Archive for 2019

The Dent County Sheriffs Department has released some report for January 1st through January 5th. On January 1st, deputies conducted a traffic stop near Highway 19 South and West Roosevelt Street. During the course of the traffic stop, an 18 year-old Ironton male was arrested for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. Later that same day, deputies responded to the 500 block of Dent County Road 5200 for a domestic disturbance. A short investigation was conducted. No arrests were made and both parties remained in the home. Then on January 2nd, deputies received a complaint of a stolen 4-wheeler from the 1000 block of Dent County Road 6460. The report is under investigation. The next day, January 3rd, deputies received a complaint of a theft of a firearm from a vehicle at the 300 block of Dent County Road 2060. That report is under investigation. And on January 5th deputies conducted a traffic stop at State Farm Insurance entrance on West Highway 32. During the course of the traffic stop a 31-year-old Salem man was arrested for possession of controlled substance 35 grams or less of marijuana/synthetic cannabinoid, the unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia – amphetamine or methamphetamine and unlawful use of weapon from subsection 11 that deals with possessing a weapon and felony-controlled substance. The male was taken to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and incarcerated. If you have any information about any ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for January 7th through 9th. On Monday afternoon, January 7th, at approximately 1:24 an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of North Henderson in reference to a theft of utilities. Investigation of the report revealed a 63 year-old male of Salem had tampered with the electric meter and was stealing electricity. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect who was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Then Tuesday morning, January 8th, at approximately 7:41 the School Resource Officer was contacted in reference to a fight that had occurred in a bathroom at the Salem High School. Investigation of the report revealed a 15 year-old male juvenile of Salem had assaulted a 14 year-old male also of Salem. Further investigation led to the detention of the juvenile suspect who was released to a parent. The report will be forwarded to the Juvenile Officer. Finally, Wednesday afternoon the 9th at approximately 2:42 an officer located a 23 year-old female of Salem in the 700 block of Thomas Avenue who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and released to the Dent County Sheriff’s Department where she was incarcerated pending a court appearance. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 573-729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold their regular meeting at 6:00 tomorrow evening, at the Salem District Administrative Offices
Boardroom. At the meeting, the board will hear from Superintendent John McColloch with a report on Board of Education Candidate filings, and a budget update. The Board will review and approve all previous minutes and bills, approve the attendance report, approve the Food Service report, approve the substitute list, and approve Program Evaluations for the A+ program, Federal Programs, and Parent Education. After the Principals’ Building Report the Board will hear resignations and then adjourn and move into an executive session. The regular monthly meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation, the Nature Conservancy and the University of Missouri Extension will be holding a public meeting to “Stop the Weed Invasion” TONIGHT at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. The meeting will be held from 6:00 until 8:00.
Attendees will receive basic information about problem weed plants, share the observations and concerns about the invasive plants, discuss ideas on how to work together to tackle invasive weeds and also will find out about cost-share programs that are available for private landowners that can help pay to try to eliminate these weed plants from their land. For more information, contact the Dent County Extension office at 729-3196 or the Nature Conservancy at 573-323-8790.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave the report on the sales tax money received by the county from the state this month. She stated the General Revenue Fund collection was $88,880.89 and that is just over $48.00 less than January of 2018. The LEST Fund ½ cent sales tax receipts mirrored the General Revenue Fund receipts in January. She reported the Road and Bridge Fund taxes received were $41,339.16 and that was $5,535.43 more than the January 2018 funds received. That is about a 15% increase. The two jail funds received a total of $183,730.57 and that is some $38,000 more than what was received last January, but the fund had just gone into effect in November. In the road report, both commissioners said crews were out Saturday morning working to clear some roads and treat slick spots. They said workers would be back out on the roads removing any downed limbs from the storm as well as treating any hills and curves that still may be slick. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he did not attend the MRPC meeting Thursday as planned, but understood that only Bennie Cook, who is Jason Smith’s representative, was in attendance representing federal legislators for the meeting. He said the big priority discussion is still about getting broadband into the underserved areas. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said work on the budget continues. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

TODAY is the last day to file for school board positions at all the schools, the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors, the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors, Dent County Health Department Board of Directors and for an East and West Wards Alderman for the City of Salem. Filing for school boards should be done at each school’s administrative offices and there is no cost to file. Filing for the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors needs to be done at the Hospital in the Administration Department and there is no charge to file. Sign ups for the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be held at the Dent County Firehouse and there is a $50 filing fee. Filing for the aldermanic seats for the city will be at the City Administrative Building at the 4th and Iron Street and there is a $25 filing fee. You must also be resident of the ward you wish to run in for at least one year prior to the election. To file for the Dent County Health Board of Directors, you will need to file at the Dent County Clerks Office and there is no filing fee. Please be sure to read the qualifications to file for each position. This may include a determined number of years of residency, proof of payment of all real estate and property taxes, and other requirements. Filing will be held during normal working hours. Contact the entity you may be interested in to get all the details.

An accident happened in Texas County on Highway 63 about a half mile south of Licking Friday morning at 3:30. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Chevy Uplander Van driven northbound by 29-year old Lance Burgdorf of Licking, struck a guard rail on the right side of the roadway that caused the van to cross the roadway and strike the left guard rail. The van then ran off the roadway, overturning multiple times before coming to rest down a ravine. Burgdorf suffered moderate injuries and transported by ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. He was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevy Uplander was totaled and left at the scene to be removed later.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports. Thursday morning, January 3rd at about 10:05, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown took a suit case and contents valued at $500.00 from the porch of a residence in the 200 block of West Hunt. The report is under investigation. Then Friday afternoon January 4th at approximately 4:12, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 23-year old female of Salem on an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and released to the Dent County Sheriff’s Department. Later that evening at approximately 6:49, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. That investigation led to the arrest of a 29-year old female of Licking for stealing merchandise valued at $330.30 as well as on an active arrest warrant from Texas County. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released to the Texas County Sheriff’s Department. On Saturday, January 5th at about 12:35 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to a business in the 600 block of North Highway 19 in reference to damage to a vehicle. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown did damage valued at $400.00 to a green 1996 Ford Explorer. The report is under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 573-729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation, the Nature Conservancy and the University of Missouri Extension will be holding a public meeting to “Stop the Weed Invasion” at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. The meeting will be held from 6:00 until 8:00. Attendees will receive basic information about problem weed plants, share the observations and concerns about the invasive plants, discuss ideas on how to work together to tackle invasive weeds and also will find out about cost-share programs that are available for private landowners that can help pay to try to eliminate these weed plants from their land. If you can’t make it Tuesday night to the public meeting, there will also be meetings in Alton at the School Multi-Purpose Building on January 22nd and one at the Ellington City Hall on January 29th. Those meeting will also be from 6;00 until 8:00 PM. For more information, contact the Dent County Extension office at 729-3196 or the Nature Conservancy at 573-323-8790.

An accident happened Thursday afternoon at 5:47 on Interstate 44 at the 185 mile marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Chevrolet driven by 90-year old Rondald Giesler of St. James entered the interstate traveling eastbound in the westbound lane and struck a 2009 Chevy Colorado going westbound driven by 44-year old Arieh Foster of Kirkwood causing a 2008 Chevy Equinox driven westbound by22-year old Zachary Beyer of Springfield to strike the Colorado from behind. Suffering moderate injuries was Geisler who was transported by EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. A passenger in the Colorado, 49-year old Michael Frisella from St. Louis, suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene. The Silverado and Colorado were totaled in the accident while the Equinox sustained moderate damages. The Silverado was towed from the scene by Big Boys Towing, the Colorado was removed from the scene by C&C Towing, and the Equinox was towed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing.