Archive for 2020

Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley has issued a press release on the status of the State of Missouri vs Donald Nash. This case concerned the death of Judy Spencer on March 11th of 1982. An initial police investigation determined she had been strangled with her shoelace, then shot in the neck by a shotgun, postmortem. The case remained unsolved for 25 years when in 2007, investigators collected DNA samples from Donald Nash to compare with DNA evidence found on fingernail clippings taken from Spencer’s body before advancements in DNA in 1982. There was also a small amount of DNA evidence on the victim’s shoe. Following the DNA analysis and with much attention given to the DNA under the fingernails, Nash was charged with capital murder in 2008 by then Prosecutor Jessica Sparks. Sparks later withdrew from the case, and a trial was conducted in 2009 with the state being represented by the Attorney General’s Office and the Defendant by private counsel. As a result of the trial, the jury convicted the Defendant of murder. The conviction was originally affirmed by the Missouri Supreme Court, who later appointed a special master to hear evidence for habeas relief requested by the defendant. In June of this year, the Special Master heard evidence about the case and recommended the Supreme Court to vacate the conviction rendered by the jury in 2009 due in part to a change in DNA expert testimony. During those hearings, the DNA expert revised his opinion on the effect of the DNA other than to say it’s more than no effect. On July 3, 2020 the Missouri Supreme Court vacated the sentence and remanded the case back to the trial court due, in part, to this change in testimony. Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley inherited the case and with assistance from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office began reviewing the case and discovered the bulk of the physical evidence remained in the custody of the Missouri Highway Patrol. All evidence was resubmitted for DNA re-testing in anticipation of the upcoming trial. Additional DNA testing was performed by the State due to the advancements in DNA technology and to be thorough. The MSHP DNA expert reviewed their previous findings and trial testimony. The expert indicated due to an increase in testing standards now implemented by MSHP laboratory they could no longer testify, as they did in 2009, that it was Donald Nash’s DNA that was located under the victim’s fingernails. Most importantly, the DNA analysis was recently conducted on the shoestring used to strangle the victim. DNA was identified from two male contributors. Donald Nash was then excluded as a contributor to the male DNA located on the shoestring used to strangle the victim. As a result of the change in testimony from the DNA analyst and the existence of genetic material from two unknown males on the shoestring, the charges against Donald Nash have been dismissed by the state. This decision was made following consultation with the prosecutors in the Attorney General’s Office, who concur with Prosecutor Curley’s conclusions and have recommended this same course of action.

An accident happened in Texas County Thursday afternoon at 1:58 on Highway 63 just south of Licking. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 Dodge Caravan driven northbound by 58-year old Mickey Wilson of Licking, attempted to avoid an animal that came into the roadway. The Caravan was then struck from behind by a 2007 Dodge Durango driven northbound by 61-year old Jerry Hale of Edgar Springs. Hale suffered moderate injuries and was taken to the Texas County Memorial District Hospital in Houston by ambulance. Both Wilson and Hale were wearing seat restraints at the time iof the accident. The Dodge Caravan sustained moderate damages and was towed from the scene by Jay’s Automotive of Houston. The Dodge Durango had moderate damages but was driven from the scene.

The Missouri Department of Transportation maintenance crews will be making driving surface improvements next week along Interstate 44 in Crawford County. The concrete replacement will take place in the eastbound and westbound lanes between from the Phelps County line to the Franklin County line. One lane in each direction will be closed in work areas between 6:30 in the morning and 5:00 in the afternoon starting this Tuesday and running through Thursday, October 15th. MoDOT appreciates the patience of motorists traveling through the area. Drivers are advised to watch for workers on the road, avoid distractions and obey all traffic signs. This work is weather permitting and could be delayed. For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).

City of Salem Administrator Ray Walden wants to remind citizens that due to the customer service and security enhancements at the City Administrative Offices, the building is temporarily closed and the utility drive-thru is currently closed. Customers do have the option to drop utility payments off at the drop-box near the council chambers entrance door along 3rd Street, to mail payments to 400 N. Iron St., or to pay by phone at 729-4117. Utility staff will be available for in-person meetings today from 8:30 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon at the City Hall Council Chambers. Citizens can make an appointment or stop by on a first-come first-served basis. All phone numbers for departments located in the admin office building remain operational with staff working from other locations. The Administration building staff are expected to return work at the admin building by Monday, November 2nd. The remodeling project seeks to improve customer service and security. An open house is planned after the completion and the public’s patience during the project is appreciated.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wants to remind all drivers that a statewide media campaign will be held October 10th through the 18th with a speed limit enforcement running October 16th through the 18th. During this time law enforcement will be actively enforcing Missouri’s speed limit laws and reminding drivers of the increased risks associated with higher speeds. Despite the decrease in traffic during the national pandemic, speed related crashes are on the rise. To date there has been more than an 11% increase in traffic crash fatalities over this time last year. Crashes on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph and nearly five times as likely as a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below. In Missouri specifically, speed contributed to nearly 32% of the state’s 881 roadway fatalities in 2019 continuing an alarming trend related to speed over the last five years. The definition of speeding can be driving in excess of the posted speed limit, but also driving too fast for conditions that can also have dangerous consequences including providing drivers less time to react to adverse conditions, reducing a driver’s ability to negotiate curves or maneuver around obstacles in the roadway, extending the distance traveled before a vehicle can stop, increasing the distance a vehicle travels once the driver reacts to a hazard and the increase in the amount of force involved in a collision. Change your speed, change the ending. And, of course, always buckle up and put your phone down.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released reports of two additional cases that were heard in Crawford County Tuesday in front of Judge Megan Seay. Curley said Herman Helms of St. Joseph, Missouri pled guilty to two possessions of a controlled substance charges for methamphetamine. He was sentenced to six years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the state. In the other case, Anthony Justice of Salem pled guilty to burglary in the first degree for stealing merchandise from Wal-Mart after being formally trespassed. He also pled guilty to miscellaneous stealing and trespassing in a separate incident at Wal-Mart. Curley indicated the state sought seven years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 559.115. Probation and Parole recommended probation in this case. The defendant was granted probation over the state’s objection and Justice was placed in the Dent County Alternative Treatment Court. Justice was placed on five years supervision with a suspended imposition of sentence.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways will be conducting two managed deer hunts in October and November at Big Spring. To ensure public safety, portions of the Big Spring area will be temporarily closed October 16th through the 19th and November 6th through the 9th. These hunting opportunities are being extended to two special groups of the nation’s population, our youth and our military service members with permanent mobility impairments. The youth hunt will be held October 17th and 18th, and the Exceptional Warrior Mobility-Impaired managed hunt will be held November 7th and 8th. A total of 10 randomly selected hunters have been chosen for each hunt. Hunters for the youth hunt can harvest two antlerless deer with a center-fire rifle while hunters of the Exceptional Warrior Mobility-Impaired hunt can take two antlerless deer, or one antlerless and one antlered deer with a center-fire rifle. Because of the special hunt, portions of the Big Spring area will be temporarily closed to the public during both hunts. That includes Friday, October 16th, until the morning of Monday, October 19th; and Friday, November 6, until the morning of Monday, November 9. These closures help ensure public safety during these activities and include Peavine Road, the Big Spring Campground, the Peavine pavilion area, and all hiking trails within the Big Spring area. Big Spring and the boat ramp will remain open during the hunt and can be accessed from Hwy 103. All areas will reopen the Monday following each hunting event.

