Archive for 2019

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dwight Ramsburg, the construction manager for the new county jail project for Septagon, was in to present a press release concerning the constant delays by CenturyLink that is slowing the progress of the project that may affect the completion date of mid December. He says that since 2018, CenturyLink has used almost every excuse to avoid moving a utility pole on the jails property boundary. It took months just to get an agreement in place that was signed in February after the county refused to pay the full amount before the work was completed which was already in the CenturyLink contract. First, the “water blocks” were damaged, then there was not enough space in a manhole for all the extra equipment, and now the cable that was ordered months ago is damaged and a new cable has to be ordered. Ramsburg in his release says the people of Dent County deserve better from CenturyLink. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the sales tax dollars received by the county in June. She said the General Revenue and the LEST Funds each received about $71,251.00 in June which is down from last year’s figure of $88,056.00. The funds year-to-date are each down about $1,131. Williams stated the Road and Bridge Fund received $32,843.52 and that is down from last month some $6,599. year to date, the Road and Bridge Fund is still up $4,160 which is about 1.95%. Williams reported that each jail fund received about $65,601 in June and that brings the year to date total in each fund of about $435,177. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6220 and 6240, patch grading would be done on county road 4235, and a driveway culvert is going to be installed on Dent County Road 6020. Purcell also reported materials would be added on county roads 4080 and 5050 and ditch work will also be done on county road 5050. Purcell went on to say a man would be screening brown rock and a man would be working on a brush cutter as the bearings went out. Sam Gorman, filling it for Commissioner Gary Larson, said grading was going to be done on 2580, 2610, 2613 and 4280. He went on to state brush would be cut on county roads 3020 and 3030 and some rock would be added and grading done on county road 4030. Gorman also said a pipe was being installed on county road 4030. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reports there will be a meeting on Tuesday, June 18th at the Signature Event Center in Rolla at 1701 Martin Springs Drive in Rolla from 6:00 to 8:00 to discuss a proposed National Forest Service ban on hunting feral hogs on Mark Twain National Forest lands. The meeting is open to everyone. Skiles also said the Missouri Department of Conservation is asking landowners to contact them at 573-522-4115 if they spot feral hog damage on their property. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams came back in with the budgeted transfers to the SMTS bus service of $7,000 and the transfer of $14,250 to the Nutrition Center. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts in May. She also said she balanced with the assessor and collector on all add-ons, abatements and collections for May. 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.

A Downtown Salem Historic Ghost Tour will be held Friday night, June 14th from 8:30-9:30. The event is free and the public is welcome to attend. Those interested can meet at the Dent County Courthouse gazebo on the square, downtown. Jacob Stotler will be your host for the first ever downtown historic ghost tour in Salem! The tour will begin with a trek through downtown, listening to the tales of the past, and tales of those from the past coming back to visit. Learn the history of our buildings, enjoy the summer air, and experience great fellowship with other Salem residents. You will find out unusual facts about Salem including answers to “What’s the room on top of the courthouse? What was P’zaz? Where in the world is fat man squeeze? What’s underneath the library?” Learn all of this and more on our first ever downtown ghost tour! See you there!

The City of Salem’s Capital Improvement Committee and Finance Committee will hold a joint meeting this evening at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, 1200 W. Rolla Road. The Capital Improvement Committee will review current Capital Projects and Purchases and also requested 2019-2020 Capital Projects and Purchases. The Finance Committee will receive an update on the 2018-2019 budget and discuss the 2019-2020 budget. The meetings are open to the public.

A one vehicle accident occurred Sunday morning at 11:00 in Crawford County on Route JJ about a half mile south of Bourbon. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Suzuki Intruder being driven by 53-year Shawn Lafferty of Leasburg, was traveling northbound on Route JJ when he traveled off the left side of the roadway, through a ditch and overturned. Lafferty was pronounced dead at the scene by Crawford County Deputy Coroner Nichole Gambling at 11:24. The Suzuki was removed from the scene by Chuck’s Towing. Lafferty was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident.

