Archive for 2020

Dent County Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported on the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency meeting he attend on June 16th and said the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, better known as LIHEAP, has doubled their maximum benefit to $600 which can help low income Missourians to help survive the crisis of COVID-19. To qualify for the program, low income Missourians must be responsible for paying home cooling costs, have less than $3,000 in bank accounts, retirement funds or investments; have a household income of 135% of the federal poverty level which is about $2,400 a month for a family of three; and be a US Citizen or a person legally admitted for permanent residence. To apply for the LIHEAP program, households need to complete an application form and then mail or fax it to the office that services their community. To find out how to get the application and where you need to mail it, contact the office that serves your county. In Salem and Dent County, the number is (573) 729-3500; in Shannon County, the number is (573) 325-8271; and in Reynolds County, the number is (573) 663-2855. You can also call the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency number toll free at (800) 325-4633. Last year, LIHEAP provided assistance to 114,639 Missouri Households. Purcell also reported the agency also is eligible to receive $843,000 in CSBG COVID CARES Act funding through the Department of Health and Senior Services that will be able to be used through 2021. These funds could be used for homeless prevention such as for rent, mortgage, deposits or hotel and motel vouchers; for additional utility assistance such as for deposits, air conditioning units, water, and HVAC repair or replacement; plus health related services such as medical, dental, substance abuse, vision and mental health. These funds can also be used for educational assistance and family support. These CSBG funds have not yet been received, but to find out how to qualify when they do, please call the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency office at 1-800-325-4633 or 573-325-4255.

Troop I of the Missouri State Highway Patrol has changed the details of an accident from June 6th that occurred on Highway 72 at 11:35 in the evening about 1,000 feet west of Dent County Road 3175 that took the lives of 43-year old Greg Pugh of Salem and 46-year old Tabitha Copeland of Rolla. The original report indicated that Copeland’s 2006 Hyundai Sonata passed a witness vehicle at a high rate of speed causing the front of the Sonata to strike the back of a 2004 Buick Park Avenue driven by Pugh. The highway patrol changed the report to now state that the Sonata struck the Buick head on.

A one vehicle accident happened Tuesday night at 10:40 in Dent County off of County Road 912 about 2 miles north of Bunker. The report from the highway patrol states that a Polaris UTV being operated by 59-year old Michael Chapple of Troy, Kansas, overturned entrapping the driver. Chapple was taken by Air Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Springfield for treatment of serious injuries. The Polaris UTV sustained moderate damages. Chapple was not wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. The Polaris was secured at the site.

Motorists are advised to be on the lookout for chip seal work taking place on various routes in Dent and Phelps County this week. A contractor working for MoDOT will begin chip sealing on Highway 19 between Salem and Shannon County Route KK. Crews will also perform chip sealing operations on Route B in Dent County and Route M in Phelps County. MoDOT says chip sealing operations require one lane to be closed for the safety of motorists and crews. Signs and flaggers will guide motorists through the work zone. Motorists are asked to plan for delays, obey all traffic signs and watch for crews in work zones. Work has already been completed along Route 19 between Salem and Cherryville. This project is expected to be completed by October 1st. A chip seal operation entails spraying a heated film of asphalt liquid on the road, followed by placing fine rocks or chips on top. The chips are then compacted to make them adhere to the roadway. Finally, the excess loose chips are swept from the surface, leaving an improved roadway that will hold up longer than it would have without the treatment. Chip seals are about one-third the cost of a conventional asphalt overlay, averaging $15,000 per mile as compared to an estimated $55,000 per mile for an asphalt overlay. This work is weather permitting and could be delayed. For more information please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/modot-central-district.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce reminds everyone the Independence Day Parade will be held on Saturday, July 4th at 6:00 PM. The theme will be “An American Holiday” with George Flint as the grand marshal. The Chamber is NOT assigning lineup positions for this parade, so participants can line up on a first-come, first-serve basis for spots 12-120 as the Chamber will reserve spots #1 through 11 for the Salem Police Chief, Color Guard, Grand Marshal, VFW and Corporate Sponsors. The parade will follow the normal parade route but will be extended past the Courthouse to Pershing Street at the top of East 4th Street hill. For more information, call 729-6900 or stop by the new office at 1139 South Main St.

