Archive for 2024

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave her sales tax report for the money collected this month. She said the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $87,156.67 which is $3,138.25 more than for November of 2023. Year-to-date, the General Revenue Fund and the LEST funds are up $60,546.89 which is about a 6.25% increase. The Road and Bridge Fund received $40,498.95 this month, and that is down $260.60 from the money received in November of 2023. Year-to-date, that fund is up $25,437.97 which is close to a 5.7% increase. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $81,419.40 in November and that is down $542.13 from the November 2023 receipts. Year-to-date, those funds are up $52,038.72 which is about a 6.4% increase. Grant Wilson from Jason Smith’s Rolla office was in attendance and told the commission that Congressman Smith is aware of the Dent County situation and once assessments are determined, let his office know to look into possibly getting  federal assistance. In the road report, both commissioners indicated there is extensive road damage in Dent County and both District 1 and District 2 are working at getting the impassable roads at least passable, beginning with the worst roads. They did want to say that Dent County Road 4210 and Montauk State Park are closed until further notice. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson wanted to thank Bonnie Prigge and Anne Freund from the MRPC and Preston Kramer from MoDOT as well as Salem Public Administrator Sally Burbridge and Salem Public Works Director Steven Paine for attending the Dent County transportation priority meeting updating the previous years’ transportation needs. Larson also said a special meeting was held on Tuesday, November 5th to discuss what the districts needs and priorities will be during the flooding that day. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley was complimented by the commissioners for her outstanding job for the election Tuesday where everything went smooth. Curley gave the credit to the poll workers, her staff, judges, those who set up the equipment, law enforcement personnel, emergency response personnel and others. Curley was quick to note that one poll worker had to be water rescued from Pigeon Creek, and then still went to work at the polls at Green Forest R-II from the water rescue scene, wet from the waist down. Curley reported that Dent County had over 70% voter turnout and set new records daily for no-excuse absentee voting getting over 2,500 votes cast in the 10 days before the election. Curley said her office is saddened over the loss of two poll workers in Wright County from the storm. Dent County Emergency Director Derrick Marfitt gave a list of roads damaged that he and the Dent County Sheriff’s Department has found damaged, then told of damages sustained by three cabins near the Current River in which one of them was actually removed from its foundation and floated down river. Marfitt did want to let Dent County residents know that if they sustained major damage to their home, loss of livestock, or damages to their business in the county to please call him at 573-247-7504. There may be assistance available to help recover from the losses from FEMA depending upon the total dollar amounts from throughout the county. He also said if you have damage, document it and take pictures if you can. He said he would be meeting with SEMA Region I Coordinator from the Response Division Brett Hendrix and would inform him that at this time, based on information from the county commission, it appears damages to the county roads will come to about four million dollars in materials alone and that does not include labor. He will also ask if the county can get additional equipment like dump trucks and trailers to help address getting equipment to the road problems, and additional manpower would also be beneficial, if available.  It was announced the courthouse would be closed Monday due to Veteran’s Day and there will be no meeting. The next commissioner’s meeting will be Thursday morning, November 14th at 9:00 at the courthouse and it will be open to the public.

On Thursday, October 31st in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis, 45-year-old Jason Michael Enke of Crawford County, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. In court, Enke admitted that from August 2023 to October 2023, he sent a series of sexually explicit messages via social media and during online chat sessions to five people who identified themselves as minors. He also sent a video of himself and a 16-year-old engaging in sex acts and attempted to persuade the minors to engage in sexual conduct. In November of 2023, the FBI’s St. Louis office received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Enke had sent a video containing child pornography to an Instagram user who listed their age as 15. FBI agents performed a court-approved search of Enke’s home near Bourbon, Missouri and found videos containing child sexual abuse material on his electronic devices. Enke is scheduled to be sentenced January 29th, 2025. The receipt and distribution charges carry a potential penalty of five to 20 years in prison and the coercion charge carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. The FBI and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to inform the public of upcoming changes to the driver license testing process. In preparation for the transition, driver examination stations throughout the state will close at 12 noon today,  and all-day tomorrow. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, November 12, following the Veterans Day holiday. Driver examination testing facilities will be closed due to converting to a modernized system, directly integrated into the Department of Revenue’s new driver license system. Follow this link for further information on the driver’s license system changes being implemented by the Missouri Department of Revenue MV-DL System Changes (mo.gov). As part of this upgrade, the Patrol will now offer the Class F written test in a total of 20 languages, which includes a newly created sign language video version of the test made possible by the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The new system will provide a direct digital reporting network to the Department of Revenue. The system will increase efficiency by sending test results directly to the Department of Revenue. The new system will also help deter driver license fraud. For more information, please visit our website at mshp.dps.mo.gov.

Due to flooding in the area, the Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and Jay Nixon Backcountry conceptual development plan meeting originally scheduled for November 9th has been postponed to Saturday, December 7th at 9:00 in the morning. The guided hikes being held in conjunction with the meeting, including the overnight trip to Jay Nixon Backcountry, are also postponed due to flooded trails. Representatives from Missouri State Parks invite the public to attend rescheduled informational meetings for both the Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and Jay Nixon Backcountry on Saturday, December 7th. The public is invited to share comments and ask questions about the facilities and their operations. These informational meetings are being held in conjunction with the two parks’ conceptual development planning open house. The open house will be held at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. In the event of inclement weather, the open house may be moved to a different location, but an update will be provided prior to the date. As the long-range plan for the park is updated, the public is encouraged to come learn more about the planning process, ask questions and provide input regarding future park use and development. A 30-day comment period will begin December 7th with a survey available online at mostateparks.com/CDP. A guided hike to Mina Sauk Falls will be available for those attending and will begin at 10:30 December 7th and it is a strenuous 3.5-mile hike. Input from the public is important to Missouri State Parks. These informational meetings are being heldvirtually or in-person in all state parks and historic sites to help create two-way communication with the public. The meetings will inform the public on the current status and future plans for the park or historic site and offer visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities.

