Archive for 2020

The Dent County Fire Protection District board of directors met Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. The meeting opened with Liz Gruendel, representing the American Volunteers, presenting the Dent County Fire District with the Armor of God coin #72. This coin represents the work and community service the district performed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The coin is 1 of only 6 given out in Dent county and only 100 for the state. After approval of the consent agenda, the minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and approved as presented. During the financial report, bills were reviewed and approved. The budget showed an ending balance as of June 30th of $228,763.66. After the board reviewed the calendar, the monthly reimbursement report showed a total of 24 calls for the month of June including three structure fires, two brush fires and a car fire. The department also responded to nine vehicle accidents, had two mutual aid calls, two training calls and a call listed as other. This brings the calls year to date to 129 with the average cost per call being $127.28. In old business, Chief Brad Nash updated the board on the building process and stated that currently there are several small items that need to be addressed but they are at a standstill due to the current situation and there is no time frame scheduled at this time. Final payment is on hold until completion. In new business, Chief Nash reported that the NFPA has begun placing expiration dates on all fire fighter equipment. This decision has made some equipment outdated or it will soon be. Chief Nash asked the board to approve $6,298.03 for new helmets for the district. This would start the update of equipment and later other gear would be replaced on a rotational basis so as to not have it all come due to be replaced at the same time. A motion was made and approved to replace the helmets. The date for the next meeting was set for August 4th at the 6:00 at the fire station before the meeting adjourned.

The Salem Police Department has released a number of reports for the last week of June. On Wednesday, June 24th near 5:00 in the afternoon, officers responded to the 200 block of West Second Street for a well being check. Once at the residence, officers made contact with a 22-year-old Salem female who had an active arrest warrant out of Maries County. The female was arrested and released on her own recognizance. On Thursday, June 25th near 8:00 in the evening, officers responded to the 100 block of South Carty Street in an attempt to locate a male subject with a felony warrant out of Phelps County. Contact was made with the 32-year-old Salem male where he was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail to await extradition or to post bond. On Friday, June 26th just after 2:00 in the afternoon, officers were dispatched to the 800 block of South Hickory Street for a report of a fight in progress. As a result of the investigation, it was reported that there was an altercation and one of the parties was very intoxicated. A 40-year-old Salem male was arrested for disorderly conduct as a result of the incident. He was transported to the Dent County Jail and placed on a 12-hour safe keep due to his intoxication. On Sunday night, June 28th at about 10:30, officers were patrolling the industrial park when they drove up on a vehicle parked with its lights off. Contact was made with the occupants of the vehicle and when they rolled the windows down smoke emitted from the vehicle and the officer observed the odor of marijuana. A search of the vehicle was conducted and located in the care was a jar containing marijuana. A 19-year-old Salem male admitted to possessing the marijuana and was placed under arrest and later released on summons. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Missouri State Parks has instituted a number of changes related to campground operations to better facilitate appropriate social distancing and improve the safety of operations for Missouri State Parks’ guests and staff. The additional measures include requiring reservations prior to arrival, limiting campground occupancy at some parks and sites, increasing the frequency of cleaning shower houses and restrooms, offering campers a new contactless, self-check-in feature, restricting occupancy in shower houses and restrooms, and only accepting credit and debit cards. One of the changes visitors will experience is a new contactless, self-check-in feature. On the morning of their planned arrival to a state park or historic site, campers will receive an email with instructions on how to access their reservation online and check in. Alternatively upon arrival, campers can check in by opening the camera on their smartphone device and hovering over the QR code posted at the campsite, and following the prompt. Come prepared to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Visitors are strongly encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines, bring hand sanitizer and bottled water, and please stay home if you are sick. Missouri State Parks recommends reviewing signage posted throughout the parks and state historic sites, and diligently following guidelines for the health and safety of others. Visit mostateparks.com to find a park close to home and to check for individual park advisories before heading to the park. If you have questions regarding Missouri State Parks, please contact us at moparks@dnr.mo.gov. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital and the Columbia Vet Center are teaming up to provide mobile COVID-19 screening and testing services for Veterans next week in Rolla. Health administrators will be on-site to facilitate rapid enrollment for those who qualify. Mobile testing in our area will be at the Rolla Lions Club from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon on Tuesday, July 14th, at 1601 S. Bishop Avenue, Rolla. The purpose of providing on-site, mobile services is to ensure that area Veterans have access to COVID-19 screening and testing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Monday at the City Hall Council chambers. The board approved the budgeted purchase of two new Dodge Durangos for the Police Department at a total of $64,738 from Behlman Dodge in Troy on the state bid. City Administrator Ray Walden said all the city utility bills for May have been mailed and please contact the utility department if you have not received your bill or have questions. Their number is 729-4117. The Aldermen stressed their frustration with the billing process and especially with the lack of enough staff to help answer the phone calls and respond to customers in a timely manner. They asked that other city department staff be brought in to help. Walden said he will put every person who is available to help address the problem. The board approved Bill No. 3453 amending the 2020 Fiscal Year budget. The increase in the budget of the Special Street Fund is due to the increase in cost to repair roads to $409,986 from $294,500 in the Fiscal year 2019-2020. This bill also increased the revenue in the fund from the previous year’s reserve to balance the budget. The board postponed discussion on the Hangar Rental Fees until the next meeting when they have more information. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of May. They issued 17 equipment repair orders, 13 summonses to appear in court, 32 warning tickets, and 26 traffic tickets, plus they also served 2 fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated 9 traffic accidents, wrote 2 property damage reports, 10 stealing reports, and had 1 death investigation. The department investigated 5 driving while having a driver’s license being revoked or suspended, 3 possessions of a controlled substance reports along with 5 drug paraphernalia reports, 11 domestic violence reports, and investigated 4 lost or stolen license plates along with 2 intoxicated pedestrians. The department was also dispatched for 42 animal calls, 26 ambulance assist calls, and performed 90 traffic stops for the month. The Department also conducted 67 follow-up investigations, and conducted 17 well being checks. The Salem Police Department received 657 calls for service during the month of May and had 64 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 9,010 miles during the month of May. There were 11 males and 8 females arrested during the month. The Police Department also served 4 hours during the month as court bailiff in May.

