Archive for 2022

Kevin Crider with Missouri Feral Hog Eradication Program was at Thursday’s Dent County Commissioners meeting to share figures on the success of the program. He said that in 2021, the program eradicated 9,857 feral hogs and this year the total is going to be under 6,000. Crider also noted that in 2020 the total was over 12,000. He said the decrease in the numbers indicated that success of the program and that even the number of landowner requests for assistance has gone down. Crider said the program is also assisting Soil and Water Conservation Districts, including Dent County, by providing equipment such as drills, harrows, etc. to help repair feral hog damage. He also noted that Conservation Department and USDA together have 48 trappers in the field to assist landowners. If you are having a feral hog problem, contact Crider through the Dent County Extension office at 729-3196.

The Salem Police Department has released their latest report from December 2nd through the 9th. Their report shows there were 123 calls for service as well as 22 traffic stops with three resulting in a summons or arrest. Some of the reports include one from December 2nd at about 7:30 in the morning. According to the report, officers responded to the 300 block of West Roosevelt for a vehicle that had been broken into. It was reported that items were stolen out of the vehicle in the overnight hours. This incident is still under investigation. Then on December 3rd near noon, officers responded to the 1200 block of North Jackson for a report of a disorderly man that was acting belligerent towards others. The investigation by the police discovered the man had an active warrant out of Green County, Missouri with no bond. As a result of the active warrant, 48-year-old Billy Coleman of Salem was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail awaiting extradition to Green County. In the early morning hours of December 6th, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for an out-of-date registration. During the traffic stop it was found the driver had an active warrant out of the Dent County Sheriff’s Office for failing to stop at a red light. As a result, 24-year-old Leanna Haws of Salem was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending bond. Later that same day at 2:00 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of shoplifting. It was reported that a male subject had stolen $100 worth of merchandise and it was caught on video surveillance. This incident is still under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Motorists are being advised to be on the lookout for Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) crews that will be conducting striping operations along the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 44 starting this morning at 9:00 from mile marker 208 near Cuba to mile marker 218 near Bourbon. Striping will last until 5:00 in the afternoon. Motorists will encounter slow-moving lines of trucks with flashing lights, boards with flashing arrows and signs that say, “Wet Paint.” Drivers are reminded to stay behind the last truck in the striping train, which is placed well behind the striping truck. This will give the new paint time to dry and keep drivers from tracking fresh paint across the lanes and damaging the new stripes. It also will prevent paint from getting onto vehicles. If you do drive through the wet paint, which is water-based, clean your car as quickly as possible with a high-powered water hose such as those used in car washes. For more information about roadway striping, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636)

An accident happened Thursday evening at 8:25 on Interstate 44 at the 191.4-mile marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Chevy Silverado driven eastbound by 26-year- old Jennifer Dolde of Steelville, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck the median cable barrier. Dolde suffered minor injuries and was taken by an EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Chevy was totaled and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing in Rolla

The Salem Creative Arts Center will be offering a Mooey Christmas paint and sip class with Danielle Norris this Friday night from 6:30 in the evening until 8:30. Who doesn’t love a cute calf for the holidays? Bring a warm beverage and let us warm your hearts with this cute painting. The cost is $25 per person all supplies are provided. The Creative Arts Center has two easy ways to sign up for events! Call or text 573-247-0651, or go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under Salem Creative Arts Center.

The Doe Run Company has confirmed that a man died while working underground at the company’s Casteel Mine near Bixby on Tuesday. Doe Run did not release the name of the man but he was identified on social media as Hagen Barton of Viburnum. A moment of silence was held at the Viburnum and Salem basketball game for him as one of his daughters was a cheerleader for the team. According to Tammy Stankey, media liaison for the company, the man was discovered along a haul road outside of his vehicle. When found, Barton was unresponsive. Emergency rescue personnel were immediately notified and arrived on scene where he was pronounced dead. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and local authorities are investigating the incident. The MSHA has the accident classified as a powered haulage incident which can include equipment such as shuttle cars, scoops, locomotives, front-end motors, and more. This is the company’s third-mining related fatality since 2009 and the second one to be related to powered haulage.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning in the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was unable to attend due to a back injury. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley appointed District Two Commissioner Gary Larson as temporary Presiding Commissioner. Grant Wilson from Representative Jason Smith’s office was in and updated the Commission. According to Wilson the House is working on committee chair appointments and Smith is optimistic that he will be named Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which would make Smith only the second Missourian to chair a House of Representatives Committee. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in with the December sales tax receipts. General Revenue and Law Enforcement Sales Tax each received $92,717,79, which was down $290.32 from 2021. She said year-to-date each fund is up $340,417.08. The Road and Bridge Fund received $43,993.18, down slightly from 2021’s $44,090.87. Year-to-date Road and Bridge is up $168,157.06. The Jail Operating and Jail Trust Funds each received $87,986.20 compared to last year’s $88,169.41, which was a decrease of $183.21. Year-to-date each fund is up $334,915.93. Williams reminded everyone the large percentage increases are due to Department of Revenue withholding tax receipts last year. In the road report District One Commissioner Wes Mobray indicated brush would be cut on Dent County Road 5520. He also reported that Truck #125 was being serviced and the alternator was being replaced, plus Grader #38 was being serviced. Larson reported that in District Two brush would be cut on Dent County Road 2510 and brown rock would possibly be hauled to that road. He said that Truck #76 was being serviced, Grader #37 was having some issues, and general maintenance was being done around the shop. Larson also reported that the new graders arrived this week. He did say that on Tuesday he and Skiles attended the Solid Waste Management Full Council meeting and awards banquet in St. James at the Senior Citizens Center. Larson said that Angela Black and Sara Massengale both received awards. Angie reported that her office continues to work on the budget for 2023 and the financial statement. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk brought in the monthly turnover for November. She said that $1,686,239.51 was collected, which was up over $100,000 from 2021. Jody Schaefer and Linda Johnson from the Salem Nutrition Center brought in paperwork about the Center’s financial needs. Schaefer said that from January 1st through November 30th the Center served 28,020 meals. She went on to say that they generally prepare for 80 meals a day and up to 100 when they are serving “special” meals. Larson said the Commission would be studying the materials and situation. The next meeting of the Commission will Monday morning at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $50,000 Clean Water Engineering Report Grant to the city of Salem to evaluate the city’s wastewater system. The grant offers funding to qualified communities to help cover engineering costs for evaluating wastewater system improvements. The city will use the grant to identify wastewater system improvements needed to meet permit requirements, continue reliable service to the area and reduce stormwater infiltration into sewer collection pipes. The city’s improvement plan should be complete in April 2024. According to Dru Buntin, the director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, this type of grant allows Missouri communities like Salem to cover the cost of assessing their wastewater treatment systems, and identify improvements that will keep them operating effectively which not only helps the community maintain and improve key infrastructure they rely on to grow and thrive, it provides important economic benefits as well.