Archive for 2019

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. In the road report District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Roads 2460, 4090 and 5520, while materials only would be added to county road 5510. He also said that brush would be cut on county road 6370. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3140, 3150, 5260 and 5280, plus county road 2200 would have materials added and would be graded. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that Tuesday evening he and Commissioner Larson attended the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste District annual full board meeting in St. James where two policy revisions were approved and various grant extensions were approved. They also attended the separate ORSWD Awards Dinner where seven awards were presented for Outstanding Achievement in Solid Waste Reduction. Skiles also noted that a crew was working on some electrical problems with some of the Christmas lights on the Courthouse. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that the Commissioners were approving bills for payment and her office continues work on the Dent County Budget for 2020. Commissioner reported that phone bids were taken for 2,500 gallons of gasoline for the Road and Bridge Department and County Fuels was the winning bidder at $1.89 per gallon. Dent County Assessor Tina Whitaker came in with her Map Maintenance Agreement with STC and the Commissioners signed the agreement for 2020-2021. Sheriff Bob Wells, Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley, and Treasurer Denita Williams were in to discuss a civil forfeiture. The task force had worked on a case that involved distribution of a controlled substance and seized money. The Judge in the case had ordered the $6,803.30 in seized money be turned over to the County Treasurer. According to state law, the Treasurer will turn the money over to the schools. It was stated that Law Enforcement has been working on several cases and has seized firearms and will have a firearms sale in the future with the proceeds to be turned over to the Treasurer and deposited in the General Revenue Fund. Prosecutor Curley discussed the Dent County Crime Advocate position that was made possible by a grant. He said that Cynthia Nash of his staff is taking the position and all expenses related to that position will be fully reimbursed back to Dent County by the grant. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

A Children’s Old-Fashioned Christmas will be held Monday evening from 6:30-8:00 at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History at the corner of Rolla Road and North Hickory. The kids can help decorate the “Children’s Tree,” by creating and decorating the old-fashion ways—popcorn, clothespin angels, paper chains, oranges, and cookies. This event is appropriate for children through about 12 years old. The cost is $1.00 per child or $5.00 per family. Adults are free.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors meeting took place at 7:00 Tuesday evening, December 3rd. Bills were heard and approved with an ending balance of $113,981.22 as of December 3rd. The 2020 budget was reviewed and approved. In the monthly reimbursement report, the department received a total of 27 calls for the month of November, bringing the total calls year to date to 260 with an average cost per call of $118.88. During the month of November, the department responded to 13 vehicle accidents, six first responder calls, four brush fires, two training calls and one mutual aid. Fire chief Brad Nash reported to the board that the top three categories of fire calls in 2019 so far were vehicle accidents, accounting for 23.5% of the calls, another 21.2% were first responder calls and structure fires came in third at 15.8%. These numbers account for almost 61% of the calls responded to in 2019. Chief Nash also updated the board on the progress of the renovation at the district fire station and stated that the new doors are in. Providing the weather holds, the roof is almost complete and should be finished soon. The new restroom is currently being framed in. Chief Nash noted that all in all, the progress is moving along as planned. The date for the next meeting was set for January 7th at 6:00 in the evening at the fire station.

A follow-up community conversation on the opioid epidemic and Narcan instruction will be held Tuesday evening, December 10th at 5:30. The forum provides the Dent County community the opportunity to share solutions to the opioid epidemic and give input on what citizens’ feel should happen. In order to be part of the solution, citizens can start by understanding what Naloxone (Narcan) is and how to administer it to a loved one or a member of the community. The forum is free and there will be a limited amount of complimentary appetizers and drinks so please RSVP to contact person Sherry Lea at (573) 729-8163. The forum will be held at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory and is sponsored by Your Community Cares Rural Health Coalition.

Don’t forget to attend the Salem “Parade of Lights” tomorrow night starting at 5:30 from the SBU-Salem campus at Grand and Franklin Streets to the Dent County Courthouse.