The Dent County Sheriff’s department has released some reports. On Saturday, June 20th, a deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop with an ATV on Dent County Road 3260. The ATV failed to yield and the deputy began to pursue the vehicle. As the vehicle approached Dent County Road 3250, the ATV slowed down and stopped on the side of the road. During the course of the incident, a 40-year-old Salem man was arrested for resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony, possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid; and for exceeding the posted speed limit which he exceeded by 26 miles per hour or more. The man was also charged prior drug offenses for the possession of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid of 10 grams or less and the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail where he was incarcerated. on Friday, June 26th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at West Franklin Street and South Missouri. During the course of the traffic stop, an 18-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while being intoxicated – zero tolerance. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released to a family member. If anyone has any information about any investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway released her office’s regularly-scheduled audit of Phelps County, which gave the county a rating of “fair.” The concerns discussed in the report included the inadequate oversight of the county collector’s financial activities, poor bank reconciliation practices of the prosecuting attorney’s office, unsupported transfers to the general revenue fund, and bonuses paid to Phelps County Board for the Developmentally Disabled employees. The audit found the county commission and the county clerk did not adequately verify the accuracy and completeness of the collector’s annual settlements. The lack of adequate verification can mean an increased risk of loss, theft, or misuse of property tax monies going undetected, and less assurance the annual settlements are complete and accurate. The audit also reported the prosecuting attorney’s office does not prepare adequate and timely bank reconciliations and does not maintain an adequate list of liabilities. In addition, the county commission did not maintain documentation to support the annual transfer from the county’s unemployment fund to the general revenue fund and had not established a comprehensive personnel policy. The county clerk and the county commission also did not ensure county commission meeting minutes were prepared and approved timely. The audit also found the Phelps County Board for the Developmentally Disabled improperly paid bonuses to employees in 2018 and 2020. Bonuses are not allowed by the Missouri Constitution. For the entire report, check out the state auditor’s website at https://app.auditor.mo.gov/