Archive for 2021

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the sales tax monies received by the county this month. She reported the General Revenue and LEST Funds each received $19,369.22 which is down $53,351.02 from 2020 and year-to-date, each of those funds is down $303,460.98. She said the Road and Bridge Sales Tax Fund received $7,456.24 and that is down $26,800.01 from October of 2020. Year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is down $160,898.21. These three funds were greatly impacted by a Department of Revenue reduction of $197,296 without notice due to sales taxes from 2017 that were improperly credited to Dent County. Dent County Commissioner Skiles contacted Travis Elliott, the attorney handling the case for the county, and he contacted the attorney for the Department of Revenue who stated those funds should never have been deducted from the money received by the county in October. He said those funds should be credited back to the county in November and no further reductions are to be made until after there is a hearing on January 19th to determine how the money that is owed is to be paid back to the Missouri Department of Revenue. The Jail Operating and Trust Funds were not as greatly impacted as they had just been implemented. Each of those funds received $50,331.29 and that is down $18,133.36 from last October’s receipt of $64,464.65. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5170, while grading will also be done on county roads 5460 and 6220. He also said a man went to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair this week. Travis Turner for District 2 stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2340 while only grading would be done on county roads 2200 and 3120. He said brush would be cut on county road 2070 and rock would be added to county road 3235. Commissioner Skiles said there was a meeting with Aptitude Internet Friday at the Salem Community Center@The Armory to find out what their plans are for expanding Internet services in Dent County and most of their plans are to provide the services through elevated lines on poles. Skiles said he attended the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board meeting last Tuesday at the MRPC and said they grant requests of $290,900 and this year had $272,796 to award. Skiles said he was happy to announce the Scenic Rivers Industries were able to receive their entire grant request of $47,249. These awards must still be approved by DNR before the funds can be dispensed. Commissioner Skiles said he and Commissioner Mobray attended the South Central County Commissioners meeting in Houston on Friday and the hot topic was Senate Bill 53. Skiles was then to attend a meeting Wednesday in Jefferson City and the MRPC Annual Awards Banquet in Linn, Missouri. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the collector and appraiser on all add-ons, abatements and collections for the month of September, plus she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for September. Curley reported that she attended a Health Consortium Board meeting where it was revealed the county would be receiving a 1.7% increase in employees monthly insurance rates from $633 per month to $643.76 per month. The county approved continuing the county employee deductible program as in the past. Curley said Phil-Mart won the bid for 7,000 gallons of diesel at $2.66 per gallon. Curley also said she was working on the 2022 budget. Commissioner Skiles discussed with Commissioner Mobray the renewing of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program agreement through the St. Louis County Health Department. This program is administered through the Dent County Health Department. It was approved by the commission. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday, October 25th and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their October meeting tonight at 6:00 in the hospital library. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations and statistics for the month of September, followed by the Chief of Nursing Report with Ashley Sullins. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards will give the hospital foundation report and the marketing and community perception report. In old business, Lucas will give the board an update on Covid-19, the hospital expansion and renovation, as well as the Cerner conversion. New business will include the annual review of the Governing Board Bylaws and also a review of any purchases made or that need to be made since the last meeting. The board may vote to go into closed session. The SMDH Board meeting is open to the public.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley released a number of reports from cases heard in Dent County in front of Judge Michael Randazzo on Friday, October 15th. The first case heard was Megan Heath-Fisk of Salem who was on probation for the distribution of a controlled substance after completing a Section 559.115 program. At the probation hearing, Heath-Fisk admitted to failing to report and the use of a controlled substance. Prosecutor Curley asked the judge to execute the remainder of her sentence and the defendant asked to be placed in the drug court and continue to be on probation. Judge Randazzo granted continued probation with the drug court over the objection of the state. Also on Friday, Christine Erma Baker of Salem pled guilty to a DWI, a third offense, which is a Class E Felony. Baker was sentenced to four years under the Section 559.115 in the Institutional Treatment Center for a 120-day shock treatment as requested by the prosecutor. Also heard Friday in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court was Mersadie Mansfield of Salem who pled guilty to the distribution of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, and the possession of a controlled substance in a jail. Curley requested the defendant serve 12 years in the Department of Corrections as the drug treatment program. This sentence was defendant had been released on parole at the time of her new offenses. Mansfield requested to be sent to drug court. Judge Randazzo sentenced the defendant to 10-years in the Department of Corrections under the long-term over the objection of the state that requested her full sentences be executed without retaining jurisdiction under Section 217.362.

