Archive for 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday for their regular meeting. Stan Podorski from KSMO Radio congratulated all those 4-H and FFA members who had exhibits or were a part of the livestock show and record setting auction and thanked all the buyers in attendance for without them, the event would not be possible. In the road report, District I Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2470, 4210 and 5380. He did say that brush would be cut on county roads 5015 and 5070 and two men were going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials were going to be added and grading done on Dent County Road 3300, while only grading would be done on county roads 2140, 2150, 2155 and 3310. Larson reported two men would be taking truck #116 to Jefferson City to Knapheide for hydraulic repair. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles talked with the commission about the rural volunteer fire departments and how they had been affected negatively by COVID. The commissioner discussed setting aside $40,000 in ARPA funds at $10,000 for each department, but the departments would have to apply to the MRPC to get the funds. Skiles also discussed with the commissioners how the county can now use Title III funds for 9-1-1 systems as well as wildfire training. He suggested they designate up to $135,000 in the Title III funds to pay for the improvements being made to the 9-1-1 system instead of using the ARPA funds which they had planned. By law, the county must publish a legal notice 45 days before the money is accessed on how the funds are to be used. The commissioners agreed and they will have a public notice in the Salem News in next Tuesday’s paper. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the August Primary is fast approaching. Absentee voting continues in her office until 5:00 on August 1st, the last day to mail out an absentee ballot is this Wednesday at 5:00, and voters will need to choose a specific party ballot when they vote between the Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or the Constitution Party. She also said her office will be open on Saturday, July 30th from 8:00 in the morning until noon for absentee voting. Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer said new plat books are being printed and she is taking ads. She said there are different prices for ads for the pages, and she is accepting bids for the ads for back of the front cover, and the front and back of the back cover starting at $501 and up. To get more information, call Homeyer at 729- 6010. When the books are completed, they will be available for $35 each, but you can preorder your books now for $30 each. Dent County Livestock Extension Specialist Eric Muesch talked with the commission about the current weather situation and now Dent County is now classified as D-1 as far as drought conditions are concerned. He said with the lack of precipitation being forecasted for the next ten days and possibly beyond, there will be a drought workshop the evening of August 11th at the Wurdack Farm Education Building with Gatlin Bunton. Another workshop will also be held in Pulaski County, but that date had yet to be determined. Jim Sample came in and was looking for information concerning his family cemetery off Dent County Road 5440. He said he wanted to make sure he did everything right and was asking Commissioner Mobray for assistance. Mobray said he would check with the prosecuting attorney for state statutes dealing with private family cemeteries and pass them on before Sample has the property surveyed. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident Sunday night at 10:30 in Phelps County on Route A about seven miles north of Rolla took the life of a Rolla man. According to the highway patrol report, a southbound 2009 Suzuki GSX 1300R motorcycle being operated by 34-year-old Ryan Jensen of Rolla, crossed the centerline and traveled off the left side of the roadway where Jensen was ejected from the motorcycle. Jensen was pronounced dead at the Phelps Health Hospital at 11:06 Sunday evening. He was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. His body was taken to the Null and Sons Funeral Home in Rolla. The motorcycle was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing.

An accident occurred Monday afternoon at 12:05 in Dent County on Highway 19 south of Dent County Road 5520, about 13 miles south of Salem. According to the highway patrol report a 2011 Kia Sorento driven by 36-year-old Holly Stone of Salem, was travelling northbound and travelled off the right side of the roadway. The Kia then struck a sign and a tree. Holly Stone, suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Springfield. A passenger in the Kia, 23-year-old Victoria Stone of Salem, suffered moderate injuries and was flown by Phelps Health Air to Mercy Springfield. The report goes on to say Holly Stone was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, but Victoria Stone was. The Kia was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held a special board meeting Monday afternoon at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the board approved allowing the mayor to execute contingency allocation #2 between the City of Salem and Energy Solutions Professionals, LLC. The total contingency for the project was just over $61,000 and the first allocation was for about $9,000. This one is for $18,603.00 for work at the Al Brown Fields. The board also approved Resolution #23-2022 to add the library’s main parking lot as well as the satellite parking lot to the City of Salem’s list of parking lots for snow removal. This was agreed for in exchange of a utility easement and will remain in effect as long as the Salem Public Library owns the property. The meeting was then adjourned.