Archive for 2025

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports from March 22nd through the 27th. On March 22nd, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 4500 block of South Highway 19. During the course of the stop, a 29-year-old Salem woman was arrested on an outstanding warrant. She was transported to the Dent County Jail where she posted bond. The next day, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 5085. During the course of the stop, a 38-year-old Salem man and a 46-year-old Steelville man were both arrested on multiple charges, including narcotics offenses. Both men were taken to the Dent County Jail where they were placed on a 24-hour hold. On Monday, March 24th, deputies responded to the 5200 block of Route O for a reported stealing complaint. The victim told deputies that money had been removed from the location without permission. That investigation is ongoing. That same day, deputies responded to the 700 block of Dent County Road 3210 to assist a Missouri Department of Revenue Investigator with the recovery of a stolen vehicle. Also on Monday, the 24th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 6150. During the course of the stop, a 23-year-old Salem man and a 26-year-old Salem woman were arrested. They were both transported to the Dent County Jail. That investigation is ongoing. On Thursday, March 27th, deputies took a report of a Violation of Order of Protection. The victim, a 48-year-old Salem woman, advised deputies that she was being harassed by her estranged husband, a 48-year-old Rolla man. That investigation continues. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 573-729-3241.

An accident happened in Crawford County Tuesday morning at 10:25 on Route BB just north of Vance Lane. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu driven southbound by an 18-year-old man from Steelville, traveled off the right side of the roadway, then overcorrected and went off the left side of the roadway where the Malibu struck a ditch. The man suffered serious injuries and was transported by the Steelville Ambulance to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. The man was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevy was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites people to celebrate the value of Missouri trees and forests during Arbor Days in April by planting native trees and practicing proper tree care. Missouri Arbor Day for 2025 is Friday, April 4th. Missouri has been observing the state’s official Arbor Day on the first Friday in April since 1886 when the General Assembly declared that day be set aside for the appreciation and planting of trees. National Arbor Day is recognized on the last Friday of April, which is April 25. Get information on backyard tree care, including types of trees for urban and other landscapes, selecting the right tree for the right place, planting tips, watering and pruning info, at mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-care. The MDC George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife food and cover. Orders are accepted to April 15th. For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov/seedlings. Missouri forests cover about one-third of the state and provide outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and watersheds for stream and rivers. Spending time in Missouri forests can provide a natural health benefit, too. Exposure to nature contributes to physical well-being, reducing blood pressure and heart rate, relieving stress, and boosting energy levels. Get more information at mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/forest-care.

