Local News – Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Dent County Commission met Monday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. Donald Dodd and Wes Mobray were in attendance. Dodd announced that there would be an IDA meeting Thursday night at 6:00 at the Salem Library. In the road report District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading only would be done on Dent County Roads 2400 and 5440, while materials would be added and grading would be done on county roads 5100, 5103, and 5105. He said the new John Deere grader was having maintenance and repair work done and should be back on Monday. Purcell said a man was going after a load of oil for chip and seal repair. He noted that he attended a Tourism Commission meeting last Monday where six reimbursement requests were submitted and approved, plus one request for an extension with a completion date was submitted and approved. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2330 and 5225, while materials would be hauled to county road 2070. He went on to say that brush would be cut on county road 2200 and his crew was checking for downed trees in District Two. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he attended a meeting last week in Columbia with CCAM President Gary Jungermann and Mark Thompson. They negotiated a new contract for commission training, which extends through 2023. Skiles also reminded Dent County residents that there are CARES ACT funds still available for entities and small business. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills and payroll were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. She reminded voters that the last day to register to vote in the November 3rd General Election is October 7th. She noted that absentee voting continues in her office and the last day to mail out an absentee ballot is October 21st. Curley encouraged voters needing to update their voting information such as address and/or name change should do so as soon as possible. She also reported that last Tuesday she attended a South Central Regional Clerks’ meeting in West Plains. The Commission reminded residents that the Courthouse will be closed Monday, October 12th, for Columbus Day so that week the Commission will meet on Tuesday, October 13th. Travis Tindell from Inform Architecture was in to visit. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday at 9:00 at the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold a special meeting Wednesday, September 30th at 6:30 the district administration offices
boardroom. After approval of the agenda the board will address new business Hybrid Learning Plan before adjourning. The Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting Wednesday evening is open to the public.

An accident occurred in Dent County Sunday evening about 6:07 on Route B one mile east of Highway 19. According to the Highway Patrol Report an eastbound 2006 Nissan Titan, driven by a 17 year-old minor of Salem, traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. A passenger in the Nissan, 17 year-old Mickayla Schlicker of Salem, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Salem EMS to Salem Memorial District Hospital. According to the report both Schlicker and the 16 year-old driver were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Nissan was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Highway Patrol was assisted by Salem Police Department and the Dent County Fire Department.

An accident occurred in Maries County about 1:20 Monday morning on Highway 63 four miles north of Vichy that took the life of a Vienna man. According to the Highway Patrol Report a northbound 1997 Ford F250, driven by 52 year-old Gregory Medlock, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a rock bluff, then overturned on its left side. Medlock was pronounced deceased at Phelps Health in Rolla
at 2:58 after being transported there by Maries-Osage Ambulance District. The report stated that Medlock was not wearing a safety restraint. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by C & C Towing.

An accident occurred at 7:18 Sunday evening in Phelps County on I-44 at the 182 mile marker. According to the Highway Patrol Report an eastbound 2010 Ford F150, driven by 29 year-old Isreal Gonzalez of Des Moines, Iowa, was disabled in the left after being struck by an unknown vehicle. The Ford was struck by an eastbound 2013 Chevrolet Eqinox driven by 54 year-old Jason Wright of Springfield, Missouri. Gonzalez and a passenger in the Ford, 47 year-old Tristan Carmelo also of Des Moines, both suffered serious injuries and were transported to Phelps Health in Rolla. Both vehicles were totaled and the Ford was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman Towing, while the Chevrolet was removed by C & C Towing.

A one vehicle accident occurred in Phelps County Sunday evening at 7:35 on County Road 3060 one half mile east of Rolla. According to the Highway Patrol Report an eastbound 2011 Ford Escape, driven by 29 year-old Nathaniel Dalton of Jefferson City, began hydroplaning, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a ditch. A one year-old male juvenile suffered minor injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps Health. Dalton and the male minor were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Ford sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman Towing.