At the Dent County Commission meeting Monday, Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported she attended a Missouri Urban Board Conference. She said with Governor Mike Parson signing Senate Bill 631, some changes have been made on how people will vote in the August Primary and the General Election in November. Under current law, a person may vote absentee for candidates and ballot issues in any election in which he or she is eligible to vote if such voter expects to be prevented from going to the polls for six specified reasons. For the year 2020 only, this act permits a person to vote absentee if the voter has contracted or is in an at-risk category for contracting or transmitting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Any person casting an absentee ballot for this reason does not need to obtain notarization of his or her absentee ballot. The bill also allows any registered voter to vote by mail. Applications for a mail-in ballot may be made in person or by mail any time before July 22nd for the Primary election and October 21st for the General Election. Upon receipt of an application, the election authority shall, within three working days, deliver the ballot to the voter. Voters casting a mail-in ballot are required to execute and submit with the ballot a notarized statement under penalty of perjury. The voter will be responsible for the notary fee. Ballots must be returned by mail no later than the closing of polls on election day. Any ballot received after such time shall not be counted. Curley says absentee voting for the Primary is going on now for those who want to vote absentee in the courthouse. For those who want to mail their vote in, Curley recommends picking up an application in her office or sending her office a letter requesting a ballot sooner the better. Remember for the Primary, you will need to choose the party for who you would like to cast your vote. Those choices are Republican, Democrat, Conservation, Libertarian, Green or you can get a non-partisan ballot where you will only vote on issues. Curley also wants to remind people to update their voting information if they have moved or made a name change, and the last day to register to vote for the Primary will be July 8th. For more information, call the Dent County Clerk’s Office at 729-4144.

