Posts by CTC

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse and they received the CART tax report from Dent County Treasurer for money received in April. According to her report, CART receipts this month came in at $54,767.10 which is down from the 2016 figure for April of $55,686.11. Year-to-date the CART stands at $218,786.31 which is up $4,465.32 over 2016 which is an increase of 2.08%. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated his district received around 2.9 inches of rain Friday into Saturday. Because of the rain, a call was received Friday evening at about 6:30 for three trees down on Dent County Road 6633. Workers were called out to remove the road blockage. Purcell said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5080, 5085, 5015 and 6500. He went on to say brush would be cut on county road 5610 while materials would be added to county roads 4160 and 5460. Purcell did say a man would be checking the roads in the Bunker area for any downed trees or limbs from the rains. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said his district received anywhere from about 2.5 to 3.2 inches of rain from the rains Friday and Saturday. He said he would have men out checking the condition of the roads in the continual problem areas. Larson stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2210, 3180 and 4290. He went on to say materials would be added to county road 4030 and brush was going to be cut on county roads 2330 and 2360. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrel Skiles wanted to remind anyone who wanted to attend a free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, that it would be held June 3rd and 4th at the MRPC located at #4 Industrial Drive in St. James. Seating is limited for the class and priority will be given to individuals or groups within Region I which is made up of Crawford, Dent, Laclede, Maries, Phelps and Pulaski counties. The class aims at providing citizens with skills to perform essential lifesaving functions while waiting for the professional responders to arrive following a disaster. The class will be held Saturday, June 3rd from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday, June 4th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The deadline to register is Friday, May 19th. To register or for more information, contact Anne Freand at 573-265-2993 ext. 105. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley had nothing to report as their computer system was down due to some electrical work. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

Winners of the KSMO Radio giveaways at the 2017 Business Expo this past Saturday were: Karen Frizzell & Ron Brown each won 4 tickets to go see the Springfield Cardinals. Joyce Conway and Clyde Hyde were the winners andeach will receive a children’s bucket of goodies. Congratulations to the winners and a special thank you to all who stopped by the booth and took the time to register.

The Salem Police Department released reports involving assault, theft, traffic violation, possible child neglect and property damage. On Thursday, April 6th at 8:45 at night, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to an assault. The report revealed a juvenile male had been assaulted by two other juvenile males. The report is under investigation. On Friday, April 7th at 4:48 in the afternoon, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to a theft. The report revealed someone unknown had taken $1,334.42 in cash from a green 1996 Jeep that was parked near the 600 block of South Walker. The report is under investigation. Later that night at 11:26, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The stop led to the arrest of a 25-year old Salem male for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was issued a ticket and released. On Saturday, April 8th at 4:04 pm, an officer took a 51-year old Rolla male into custody at the Salem Police Department on an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem. He was incarcerated pending a court appearance. That night at 8:08, an officer was conducting an investigation of possible child neglect at a residence in the 700 block of South Jackson. During the investigation, an officer located a 36-year old Salem male who had an active arrest warrant from Wayne County and another from Missouri Probation and Parole. He was taken into custody on the warrants and incarcerated pending a court appearance and extradition. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have some information regarding any ongoing investigation.

An accident occurred at 8:00 Monday morning in Phelps County on Highway 72 about four miles east of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 1998 Chevrolet S-10 driven by 20-year old Austin Crooks of Rolla was traveling eastbound on Highway 72. Crooks fell asleep and the S-10 traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Crooks suffered minor injuries and was transported to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center. He was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet sustained minor damage and was towed by C&C Towing.

Once again, congratulations go out to the Salem Chamber Singers for winning Gold at the National Competition in Nashville this past weekend!! They took 1st place in their class and category, and received a 3rd straight invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York. The Chamber also received the Spirit of Nashville Award! Congratulations to instructor Elaine Russell and the entire choir.

The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of March. During the month, they wrote 11 equipment repair orders, 13 summons to appear in court, 11 warning tickets, and 15 traffic tickets. The Salem Police Department investigated 16 accidents, five assaults, two burglaries, two reports of disorderly conduct, one report of dogs at large, one report of domestic assault, eight reports of domestic violence, one report of driving while being intoxicated, one report of driving while having a license revoked and/or suspended, one report of failure to obey a lawful order of a police officer, one report of forgery and one report of manufacturing and/or possession a Fictitious and/or forged identification. The department also investigated one report of a peace disturbance, one report of probation and/or parole violation, six reports of property damage, one report of statutory sodomy, 14 reports of stealing, one report of tampering with a victim, one report of a towed vehicle, and two reports of unlawful use of a firearm and/or weapon. They also investigated three reports of possession of amphetamine, one report of Possession of a controlled substance, three reports of possession and/or delivery of marijuana and one report of possession of drug paraphernalia. The police department received 1,156 calls for service during the month, handled 130 walk-ins to the station, redirected 57 calls to the animal control officer and they conducted one death investigation. They spent 20 hours in court testifying. The Salem Police Department drove a total of 7,280 miles and arrested 21 males and 8 females during the month of March.

