Archive for 2021

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released the following report. In April of 2021, a series of burglaries, automobile thefts and property damage occurred in and around Bunker, Missouri. The incidents that occurred in Dent County were investigated by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. On April 29th, suspect Austin Hill was arrested and charged with these offenses. As a result of the investigation, 13 victims were located and provided services from the Dent County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Advocate. On August 2nd, Hill pled guilty to the charges and a sentencing hearing was conducted on the same day. After previously consulting with the victims, Prosecutor Curley asked Circuit Judge Michael Randazzo to consider two options for sentencing. The first option was a 10-year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections to be served. The second option was a 14-year sentence in Department of Corrections under Section 559.115. Prosecutor Curley explained to the Judge at the sentencing hearing that a portion of the victims preferred a straight sentence, while other victims preferred a Section 559.115 sentence due to the age of the defendant and his lack of prior felony convictions. Hill requested to be continued on probation. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Randazzo sentenced Austin Hill to 14 years in the Department of Corrections under Section 559.115. In the event Hill is released from Prison under Section 559.115, he will be supervised by Missouri Probation and Parole, ordered to repay his restitution to each victim, and must comply with a litany of probation conditions.

Superintendent Holland from Oak Hill R-1 School has announced that Oak Hill R-1’s first day of school will now be Monday, August 30th. The change was due to the confusion on the amount of days staff needed to quarantine who tested positive and their primary contacts. Holland says there will be no open house.

An accident happened Friday evening, August 13th, at around 8:20. According to the report released by the Salem Police Department a 1993 GMC Sierra, owned and driven by Larry Robinson of Salem was making a left turn leaving Wells Liquor and Package store and pulled into the path of a 2008 Dodge Dakota being driven west by Isaac Westerman and owned by Joseph Westerman of Salem. After the accident the Dodge stalled in the center turn lane. The GMC continued west until the vehicle came to rest in the ditch line. An ambulance responded to the scene to check on Robinson who declined and further medical services. Westerman also declined medical treatment at the scene. Both vehicles had disabling damage with the GMC being towed by Whitakers Towing. The Dodge was towed from the scene by American Muffler and Towing.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. John McIntyre was in attendance and asked the commission about adding a small amount of new chip and seal roads each year and the answer by the commission was the prohibitive cost of maintenance of the roads. The county passed a sales tax a few years back to help pay to maintain the chip and seal roads as money was coming from General Revenue to cover those costs before the tax was passed. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported on the CART tax received in August and that came to $62,089.22 which was down $850.78 from last August, but year-to date, the CART funds are up $49,501.24. Williams also gave the sales tax report. In the month of August, the General Revenue Fund and the LEST fund came in at $91,784.55 and that was up $4,262.15 from last August, but year to date, those funds are down $236,139.95. The Road and Bridge Fund received $39,747.15 in August and that was down last August figure of $42,175.68. Year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is down $127,000.50. The Jail Operating and Trust Funds each received $79,486.42 in August and that is $4,865.23 less than the $84.351.65 received in August of 2020. The jail and operating trust funds are both down $253,737.65 year-to-date. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said that grading would be done Dent County Road 5600, while brush would be cut on county road 5080 and 5085. Mobray also said rock would be added to county road 5590. He also reported that a crew would be applying Ultimate Pavement Material on chip and seal roads and another crew would be replacing county roads. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading would be done on Dent County Road 4330 while brush would be cut on county roads 4050 and 4055. Larson said a limb was done on county road 2530 that was being removed. He also said crews would be servicing the old loader and grader #31. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he attended a Transportation Advisory Committee meeting Thursday and they reinforced the building of a new bridge on Route TT in Sligo as a top priority. Skiles also said the sidewalks on the east side of Highway 19 are on the list. Skiles said he would be attending three days of meetings at Echo Bluff with the County Commissioner Association to work on the annual training. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of July. She also said all the tax entities need to have their tax rates to the county clerk before September 1st. The commission also approved financing for a new sheriff department patrol car that costs $37,801. The winning bid for a three-year lease from the Bank of Salem at 2.49% with a $200 prep fee. Sarah Hultine Massengale was in to update the commission on upcoming extension programs. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.