Archive for 2018

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road and bridge report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated three dump trucks would be hauling brown rock. They will also be servicing dump truck #125 and grader #24 as they did not get to them last week. Purcell also stressed that a crew would be out checking for downed trees or limbs on roads from the storms Sunday night into Monday morning. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said there would also be a crew out checking roads for downed trees or limbs in his district, and he would also have a dump truck hauling brown rock. Larson said a man would be screening brown rock at the shed and another crew would be working on crossover pipes on Dent County Road 2560. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said the commissioners gave the Rotary Club an update on the jail project and other county business Monday. Skiles said the jail project is moving forward but the process was slowed by the county having to get title to Water Street from the city. Skiles said it appears at this time the county would be letting out construction bids in May or June. Skiles went on to say that today is the MRPC Legislative Day at the Capital. He says they will try to meet with all the legislators for lunch or drop by their offices to discuss their priorities. Skiles also wanted to remind the public that the 2018 Proposed Dent County Budget is available at the County Clerk’s Office during regular business hours. Later that morning, the commission met with Matt Herring and Joe Britt for the University of Missouri Extension. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it will be open to the public.

An accident happened in Dent County on Highway 19 about four miles north of Salem Monday morning close to 8:15. According to the highway patrol report, a 2004 Mazda MPV driven southbound by 92-year old Warren Oliver of Salem ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a private drive causing the Mazda to overturn and strike a utility pole. Warren suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District by the Salem EMS. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The Mazda MPV was totaled in the accident and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Dent County Fire Department and Salem EMS.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports. On Wednesday evening, January 10th at approximately 9:10, an officer was sent to a storage unit facility in the 1300 block of Scenic Rivers Boulevard in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown broke into a unit and took items valued at $991.00. The report is under investigation. On Thursday, January 11th at approximately 3:27 in the afternoon, an officer made contact with a 42-year old female of Salem at the Salem Police Department who had an active arrest warrant from Franklin County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and released to the Dent County Sheriffs Department where she was incarcerated pending extradition. On Friday, January 12th at approximately 3:27 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. That investigation led to the arrest of a 64-year old male of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $65.53. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. That evening, at about 8:31, an officer located a 23-year old male of Salem in the 800 block of East Fourth who had an active arrest warrant from Stone County, Missouri. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending extradition. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public for helping to locate Cody Martin. He was found at a residence in Dent County and taken into custody without incident. Martin is currently in the Dent County Jail on burglary and stealing charges. His bond is a total of $125,000 cash only. Deputies will also be seeking charges for items on him testing positive for methamphetamine during his arrest.

This is an update to a story YWT had from last Wednesday. On January 16th at approximately 1:15 in the morning, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department investigated a shooting incident in the 10000 block of Phelps County Road 2080. The victim has been identified as 39-year old William Lee Dale of Rolla. He was shot in the upper torso by a resident of the home. The reporting party said Dale unlawfully entered the residence, and assaulted a male subject. They indicated they feared for their life, and used lethal force. Dale was pronounced dead on the scene by Phelps County Coroner, Andy Davis. Anyone having any information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Boshoff at 426-3860.

The City of Salem’s Park & Recreation Board will hold a meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Salem Community Center @The Armory. After the roll call, the previous meeting minutes will be reviewed and the agenda will be approved. Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon will report on various activities and issues. The Board will receive an update on the pool and also get a pool house repair update. Other subjects to be discussed include a TAP Grant update, park project priorities, and budget update. Other items also to be considered will include clarification of the Fund Raising Policy for Parks and Recreation, The Salem Community Center@The Armory NAP Grant Commitment, a “Freedom” Rock and SACBA/Garden Club City Park entrance sign. Under other business along with miscellaneous items will be discussed before the meeting will be adjourned. The meeting of the Salem Park & Recreation Board tonight is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening with two board members unable to attend. Superintendent John McColloch recognized the board members during School Board Recognition Week, and he also announced three people will run for two open board positions. Filing for the board seats were incumbents Carrie Snider and Chris Heavin, and Kevin James also filed. The election will be held April 3rd. At the meeting, Technology Coordinator Jim White gave a Chromebook and technology update. He said there are currently five students working in the Chrome Center and 47 repairs have been made. So far the program has worked very well. Superintendent McColloch reported the school through December has had an increase of $500,000 in revenues and $200,000 in expenditures over last year. He added the construction project at William Lynch came in $80,000 under budget. Currently the Fund 4 balance has $1,165,572.57 and that is fund used for capital improvements. Band Director David Schatz was acknowledged for being the Missouri Music Educators Association Outstanding Young Educator in 2017-2018. The board approved the resignation of Jared Patterson as the Assistant High School Track Coach before the board went into closed session. In closed session, the board hired Natalie Sellers as the new Assistant High School Track Coach and also extended the contract of Superintendent John McColloch through the 2020-2021 year. The meeting was then adjourned.