At the Dent County Commission meeting Monday morning, Beverly Irons with the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court was in attendance to see what progress the commission had made on installing a chairlift to the courthouse on the second floor. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said they have talked with Custom Home Elevators of St. Louis, and they indicated the cost would be about $6,800 per flight, but they were not sure that it would adhere to the City of Salem building codes. Larson said they are waiting for City Building Inspector Jared Brown to check out the staircase to make sure the chairlift would comply. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2480, while only grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4080 and 5610. He said other crew members were assisting District 2 by hauling rock to the Conservation Department roads. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be adding rock and grading Dent County Road 2540 which is a Conservation Department Road, as well as grading county roads 3185 and 3190. Williams also said a crew would be checking out a concern on Dent County Road 3260. Commissioner Larson said he is scheduled to attend a Solid Waste Advisory Board meeting Wednesday in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the unexcused and excused absentee voting for the Municipal Election is now available at the courthouse. Her office will be open Saturday morning from 8:00 until 12:00 noon, and the last day to vote absentee will be Monday, April 7th until 5:00 PM. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said the SB190 “Homestead Credit” application is now available in her office where you can pick one up and take it home. She said you can also find the application on Dent County Portal where you can print off the application from home. All applications will NOT have to be signed by a notary, but they will need to be signed in front of and witnessed by a county official be it the collector, county clerk, commissioner, etc. VanKirk said there is a question-and-answer section on the portal and she said she would include it with every application picked up. The application will need to be submitted by June 30th. Brian Boyce and Jeff Banderet from Great Rivers Engineering were in attendance. Boyce told the commission that if they need to get drivers CDL trained, the county can do it themselves at a cost of $200 per person rather than send someone to a commercial CDL training facility which could cost the individual or county from $3,000 to $5,000 dollars. The commission said they are in good shape now as they have had little turnover but will definitely take advantage of that training when they need a new operator or driver without a CDL. Banderet talked about the TAP grant for the new sidewalks around the courthouse and said the plan was to use the existing light poles, but the city said the poles are eroding and cannot be reused. Banderet said the county should try to use the same type of light pole the city is using with their downtown project. He will check to see how many poles would be needed but believes it should only take four. The commission said they would get with the city on this as the light poles are actually the city’s and see if they can work something out with them on cost. The commission will also find out if the city plans on burying the new electric service to the courthouse or plans on keeping them elevated and sending them to a wood pole as that may interfere with the proposed TAP sidewalk and retaining wall. Commissioner Larson did ask that the one diagonal sidewalk on the south side to the front door be added back into the TAP plan and Banderet said that could be done. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees met Thursday evening, March 20th at 5:00. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report for the month of February. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated there were no cases of COVID-19 reported, while there were 46 active lead cases, 147 Influenza A cases exceeding January’s number of 84, which both of which are the highest numbers since December of 2022, one animal bite report, and there were 8 screenings for sexually transmitted infections, resulting in 10 total tests. The February environmental report by Assistant Administrator Roma Jones showed there where 5 total inspections conducted, no recalls, no sewer complaints, and no environmental questions were fielded. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there was one car seat distributed, no CPR Courses, no consultations for Childcare Health, one Show-Me Healthy Women appointments, no Title X appointments were reported, there was one Presumptive Eligibility (Temporary Medicaid), and 334 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 358 total appointments other than WIC, 155 total provider appointments, 90 treatment court visits, 165 lab appointments and 33 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner Service Details showed was one Show-Me Healthy Women appointment, 5 family plannings, 1 well-child visit, 16 online appointments, 3 other well-woman exams, 2 other physicals, no SEMO physicals, 16 other visits, and 66 acute illness appointments. Physician Service Details showed no well-visits, no online appointments, one other physical, no SEMO Physicals, 14 other visits, and 42 acute illness visits. Laboratory details showed 138 individual patients, 34 appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, pregnancy tests were not reported, and there were 16 lead tests reported. Phlebotomy Appointments totaled 115, while all Lab Appointments totaled 165. Immunizations for February totaled 6 for COVID-19, 7 for Influenza, and 69 other vaccines given for a total of 82 total doses given during 33 total appointments. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that the Health Center would conduct a Health Fair May 2nd, plus he reported on the Community Health Assessment meeting with community leaders held March 12th. He shared the report from Jessica Ricks, MPH, Population Health Director, on the CHA visioning meeting. The draft survey questions were shared and a timeline for the rest of the project was laid out. Moser updated the Board on the audit which was moving into the “Single Audit” portion. The lease agreement with the Dent County Soil and Water Conservation District was shared, followed by the consideration of proposals from Family Trash Service and GFL for waste collection. DCHC financials for February were reviewed, discussed, and approved. Zach shared the draft of the DCHC Annual Report and the Mutual Aid Resolution 2025-01, which was adopted by the Board. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, April 17th, 2025, at 5:00.

The City of Salem Utility Committee convened for a special meeting last Wednesday evening at 6:15  in the Old City Hall Auditorium, to review proposed amendments to the utility policy. The recommended changes encompassed several key updates, including: clarifying office closure protocols to explicitly define closures approved by the Mayor and Board President, revising deposit information to align with the current details on the City of Salem’s website, and addressing minor grammatical inconsistencies. These proposed modifications are intended to enhance the clarity and precision of the Utility Policies.