Archive for 2023

A drowning occurred Friday morning around 11:55 in Crawford County on Thurman Lake Road and the Meramec River. According to the water patrol report, 18-year-old Logan Wright of St. James was swimming and went under water and did not resurface. Wright was transported to the Crawford County Morgue by the Crawford County Coroner.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening. The financial report was then presented showing an ending balance as of May 31st of $180,119.70. Bills, payments, and statements were approved before the budget was reviewed and compared to the 2022 budget showing that department is in good shape. After the calendar review, the monthly reimbursement report was presented showing 24 calls for the month of May, bringing the total calls year to date to 141. In old business, it was noted that the insurance company had approved the replacement of the repeater that was damaged during the spring storms. The repeater has been ordered but its still 30 weeks out to be received and then will have to be installed. At present, the department is working with a repaired repeater. The ARPA grant is still ongoing. Fire Chief Brad Nash gave his report and stated that Engine 85 is still waiting on parts which are due any time now. Nash also reported that three firefighters that were not meeting requirements were let go in accordance with the policies and procedures and officers review and recommendations. Before adjourning, the date for the next meeting was set for Tuesday evening, July 11th at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, June 15th. In attendance were trustees Dennis Floyd, Bob Gravely, Lori Hasten and Bob Parsons, plus Administrator Zach Moser and Assistant Administrator Roma Jones. After approval of the minutes of the May 19th regular meeting of the Board and the Emergency Board meeting of June 13th, the resignation letter of Board Member Kim Smith was read and accepted. Administrator Moser presented the communicable disease report which included six new COVID-19 cases for May. He said there were 35 active lead cases in May. Six sexually transmitted infection screenings were also conducted during the month. Moser noted that a total of 16 total influenza cases were reported in May. He stated that this is a very unusual number of influenza cases for this time of year. Moser also reported that there were eight animal bites reported in May. In the diagnostics report, Moser said 205 blood draw appointments were completed in May, plus 10 COVID tests and eight lead tests. There were eight vaccines for COVID-19 and 63 other vaccinations administered. A total of 422 appointments were held during May, plus WIC appointments that totaled 328. Moser noted in May there were 122 urine drug screenings conducted on behalf of the Dent County Treatment Court. Assistant Administrator Jones gave the environmental report where she conducted 8 total inspections and fielded 5 environmental questions. In the Administrator’s report, Moser said that the Childcare Subsidy Program ended May 31st, 2023, and that approximately $700,000 in grant dollars were distributed over the course of the program to assist with childcare expenses. He discussed the financial review that he had asked Sherry Stack of H & R Block to perform. Zach presented the first report and expressed approval of the format and scope of the report. He reminded the Board Members of the training session scheduled for July 17th at 5:00 with Tiffany Bayer from the Center for Local Public Health at DHSS. Zach requested approval for travel to the NACCHO 360, a public health conference in Denver the week of July 9th which was approved as he is scheduled to give a presentation at the conference. Moser reminded the Board of upcoming future Health Center events including Christmas in July on the 22nd of next month, a Fall Health Fair on October 26th, and a drive-through flu/COVID clinic on October 12th.The health center financial reports for May, including the review from H & R Block, were reviewed and approved. Chairman Parsons shared a conversation he had with Salem Memorial Hospital Board Chair A.J. Seay regarding a desire to work more closely together. He also discussed news of a large Veteran’s Administration medical facility planned for construction in Rolla. Moser expressed a similar desire to collaborate and reiterated the importance of the entire medical community working together to improve the public health. There being no further business the next regular meeting of the Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees was set for Thursday, July 17th at 5:00, followed by adjournment of the meeting.

