Archive for 2019

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not able to attend the meeting so District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell was appointed the temporary Presiding Commissioner for the day. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in attendance to report on the CART money just received. She said the county received $60,278.02 this month which is down $1,493.19 from the 2018 July CART receipts of $61,771.21. Year-to-date, the CART monies are down $5,483.84 from the same time period in 2018. In the road reports, Purcell said grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 5015 and 5080 while materials would be added and grading done on county road 5090. He went on to report brush would be cut on county road 4210 and a two member crew would be out repairing chip and seal county roads 4110 and 6300. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated that grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2380, 4380 and 5260 while materials only would be added to county road 2340. Larson stated brush was going to be cut on county roads 2070 and 3233 and two men would hauling in brown rock for screening at the shed. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

A drowning occurred Tuesday afternoon at 3:40 in Shannon County at the Blue Springs location on the Current River. According to the water patrol report, 16-year old Trenton Crane of Pevely, Missouri, was attempting to swim across the waterway and became fatigued. Crane inhaled water and was then unable to resurface. His body was recovered from the water and the Shannon County Coroner Tim Denton pronounced him dead at 4:30 from drowning Tuesday afternoon. Crane was not wearing a flotation device at the time of the incident. His body was transported to the Yarber Funeral Home in Mountain View.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is proposing three changes to its free permits for landowners and wants public input. First, MDC is proposing adjusting acreage requirements for its definition of resident landowners from 5 to 20 acres. Second, MDC is proposing the implementation of a landowner registry to qualify for landowner permits. Third, MDC is proposing discounted deer and turkey hunting permits for nonresident landowners with 75 acres or more in a contiguous tract MDC held an initial public comment period in March for input on acreage requirements needed to receive free landowner deer and turkey hunting permits and free small-game hunting and trapping landowner privileges. Of the more than 14,000 comments received, a minimum of 21 acres was the most common preference. Based on this initial public feedback, MDC is proposing changing the minimum acreage for landowner permits and privileges from 5 to 20 acres. This change will impact no-cost landowner deer and turkey hunting permits as well as permit requirements for small-game hunting, fishing, and trapping on qualifying properties. The proposed landowner registry is needed by both MDC is proposing price increases for nonresident permits and discounted permits for nonresident (NR) landowners with a minimum of 75 acres. Offering discounted deer and turkey permits to nonresident landowners with 75 acres or more in a contiguous tract is similar to a past regulation that was in effect until 2009. MDC eliminated the offering during its last round of permit changes in 2008. For more information go online to mdc.mo.gov. As part of the rulemaking process, the Missouri Department of Conservation is asking for public comments on these changes now through early August at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49. To comment on landowner acreage requirements, refer to “3 CSR 10-20.805 Definitions.” To comment on the landowner registry, refer to “3 CSR 10-7.434 Deer: Landowner Privileges” or “3 CSR 10-7.455 Turkeys: Seasons, Methods, Limits.”

Warm temperatures attract people of all ages to Missouri’s many lakes or rivers to go swimming and to cool off, but understand the risks of swimming and take the proper precautions. The Patrol has been called to investigate 28 drowning incidents in Missouri so far this year. Most of these incidents are preventable. Water safety starts with understanding the risks of water activities and making good choices. Wear a life jacket, take a friend with you, know your swimming ability, and stay sober around water. Pay close attention to children around water. Please make good decisions when you are in or around water. When you go swimming, know and respect your limits and don’t swim alone! Missouri’s lakes and rivers can include currents, drop-offs, and floating debris that make swimming more challenging. Exhaustion is a very real possibility if you’ve been swimming for a long period of time, don’t make the mistake of overestimating your swimming ability. A life jacket won’t help if you’re not wearing it. If you choose not to wear a life jacket, have one within reach. Avoid putting yourself at risk when trying to assist someone who is struggling in the water. Assist them by tossing a floatation device or extending an object to them. Keep yourself safe! If you do have to enter the water to assist them, always put on a life jacket first.

