Archive for 2023

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released several reports. On Saturday, March 4th, a deputy responded to the 1900 block of Route HH for a reported burglary. Upon arrival, the deputy was informed that the suspect had kicked the front door in to a residence belonging to a 22-year-old Salem man. A 32-year-old Salem man was also assaulted by the same suspect. Further investigation by the department led to the arrest of a 24-year-old Salem man. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was placed on a 24-hour-hold. On Wednesday, March 8th, a deputy detained an 18-year-old Salem woman in the 1100 block of South Main Street. She had an active warrant for her arrest and was taken into custody without incident. She was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated on the warrant. On Friday, March 10th, a deputy responded to the Dent County Jail for a report of an inmate damaging jail property. A 44-year-old Birch Tree woman had damaged property inside the jail while being incarcerated. A Probable Cause Statement was forwarded to the Dent County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requesting criminal charges. That same day, a deputy detained a 29-year-old Salem man in the 100 block of East Fifth Street. The suspect had an active warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody without incident. The manwas transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated on the warrant. On Tuesday, March 14th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on East Third Street. During the course of the stop, the driver was found to have a suspended driver’s license. The 28-year-old Salem man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was later released from custody on a citation. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s office at 729-3241 if you have any information regarding an investigation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri thank the thousands of Missouri deer hunters who donated 235,169 pounds of venison to the state’s Share the Harvest program this past deer season, including 4,936 whole deer. MDC and CFM also thank the participating meat processors throughout the state who grind the donated deer meat into ready-to-use packages, and the many sponsors who financially support the program. The donated deer meat goes to local food banks and food pantries to help feed hungry Missourians all around the state. Meat-processing fees are covered entirely or in part by numerous local sponsors, along with statewide sponsors that include Shelter Insurance, Bass Pro Shops, Feeding Missouri, and MDC. Share the Harvest is coordinated by MDC and CFM and has been helping feed hungry Missourians for more than 30 years. Since the program was started in 1992, it has provided nearly 5 million pounds of lean, healthy venison to help feed hungry Missourians. To get Share the Harvest venison, contact local food banks or food pantries. Hunters started Share the Harvest more than 30 years ago because they saw a need in their communities and hunters remain the driving force behind this popular program that helps feed our fellow Missourians who are in need. The donated venison stays in the local areas where the deer were harvested so it truly is helping out neighbors in need. We greatly appreciate all the citizens of this great state that have made this possible over the past three decades. The National Institutes of Health state that children need protein in their diets for proper growth and development, and adults need it to maintain good health. Yet many Missourians can’t afford or can’t get to good sources of protein. Through Share the Harvest, Missouri hunters can help provide those in need with high-quality protein in the form of naturally lean, locally harvested deer meat.

An accident happened Sunday morning at 10:00 in Crawford County on Heyer Road and Highway 19 about two miles north of Cuba. According to the highway patrol, a 2019 Ford Escape driven northbound by 30-year-old Rene Diestelkamp of Columbia, was slowing for a left hand turn when the Ford was rear ended by a 2012 Toyota Tundra driven by 38-year-old Jessica Brown of Cuba. Suffering minor injuries was Robert Diestelkamp of St. James who was taken by the North Crawford Ambulance to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the by Chris and Sons Towing while the Ford had moderate damage and was driven from the scene. Everyone was wearing seat restraints.