A Steelville man Wednesday pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm stemming from a police chase from Illinois into Missouri. According to the court report, 27-year old Johnathan K. Esparza of Steelville appeared in federal court before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for March 13, 2020. According to court documents, on September 21st, 2018, police officers from Brooklyn, Illinois responded to a call regarding shots fired from a Nissan vehicle. As Brooklyn police officers attempted to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop, the driver of this vehicle accelerated and drove at a high rate of speed from Illinois into Missouri. Officers observed Esparza, the front seat passenger, throw a pistol out of the window of the vehicle in St. Louis and were able to recover and seize the pistol. The Nissan was eventually stopped and Esparza was apprehended. A computer check revealed that he was a convicted felon. Esparza faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a fine of not more than a $250,000. He may be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence greater than described. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges. The Brooklyn, Illinois Police Department and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Muchnick is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The Salem Park and Recreation Board met on November 26th at the Salem Community Center@TheArmory. Director Melissa DuBois addressed the board and reported there were 104 participants in the 2019 Youth basketball program for children in the 1st through 6th grades. She said she visited the site of the proposed new soccer field complex with City Administrator Ray Walden, Public Works Director Mark Nash and representatives from Archer-Elgin to get information to update the LWCF Grant that the city will apply for in February. She discussed back lighting at the Salem City Park sign and also the creation of a new Alice Lou Craig Municipal Swimming Pool sign for the pool building. City Administrator Ray Walden gave an updated on the TAP grant. Walden said MoDOT had approved the letting of bids, but that will held off until after the holidays. The bids are to be opened by March 1st with work beginning by April 1st. Park Board President Stan Podorski presented the board with an update three-year project plan for the Parks and Recreation which included the soccer park complex, TAP grant, replacing the roof at the Al Brown Storage Building, a new concession area and handicapped accessible stairway at Al Brown and other projects. Podorski also said the Park and Recreation Board by-laws are outdated and he is revising the by-laws and will present them at a future meeting for board approval. Walden then informed the board of the change moving the grounds crew for the Park and Recreation Department to Public Works where they are under the supervision of Public Works Director, Mark Nash. They will still do the work they would normally do during the peak season hours on fields, lawn care, etc. while only taking care of limited activities at the parks during the off-season times and who would be responsible to perform those duties. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Sheriff’s office released reports for November 20th through 27th. On Friday the 20th, deputies responded to the 4000 block of Route CC for a report of burglary. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a 22 year-old man was the reported victim and the investigation is ongoing. On Monday, November 23rd, deputies responded to the 3000 block of Route VV for a report of burglary. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a 28-year-old was the reported victim and the investigation is ongoing. The next day, Tuesday November 24th, deputies traveled to the 2000 block of Dent County Road 3260 for a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a 40-year-old was the reported victim and the investigation is ongoing. On Thursday, November 26th, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a vehicle sitting in a yard at a residence in the 700 block of Dent County Road 4210. The caller told the Sheriff’s Office that the vehicle was running and someone was inside it. A deputy traveled to area and during the course of the incident, a 47 year-old Salem man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance–methamphetamine, and the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and incarcerated. The next day, Friday November 27th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of South Main Street. During the course of the traffic stop, a 44 year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while being intoxicated. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If you have information regarding any ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.

