Archive for 2019

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced her office has completed an audit of the Crawford County Collector and Property Tax System. The audit recommended increased oversight of the county’s property tax system and questioned spending by the former collector from the Tax Maintenance Fund. The Tax Maintenance Fund includes a portion of penalties collected on late taxes. Under state law, the fund is used for the administration and operation costs of the county collector’s office, but the audit detailed several concerning expenditures. Between 2014 and 2017, the former Crawford County Collector hired and paid her sister from the fund to prepare and mail annual tax statements, which led to nepotism allegations. The former collector then used Tax Maintenance Funds to pay for $1,000 in personal legal fees she accrued during a Missouri Ethics Commission inquiry. The Crawford County Collector resigned due to the nepotism concerns in March 2018. The report also recommended better oversight of the property tax system to ensure accounts are accurate and complete. Shortcomings identified were that neither the Crawford County Clerk nor the Crawford County Commission adequately reviews the financial activities of the County Collector, the County Clerk does not prepare or verify the accuracy of the current or delinquent tax books, the Crawford County Clerk and the Crawford County Commission do not adequately review changes entered into the County Collector’s property tax system causing discrepancies with additions and abatements, the county has not adequately restricted access to the property tax system and the Crawford County Collector does not account for the numerical sequence of receipt slip numbers assigned by the property tax system. Several of the findings related to improving financial processes were previously identified in past audits of the county. Missouri law requires an audit be performed when a vacancy occurs in a county collector office. The complete audit received an overall rating of fair.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors meeting took place Tuesday night at 6:00 at the fire station. After approval of the consent agenda, the financial report was reviewed with bills being reviewed and approved and checks signed. The budget was reviewed and showed a fund balance of $227,634.69 as of February 28th. During the calendar review it was noted that the Road Rally will be held at the fire department on March 14th, 15th, and 16th. The monthly reimbursement report showed a total of 19 calls for the month of February, including four structure fires, a flue fire, one car fire, and six first responder calls. The department also worked three vehicle accidents, along with a mutual aid call, a HazMat call and two training calls. The total calls thus far in 2019 stands at 55 with the average cost per call being $115.59. In old business, Engine 83 will have to be returned for repair as the fuel gauge and the transmission are not working correctly. No new business was presented. Fire chief Brad Nash reported that the roof is leaking worse in some different areas than before. The roof is the first scheduled repair on the USDA grant but there still has been no word on when the work will be done. Chief Nash also talked to the board about ID cards for the department. He stated that different departments were requiring ID cards and that also the cards could be used instead of keys for the department entrance which would log personnel in. After some discussion on the issue, the board asked Chief Nash to get more information and pricing. The next meeting of the board was set for April 2nd at 6 p.m. at the firehouse located at #2 South Main. The meeting was then adjourned.

University of Missouri Extension will be offering a Private Pesticide Applicator Training in Dent County tomorrow night in Salem. The training session will start at 6:00 in the evening and last about two and a half hours. Participants are urged to bring their Private Pesticide Applicator Manual to the meeting which will be held at the Dent County Judicial Building located at 112 East 5th Street. For those not having a manual, they will be available for purchase at the meeting for $12.00. To register for the training or for more information, call 573-729-3196.

As winter winds down, you can enjoy an evening under the Moon and stars at the Sky Watch presented by the Bonebrake Center of Nature
and History on Wednesday night, March 13th, at 7:30. You can see close up views of craters and mountains on the Moon using the telescopes of the Dent County Astronomers. Young visitors will get a chance to use the Bonebrake’s “hand’s on” telescopes. All ages are welcome to come, and there will be some special memorabilia for youngsters. To enjoy the night sky, we need clear sky and safe footing. The weather will be monitored as the event approaches, so be sure to check for cancellation due to unusable or unsafe conditions on the Facebook page for the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History or the Dent County Astronomers or call 247-0279.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that patch grading would be done and materials added to Dent County Roads 5380, 4080, and 4090. He also reported that he had a man shoveling open the culverts on those roads. Purcell went on to say that patch grading and culvert cleaning would also been done at various other locations. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that patch grading would be done and materials would be added on Dent County Roads 3100, 5320, and 2380, plus materials would be added on county road 2150 if time permits. Larson went on to say that this winter had been the muddiest winter since he has been a Dent County Commissioner and he sincerely asks the County residents to be patient. The condition of the roads is not being ignored by the Commissioners. Larson said once we get sunshine and winds to thaw and dry the road beds, the public will see the road conditions start to improve but it will take time to get to all the roads. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment and that she balanced with the County Treasurer on all accounts for the month of February. She went on to say that she also balanced with the County Collector and the County Assessor on all monthly collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of February. Curley noted that absentee voting continues for the April 2nd Municipal Election and that she will be conducting the public testing of the voting equipment Tuesday, March 19th, at 9:00 in her office. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

In Crawford County on Tuesday, March 5th, Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley attended a sentencing hearing with Judge Kelly Parker in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court. He reported that Shelly Kelly of Salem entered a plea of guilty to a class B felony of Voluntary Manslaughter for the death of Glenn Haenisch in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court. This Class B felony carried a range of punishment of not less than 5 years and not to exceed 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The decedent’s daughter testified at the sentencing hearing. Kelly also testified at the hearing and indicated she was remorseful for her actions resulting in the death of Mr. Haenisch, who was her boyfriend at the time. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing Judge Kelly Parker sentenced the defendant to 13 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as recommended by the state. Approximately 20 depositions were conducted in Missouri and Arkansas over the course of two years and the evidence established the victim and defendant were involved in a verbal argument earlier in the evening. The verbal argument escalated throughout the evening and became physical. During the physical altercation the defendant brandished a kitchen knife and stabbed the victim in the leg. Two of the leg wounds were fatal as they cut major arteries, resulting in the death of the defendant.

Also on Tuesday, March 5th in Crawford County, Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley reported that Bradley Heath of Salem was being sentenced for being in possession of a controlled substance and for receiving stolen property. The State sought seven years in the Department of Corrections due to defendant having five prior felony findings of guilt. The counsel for the defendant sought a 120 day treatment program under Section 559.115. Heath was sentenced to seven years under Section 217.362 which includes an intensive long-term treatment program for serious substance abuse addictions. Also being sentenced was Charles Martin of Salem who pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child. The State sought ten years in the Department of Corrections under section 559.115 due to a child being present at the time of the offense and testing positive for THC and Meth. The defense counsel sought probation. Judge Parker deferred sentencing until April 16th to see if Martin qualifies for drug court.

The Salem Area Community Betterment Association will hold their Trivia Night tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory and you still have time to get your team signed up! Teams may consist up to eight players and the fee is $100.00 per team. There will be ten questions in ten categories. Those participating are welcome to bring dinner for their team and drinks and popcorn will be available for purchase. There will be prizes for the top three teams, the team with the cleverest name, and first place will receive a cash prize of $200.00 and a trophy. For information call 729-8163 or email judy@salemcommunitycenter.org.

The Salem Public Library will be closed on Saturday, March 9th. The library catalog will be inaccessible from 8:30 tonight until 6:00 Monday morning, March 11th. The closure is due to Missouri Evergreen upgrades to a database.