Young readers will explore all things space this summer as the Salem Public Library presents A Universe of Stories during their summer library program. Activities may include group games, space-related crafts, art projects, science and engineering experiments, and more. Children who have completed kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade will meet on Mondays from June 17th through July 15th. Children who have completed 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade will meet on Wednesdays from June 19th through July 17th. Register your children at the library located at 403 North Jackson. For more information call 729-4331. Lunch by Love Packs will be available from 1:00 until 1:30 each day of the reading program in the library’s north basement meeting room. The lunch program is a community effort to ensure that nutritious food is available to children who may otherwise go hungry.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors Meeting took place at 6:00 Tuesday evening, June 4th. After the call to order, a motion was made and carried to approve the consent agenda and minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and approved as presented. Bills were heard and approved with an ending balance of $215,894.22 as of the end of May. The budget was reviewed and approved. On Wednesday afternoon at 2:00, the bids will be opened for the station improvement and only one bid was received. In the monthly reimbursement report, the department received a total of 22 calls for the month of May, bringing the total calls year to date to 133. In new business, the board of directors for the Dent County Emergency Response Association were revisited with the appointment of new board member Randy Weldon to replace David Greenshields. Craig Smith was voted President, John McColloch vice president, and Dave Wells Secretary/Treasurer. Fire Chief Brad Nash reported that the trucks are being tested and general repairs are being performed and that the station is getting a general cleaning and inspection. The date for the next meeting was set for July 2nd at 6:00 at the fire station.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a number of reports from May. On Saturday, May 25th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at the Highway 72 and Route J intersection. During the course of the traffic stop, a 30-year-old Salem woman was arrested for driving while being intoxicated and for being in possession of marijuana or a synthetic cannabinoid of 10 grams or less, a prior drug offense. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she was fingerprinted, issued a summons and was released. On Sunday, May 26th, deputies received a report of two men trespassing on a residence on Dent County Road 3220. The deputies traveled to the residence and during the course of the incident, located a 41-year-old Salem man and a 24-year-old Salem man who were then arrested for trespassing in the 1st degree. Both men were transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where they were issued summons and released. On Friday, May 31st, deputies traveled to the 600 block of Route JJ for a warrant check. During the course of the service, a 49-year-old Salem man was arrested for having active warrants through Jasper County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. If anyone has information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The following reports have been submitted by the Salem Police Department. On Saturday afternoon, June 1st, at approximately 4:37, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to trespassing. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 37-year-old male of Salem for trespassing after having been issued a no trespass order. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. The next morning at about 7:35, a vehicle was stopped for a warrant investigation. The investigation led to the arrest of a 30-year-old female of Salem on an active arrest warrant from Phelps County. The suspect was incarcerated pending extradition. Then on Tuesday afternoon, June 4th, at approximately 12:17, an officer was dispatched to Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health Center in reference to a violation of an ex-parte order. The investigation of the report revealed a 31-year-old male of Salem had violated an ex-parte order. The report is under investigation. Later that afternoon at about 3:48, an officer transported a 30-year-old female of Licking from Texas County Jail to Dent County Jail due to an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. The suspect was incarcerated pending a court appearance. The next night at approximately 7:55 a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 25-year-old male of Licking for driving while revoked. The suspect 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 an investigation.

Reservations are now being accepted for the City of Salem two Pavilions that can be rented at the Salem City Park for an entire day. The cost of the Fireplace Pavilion on the circle drive is $45 per day and the large pavilion on the west side of the creek is $35 for the entire day. This includes electric and lights. Other pavilions at the park are free and cannot be reserved. Please contact the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 729-8163 or drop by 1200 West Rolla Road for availability or to reserve a pavilion.

A summer cupcake decorating class will be held Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Creative Arts Center. This course is being taught by Shannon Phelps and the cost is $20 per person. You can become a “sweet” artist and when finished, you get to take home 12 decorated cupcakes to your family. All materials are provided with the $20 fee. You must call this morning to register at 247-0279 or stop by the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center at 202 South Main Street.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the courthouse. Sally Burbridge, Salem Economic Development Director, was in with her report. In addition to the written report she said she encourages people that are considering purchase of property to check with the City of Salem as to the zoning of the property. She said that recently there have been two instances where the zoning of property being purchased was not zoned for the intended purpose of the purchaser. In one case the problem was discovered three days before closing was scheduled to occur. Burbridge said that she’s waiting on notification about the Workforce Grant with Salem R-80 for the Building Trades Program. She also reported that MRPC has applied for a skilled workforce grant through the Delta Regional Authority. Burbridge noted in conclusion that the next meeting of the Economic Development Strategic Plan Workshop will be June 27th. In the road report District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Road 3220, plus materials would added to county road 2440. He noted that materials would be added to county roads 5500, 4080 and 6245. Purcell went on to say that brush would be cut on county road 4110 and a man was finishing the 1,500 hour service on grader #24. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2120 and 2150, plus grading would be done and materials would be added to county road 5340. He reported that brush would be cut on county roads 3200, 2630, 2640 and 2620, plus a man was going to the Sligo area to grade some washouts on county roads 4010 and 3370. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles had nothing to report, but with the 75th Anniversary of D-Day he wanted to encourage everyone to pause and reflect on the freedoms we enjoy and the men and women who served to make it possible. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the there were a few bills for the Commissioners to approve for payment. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 in the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports to end the month of May. On Sunday morning, May 5th, at approximately 7:16, an officer located a 33-year-old female of Salem in the 1200 block of South Gertrude who had an active arrest warrant from Missouri Probation and Parole. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending a court appearance. Then on Thursday morning, May 30th, at about 8:30, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to a theft from a residence. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown entered a residence in the 1300 block of South Wines and took an Alverez acoustic guitar valued at $600.00. The report is under investigation. That same afternoon at approximately 4:32, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to someone trespassing. The investigation of the report revealed a 24-year-old male of Salem who had been issued a no trespass notice from Wal-Mart properties was trespassing on the property. The suspect was taken into custody for trespassing, issued a summons to appear in court and released. Still later that evening at about 6:13, an officer was dispatched to the Salem Coin-Op Laundromat in reference to a person trespassing. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 37-year-old male of Salem who had been previously issued a no trespass order on the property. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. The next afternoon, Friday May 31st, at about 4:25, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 20-year-old female from Cuba, Missouri for stealing merchandise valued at $12.96. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Dept. at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information.