The Missouri State Parks invites the public to attend a “Learn2 Paddle” kayaking program this summer. This program is for those who want to experience kayaking but are not sure where to start and for those who want to get out on the water but don’t own a kayak. Missouri State Parks offers kayaking instruction on how to paddle and have a safe enjoyable time on the water. This summer, parks staff will offer two free two-hour kayaking instruction sessions in our area at Current River State Park on Highway 19 South. They will be July 10th from 1:00 until 3:00, and August 1st from 10:00 in the morning until noon, however, the July 10th program is already full. If you would like to attend the August class, you should register now. This program is a great opportunity to try something new and experience some of Missouri’s lakes. Missouri State Parks will provide kayaks, paddle and instructors. Participants supply the enthusiasm and eagerness to discover nature and a new skill. Those who elect to participate are encouraged to bring their own life jacket due to ongoing public health concerns; however, there will be life jackets provided for those who need to borrow one to participate. Visitors are strongly encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines, come prepared with hand sanitizer and bottled water, and please stay home if you are sick. Participants must be at least 10 years of age. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The classes are free, but registration is required. Visit mostateparks.com/learn2paddle to register. When on the registration website, participants will need to enter “Learn2” in the Search Text box. The classes currently open for registration from all the state parks will pop up. All slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has submitted the following reports. On Saturday, June 13th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 800 block of East Gibbs Street to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 33-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active arrest warrant through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and was incarcerated. Also on the 13th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 200 block of Dent County Road 4060 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 27-year old Salem man was arrested for active warrants through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The man was also arrested for possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail where he was fingerprinted and incarcerated. Also on the 13th, a deputy traveled to the Shawnee Mac Conservation Area for a report of a Jeep driving erratically. Deputies arrived at the location and during the course of the incident, an 18 year-old Salem man was arrested for littering, a 1st offense. Also arrested during the incident was a 17-year-old Salem man for possession of marijuana less than 10 grams. Both men were transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where they were fingerprinted, issued summons and released. Then on Sunday the 14th, deputies traveled to a residence in the 400 block of Dent County Road 3260 for a report of a vehicle in the back yard of a residence. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a 39-year-old Salem woman and a 53-year-old Salem man was the reported victims of harassment in the 1st degree and peace disturbance, a 1st offense. During the course of the incident, a 33-year-old Salem man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and was incarcerated. If you have any information on any ongoing investigation, please notify the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at (573) 729-3241.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading and material would be added and two crossover pipes would be replaced on Dent County Road 5390. He went on to report grading would be done on county roads 5015 and 5070, while brush would be cut on county roads 5015, 5070 and 6350. Purcell said the tourism committee last Monday approved nine reimbursements and two new proposals were accepted. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading would be done on Dent County Road 2210 while two men would be going to Springfield to retrieve the Mack Truck that was repaired. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported he was on a 90 minute conference call last Wednesday to find out information about the business grant program through the CARES Act, only to be told at the end of the call that the information he received was just an opinion and that the inspector general would have to make the determination if something is a legal deduction. Skiles did say that a meeting would be held this Wednesday at 1:00 at the Phelps County Courthouse with the MRPC to discuss the business grants for the CARES Act funds. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the CART funds received by the county in June and they were $40,323.24 and that is $16,725.40 less than the June of 2019 figure of $57,048.64. Year-to-date, the county CART taxes are down $23,262.85. Williams also brought in the DESE report that shows the breakdown of funds being sent to schools from fines and interest from July 1, 2019 to June, 2020. A total of $89,339.05 was distributed to seven schools with Salem R-80 receiving the most money from this fund as they received $41,302.51 in fines and another $320.56 in interest. Williams also brought in the budgeted transfer of funds from the Senior Citizens Fund to the Nutrition Center which is $14,000, and $6,750 to SMTS. The board opened three bids for a 2008 Crown Victoria vehicle from the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the highest bid received was from Schwartz Sales, LLC at $877.50. The board then approved the request from Sheriff Bob Wells to purchase two new 2020 Chevy Tahoes for the Sheriff’s Department at the state bid price as budgeted, as well as approving the sheriff to request local lease/purchase financing for the vehicles that will be opened at 10:00 Monday morning, June 29th. Skiles also said the commissioners received from the MRPC four requests from public entities to be reimbursed for direct COVID-19 expenses from the CARES Act funds with three requests from Green Forest R-2 and one request from Northwood R-4. The board then approved the bid for 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel from Phil-Mart at the cost of $1.39 a gallon. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday, June 29th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has submitted the following reports. On Friday, June 12th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at Highway 68 and Highway 19 North intersection. During the course of the traffic stop, a 21-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through Dent County. The man was taken to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. Also on the 12th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on County Road 6150. During the course of the traffic stop, a 29-year-old Salem woman was arrested for driving while having her license revoked or suspended, a 2nd or 3rd offense. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If you have any information on any ongoing investigation, please notify the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources, has announced an expanded reservation window for campgrounds, increasing from a six-month period to a 12-month period. At 7:00 in the morning Tuesday, June 30th, campers can reserve a campsite at Missouri State Parks one year prior to arrival date to better allow for planning for visitors and staff. Reservations are required at most campgrounds and park-run lodging prior to arrival, and can be made up until 7:00 the night of the day before arrival. Campers are encouraged to make reservations online at www.icampmo.com. Mike Sutherland, Missouri State Parks Director, said that the one-year camping reservation window will better allow large groups traveling together to book in advance. As of Tuesday, June 30th, all campers, such as the anglers who camp at the trout parks year after year, can begin making their reservations for the 2021 season. 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.

The Salem Police department has released several reports. During the evening of June 4th at around 10:00 an officer was contacted at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office about harassment. It was reported that the victim was receiving threatening messages from a 20-year-old Salem female. As a result of the investigation, the 20-year-old woman was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the application of warrants for harassment. Early Sunday morning the 7th, at 1:08 an officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Franklin Street for a report of a possible overdose. Upon arrival, contact was made with a 41-year-old Salem man that was not overdosing, however it was found that the man had an active warrant for his arrest out of the Dent County Sheriff’s Department. The male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Finally on Monday, June 8th at about 10:00 in the morning, an officer was dispatched to the car wash on Highway 32 west for a report of a suspicious male. During the investigation it was found the man was sleeping in his car. In plain view was a glass pipe that the officer recognized to be a methamphetamine pipe. Consent to search the vehicle was obtained and a baggie containing approximately .3 grams of Methamphetamine was located. As a result, the 21-year-old man from Salem was arrested and later released on a summons to appear in court. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.