Archive for 2020

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5015, 5085, 6220 and 6230. He went on to say that maintenance work was being done on brush cutter #48 and that workers would be replacing road number signs that had been stolen. The stolen signs each year cost the county about $2,200 in materials not to mention additional labor needed to install the signs. Purcell said the theft of the road number signs creates a safety hazard for emergency vehicles to be able to find people in need of those services. If anyone sees someone taking a county road number sign, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241. Commissioner Gary Larson reported that a worker from District 1 and his district are repairing the Dura-Patch machine. He also said brush would be cut on county roads 2520 and 2530. Larson also indicated that materials would be added to several roads with muddy spots. Larson added that workers would be cleaning out pipes on Dent County Roads 4280, 4290 and 5300. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported on the Department of Natural Resources Historic Courthouse Preservation Grant meeting held at the Salem Community Center@The Armory on Tuesday. Skiles said right now there are no dollars available at this time. Skiles stated DNR is currently writing the rules for the grant. The program will be funded by legislative appropriations. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse. The meeting will be open to the public

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds Missouri resident and nonresident landowners who qualify to receive free or discounted deer and turkey hunting permits to register their properties in MDC’s new Landowner Permit Registry either online or by completing a paper application. Starting this year, resident landowners with 20 or more contiguous acres and nonresident landowners
with 75 or more contiguous acres qualify for landowner deer and turkey permits and must submit their property information to the MDC Landowner Registry to receive them. The new landowner registry will provide MDC and permit vendors with secure records of landowners and members of their households who qualify for the free and discounted permits, along with proof of land ownership and boundaries of the properties for which the free and discounted permits apply. According to MDC, the landowner registry is needed by both the Department and permit vendors to help eliminate misuse of landowner permits and privileges. Conservation agents around the state find several hundred violations each year related to the misuse of landowner permits and privileges. Learn more about the MDC Landowner Registry and apply online through the secure MDC webpage at mdc.mo.gov/landownerpermits. The page also provides answers to common questions. For a paper application and more information on the registry, go online, email permits@mdc.mo.gov, call MDC Permit Services at 573-522-0107 and select Option 1, or mail a request to: Missouri Department of Conservation, Permit Services – Landowner, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.

An accident happened in Dent County at 6:05 in the morning Thursday on Highway 32 about 15 miles west of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2003 Ford Focus driven eastbound by 39-year old Shadrach Ferguson of Raymondville, failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the right side of the roadway where the vehicle overturned. Ferguson suffered moderate injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Ferguson was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Focus was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem. The Missouri Highway Patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department.

Tonight will not only be the Town and Country Bank “Cat Classic” at the Salem High School gym for the basketball game between Salem and Licking, but Homecoming as well. This year’s attendants are freshman Cayleigh Moody, sophomore Jaden Flores, junior Jodi Gotchal, and the three senior quen candidates: Malia Terrill, Mallorie Dittman and Brooklin Shelton. Last year’s Homecoming Queen, Madi Keith, willcrown the new queen at the festivities. This year’s escorts will be Reese Dodson, Dawson Conway, Carter Chilton, Silas Wulff, Braiden Carmack and Luke Morrison.

A one vehicle accident involving a Salem resident occurred Wednesday morning at 8:40 in Phelps County on Highway 72 about six miles east of Rolla near Phelps County Road 4120. According to the report released from the highway patrol, a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am being driven by 22-year old Angel Spurgin of Salem, was westbound and began sliding on the ice covered roadway. The car traveled off the left side of the road striking a marker post as well as an embankment and a tree. Spurgin, who was not wearing a safety restraint, suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Pontiac was totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released reports for January 17th and 18th. On Friday, January 17th, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a 27-year-old Rolla man who stated he had active arrest warrants from Pulaski County. Deputies traveled to the 35000 block of Highway 72 and arrested the man on the warrant. He was taken to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was incarcerated. On Saturday, January 18th, deputies traveled to the 3200 block of Route P in an attempt to serve arrest warrants. During the course of the incident, a 23-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active arrest warrant through Dent County. Also arrested during the incident was a 28-year-old Salem man for an arrest warrant through Probation and Parole. Both subjects were transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where they were incarcerated. Please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 with information about any ongoing investigation.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is proposing a temporary closure on the taking, pursuing or releasing of all feral swine within the park. The temporary closure would support interagency efforts to eliminate feral swine in Missouri. The temporary closure would align Ozark National Scenic Riverways with its partners and neighbors in the statewide efforts to eliminate feral swine from Missouri. It is a crucial step in meeting the goals of the Missouri Feral Hog Elimination Partnership. This is a cooperative effort by a number of agencies and organizations within Missouri, including the U.S. Forest Service, Missouri Department of Conservation, the USDA Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service, and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The proposed closure would include an allowance for opportunistic take of feral swine by persons possessing a valid State deer or turkey hunting permit who are hunting deer or turkey in compliance with the permit. The proposal for temporary closure is available for public review and comment on the Planning, Environment and Public Comment website at parkplanning.nps.gov/ozar. The proposal will be open for comment now to February 11th.

The Meramec Regional Community Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2020 community grant round. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on January 31st 2020. The community grantmaking program for Meramec Regional Community Foundation is available for programs and organizations in Meramec’s eight-county region for Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington Counties. An estimated six grants of $250 each will be available to nonprofit, 501(c)3 organizations, schools, faith-based organizations and governmental entities looking for funds to address local needs through their project that will enhance the quality of life within the community. Nonprofit, 501(c)3 organizations, schools, faith-based organizations and governmental entities are eligible to apply for grants. Applications must be for First-time applicants should include a copy of their 501(c)3 status,.For questions please contact Maria Bancroft at 573.265.2993, ext. 114, or email mbancroft@meramecregion.org or Bonnie Prigge, 573.265.2993, ext. 103, or email bprigge@meramecregion.org. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is a regional public charitable foundation that holds more than 3,000 funds for donors, nonprofit partners and 49 affiliate foundations, including the Meramec Regional Community Foundation.

Come and weave an amazing love knot with straw for yourself or a loved one on Friday, February 7th at 6:30 at the Creative Arts Center. This is an introductory workshop to learn the age old traditional art that yields beautiful results. The cost is just $10.00 for regular love knots and only $5.00 for little hearts. The program is led by professional artist Suzanne Douglass and all the materials will be provided and you can take home your creation at the end of the night. Call or text 247-0279 to register for the program and arrange payment to hold your spot.