If you are having problems with your septic system and don’t know how you can pay to correct the problem, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the Missouri Association of Councils of Government (MACOG) have partnered to create a grant-loan fund to address failed or failing on-site wastewater treatment systems throughout Missouri, with the objective of improving the state’s water quality. The Department of Natural Resources has set aside $1 million dollars for the fund. Roughly $250,000 is still available, and regional planning commissions are spreading the word and helping homeowners complete the grant-loan application. The Boonslick Regional Planning Commission in Warrenton is overseeing the project on behalf of MACOG, and will process the grant-loan requests. The program will provide grants and loans to homeowners seeking to repair or replace their on-site private wastewater systems. Eligible recipients include homeowners with a failing or failed on-site wastewater treatment system. Homeowners will be required to document that their system is failing, provide evidence of financial need for a grant and must have a sufficient income to make the loan payment and maintain the system. Additionally, the value of the septic improvement cannot exceed the value of the home. Grants and loans can be made for repair or replacement of private wastewater treatment systems for single-family houses and multi-family housing consisting of four units or less. Contractors approved by each county’s respective health department must install new septic systems. Costs related to the installation of an approved system (such as soils investigation, engineering services and surveying) are allowable expenses. Funds cannot be used to connect homes to a cluster system or public sewer system or install an on-site system for new construction. The maximum grant amount is 50 percent of the project, not to exceed $12,500, based up the total project cost and income eligibility. Loan terms will be based on the borrower’s ability to repay, not to exceed $25,000 or 10 years per connection. Participating homeowners must certify they will provide appropriate system maintenance over the life of the loan, complete an online training on operating and maintaining the system and periodically have the system inspected. Those living in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties should contact Maria Bancroft at MRPC at (573) 573-265-2993 Ext. 114 or by email at mbancroft@meramecregion.org for more information and an application packet.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department released a couple of reports. On Tuesday, April 11th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the McDonald’s parking lot. As a result, 19-year old Abby Ray of Salem was arrested for driving while having her license suspended. She was fingerprinted, issued a summons, and released. On Thursday, April 13th, Dent County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 2410. The passenger, 24-year old Michelle Munson of Salem, was arrested on a probation violation warrant on the original charge of possession of a controlled substance. She was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated on no bond. If you have any information on ongoing investigations, call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning in the Courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that he had a man out sick with pneumonia. He said that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Road 5080, while the patching of chip and seal would take place on county roads 6380 and 4210. Purcell noted brush would possibly be cut on county road 5610 if the exhaust regeneration problems with the tractor could be resolved. He added that Monday evening he attended the Tourism Committee meeting where three reimbursement requests were approved and one project proposal was denied. Purcell went on to say that on Tuesday he attended the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency meeting in Winona where he learned that Dent County has preschool openings for the 2017-2018 year and that those interested should contact Sarah Givens at (573) 729-3500 extension 10. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on Dent County Road 4280, while materials would be added to and was cleaning limbs from the bridge on county road 2500. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that Thursday of last week he presided over a HUD hearing and again reminded participants to read their contracts carefully and make sure they are in compliance. He noted that if a participant in the program has a question they should call the Public Housing Authority at (573) 265-2993. Skiles stated that there will be a Community Emergency Response Team Training Saturday June 3rd and Sunday June 4th for anyone interested in assisting with local emergencies. Skiles noted that bills were being approved. Deputy County Clerk Crystal Pilkington had nothing to report. City of Salem Administrator Ray Walden and Marybeth Cook were by to inform the Commissioners about the grant from Community Foundation of the Ozarks for a part-time Dent County Foundation Coordinator. Cook has been named to the position and will be working 20 hours per week. At 9:55 Commissioner Larson left to go by a funeral home to pay his respects. Special Investigator Wayne Becker was in for the opening of bids for a new copier for the Sheriff’s Department. The Commissioners approved the bid 2-0 from Advanced Business Products for a Xerox copier at $226.05 per month on a 60 month lease. The other bid submitted was from ABS was for $635.08 per month for a Kyocera machine. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred at 4:43 Wednesday afternoon in Phelps County on Highway BB about two miles east of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Apache Field Sprayer driven by 36-year old Travis Bahr of Rolla was traveling eastbound. Bahr applied the brakes, crossed the center of the roadway and traveled into the oncoming lane of traffic. A 2013 Toyota Tacoma driven by 27-year old Mark Meirink of Maryland Heights was traveling westbound when he saw the Field Sprayer traveling towards him. Meirink attempted to go in reverse to avoid impact but was struck by the Field Sprayer. Bahr suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene. Meirink suffered moderate injuries while a passenger, 49-year old Richard Hendershot of Rolla suffered serious injuries and both were transported by the Phelps County ambulance to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center. Hendershot was the only one wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Toyota Tacoma was totaled and removed by Ron Dishman Towing. The Field Sprayer sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

An accident occurred at 10:40 Thursday morning in Dent County on Highway 32 about two miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 1994 Ford Ranger driven by 71-year old John Connell of Salem was traveling eastbound on Highway 32. The Ford Ranger was stopped to make a left turn and was struck from behind by a 2004 Dodge Ram driven by 16-year old Samuel Ball of Salem. A passenger in the Ford Ranger, 55-year old Tania Connell of Salem suffered minor injuries and was transported by private conveyance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Everyone involved was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Dodge Ram and the Ford Ranger sustained minor damage and both were driven from the scene.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a number of reports. On Friday, April 7th, a subject walked into the sheriff’s office to report a chainsaw stolen. After a short investigation, the chainsaw was located at a residence on East Fourth Street. As a result, 33-year old Albert Terrill of Salem was arrested and charged with misdemeanor stealing. He was also found to have two City of Salem warrants. He was issued a summons for the stealing and incarcerated in the Dent County Jail on the warrants. On Sunday, April 9th, deputies responded to the 600 block of Private lane 601 for a report of a disturbance. Upon arrival at the residence, deputies made contact with 30-year old Joseph Duff of Licking. It was discovered that Duff had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Duff was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated with a bond of $7,000 cash only. If you have any information on ongoing investigations, feel free to call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.