Archive for 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Grant Wilson from Representative Jason Smith’s Rolla office was in for a visit. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson spoke with Wilson about the Mark Twain National Forest Service blocking hunters from parking their campers along roads where they have been for many years, even decades. Wilson said he will pass the word on to Smith to get some clarification as to why this is happening. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said brush would be cut on county road 6230 while the exhaust on truck #125 would be worked on. He also said a flat tire would be changed on truck #123. Mobray said chip and seal work continues on Dent County Road 4110. Commissioner Larson indicated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2120 and 3310, while only grading was going to be done on county roads 2130, 2140, 3160 and 3300. Larson went on to report brush would be cut on county roads 2240 and 3210. He also stated the hoses on the Durapatch machine were going to be replaced due to being worn out. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles updated the commission on some of the ARPA Funds that had been distributed. He said of the $275,000 that had been committed to the Salem Memorial District Hospital, they have dispensed two payments of $50,825 and $188,100 on the new transformer project at the hospital which comes to $238,925. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported no-excuse and excused absentee voting continues in the courthouse until Monday, November 7th and anyone who wants to vote MUST bring in a photo ID. Her office will also be open for absentee voting from 8:00 in the morning until noon on Saturday, November 5th. Curley said people can also update their voter registration in her office BEFORE Tuesday, November 8th. At the last meeting, the county received the signed remonumentation agreement from the Department of Agriculture. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting will be open to the public.

The Dent County Fire Protection District board of directors will be meeting this evening at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the board is expected to review the minutes from the October meeting before hearing the financial report, approving bills, and reviewing the budget. After a review of the calendar will be the monthly reimbursement report. The board will the discuss and old or new business before Fire Chief Brad Nash makes his report to the board. The date will then be set for the December meeting before adjourning. The board may then vote to go into closed session. Other than the closed portion, if needed, the meeting will be open to the public.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that young hunters ages 6 through 15 harvested 13,759 deer during Missouri’s early youth portion of the 2022 deer hunting season, October 29th and 30th. Top counties were Franklin with 330 deer harvested, Osage with 310, and Howell with 260. Youth hunters harvested 15,608 during last year’s early youth portion. County totals in our area were 190 for Crawford, 154 for Dent, 165 in Phelps, 156 in Shannon, and 240 for Texas County. MDC’s Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said that Saturday’s conditions were fairly comfortable for our young deer hunters, although the rain we received in portions of the state on Sunday was much needed given the ongoing drought, it did put a bit of a damper on the latter half of the early youth portion. Missouri’s archery deer and turkey season continues through November 11th and resumes November 23rd through January 15th, 2023. The November portion of firearms deer season runs November 12th through 22nd followed by the late youth portion November 25th and 27th. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs December 3rd through 11th (in open counties) followed by the alternative methods portion December 24th through January 3rd, 2023. Read more information on deer hunting from MDC’s 2022 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where hunting permits are sold and online.

The Susan Mills-Gray Impact on Communities Health Award annually recognizes a University of Missouri Extension regional faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in leading policy, system and environmental change efforts to improve health for a community, county, or region. Susan Mills-Gray, a former state specialist in nutrition and health, established this award upon her retirement in 2021. The inaugural recipient of the award is Dent County Extension Community Development Specialist, Sarah Hultine Massengale. Massengale has been instrumental in the creation and development of the Council for a Healthy Dent County, a local 501c(3) non‐profit organization in Dent County. The non‐profit’s mission is to partner with the community to improve the health and quality of life for area residents. Massengale, as the Community Development Specialist for Dent County, has been a great partner and resource for the organization when in 2010 the community received a grant from the Healthy Lifestyle Initiative. Because of the work that had been done on this grant, local community leaders determined the need for the formation of the Council for a Healthy Dent County. Massengale for years was the lead for the formation of our local community garden where residents can grow their own food and attend local garden workshops. She also serves on the local Community Betterment Board and helps guide and educate the farmers at the local Farmers Market. Throughout her community development career with MU Extension, Massengale has consistently demonstrated her commitment to community health and food systems. Congratulations Sarah!

