Archive for 2022

An accident happened Monday morning at 11:40 in Oregon County on Route J about 25 miles east of Alton that left two Salem people with injuries. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic ridden southbound by 76-year-old Steve Larimore of Salem, ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned, ejecting the driver and his passenger, 60-year-old Linda Larimore, from the vehicle. Steve Larimore suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Poplar Bluff regional Medical Center. Linda Larimore suffered minor injuries and sought her own treatment. The Larimores were wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. The Harley Davidson sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by a private party.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse where Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported sales tax revenues for the county were up in all the funds. For the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund, the county received this month $111,288.93 and that is $12,272.08 more than in 2021. Year-to-date, those funds are up $318,652.34. In the County Road and Bridge Fund, sales tax revenues received were $52,813.03 and that is up from the $47,551.25 figure from 2021, and year to date, that fund is up $159,825.50. The jail trust and operating funds both received $105,592.52 in September and that is $10,484.59 more than received in 2021. Year-to-date, the jail funds are up $318,320.21. Again, the large year-to-date increases are due to the sales tax issue with the Department of Revenue where the county virtually received no sales tax monies for nearly three months in 2021. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5650 and 6470, while brush was going to be cut on county roads 4210 and 4215. He also said a man would be going to Springfield for a load of oil for the chip and seal repair. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3270, 3273 and 3275. He said only grading would be done on county roads 2380, 4283, 4285 and 4287. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be in St. James at the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management Executive Board meetings to review and score the grant applications for the recycling projects today. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported excused absentee voting begins September 27thand the last day to register for the November election will be October 12th. She also reported she balanced with the Dent County Assessor and Collector on all collections, abatements, and add-ons for the month of August. At the last meeting, Dent County Collector Shannon Vankirk gave her tourism and monthly turnover report, and the commissioners discussed the Secure School Act and voted unanimously to set aside 20% of the funds to the Title III fund with 80% of the funds going to Title I. The next commissioner meeting will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages hunters to help monitor the state’s terrestrial wildlife populations by reporting sightings through the Bowhunter Observation Survey. MDC has conducted an annual Bowhunter Observation Survey since 1983 to track trends in wildlife populations, such as coyotes, fox, deer, wild turkeys, and raccoons. During the early part of the archery deer and turkey season, from September 15th until the start of the November portion of firearms deer season, hunters record sightings of wildlife observed while hunting. This data is recorded and summarized at the statewide and county level. Survey participants previously signed up for a mailing list to receive paper diaries to record their sightings during the archery season. MDC has recently developed an electronic version to make the survey more accessible and to improve how quickly results are summarized. While any bowhunter can contribute to the Bowhunter Observation Survey, registering to become an official cooperator has additional benefits. Cooperators will receive a reminder email that the survey is about to begin and a summary report at the end of each survey. Cooperators can also receive a copy of their submitted observations upon request. To learn more and to sign up for the Bowhunter Observation Survey, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/4co.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways provides a variety of hiking opportunities for this fall. All activities and events are free of charge and pre-registration is not required. Ozark National Scenic Riverways has a variety of great trails for everyone to enjoy. Visitors can explore trails independently or can participate in several ranger-led hiking events planned throughout the fall. The fall hiking season will kick off with a hike from Round Spring to Echo Bluff State Park on the 17th. Complete the first leg of the Current River Challenge hike/float adventure and learn about other trail opportunities throughout the park. This 4.25-mile hike begins at 10:00 in the morning at the Round Spring pavilion parking lot. A shuttle back to Round Spring will be provided. Then September 24th hike the Chubb Hollow, Lookout and CCC Trails near Big Spring. This 4.3-mile hike will explore the three trail loops south of Big Spring, where you’ll experience beautiful scenery while learning about the cultural history of the original Big Spring State Park. Meet at Big Spring parking area at 10:00. For more information about any of the hikes, contact Josh Chilton at (573) 226-3945 or josh_chilton@nps.gov, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozar. Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.