An accident happened in Dent County Sunday afternoon at 5:20 on Highway 32 east about a mile from Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2014 Ford Taurus driven westbound by 86-year-old Carmon Williams of Salem, pulled out of a private drive into the path of a 2011 Ford Focus driven eastbound by 25-year-old Levi Price of Annapolis. Williams suffered minor injuries and was transported by EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Everyone involved was wearing their seat restraints. Both vehicles sustained extensive damages and were removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem.

An accident happened early Friday morning at 5:45 in Maries County on Highway 63 just south of Maries County Road 2009. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2008 Pontiac G5 being driven by 38-year-old Andrea Freeland of Rolla, was northbound when she traveled off the roadway and overturned. Freeland was taken by Maries Osage Ambulance District to Phelps Health Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The Pontiac was totaled and removed from the scene by Plaza Towing. The report went on to state that Freeland was wearing a safety restraint.

In closed session Tuesday night at the City Hall Council Chambers, the Salem Board of Aldermen voted to approve the purchase of texting services from DoCircle doing business as Trumpia for $6,000. Closed session was then adjourned where the board went back into open n session and adjourned the meeting.

Chairman Shawn Bolerjack has called a meeting of the City of Salem’s Utility Committee for Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@the Armory located at 1200 West Rolla Road. On the agenda will be an update on utility billing along with a financial update. The committee will also review the 1% electric discount, the fee waiver policy, and discuss the audit of the utility billing and the meter project update. Also planned for discussion is the utility billing software, utility bill layout, and the Exceleron pre-paid project update before adjourning. The meeting is open to the public.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley released the results of a case heard in front of Judge Megan Seay where Dennis Loughridge of Salem pled guilty to 13 charges against him. Those charges were for forgery, the distribution of Methamphetamine, receiving stolen property, two charges of driving while having his license revoked or suspended, two charges of possession of a controlled substance except for 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, non-support with total arrears in excess of 12 months payments due under order of support, two felony charges for resisting or interfering with an arrest, burglary in the second degree, the unlawful possession of a firearm, and a charge of stealing a firearm, explosive weapon or ammonium nitrate. The case was heard on October 8th and Loughridge was sentenced to serve a total of 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

An accident occurred Wednesday evening at 5:00 in Crawford County on Route CC and Oak Hill Road. According to the highway patrol report a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire driven by 20-year-old Katelyn Michel of Salem was traveling northbound and entered a curve. She was travelling too fast for conditions and travelled off the left side of the roadway and struck a fence. Michel suffered minor injuries and was transported to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan by North Crawford Ambulance. Michel was wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. The Sunfire sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Chris and Sons Towing.

An accident happened Wednesday evening around 6:45 in Reynolds County on Route J at County Road 832, about a mile east of Oates. The highway patrol reports that a 2020 Kawasaki KRX1000 being operated by 56-year-old Paul Blackman of Black, was traveling westbound when he traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned multiple times. Blackman suffered moderate injuries and was taken by a highway patrol vehicle to Iron County Hospital. A passenger on the Kawasaki, 62-year-old Dena Tompkins of Black, suffered moderate injuries and was also transported to Iron County Hospital by ambulance. The Kawasaki was totaled and removed from the scene by a private party. The report stated that Blackman and Tompkins were both wearing safety devices at the time of the accident.

A “Happy Fall Y’all” paint party will be held tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Creative Arts Center behind the ONCRC Danielle Norris will walk you through a fall painting to bring in a new season. Then on Saturday night, a “Kitchen Witch” Wheat Weaving class will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Creative Arts Center. Suzanne Douglas will teach the art of wheat weaving and the “Kitchen Witch” is a traditional Celtic design. The cost is $25 per person which includes all your supplies. You can register at the ONCRC, by calling 247-0651 or 247-5306.

If you a person born after January 1st, 1967, and you want to hunt with a firearm alone, you must take the Missouri–approved course to complete your online hunter safety education. Hunter-ed.com is a delegated provider for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Get hunter certified in 3 steps: Study and pass the $19.95 online course, finish any other requirements and get ready to go hunting! You must be at least 10 years old to take the online course. Students who are 10 years of age may complete this course, but they must be 11 years old to take the Hunter Education Skills Session. After this course is complete and if you are 11 to 15 years of age when you REGISTERED for this course, you must pass this online course and attend the Hunter Education Skills Session to complete your hunting safety certification. In our area, seats are limited at the Bunker High School for their October 28th class from 5:00 until 9:00. There are also seats available at the Houston course this Saturday from 8:00 in the morning until noon at the Faith Fellowship Church. For more info, go to mdc.mo.gov.