Everyone is welcome to come out to Salem’s First Annual Trunk or Treat tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 on Fourth Street between MacArthur and Highway 19. Local organizations and businesses will be handing out treats from their decorated cars and stalls. The street will only be for foot traffic so plan ahead for parking.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting on Thursday, October 13th. DCHC Administrator Zach Moser presented the communicable disease report which included 83 new COVID-19 cases for September. Moser reported the Communicable Disease report will be limited until the new CD Nurse is up to speed. In the diagnostics report, Moser said that 190 blood draw appointments were completed and the DCHC can conduct most tests at reduced cost for those without insurance. There were 92 COVID tests during the month. COVID tests are $10 for rapid antigen test, $35 for COVID/FLU combo test, and $50 for molecular C19 Test. Most people can qualify for free testing and no doctor’s orders are required. Moser said that 160 COVID-19 vaccines were administered, plus 53 Influenza vaccines and 179 other vaccines. There was a total of 640 appointments held during the month, plus 349 WIC appointments. Assistant Administrator Roma Jones gave the environmental report and said she conducted 14 inspections and fielded 13 environmental questions. In the Administrators report, Moser said that 238 children are enrolled in the childcare subsidy program. He reported on the DCHC’s involvement in Girls Night Out, the Health Expo and the October 6th flu and COVID vaccination drive through clinic. Jones noted that she and Joan Raulston would be attending the Annual WIC Conference the last week of October. In new business, Moser reported on a new grant from the State of Missouri for $132,336 for 21 months to augment the workforce response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To facilitate the grant, the board approved the creation of one full time medical assistant position and one part time scheduler/clerk position. Moser reported on the “Building Communities for Better Health” Grant which has not yet been awarded. The board approved advertising the position for the Grant contingent upon the DCHC receiving the funding. The board approved changes to the personnel manual to accurately reflect who can receive compensatory time and who is paid overtime. Moser presented a proposal with estimated costs to improve the breakroom with new cabinetry and appliances. The board felt the DCHC Staff was definitely deserving of the improvements and approved the proposal. Dent County Health Center expenses for August and September were approved. The next regular meeting of the DCHC Board was set for Thursday, November 17th.

An accident happened in Dent County at 12:05 Sunday afternoon on Highway 119 about two miles south of Highway 32. According to the highway patrol report, a 2004 Dodge 2500 driven northbound by a 16-year-old male juvenile from Licking, lost part of the load the truck was carrying in the roadway which was the struck by a 2014 Ford Explorer driven northbound by 36-year-old Marsha Osborne of Licking. At that time, a 2019 Dodge Journey driven northbound by 18-year-old Deszeray Warren of Licking, struck the Ford Explorer from behind. Suffering minor injuries in the accident who were occupants in the Dodge Journey were 19-year-old Kaleb Mashek, 20-year-old Kendra Sullins and 22-year-old Andrew Newdeck, all from Ellington. Mashek was taken by an ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital while Sullins was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by a private conveyance. Newdeck was transported by the Texas County Ambulance to the Texas County Memorial District Hospital. Mashek and Sullins were not wearing seat restraints while Newdeck was. The Dodge Journey sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Ford Explorer sustained moderate damage and was driven from the scene. The Dodge 2500 did not sustain any damage.

An accident occurred Saturday morning around 11:47 in Phelps County on Highway 63 at Phelps County Road 2000. According to the highway patrol report, a 2021 Ford Bronco driven by 56-year-old Dennis Cole of Davisville, was turning from County Road 2000 onto Highway 63 and failed to yield to a 2016 Ford F-350 driven by 63-year-old Rebecca Krueger of Kahoka. Cole and a 54-year-old passenger, Camella Cole of Davisville, both suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene. Both injured parties were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Bronco was totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing. The F-350 sustained extensive damage and was towed by Dishman’s Towing.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is asking everyone to help tackle the blood needs in their community by donating blood at the blood drive in Salem on Tuesday from 1:00 until 6:00 at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at 201 North MacArthur. Successful donors will receive a free Kansas City Chiefs T-shirt. Community Blood Center of the Ozarks donors provide all the blood for patients for the local hospitals. Donors can schedule an appointment at www.cbco.org/donate-blood or by calling 417-227-5006.