Posts by Stan Podorski

An accident happened in Dent County Monday morning at 2:29 on Highway 119 at Route E that took the life of a Salem teenager. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Pontiac G6 driven westbound by a 16-year-old male juvenile from Salem, experienced a mechanical failure causing the Pontiac to travel off Highway 119 from Route E into the wood line, striking a tree. According to the report, a passenger in the Pontiac, 18-year-old Danny Luebbers of Salem, was pronounced dead at the scene by Dent County Deputy Coroner Gina White. His body was taken to the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Another passenger, a 15-year-old male from Salem, suffered moderate injuries as did the juvenile driver. The 15-year-old boy was taken to the Salem Memorial Hospital by the Salem Ambulance while the 16-year-old driver was taken by a privately operated vehicle to the hospital. It was unknown if the juveniles were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident while the report indicated that Luebbers was not. The Pontiac was totaled and removed from the scene by American Automotive. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the Salem Police Department.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, May 16th. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated that there were four COVID-19 cases reported, 40 lead cases, 19 screenings for sexually transmitted infections, two cases of Influenza and nine animal bites. The environmental report by Assistant Administrator Roma Jones showed there where seven total inspections conducted, no recalls, no sewer complaints, and 23 environmental questions were fielded. A townhall meeting and informational session was planned for May 30th at 7:00 in the evening to provide information and answer questions about the new Consumer Food Safety Regulation. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there were 3 CPR Courses, no consultations for Childcare Health, one Show-Me Healthy Women appointemnt, 33 Title X appointnments, two Presumptive Eligibilities (Temporary Medicaid) and 340 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 512 total appointments other than WIC, 144 Nurse Practitioner appointments, 125 treatment court visits, 185 lab appointments and 52 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner Service Details showed one Show-Me Healthy Women appointment, nine family plannings, two well-child visits, 10 online appointments, nine other physicals, 21 SEMO physicals, 12 other visits, and 75 acute illness appointments. Laboratory details showed 195 individual patients, nine appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, four pregnancy tests and no lead tests. Immunizations for April totaled four for COVID-19, three for Influenza, and 90 for other vaccines, including the new RSV vaccine and new formulations of pneumonia vaccine. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that letters and invoices for the first food inspection fee have been mailed out and regulations and fees become effective July 1st. Moser recapped recent events including the Health Fair which had 64 attendees, five total trainings that sent staff around the country, at no cost to DCHC, plus two vaccine clinics in April. He discussed a number of maintenance issues which included replacment of a toilet, the completed installation of a larger generator, and the expectation of an insurance claim due to the April 18th hail storm which damaged the outdoor electronic sign and possible parts of the building. Moser also discussed progress on the Strategic Plan. The Health Center financial reports for April, including the overall results from H & R Block, were reviewed. Discussion was held on the balance sheet, income statement, and budget statements. After these questions were answered, the financial reports and the report from H & R Block were approved. In new business the draft of the Financial Audit was presented. The Board requested time to review the audit befoe granting approval. The preliminary report was an unmodified opinon with no material weaknesses or findings. Moser made the Board aware of a list of changes that could be made to the building and potential long-term facilities planning. Board member Bob Gravely asked about the opioid settlement money for Dent County. Moser confirmed that Dent County, through the Commissioners, has received money, but has not spent it. The Commission will be using MRPC to evalute uses of the money. The Board went in to closed session to discuss personnel. The only motion in closed session was the approval of the April 18th closed session minutes. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, June 20th at 5:00.

