Archive for 2019

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met September 19th at the Health Center. Administrator Kendra Mobray reported that outpatient lab services were provided for 81 clients in August. She said that the application for Show-Me Healthy Women was approved by the CDC and that the WISEWOMAN application is till pending. Mobray said that Ashley Peyton will be coordinating both projects and hopes to have services available before the end of the year, plus Roma Jones and Chrysta Hinderlinter would be attending breastfeeding peer counselor training in early October. She also stated that the prep visit with SEMA scheduled for September was re-scheduled for December 13th due to the building repairs. Mobray said that Flu shots are now available at the Health Center on a walk-in basis with Flulaval, for ages 6 months and up, Flublock, for those with egg allergies, and High Dose Fluzone for ages 65 and up. The Health Center is able to bill private insurance and child Medicaid. Mobray went on to say that Flu shots are $37.00 for adults who are uninsured, plus if places of business or job sites are interested in holding Flu shot clinics they should contact the Dent County Health Center at 573-729-3106. The Health Center reported two cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, one case of Erlichia Chaffeensis, two cases of Campylobacteriosis, and one case in August of Crytosporidiosis, plus the Health Center investigated two animal bites. The DCHC expenses for August were approved and the next regular board meeting was set for October 17th at 5:00. The meeting was then adjourned.

The City of Salem “City Wide Yard Sale” will be this Saturday. You can pick up maps at the convenience stores in Salem, City of Salem Administrative Offices, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Office and the map was also published in Tuesday’s Salem News. If you would like to sell your products and you need a place to do so, there are spaces available at the City Administrative Offices parking lot. The cost per space is $8.00 each and there are only a few spaces left. If you are interested in reserving a space, contact the Administrative Office at 729-4811 or stop by the administrative offices at 400 North Iron Street.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors meeting took place at 6:00 Monday evening, September 30th. After the call to order, a motion was made and carried to approve the consent agenda and minutes from the previous meeting as presented. Bills were reviewed and approved with an ending balance of $165,382.49 as of the end of July. There was no reimbursement report due to the fact that the month was not yet over at the time of the meeting. The budget was reviewed and approved. The calendar review made note that October is fire prevention month and, due to construction, events were being re-arranged as needed with school tours and events originally scheduled at the department. In old business it was reported that construction and renovation at the fire station is progressing on schedule. Nick Cahill from Cahill Construction did a walk around with the board explaining and answering questions. He then addressed the board with a proposal to repair the water damage in the upstairs area that would include repairing water damaged studs and joists and painting and repairing the ceiling in the bay area. The estimated cost presented was $205,000.00. The board asked for a breakdown of costs before making a decision. Chief Brad Nash reported the construction of the roof is scheduled to start on Wednesday and the parking lot is scheduled for this week as well and the front doors in about 3 weeks. The date for the next meeting was set for November 5th at 6 p.m. at the fire station. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that his crew would be pouring concrete on the low water crossing on Dent County Road 6580 over Pigeon Creek. The work will be done in two phases with the walls and abutments being poured first. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2400, 2115 and 6160, while materials would be added and grading done on county road 2110. He went on to report the correct starter for Loader #3 has arrived and that will be installed, plus brush would be cut on Dent County Road 3330. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board meeting to finish scoring the waste reduction and recycling grant applications and then awarding those grants. Skiles said the requests totaled $295,275.07 and the District has approximately $193,000 to award. At 10:00, the commission opened bids for the oil changes to be done for for the Dent County Sheriff’s Department vehicles. There were two bids received: one from Whitakers Auto for $47.50 per vehicle and the other from American Muffler for $40.80 per vehicle. The commission approved going with the low bid from American Muffler and that contract would begin October 1st. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred at about 5:45 Monday morning on Highway 32 about five miles west of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Mack Trash Truck, operated by 52-year old Gary Mink of Graff, Missouri, traveled off the right side of the road striking some landscape items and a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria. Mink suffered moderate injuries and was transported by EMS to Salem Memorial District Hospital. The report stated that he was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and the Mack sustained extensive damage. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

An accident occurred Saturday afternoon about 12:10 in Shannon on Highway 19 about one mile south of Winona. According to the highway patrol report, a 1997 Ford Pickup, driven by 52- year old James Fears of Doe Run, Missouri, traveled off the right side of the roadway, where Fears overcorrected causing the Ford to travel off the left side of the roadway where it overturned. Both Fears and a passenger, 61- year old Dale Weber of Winona, were ejected from the vehicle. Both were pronounced deceased by Dr. Fraizier at St. Francis Mercy Emergency Room. At that time, both bodies were transported to Yarber Mortuary in Mountain View. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Baker’s Towing.

The monthly meeting of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission will be held Wednesday, October 2nd at Echo Bluff State Park located at 34489 Echo Bluff Drive south of Salem and north of Eminence. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. and is open to the public and media. The Commission is a six-member bipartisan board that guides the Missouri Department of Transportation. Commission members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Missouri Senate. Public presentations will include a presentation from the South Central Ozark Council of Governments-Cody Dalton, Assistant Director. A MoDOT presentation regarding the history of Highway 19 and the Sinking Creek Bridge in Shannon County will be shared by MoDOT Resident Engineer Audie Pulliam. For more information, please contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).

An accident happened Sunday morning at 11:30 in Shannon County on Highway 19 about 20 miles north of Eminence that took the life of a Salem man. According to the highway patrol report, 76-year old Billy Bland of Salem was riding a 2002 Sportsman 500 ATV northbound when he lost control and the ATV overturned, ejecting him from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Shannon County Sheriff Darrin Brawley. His body was taken to the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. He was not wearing any safety equipment at the time of the accident and the ATV sustained moderate damages. It was removed from the scene by a family member.

The City of Salem’s Park and Recreation Board will hold a meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center at the Armory. After the roll call, the board will go into closed session pursuant to section 610.021(3) of the revised statutes of the State of Missouri pertaining to the hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of particular employees by a public governmental body when personal information about the employee is discussed or recorded. After closed session, the board will come back into open session and the meeting will be adjourned.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports for September 19th and 20th. On Thursday morning the 19th at approximately 10:14, an officer located a 22-year-old male of Rolla in the 1100 block of South Louise who had an active arrest warrant from the City of Rolla. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending extradition. That afternoon at approximately 3:31, an officer was contacted in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown entered the garage of a residence in the 100 block of North Pershing and took tools as well as a 22-caliber rifle valued at $800.00. The report is under investigation. Still later that evening at approximately 6:00, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of South Jackson in reference to a theft. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown took a Kel Tec 9mm pistol valued at $325.00 from the residence. The report is under investigation. On Friday night, September 20th, at approximately 7:52, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of East Third Street in reference to a burglary not in progress. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown entered a residence and took currency and items valued at $224.00 and caused property damage valued at $100.00. The report is under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any of the thefts or ongoing investigations.