In a case brought before Judge Megan Seay on Friday, Dustin Hodges of Salem, who had been on probation for domestic assault, received a DWI while on probation. As requested by Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley, Hodges had his probation revoked and was sentenced to serve four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning for their regular meeting. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge was in attendance and gave her report for the month of August. Mary Lou Long and Mona Martin from Phelps County Road 4270 were in to talk with Commissioner Gary Larson about the condition of the first half of their road which is in Dent County at the end of county road 3010 at the Phelps County Line. They stated in 1999, the Phelps County Commission chip and sealed their road but has not really maintained it as there are ruts, it is chipping up and there are numerous potholes. They were told by the Phelps County Commission they would like to asphalt the road in Phelps County and in Dent County with the cooperation of the Dent County Commission, but Commissioner Larson said when they spoke with Dent County, there was no money in the budget for that to happen this year. Commissioner Larson did say that he would personally check the road next week after seeing pictures of the condition of the road as brought in by the ladies. He said Dent County may tear the road up completely to establish a new base for possible chip and seal next year if Phelps County is still considering asphalting the other half of the road. Engineer Corky Stack was in attendance to see if the commission had discussed any of the bids for the work on the exterior of the courthouse. He suggested to the commission that since they have a line item bid, the commission could approve all the exterior masonry work and items related to those repairs as well as the electric rerouting into the courthouse. Stack said that work would have to be done before any of the other work was even started and he was thinking the cost would be around $180,000 from the current bids which are good until September 24th. He said by approving a portion of the bids, they would secure the contract for the other work to be done at a later date, but there may have to be some price alterations as time goes on. The commission approved the two items of the bid. Tod Kinerk and Sherman Odom attended the meeting to update the commission on the Construction Trades and Computer Technology building for the high school. Odom said the Industrial Development Authority board on Wednesday night approved contributing $20,000 to the project, plus Intercounty Electric pledged $5,000 and another donor pledged $20,000. They were also waiting for a check from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks for $5,045.45 from a stock sale to arrive which left the required local contributions needed at about $29,200. They asked the commissioners if they would consider using some ARPA funds to reduce the amount still needed as time is starting to run thin. They suggested $20,000 but after some discussion, the commission approved by a unanimous vote to agree to contribute $25,000 to the project leaving just a few thousand dollars left for the fund-raising project to be completed. Following that contribution, the commissioners wanted to go on record that they would be freezing any further distributions of ARPA funds until the Missouri Department of Revenue and Dent County can come to some agreement how the remaining monies still owed due to the sales tax error are to be paid back. That amount comes to over $925,000 and Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said Senator Brown’s office and the Department of Revenue are discussing the issue. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said materials were being added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5440 and 5450 and if time allows, 5460. He said brush was being cut on county road 4210. District 2 Commissioner Larson said materials were being added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5200 and 5225 while only grading was being done on county roads 2405, 3200, 3220, 6120 and 6123. Larson went on to say brush was being cut on county road 2050 while tree limbs were being cut back on county road 2120 that were striking a school bus. Larson also stated signs were being replaced on county road 3185 and that trash that was dumped on county road 3180 has been removed. Presiding Commissioner Skiles wanted to congratulate the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce for a very successful rodeo Saturday and Sunday night. He also said he attended the SMDH “Meet and Greet” Wednesday and met with the new hospital CEO Wayne Reid. At the last meeting, the commissioners met with Matt Lloyd of Fabick and Company about the buy-back of the Caterpillar graders and getting a new man to work on the ongoing problems. Dan Jones of John Deere was also in attendance and discussed the commission buying new graders with arrival by the first part of October. He also mentioned rental contracts could be set up for graders until the new graders arrive. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Correction to yesterday’s story on Veteran’s Free Fishing Day at Montauk State Park. The park will be hosting Veteran’s Free Fishing Day on Saturday September 10th. This free fishing day is sponsored by Hooked On Vets to provide veterans free access to trout fishing. Veterans can pick up their free trout tag from the Moss-Covered Pavilion as they enter the park. Lunch will be provided for vets. Hooked On Vets will have fly tying and fly-casting lessons, as well as having folks throughout the park to assist fishermen in the river. If you don’t have gear, they will set you up with the essentials for the day. For more information contact the park at 573-366-9527.