The Salem Police Department has released a number of reports. On July 11th at approximately 9:00 in the evening, an officer transported a male and a female, both 42-years-old of Salem from the Crawford County Jail to the Dent County Jail due to active arrest warrants from the City of Salem. The next morning at about 9:54, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Forest Hill Drive in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown took two kayak’s and life jackets valued at $1,090.00 from a residence. The report is under investigation. Later that same evening near 7:23, an officer located a 34-year-old male of Licking at the Salem Bowling Alley who had an active arrest warrant from Texas County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending extradition. On Sunday, July 14th at almost 6:00 in the evening, an officer was dispatched to the 1100 block of South Jackson in reference to a fight in progress. That investigation revealed a 29-year-old male of Salem had damaged the siding on a house valued at $85.00. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect who was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Judging at the Expo concluded late Friday afternoon with the Beef Show, which started at 2:30. Chase Simpson exhibited the Champion Angus Heifer, Kallen Garrison showed the Champion Charolais Heifer, while Kaden Garrison exhibited the Reserve Champion. Brady Schafer showed the Champion Crossbred Heifer and the Reserve Champion was shown by Makena Faulkner. Supreme Champion Heifer award went to Kallen Garrison and Kaden Garrison won the Reserve Supreme Champion. Champion Hereford Bull was shown by Ray Cunningham and Kaden Garrison exhibited the Champion Charolais Bull. Supreme Champion Bull was won by Kaden Garrison, while Ray Cunningham had the Reserve Grand Champion. In the Dairy Cattle Show Kennedy Chapman exhibited the Champion and Reserve Champion Jersey Cows. During the Market Steer Show Class 1 winner was Ross Dunlap’s 1110 pound steer, Class 2 was won by Tyffany Lucerne with a 1155 pound steer and Class 3 was won by Ray Cunningham’s 1210 pound calf. Class 4 winner was John Cunningham’s 1255 pounder, Class 5 was won by Clayton Headrick’s 1335 pound calf, Class 6 was won by Bryce Mobray with a 1355 pound steer and Class 7 winner was Kash Howard’s 1425 pound calf. Ray Cunningham’s steer won the Grand Champion trophy and John Cunningham took home the Reserve Champion award. A lightweight steer class was won by Trenton Ragsdale. Senior Showmanship honors went to Carrie Holliday, while Kaden Garrison won the Intermediate Division and Kallen Garrison took home the trophy in the Junior Division.

The Phelps County Public Housing Agency (PHA) elected new officers for fiscal year 2019-2020. Phelps County Presiding Commissioner Randy Verkamp will serve as chairman, while Maries County Presiding Commission Vic Stratman will serve as vice-chairman, and Crawford County Presiding Commissioner Leo Sanders will be secretary. Phelps County PHA is an equal opportunity housing agency that offers HUD’s housing choice voucher rental assistance to very low-income families in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps (outside the city of Rolla) and Washington counties. Region, are served by other housing agencies. The PHA serves about 725 families each month; about 75 of those participate in the FSS program. The Phelps County PHA board consists of the presiding commissioners in the six participating counties and one resident advisory board member. The PHA contracts with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) to operate and staff the program. The PHA is located at 4 Industrial Drive, St. James, the same building as MRPC. For persons needing housing assistance, the PHA accepts applications every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its St. James office. For more information, call 573-265-4200 or visit the Phelps County PHA under programs and services on MRPC’s website (www.meramecregion.org).

The Missouri Public Service Commission will hold formal evidentiary hearings starting today in a natural gas rate case filed by Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri. Formal evidentiary hearings will be held today and tomorrow and July 29th through August 2nd in Room 310 of the Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Jefferson City, Missouri. These hearings will be held in a building that meets accessibility standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. On December 3rd, 2018, Ameren Missouri filed a natural gas rate case with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking to increase annual natural gas revenues by approximately $4.26 million. According to Ameren Missouri’s filing, the average annual change in natural gas rates for residential customers will be approximately $26 a year. Ameren Missouri provides natural gas service to approximately 131,000 customers in 25 Missouri counties including Dent, Phelps and Gasconade counties.