The Salem R-80 Administration has released a statement that this past Monday, October 5th, the Salem R-80 School District was notified that three high school staff members had tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). Students, their families, and other staff members who were in close contact with the three staff members were notified by the Dent County Health Department as it relates to possible quarantines. The Salem R-80 School District will continue to work closely with local health officials to monitor evolving circumstances and revise their plans as needed. They have placed a dashboard on the Salem R-80 website where you can view reporting information for the entire district. As a reminder, the 9th through 12th grade hybrid plan begins this Friday, October 9th. High school students will not attend school Friday.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday night at the fire station. At the meeting, the board reviewed the financial report that showed an ending balance of $146,281.67 as of September 30th. All bills were reviewed and approved, and as was the budget. After there was no old business to discuss, the board updated check signing cards for all the banks before setting the next meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board. That meeting will be Tuesday night, November 3rd at 6:00 at the fire station at #2 South Main Street in Salem. The meeting was adjourned.

An accident happened in Franklin County on Interstate 44 westbound at the 248 mile marker Tuesday night at 9:15. According to the highway patrol report, 28-year old Devon Cardin of Dixon, fell asleep causing a 2008 GMC Sierra driven westbound to travel off the left side of the roadway, strike the cable median barrier and then overturn. Suffering serious injuries was 26-year old Kailyn McCall of Rolla who was a passenger in the Sierra. She was taken to the Mercy Hospital in St. Louis by the Meramec Ambulance. McCall was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. Cardin was wearing his restraint and did not suffer any injuries. The Sierra was totaled and removed from the scene by Patriot Towing.

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 3:50 in Phelps County on Stoltz Road about one half of a mile north of the Rolla City Limits. According to the highway patrol report, a northbound 2002 Yamaha Vstar, operated by 41-year-old Cody Gumm of Rolla, drove into the backside of a northbound 2019 Ford Taurus, driven by 84-year-old Loyd Edgar of Edgar Springs. Cody Gumm suffered serious injuries and was transported by Phelps Air to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. The report stated that Gumm was not wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. It also stated that Loyd Edgar was wearing a safety restraint. The Yamaha sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing, while the Ford sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

A special waste collection for residential and farm electronics, appliances and tires is planned this Saturday from 9:00 to 1:00 at the St. Robert Community Center located at 114 J.H. Williamson Drive in St. Robert. The city of St. Robert and Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), with funding through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD), are offering this collection. The collection is open to residents from Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. To minimize personal contact, those bringing items to the collection are asked to stay inside their vehicles, and assistants will unload items. Stoves, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, and other appliances will be collected free of charge. Free electronics also include computer components, laptop computers, keyboards, hair dryers, VCR/DVD players, cell phones or anything that runs on a cord or battery. Oil and gas must be removed from tanks of any items such as push mowers, weed eaters, etc. Fees on certain items will be collected as follows: $25 for CRT TVs over 27 inches and wood console TVs, $20 for CRT TVs under 26 inches, $15 for flat screen TVs, $10 for all computer monitors and refrigerated appliances with Freon. Fees for tires are as follows: $2 each for passenger tires, $7.50 each for semi-truck tires and $35 each for tractor tires. Please ensure that rims have been removed from tires prior to collection. There is a list of items that may not be accepted. Contact Jill Hollowell at MRPC at 573-265-2993, Ext. 109 for more information on those items or e-mail her at jhollowell@meramecregion.org.

Are you still familiar with your voting rights to make sure that your vote counts on November 3rd? Right now, you can submit an application in person, by mail, e-mail or fax to the Dent County Clerk’s office to vote absentee which does require an excuse. You can also request in person or by mail to do a mail in voting. These application methods MUST be received by the Dent County Clerk no later than October 21st. You can also vote absentee in person from now until November 2nd at the Dent County Courthouse where you complete an absentee application, receive your ballot and cast it at that time. If you still have questions about absentee balloting, or mail-in voting, please call the dent County Clerk’s Office at 729-4144 or stop by the Dent County Courthouse.