Archive for 2022

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday night at 6:00. The financial report showed an ending balance of 181,254.82 as of May 31st. After the calendar review, the monthly reimbursement report was presented to the board with a total of 20 calls for the month of May bringing the total calls for the year to 134. Of those 20 calls, two were for building fires, two were for and alarm system activation, and two were classified as a special type of incident. One call involved a cooking fire, one trash or rubbish, one outside storage fire, one medical assist call, one vehicle accident, one missing person search, one removal of a person from a stalled elevator, one refrigeration leak, one electrical equipment or wiring problem, one false alarm, and one dispatch that was cancelled in route. In old business, it was noted that a records retention policy was needed for the department and Chief Brad Nash asked the board what they wanted to see and provided examples. The board asked Nash to put something together for the next meeting. In new business, bids were opened and presented for three sets of turnout gear from Sentinel Emergency Solutions for a total of 9,779.00. After some discussion, a motion was made and carried to proceed with the purchase as presented. Bids were also opened for eight SCBA bottles and three Sure seal Kevlar head nets from Feld Fire for 13,236.42. After some board discussion, it was decided to go with 10 bottles versus the eight as presented with the bid. Bids were opened and presented for sidewalk and dispatch window repair. A bid from Willamson American Construction of 3,650.00 for sidewalk repair and 4,500.00 for the replacement and repair of windows in dispatch was received. They required 50% due on delivery of materials and 50% due 30 days after completion. The board approved the bid. Chief Brad Nash presented his plan to the board on the updated version of the chain of command for officers and firefighters. His plan added three Captain positions and placed the Lieutenants over a group of four firefighters. These would be broken up into specific jobs such as safety, training, maintenance, and equipment. The board agreed to the change. Nash also presented the new job descriptions for all officers, firefighters, and dispatch that described the duties and jobs of district personnel providing a roadmap for promotion. The board approved adding the job descriptions in the Policy and Procedures Manual to replace the current descriptions. Before adjourning, the date for the July meeting was set for Tuesday, July 5th at the fire station.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released several reports. On Tuesday, June 7th, deputies responded to County Road 4240 for a report of an assault. As a result, a 39-year-old man was named as a suspect and the investigation into the incident is continuing. That same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on East Butler Street. As a result of the stop, a 64-year-old Salem man was found to have revoked driving privileges. Also, at the time of the stop, the man was found to be in possession of a firearm and was later found to be a convicted felon. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, photographed, and released after receiving a citation for a first offense of driving while having his license suspended. A probable cause statement was also submitted to the Dent County Prosecutor’s Office for the unlawful possession of a firearm. Still on June 7th, a deputy responded to the 1800 block of South Oak Street for a reported wanted subject. A 33-year-old Salem woman was arrested on an active Dent County warrant and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. On Thursday June 9th, a deputy made contact with a 39-year-old Salem man after an investigative stop on East Butler Street. As a result, the suspect was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Later that same day, a 47-year-old Salem woman reported that an unknown suspect fraudulently used her credit card without her permission. The investigation into this incident is still ongoing. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241 if you have any information regarding an investigation.

Hospitalman Lucas Green, a native of Licking, serves the U.S. Navy at the U.S. Navy Medical Readiness and Training Command operating out of Sigonella, Italy. Green joined the Navy one and a half years ago. Growing up in Licking, Green attended Licking High School and graduated in 2021. Today, Green uses the same skills and values learned in Licking to succeed in the military. Naval Air Station Sigonella is located in eastern Sicily. With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy. As Green and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy. Congratulations Lucas and thank you for you service!

An accident occurred Saturday evening around 8:27 in Texas County on Highway 32 about five miles west of Licking. According to the highway patrol report a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 26-year-old Joseph Kaplan of Licking, was travelling eastbound when he failed to negotiate a curve. The Chevrolet ran off the right side of the roadway, returned to the road and then ran off the left side of the roadway, struck several trees, and overturned. Kaplan suffered serious injuries and was transported by air ambulance to Cox South Springfield. The report states that he was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Jay’s Automotive.