An accident happened Saturday afternoon at 4:35 in Phelps County on Route BB and Phelps County Road 3130. According to the highway patrol report, a 2106 Ford Fiesta driven eastbound by 22-year-old Hope Olguin of Rolla, stopped to make a left hand turn and was struck from behind by a 2007 Toyota Yarris driven eastbound by a 16-year-old female juvenile of Rolla. Olguin suffered minor injuries as did two passengers in her vehicle: 20-year-old Jason Archuletta and 20-year old Miahann Warrick of Rolla. Everyone was taken by a personal vehicle to Phelps Health for treatment. Everyone involved was wearing a seatbelt. The Ford Fiesta had minor damage and was driven from the scene while the Toyota Yarris sustained moderate damages and was towed from the scene by the owner.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting. Numerous landowners from Dent County Roads 3290 and 3300 were in attendance to discuss problems with the truck traffic primarily from Royal Oak since their expansion a couple years ago. The landowners say the truck traffic on a daily basis now is unbelievable. The drivers are following GPS instructions which is taking them down county roads with tractor-trailer units and semi-trucks which are doing major damage to the county roads, both gravel and chip and seal. Many of these drivers actually have to back up on the roads for miles to get back out on a highway, while other drivers are getting stuck when they realize they can’t turn around and are actually driving through residents yards leaving deep ruts and damaging their property, knocking down signs, and destroying ditch lines. Many of the concerns of the residents were that when these events happen, they can’t get a quick response from the Dent County Sheriff’s Department or the highway patrol when they call to report an incident or write a ticket. Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells produced dispatcher records that showed deputies responded to some 11 calls in that area in about an 18 day stretch, but they have no authority to write tickets for the truck using the road as use of the road is controlled by the state. The commission has discussed this with MoDOT Central District Engineer Michelle Watkins about putting up signage, but she said MoDOT won’t do that as they say they would have to do that for every road in the county and City of Salem. The county had put up 10-ton weight limit signs on the roads, but they have either been knocked down or stolen, plus the Dent County Sheriff’s Department would have to have portable scales to enforce that restriction which they do not. The commission has ordered some new signage for the roads prohibiting large truck traffic on some roads, but they have not yet arrived. The commission felt the best thing to do was to try to get a meeting with Royal Oak and find a solution to the truck routing problem that currently exists. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave the CART Tax report and said the county received $81,593.77 this month which is $15,857.26 more than for May of 2023 when the county received $65,736.51. Year-to-date, the county is up $13,857.26 in CART funds. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4220, 5490 and 6660 while brush would be cut on county road 5080. He said workers would also be patching pot holes on chip and seal roads with the Ultimate Paving Material. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3200 and 5260, while only grading would be done on county road 6123. He said brush would be cut on county road 4290. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended the Tourism Tax Committee meeting where five proposals were received and all five were approved. They also had five requests for reimbursement with one being rejected for the lack of paperwork. The county clerk’s office balanced with the Dent County Treasurer on all accounts for the month of April. The courthouse will be closed for Memorial Day Monday and the next meeting will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and it is open to the public.

The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to the boating season. During the 2023 Memorial Day weekend, there were 10 boating crashes which included no fatalities and two injuries. No one drowned over last year’s Memorial Day weekend. Last year, troopers made 137 driving while intoxicated and eight boating while intoxicated arrests. This year’s Memorial Day holiday counting period begins at 6:00 Friday evening and ends at 11:59 Monday night. Every available trooper will be on the water, enforcing Missouri laws and assisting people. Expect an increase in boating traffic on the state’s lakes and rivers. Always wear a life jacket when near, on, or in the water. Be courteous and pay attention, whether you’re operating a vehicle or a vessel, and choose to be a sober driver on land and on the water. A safe, fun weekend is the result of planning and making good decisions. Motorists or boaters in need of assistance or who want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 (or *55 on a cellular phone). Have a safe and prosperous Memorial Day weekend!

An accident happened Wednesday afternoon at 5:15 in Texas County on Route BB about four miles west of Highway 63. According to the highway patrol report, a 1997 Polaris Express 300 being operated by 43-year-old Norman Jackson of Licking, was traveling westbound when he was struck from behind by a 2006 Hyundai Elantra being driven by 36-year-old Victoria Waldrop of Houston. Both Jackson and Waldrop suffered moderate injuries and were both taken by Texas County EMS to the Texas County Memorial hospital. The Polaris was totaled and removed from the scene by Jay’s Towing at the request of the responding officer. The Elantra sustained moderate damage and was able to be driven from the scene. The report went on to state that Waldrop was wearing a seat restraint while Jackson was not using any safety equipment.