An Ozark Christmas Celebration will take place at Alley Spring this Saturday from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. The historic Alley Mill, Storys Creek School and General Store will all be decorated in the holiday fashion. Alley Mill will be open during the event and will feature Christmas trees adorned with handmade ornaments created by the 4th grade classes from local schools. Take home the memory by creating your own unique traditional tree ornament. Bring the family and sip hot chocolate while listening to traditional Christmas music. Ole Saint Nick himself plans to stop by and join in the festivities. Alley Spring is located six miles west of Eminence on Highway 106. For more information about this event please contact Ranger Josh Chilton at 573-226-3945, visit the park’s Facebook page, or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the consent agenda was approved, Planning and Zoning Chairman Gary Brown discussed the Planning and Zoning Hearing and Meeting held on November 21st. Brown said there was no one that spoke in opposition of a meadery or was curious as to the meaning of it. He said Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge discussed what a meadery is with the commission. Brown said the commission did not have a quorum but the group discussed microbreweries, wineries and meaderies. He also said that Jared Brown handed out books on the International Coding System and Brown said all the members of the Planning and Zoning Commission will receive one to review. City Administrator Ray Walden said the results of the nuisance survey will be reviewed with the city attorney and any other group who would need to have input to start putting together ordinances for the alderman to review. He also said that in some cases there are relationships with ordinances and nuisances that will have to be considered before changes are made. Walden said a variance report was sent to the Department of Natural Resources from the Waste Water Treatment Plant and they will await the results to see where they stand with the improvements. Walden stated the Christmas Parade of Lights will be held Saturday at 5:30 and then new Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois presented her report to the board. Walden reported the original agreement approved earlier by the board was reviewed along with the new agreement reviewed by the new city Attorney Weber. After a few changes, the board approved Resolution 26-2019 to allow the mayor to execute a new contract and agreement with Riverways Federal Credit Union for consulting services. Part of the new agreement was the creation of a “Welcome Home Advisory Board.” That board will consist of Scott Schultz from Riverways, Ray Walden and Sally Burbridge with the city, Todd Kinerk with the Planning and Zoning Commission and Sherman Odom with the IDA Board. The board then went into closed session.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that young hunters ages 6 through 15 harvested 1,909 deer during Missouri’s late youth portion of the 2019 deer hunting season from November 29th through December 1st. Of the 1,909 deer harvested, 752 were antlered bucks, 200 were button bucks, and 957 were does. Top counties for the late youth portion were Osage with 63 deer checked, Lincoln with 45, and Callaway with 41. Last year’s harvest total for the late youth portion was 2,595 with 1,160 being antlered bucks, 338 button bucks, and 1,097 does. In Dent County, a total of 20 deer were harvested while there were 16 deer taken in Crawford County, 26 deer were harvested in Phelps County, 25 more deer were taken in Texas County and 19 deer were harvested in Reynolds County.

An accident occurred Monday night at 10:16 in Crawford County on Seven Cedars Road about six miles south of Steeleville. According to the highway patrol report, a 1998 Chevrolet Blazer driven by 34-year old William White of Steelville, was fleeing from a Crawford County Deputy and failed to negotiate a curve. The Blazer traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. White suffered serious injuries and was transported by Steelville Ambulance to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. A passenger in the Chevrolet, 36-year-old Chelsea Green of Steelville, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan by Iron County Ambulance. The report stated that neither White nor Green were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

An accident occurred Tuesday morning at 7:30 in Crawford County on Highway 8 west of Center Point Road. According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2008 Lincoln MKX suffered a malfunction causing the driver, 22-year-old Madyson Roper of Steelville, to loose control of the vehicle. The Lincoln traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Roper, along with a 2-year-old male juvenile, suffered minor injuries and were both transported by Steelville Ambulance to Phelps Health. The report stated that both Roper and the male juvenile were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Lincoln was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Toy Drive and the Salvation Army Angel Tree final signup will be held Thursday, December 5th from 3:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon at the Creative Arts Center behind the Ozark Natural and Cultural Center. Requirements are that children must be between the ages of newborn and 12 years of age, they must live with the parent/guardian who is signing the child up, and they must reside in Dent County. Parents need to bring proof that they meet these requirements. This can be a print out from Division of Family Services. If financial aid is not received, parents can bring a letter from the school the child attends stating that the child lives with that parent and the grade they are in. In addition, proof of residency can be presented in the form of a utility bill, a voter registration card or something similar. For more information, call 729-8163.