A one vehicle accident happened Thursday night at 10:30 on Maries County Road 8400 about eight miles north of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2018 Ford F-150 being driven by 62-year-old Kenneth Clements of Rolla, was eastbound when he traveled off the left side of the road, continued through a field and struck a small structure. Clements, who was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, suffered minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene. The Ford was removed from the scene by C & C Towing with extensive damage.

An accident happened Wednesday night at 9:19 on Highway 72 about a half mile east of Rolla that took the life of a Salem man. According to the highway patrol report. 30-year-old Bradley Gilmore of Salem was driving a 2003 Chevy Cavalier westbound when he crossed the center of the roadway and struck a 2019 Western Star head-on driven by 52-year-old Roger Ferguson of Salem. Gilmore was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. L. Hutchinson at 9:46 Wednesday night and his body was taken to Rolla Cremation. The Cavalier was totaled in the accident while the Western Star sustained moderate damages. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Big Boys Towing in Rolla. Gilmore was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales taxes received by the county this month. For the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund, the county received $96,920.38 which is $3,337.27 more than 2021 when the county received $93,583.11. For the year, the county is up $291,553.42 over last year. For the Road and Bridge Department Fund, the county received $45,787.72 this month compared to $44,720.69 received in June of 2021. For the year, the Road and Bridge Department Fund is up $143,957.88. In the two jail funds, the county received $91,542.20 in each fund and that is $2,100.29 more than the 2021 figure of $89,441.91. Each of those funds is up $286,684.40 from last year. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated crews were out cleaning up after the storm Wednesday morning where eight trees were blown down. Mobray said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County roads 6630 and 6670 while only grading would be done on county road 6210. He said patch grading was going to be done on county roads 4220 and 5150 while brush would be cut on county road 6660. Travis Turner gave the report for District 2 as Commissioner Larson was not in attendance due to a previous commitment. He said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2090, 3170 and 6140 while only grading would be done on county roads 2013, 2100, 2403, 3173 and 3180. Turner said brush would be cut on county roads 2300 and 2303. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles attended the MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee, Public Housing Authority meeting, the MRPC Public Relations meeting and the MRPC regular board meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the Collector and Assessor on all collections, abatements, and add-ons. She said all county liquor licenses are due by June 30th and the last day to register to vote for the August Primary will be July 6th at the Collector’s office. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Community Choir will be performing this Sunday afternoon at 2:00 on the court-house lawn. Lemonade and cookies will be served by the Cosmopolitan Club of Salem. There is no cost to attend! Their next performance will be on June 26th at the courthouse lawn at 2:00.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is offering Missouri landowners another way to help manage deer numbers on their properties. MDC’s Deer Management Assistance Program, known as DMAP, can help landowners manage deer on their properties by allowing them and hunters they designate to buy additional firearms permits to take antlerless deer on the properties above and beyond regular season harvest limits. Each permit authorizes the take of one antlerless deer and costs the same as a Firearms Antlerless Permit. Permits may be used during any portion of the firearms deer season with methods allowed during that portion. Permits may only be used on the enrolled DMAP property for which they were issued. According to MDC, the number of deer in a local area varies widely throughout Missouri due to various types and quality of habitat, land-use practices, hunting regulations and harvest levels, and other factors. Any private property of at least 500 acres located outside of municipal boundaries, regardless of the owner’s legal residence, is eligible for the program. For properties inside the boundaries of a city or town, at least 40 acres are required. Individual parcels of land, regardless of ownership, may be combined to satisfy the acreage requirements as long as no parcel of land is more than a half-mile by air from the boundary of another parcel being combined to form an enrolled DMAP property. MDC piloted the program in 2019 on a limited county and regional level. MDC expanded DMAP to additional counties and regions in 2020 and 2021, and now offers it statewide. According to MDC, more than 86,000 acres were enrolled in 2021 and included 89 landowners or landowner cooperatives. Annual DMAP enrollment is available now through October 1st. To learn more about DMAP, including enrollment, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/dmap, or contact your local MDC private land conservationist or conservation agent.