The Salem Police department has released their report for the month of May. The department responded to nine accidents during the month. Officers also responded to five commercial alarms sounding and addressed 44 animal calls. The department investigated six assaults or fights in progress, five burglaries, performed 25 well being checks and 26 area checks during the month. The department also investigated 11 domestic disputes, conducted 56 follow-up investigations and provided 16 escorts. They investigated four incidents of fraud, three harassment reports, took two missing persons report, and offered assistance to four motorists. The Salem police wrote 11 property damage reports during May, plus made 21 stealing and five shoplifting reports. Officers investigated 14 suspicious circumstance calls, 15 suspicious person calls and seven suspicious vehicle calls. Officers responded to four trespassing calls and attempted to serve 11 warrants in May. Officers conducted 63 traffic stops during the month. The police responded to a total of 623 in incidents in May. The average response time to calls during May was two minutes and 21 seconds and the average time spent on the scene was 17 minutes and 35 seconds.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported on the sales tax revenues received by the county in June where the General Revenue Fund and LEST Fund each received $94,747.50 which is $2,172.88 less than for June of 2022. The Road and Bridge Fund received $44,497.38 in June which is down $1,290.34 from June of 2022. The Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $89,416.73 and that is down $2,125.47 from June 2022 receipts. These figures are all net of the monthly withholding by the Department of Revenue. Williams said she also received the Payment in Lieu of Taxes payment of $176,896 which is more than the $172,159 received in 2022. Williams went on to say the county Road and Bridge Fund also received the reimbursement for white rock from the Department of Conservation in the amount of $20,273.96. She went on to say the transition of banking accounts from Progressive Ozark Bank to the Bank of Salem is going well with two accounts still yet to be converted over. Corky Stack from Stack Design and Consulting Group was at the meeting to update the commission on work done on the courthouse. He said workers are doing dismantling work in taking off the trim anchored by wood blocks behind the brick work. That will be re-secured with plywood and the trim anchored to the brick. He said an environmental company has been hired to put together work plans for the removal of the lead based paint on the wood entryway and asbestos caulking found on the roof. Stack said windows to be delivered around July 1st. Stack said the dormers will be delivered in September after they go through Rolla where part of the dormer is painted with automotive paint. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said materials would be added and grading done on county roads 5410 and 6320 while only grading was going to be done on county road 6400. He said brush was cut on Dent County Road 5465 which is the Miner Cemetery Road and materials were added to it. Mobray said rock was also added to county road 5670 and that the FLAP project 56 on county road 6670 which consisted of asphalting the hill to Tan Vat, has been completed and will have its final inspection by MoDOT Tuesday. Mobray stated the work crews are rebuilding Dent County Road 5080 so that it can be chipped and sealed next year. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson gave the District 2 report and said brush was cut on the Commons Road which is county road 2300 and also on county road 2270. He said materials were being added to Dent County Road 2370 and rock was also being stockpiled at the county shed. Larson reported he attended a number of meetings last week including the Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation on June 7th, followed by the TAC and External Relations Committee meetings on June 8th where they finalized the menu for the annual volunteer awards dinner to be held this year at Hermann. At the awards dinner, two Dent County citizens will be recognized for their volunteer efforts and they are Easton May and Deloris Gray Wood. Larson said at the MRPC meeting also held June 8th, there was discussion on the Opioid Settlement Funds and how they can be used. It was recommended to have Attorney Jack Garvey meet with the county representatives and explain about how the money can be used. Larson went on to say there are still some ARPA Funds available for fire departments and law enforcement through the MRPC. He didn’t know the name of the program, but thought there was $20,000 available to those types of organizations. He said there was also some discussion on Senate Bill 190 that offers property tax credits for senior citizens. The commission opened bids for chip and seal for later this year. The commission received two bids: one from Blevins Asphalt from Brookline, Missouri, and the other from Stewart Asphalt Paving from Goodman, Missouri. The commission approved the bid from Blevins Asphalt for $1.80 a square yard that will include an enhanced oil that stays more pliable at a total bid cost of $266,112. Adam Boswell from Blevins Asphalt was in attendance and said they would do the Dent County projects in September. In the county clerks report, they are still doing voter registration address changes from the canvass held a few weeks back. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk reported to the commission her monthly turnover. She said her office received $82,958.54 that has been distributed to the respective entities. She said that is a 1.12% increase from last year. She said as of Thursday morning, there were still 58 people who owe real estate taxes from 2020 and they have until June 30th to get them paid so they would have another year to get caught up. The courthouse will be closed Monday for Juneteenth so the next commissioner meeting will be Thursday, June 22nd.

The Salem Chamber Business Expo will be held this Saturday from 9:00 until noon at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center Parking Area at the intersection of Highway 32-72 and 19. Everyone is welcome to come by and browse around the numerous vendors who will be there to talk about their services and products. People will find numerous samples and giveaways at booths throughout the event including Town & Country Bank who will be giving away a $200 County Mart Gift Card, American Family Insurance will be giving away a $100 Visa Gift Card, the ATC Den will have a cash machine set up and chances to win Chamber Rodeo tickets, Riverways Federal Credit Union will be giving away an Igloo Cooler full of Summer Fun items, Edward Jones Pickle Ball Set and Big Rock Candy Mountain will have a Gift Certificate. Come on out and find out about numerous businesses and organizations in our area!