. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Salem Acoustic Jam will be held Saturday night at 6:30 at the Creative Arts Center, formerly the Teachers Closet, at 6:30.Musicians and listeners of all ages and talents are invited and there is no cost. For more information, call 247-0279 or e-mail saac@embarqmail.com.

The annual meeting of the Salem Area Community Betterment Association will be held Monday, February 12th at 5:00 PM at the Visitors Center Meeting Room at 200 S. Main Street. All members and interested citizens may attend.
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