An accident occurred Tuesday morning around 7:30 in Dent County on Hwy 19 and County Road 5520. According to the highway patrol report a 2015 Toyota Corolla driven by a 54-year-old Salem female was travelling northbound and lost control of the vehicle. The Toyota ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree and a fence. The female suffered minor injuries and was transported by private conveyance to Salm Memorial District Hospital. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The report goes on to state that she was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident.

Due to significant flooding, Montauk State Park is closed to guests until further notice. Park crews are responding and assessing safety concerns and damage to the infrastructure. As floodwaters recede, they will gain a better understanding of the extent of the damage and the scope of work necessary to reopen the park. Montauk State Park is located at 345 State Road 6670 in Salem. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Creative Arts Center will hold a beginner and intermediate Seed Beading class on Saturday, November 9th from 1:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon with Cynthia Grigsby. The class is appropriate for all ages! Children (with parent/legal guardian) and adults alike can participate. Each participant will learn the history seed beaded jewelry and make a piece for a keepsake. The cost of the class is $30 and all supplies are included. There must be five people sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to 15. To sign up, go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center.

Yesterday, a General Election was held nationally to determine a number of state and national offices as well as number of county offices. In Dent County, 7,176 ballots were cast which comes to 70.20% of registered voters cast their ballot. Only the locally contested races directly affecting Dent County are presented here. These results are unofficial. * Denotes winner

US Representative District 8 (Dent County Precincts Reported)

*Jason Smith (REP) 5,775 votes
Randi McCallian (DEM) 1,010 votes
Jake Dawson (LIB) 193 votes
Write In 10 votes

State Representative District 120 (Dent County Precincts Reported)
*John W. Hewkin (REP) 5,673 votes
Jen Tracy (DEM) 1,208 votes
Write In 14 votes

Presiding Commissioner Unexpired Term
*Gary Larson (REP) 5,522 votes
Write In 416 votes

Senior Homestead Property Tax Credit Question
*Yes 5,197 votes
No 1,708 votes

To all Salem residents impacted by recent flooding, please contact the City of Salem to share your name, address, and contact information if you have sustained property damage. As a member of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the City of Salem is working to assess the extent of flood damage in our community, whether property is insured through NFIP or not. The NFIP, a federal program, helps protect homeowners from the financial burden of flood damage by offering affordable flood insurance. This insurance provides coverage for both property damage and loss of personal belongings, giving homeowners faster access to funds for repair and recovery than they might receive through other disaster aid programs. Additionally, NFIP participation means that our community follows floodplain management practices, which help reduce flood risk over time. For us to conduct thorough assessments, it is crucial that we compile a complete list of affected properties as soon as possible. While we understand the need to begin cleanup and repair to restore your daily life, conducting assessments prior to these activities is vital. Early evaluations help document the extent of damage, supporting insurance claims and ensuring resources are directed where they are most needed. According to NFIP guidelines, certain cleanup activities can begin prior to assessment, as long as they do not involve structural repairs. Allowable cleanup includes removing mud, silt, or debris, discarding flood-damaged items such as furniture and appliances, and drying out wet areas. However, any repairs to walls, floors, or structural components should wait until after the assessment to ensure eligibility for insurance claims and proper documentation. If your property was affected, please add it to the assessment list by contacting the City of Salem at 573-729-4811 or by e-mailing your information to administration@salemmo.com. We appreciate your cooperation and understand the challenges this flooding has brought to our community. Working together, we aim to recover and rebuild swiftly and effectively.

The City of Salem has announced they have contracted with Forrester Works LLC to begin tree clearing and limb trimming along their electrical feeder lines to ensure safe and reliable electricity for city residents. The work, which started yesterday will continue through mid-January 2025. The electrical line clearing is critical to maintain public safety, protect infrastructure, and meet environmental standards. A map outlining the specific areas scheduled for clearing by Forrester Works LLC, is available for public viewing on Facebook, and affected areas are primarily those located along the noted electric routes. The work will be done along right-of-ways to keep the power lines free from obstruction. The goals from this project are to provide citizens with electricity in a safe manner, allow work to be done on the line safely and efficiently, and protect the electric distribution system. This project will also minimize negative impacts on the environment will allowing the city to comply with federal, state, and local regulations. By doing this work, the city hopes to reduce power outages and minimize storm clean up and dangers. A proper and safe reliable right-of-way primary line should have a minimum of 10 feet of ground to sky clearance on either side of the electric pole. The city wants to people to know that the contractor may need to side trim large trees planted outside of the 20-foot span to achieve this. When trees come into contact with power lines, children, adults, and even livestock are at risk of serious injury or worse. A clean right-of-way keeps you and your family, as well as our crews working out in the field, safe. 

Reliable power delivered safely is always the goal. The City of Salem also has “right-of-way” crews that will be performing routine maintenance and clearing, including the removal of trees and brush that have grown into or under city-maintained power lines and right-of-ways. In non-maintained areas, brush and/or large wood debris will be spread by brush hogging and/or shredding on city-maintained rights-of-way. The debris may also be piled along sides. Any trees located outside the rights-of-way that are a threat to the electric system (such as dying, diseased, leaning, or storm damaged trees) shall be stubbed, cut or appropriately topped to avoid outages, and clean-up will not be provided. Any further restoration/maintenance of the site will be the property owner’s responsibility. For more information or questions regarding the project, please contact the City of Salem’s Public Works Director Steve Paine at 573-729-4811.