An accident happened Sunday morning at 7:20 on Highway 19 about five miles north of Eminence. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Dodge Dart driven northbound by 18-year-old James Wilson of Eminence, went off the left side of the road and struck a tree. Wilson suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Mercy St. Francis Hospital in Mountain View. The Dodge was totaled and removed from the scene by Bakers Towing.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, March 16th. In attendance were Board members Kim Smith, Shirley Larson, Dennis Floyd, and Bob Parsons, plus Administrator Zach Moser and Assistant Administrator Roma Jones. Also attending were Board member candidate Bob Gravely and State Representative Ron Copeland. Informal discussion with Copeland took place before the meeting. He had spent time before the meeting getting to know Health Center staff and learning about its services. The Board expressed their appreciation for his interest and attendance. Administrator Moser presented the communicable disease report which included 34 new COVID-19 cases for February. Moser reported the Communicable Disease nurse has been working through the backlog of elevated blood lead cases. He said 33 cases were active in February. Four sexually transmitted infection screenings were also conducted during the month. Moser noted that influenza cases have decreased and there were five total cases reported in February. He reported that the pertussis outbreak in late January and early February resulted in over 30 individuals being investigated, but only two individuals actually had pertussis. There were six animal bites treated during the month. In the diagnostics report, Moser said that 147 blood draw appointments were completed in February. Moser said that 16 COVID-19 vaccines, three Influenza vaccines along with 82 other vaccinations were administered in February. There was a total of 354 appointments held during February plus WIC appointments totaled 329. Moser noted that in February there were 124 urine drug screenings were conducted on behalf of the Dent County Treatment Court. Assistant Administrator Jones gave the environmental report where she conducted 12 total inspections, one recall and fielded 19 environmental questions. In the Administrator’s report, Moser said that 312 children are currently enrolled with 21 providers in the Childcare Subsidy Program and nealy $600,000 grant funds have been provided so far toward the program. Moser announced that the Title X (Ten) Family Planning Program will be accepting patients on April 3rd. The program will offer free and reduced cost birth control, IUDs, STD testing and treatment, basic infertility consultations, and more. It was pointed out that Title X does not pay for abortion or sterilization services and that the Dent County Health Center would not provide those services even if thay were paid for. Moser reminded the Board of the first ever DCHC Health Fair, combined with an Open House, coming up April 13th from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm. He said a variety of services will be offered on a walk-in bases with no lab orders required. Moser reminded the Board members of the May 26th deadline for the personal financial disclosure to the Missouri Ethics Commission. February and January expenses were reviewed and approved. In new business, Moser presented the 2022 Annual Report that is required by the DCHC Bylaws. He discussed the last minute change of the list of employees and board members that was inspired by his discovery and review of the first annual report from 1963. The changes over the last 25 years were outlined in the foreward by long-time employee Joan Raulston and provides a unique perspective. Copeland commented that the Annual Report was a great resource and said he would share it if he could get an electronic copy. Moser agreed to send it to him. A sliding scale for the Title X program was reviewed and discussed. It was approved by the Board. Moser presented a Capitalization Policy recommended by the accountant and auditing firm. The Policy was approved by the Board. Moser presented a revised 2021 Agreed Upon Procedures report in which the statement regarding the FDIC Insurance as of 12/31/21 to include the fact the Bank of Salem had pledged securities to cover 100% of Dent County Health Center’s deposits that were not covered by FDIC. The Board approved the revised report. The next regular meeting of the Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees was set for Thursday, April 20th at 5:00.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has announced the upcoming Request for Proposal, or RFP of the license office in Eminence, located at 16260 Pine Street in Eminence and the license office in Viburnum, located at 8 Missouri Avenue in Viburnum. Bids will start being accepted on March 22nd, and must be submitted by April 4th. For a list of bid opportunities and bid response instructions, please visit Missouri’s statewide electronic procurement system, MissouriBUYS, at missouribuys.mo.gov/. Interested groups or individuals who wish to bid to operate the Eminence License Office must have an active Federal Employer Identification Number, known as FEIN, and must submit the proposal under the legal entity name for which the FEIN was assigned. The Missouri Department of Revenue, through the Office of Administration, is posting an RFP for the Eminence license office and Viburnum License office contract, since the current contract is close to expiring. Interested bidders have approximately 10 business days to submit their proposal for the operation of the license office in the competitive bid process, as outlined in the RFP. A scheduled tour of the current location may be requested by emailing the procurement contact listed on MissouriBUYS. Proposals will be evaluated on items as outlined in the RFP. All of the proposals will be evaluated by a review team at the Department of Revenue, and the proposal that scores best in the areas outlined in the RFP will be selected to operate the office. License offices are operated by independent contractors and are overseen by the Missouri Department of Revenue. All license office contracts in Missouri are awarded through a competitive bid process.