Archive for 2019

An accident happened at 12:39 Thursday afternoon in Crawford County on Highway 19 about one half mile south of the Highway 8 junction that took the life of a Steelville woman. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Freightliner driven northbound by 35-year old Matthew Krechel of St. Charles, crossed the center line and struck a 2008 Buick Lacrosse driven southbound by 77-year old Hester Sanders of Steelville. Sanders was taken to the Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur by Air Evac where she was pronounced dead from her injuries at 3:28 in the afternoon. The Buick was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. The Freightliner towed unit sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene. Sanders was wearing a seat restraint at time of the accident. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, the Steelville Fire Department and the North Crawford County Ambulance District at the scene.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released the following report for April 16th through the 22nd. On Tuesday, April 16th, deputies received a report of 17 solar lights being stolen from a residence on Private Lane 413. Deputies conducted a further investigation and the next day, deputies recovered the stolen solar lights and arrested a 52-year old Salem female for misdemeanor stealing. The female was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she was fingerprinted, issued summons and released. Also on April 16th, deputies conducted a traffic stop near the 3000 block of Dent County Road 5015. During the course of the traffic stop, a 30-year-old Salem male was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 2nd or subsequent offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. That same day deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 6150. During the course of the traffic stop, a 37-year-old Salem female was arrested for driving while having her license suspended, a 2nd or subsequent offense. The female was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. That same day deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 4110 near Shawnee Mac Lakes. During the course of the traffic stop, a 21-year-old male of Troy, Missouri was arrested for having active warrants through the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Office. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and was incarcerated. On Wednesday April 17th, deputies traveled to a residence in the 600 block of Dent County Road 4253 to attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the investigation, a 32-year-old Salem female was arrested for two active warrants through Dent County. Also arrested was a 35-year-old Salem man for warrants through the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office. Both subjects were transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and were incarcerated. On Saturday April 20th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 1200 block of north Highway 19. During the course of the traffic stop, a 19-year old Rolla male was arrested for driving while having their license revoked or suspended. The male was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. On Sunday, April 21st deputies were contacted by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office in reference to a stealing case which had occurred in the 500 block of Dent County Road 2430. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that two cigar boxes containing approximately $600.00 in United States currency was stolen. This report is still under investigation. On Monday, April 22nd, deputies traveled to the 7000 block of Highway 68 for a report of a male trespassing. During the course of the investigation, a 55-year-old Springfield male was arrested for trespassing 1st degree. The male was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released.

Come to Echo Bluff State Park for a Dark Sky Astronomy Program from 7:30-9:30 Saturday night, May 4th on the “Sky Porch” at Bluff Top Pavilion parking lot. The Dent County Astronomers will have their scopes set up and ready to view constellations and the Milky Way. Learn about how light pollution obstructs our view of the sky in cities and towns around the world and what we can do to keep our skies dark. Be sure to dress for the weather as it could be very cold this time of year. This event is free and open to the public. Echo Bluff State Park is located on Highway 19 approximately 25 miles south of Salem and approximately 14 miles north of Eminence. For more information about the event, call Echo Bluff State Park at 573-751-1224.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not present due to a previous commitment. District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell was selected to act as the Presiding Commissioner for the meeting. In the hearing of persons, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported that she received a notification that a check was coming to the county from the US Forest Service from Title 1 and mineral receipts in the amount of $222,574.28. From those proceeds, the Dent County Road and Bridge Department will receive $55,643.57 while five school districts will divide $166,930.71. The Bunker R-3 School District will receive $64,602.19 while the Salem R-80 School District will get $40,831.26. Also receiving these funds will be the Oak Hill R-1 School District and they will get $33,720.01 while the Viburnum C-4 School District will receive $26,358.33 and Northwood R-4 school District will get $1,418.92. Last year, the county received two payments from the US Forest service, the first in March of $166,888.16 and the second payment on May 17th of $66,147.48. Commissioner Purcell went onto give the District 1 report and said crews would be out cleaning out culverts in the Bunker area and would also be putting an extension on a driveway pipe on Dent County Road 6380. Two men were working on a pup trailer fixing a flat and doing regular maintenance. Purcell also said a crew would be working on shoring up the area around a crossover pipe on county road 6380 where the material has washed away. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said crews in his district were also cleaning out culvert pipes in numerous locations while another crew would be cleaning out the truck barn at the Road and Bridge Maintenance area. He said workers would be adding material to Dent County Road 2160 and looking for washouts on some roads that have been known to wash out in the past. William Kuisel brought in a petition signed by many landowners who live on Private Lane 601 to have the road maintained by the county. The road used to be a county road in the 1970’s but was abandoned by the county when no one lived down that road for many years. Purcell said the county’s policy is the road would have to be brought up to the county’s established standards before the commission would consider maintaining the road since no public funds have been used to maintain the road in over seven years. The concern is the road is in such bad condition now that emergency vehicles are unable to travel down it as well as propane dealers, but as a Private Lane, it is the landowners responsibility to maintain the roads. There is also an easement issue with one of the landowners that they will take to the Dent County Prosecuting Attorney for his advice. Matt Bain, the district director from Senator Josh Hawley’s office, was in to introduce himself to the commission and see if there is anything he can do to help with any problems. The request from the commission was to see if there is anything that can be done to allow the county to use the monies from Title 3 for road or bridge improvements. He said he would check into it. The Dent County Commission will next meet Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

A one vehicle accident occurred Wednesday afternoon at 4:55 in Dent County on Highway 32 about eight miles East of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Pontiac G6 driven by 19-year old Jennifer White of Salem, was traveling eastbound when the car ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Two occupants of the vehicle: 28-year old Mary Keel and five-year old Thomas Schroeder, both of Salem, were transported by the Salem Ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for the treatment of minor injuries. The Pontiac was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.