Archive for 2021

Prosecutor Andrew Curley released the results of a number of cases that were heard in Dent County Monday in front of Judge Michael Randazzo. The first case heard involved Herbert Barton of Bunker who had his probation revoked. He was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections as requested by Prosecutor Curley. Barton had requested to stay on probation. The second case heard Monday was for Shane Murr of Salem. He pled guilty to the distribution of methamphetamine and in his sentencing hearing, the state asked for 10 years in the Department of Correction under Section 559.115. The defendant had served 120 days in jail at the time of sentencing. Murr was granted SIS probation for five years. Murr was ordered to complete the Dent County drug court due to his age and the lack of any prior felony criminal history. The next case heard in front of Judge Randazzo was a probation revocation hearing for Heather Stubblefield of Rolla. The state sought the execution of the sentence due to the defendant absconding from probation. Stubblefield requested to remain on probation, but Judge Randazzo ruled in the favor of the state and the defendant was sentenced to serve seven years in the Department of Corrections. In the next case, Judge Randazzo found Dannie Perkins of Salem guilty of the distribution of methamphetamine. Perkins was sentenced to serve 12 years in the Department of Corrections. The next case found Edward Durham of Salem pleading guilty to charges of burglarizing the property owned by Larry Gray after being held in jail pending his trial. He was sentenced to a period of ten years in the Department of Corrections as requested by Prosecutor Curley. In the last case of the day, Judge Randazzo sentenced Joshua Coffman of Salem to seven years in the Department of Corrections for two felony charges for the distribution of methamphetamine.

One teen was killed and two other Shannon County teens were injured in an accident Wednesday evening at 8:00. According to the report released by the highway patrol, a 2021 Polaris Ranger being operated by a 15-year old female on Shannon County Road 563 about eight miles east of Winona, started to skid and overturned ejecting the driver along with a 15 and 16-year old female passengers, all of Winona. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene by Shannon County Coroner, Sam Murphey at 9:00. Her body was transported to the Yarber Funeral Home in Winona. The other two teens suffered moderate injuries and were transported by Mercy ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Mountain View. The Polaris was removed from the scene by Sartin’s Towing. The report went on to state that none of the teens were wearing any safety devices.

Congratulations to three Salem art students who had their artwork accepted into the 2021 Young Artist Showcase at the St. Louis Artist Guild! There were only 121 pieces accepted out of over 500 from around the St. Louis and surrounding areas. It is an honor and privilege to be accepted into this prestigious art show. The students are Alyssa Russell for her White Charcoal titled “Lifted Up,” Kyra Oby for her Pencil Drawing titled, “What Am I?”, and Isabella Knaack and her Clay Sculpture titled “Sobek.”

Time is running out as USDA officials have indicated a March 31, 2021 application cutoff for producers that have an existing active CSP contract enrolled as a 2017 classic and/or the 2017 renewal contract. To be eligible for the renewal opportunity, the existing contract must expire in 2021. The CSP program helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resource concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance – the higher the performance, the higher the payment. Producers with an existing, active 2017 contract will receive a notification letter about the opportunity to apply for a renewal contract from NRCS. The letter will detail the CSP renewal application process. For more information about conservation planning and programs to help treat natural resource issues on your land, visit www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov or your USDA Service Center in Houston at 417-967-2028.

The Dent County Sheriff’s department has released several reports covering the period of March 12th through the 16th. On Friday the 12th, a deputy responded to a residence in the 2000 block of Dent County Road 3300 for a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered that a 28-year-old man was the reported victim. This report is still under investigation. The next day, a deputy responded to a call to a residence in the 20000 block of East Highway 32 for a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered that a 56-year-old woman was the reported victim. This report is also still under investigation. On Sunday the 14th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 5080. During the course of the stop, a 27-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Monday, March 15th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 3000 block of Highway 19 North. During the stop, 58-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license either revoked or suspended. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Finally on Tuesday, March 16th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 200 block of Route W for a report of a theft. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered that a 26-year-old man was the reported victim of a stolen mailbox. This report is still under investigation. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s office at (573) 729-3241 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The 2021 Art Across the Ages will end this Saturday at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center. The event is being held today, tomorrow and Saturday from 2:00 in the afternoon until 6:00 in the evening. The Art Across the Ages is an art exhibit where young, old, new and seasoned artists of every art style (painting, drawing, sculpture, clay, weaving, quilting, etc.) can come together and show off their art! For more information, please call ONCRC at (573) 729-0029. The ONCRC is located at 202 South Main Street.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday evening at 6:30 in Texas County on Concord Road 5 miles north of Licking. The report from the highway patrol states that a 1999 Toyota Corolla being driven west by 32-year-old Robert Melead of Salem failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. A 6-year-old passenger in the car suffered minor injuries in the accident. Neither the driver nor passenger were wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

There will be a special meeting of the City of Salem Board of Alderman in the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 N. Washington at 7:00 tonight. After the call to order and roll call, the board will immediately go into closed session to discuss personnel, the attorney-client privilege, and contracts and litigation. The meeting was called by aldermen Kevin James and Greg Parker.

The Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, April 6th, and it will determine the composition of two different school boards, an east and west alderman for the City of Salem, and an alderwoman for the City of Bunker. Bunker citizens will also vote on a ballot issue that if the number of candidates for a particular office is equal to the number of positions in the office to be filled, that the municipal election be foregone. The Salem R-80 School District has two available seats on the board and the candidates include incumbent Chris Heavin, Ronald Quick, Phillip Mercer and Steven Patterson. The Green Forest R-2 School District has two positions open on their board and there are three candidates vying for those open slots. They are Ashlee Cunningham, Michael Jones and Dee Moser. The City of Salem has a race for each ward. For the East Ward aldermanic position, running are Shawn Thomas Bolerjack, Jerry (Jay) Gibbs, Jr and Kala Sisco. Competing for the West Ward aldermanic position are incumbent Kevin James and former alderman Kenneth Nash. The two people running for the two-year aldermanic seat for the City of Bunker are Betty Wisdom and Sabrina Watson. Absentee voting is going on right now and the courthouse will be open Saturday from 8:00 until noon for you to vote absentee if you need to. For more information, contact the Dent County Clerk’s office at 729-4144.