Local News

The Dent County Health Center will be holding a Drive through Flu Shot Clinic today from 10:00 this morning until 6:00 tonight at the Dent County Fire Protection District Fire Station at #2 South Main in Salem. The shot clinic is for ages 6 months and up and participants are requested to have their insurance cards available.

The Dent County Commission met Tuesday morning in the courthouse. Sheriff Bob Wells was in to get approval to advertise for oil changes for the Sheriff’s Department vehicles. The Commission approved the advertisement and bids are to be submitted to the Dent County Clerk’s office by 10:00 on Monday, October 26th. Treasurer Denita Williams was in with the sales tax receipts for October. General Revenue and Law Enforcement Sales Tax each received $72,720.24, which is up $4,311.51 over September and up year-to-date $39,666.97 or nearly 4.9%. Road and Bridge received $34,266.25 and is up $2,725.53 or nearly 6.6% year-to-date. The Jail Operations and Jail Trust Fund each received $68,464.65 and they are up $48,781.01 or 6.45%. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell noted that roadways are nearly too dry to grade. He said ditching would take place on Dent County Road 5220, commonly referred to as the Quarry Road, and materials would be added to that road. Purcell reported that materials would be added to county roads 2470 and 2480, plus bridge repair would be done on county road 6580. Purcell said that two men had gone to Jefferson City to pickup Truck #119, which had been in for repairs. He concluded by saying that time permitting brush would be cut on county roads 4122 and 4124. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 3080 and 3090, and materials would be added to county road 5300. Larson explained that the low water bridge on county road 3180 was going to have quite a bit of concrete added to it in order to avoid further deterioration. He also reported that extensive repair was going to be done to a damaged area of county road 3240 that is chip and sealed, plus a pipe was going to be installed on county road 2330. Presiding Commissioner Darrel Skiles reported that last Tuesday he attend a meeting of the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District where none grants were approved for nearly $195,000. On Friday, he attended a meeting of a group in Houston that is working on developing a plan to get Highway 63 to four lanes from Highway 50 in Osage County to the Arkansas line. The group involves nearly all the counties that Highway 63 travels through and they are considering forming a Transportation Development District. Skiles said he attended to address the probable by-pass of Rolla and his hope that it would be on the east side of Rolla in order to provide Salem and Dent County better access to Highway 63 and I44, rather than on the west side of Rolla. He also noted that he attended the small business breakfast where Kelly Sink presented ideas about utilizing the Cares Act funds. The Commissioners emphasized the fact that Dent County still has around a million dollars in Cares Act funds to be utilized by small business and public entities. Those interested need to contact MRPC’s Kelly Sink at 573-265-2993. The Commissioners approved Cares Act Fund payments of $30,000 for Ozark Dental and $50,000 for Jadwin Transportation. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley noted that absentee voting continues through November 2nd at 5:00 pm and her office will be open Saturday, October 31st, from 8:00 until 12:00 noon. She said the last day to mail out an absentee ballot is October 21st at 5:00 pm and that sample ballots are available to be picked up or emailed. Curley said that the public testing of election equipment will be October 23rd at 9:00. She also noted that bills were being approved for payment along with payroll and that she balanced with the collector and assessor on all monthly collections, abatements and add-ons for September and that the Commissioners reviewed her reports. The Commissioners approved signing the Hazardous Mitigation Plan update contract which is due in 2023. This is done in order to start the update process. Jeff Banderet with Great Rivers was in to review the FLAP Projects for the Cooley Bridge and Tan Vat access road improvements. The Commission approved and signed the forms that summarize each project. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning in the courthouse and it is open to the public.

The Salem Airport Board will be meeting this evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory starting at 6:00. The agenda includes unfinished business which includes an update on the airport lights, an update on the new and existing hangers, an update on the gate opener, an update on the contracting out for fuel service and an update on a courtesy car. In new business, the airport board will review the 2019-2020 tentative year end reports as well as the 2020-2021 year-to-date financial reports. They will also discuss a prospective weather station at the airport and any other business before adjourning. The meeting is open to the public.

After a few cooler evenings and morning, the forest and woodland hillsides in the Ozark Region are beginning to show a little more fall color this week, while other areas are still mostly showing various shades of green. Walnut and sassafras are turning, and some black gums are showing nice reds. Maples, black cherry, and elms are starting to show yellows and reds and should be very colorful over the next few weeks. On drier sites, oaks and hickories have yellow and brown leaves, but in areas where they receive more moisture, their leaves are showing just a hint of yellow. Look for them to reach peak color in middle to late October. Although not common, our native red mulberry trees, with their large, heart-shaped leaves, are bright yellow now. In open fields and along roadsides, sumacs are showing brilliant red. Some fall hot spots to take advantage of this beautiful time of the year to get out and enjoy nature is the Current and Jack’s Fork Rivers! Sinking Creek is also an excellent tributary to now only see great colors but the incredible bluffs. If you are in Texas County, check out the Barn Hollow Conservation Area and Buck Hollow Access where Highway 17 crosses the Jacks Fork River and provides excellent opportunities to view the fall color kaleidoscope.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has announced it has changed its mandatory sampling requirements for chronic wasting disease (CWD) to voluntary sampling in 30 counties during the opening weekend of this year’s November firearms portion of deer season. The change was prompted by ongoing cases and public-health concerns in Missouri regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The change will impact hunters who harvest deer during the opening weekend of the November portion of the firearms deer season on November 14th and 15th in any of the 30 CWD Management Zone counties that include in our area Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Howell, Oregon, St. Francois and Washington. While CWD sampling is no longer required that opening weekend for the 30 counties in its CWD Management Zone, MDC’s 71 CWD sampling stations located throughout the zone will remain open. MDC encourages hunters to have their deer sampled for CWD on the day of harvest. MDC will be taking precautions to ensure the health of both staff and the public during CWD sampling. Social distancing will be practiced by MDC staff at all stations. MDC staff will wear gloves and face masks at all times. Hunters and those with them will be asked to remain in their vehicles while their deer is being sampled. Hunters will only be asked to provide county of harvest and will not be asked to identify harvest location on a map. MDC asks hunters and others who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 to refrain from visiting CWD sampling stations. MDC will continue to offer statewide voluntary CWD sampling and testing of harvested deer during the entire deer season at select locations throughout the state, including participating MDC offices, cooperating taxidermists, and new freezer head-drop locations. Sampling and test results are free. Find locations and more information online at mdc.mo.gov/cwd or by contacting an MDC regional office.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, invites the public to visit the agency’s recently created Show-Me Integrity portal. Accessed through the Patrol’s website, visitors get an unprecedented look inside the Patrol. Colonel Olson said that they know that accreditation, core values, community policing, service, and protection are only words until you see how they apply them every day during every contact. The Show-Me Integrity portal provides insight into policies, training, and important functions, as well as related statistics. Learn more about your Missouri State Highway Patrol by visiting the portal at https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov and click on the “Show-Me Integrity” portal icon in the middle of the home page. Colonel Olson also said that he hopes the Show-Me Integrity portal conveys to Missouri citizens the high standards the employees meet as they perform their duties, plus they are proud to serve you with integrity, responsibility, respect, professionalism, compassion, resourcefulness, character, and commitment.

Monday was an historic day for the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla and for the state of Missouri. St. Louis businessman Fred Kummer and his wife June have donated 300 million dollars to the southern Missouri university he graduated from in 1955 which is the largest single gift in the history of Missouri higher education. S&T Chancellor Mo Dehghani says the funding will help to launch four new research centers focused on infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. Dehghani says he hopes they will be game changers. The university also plans to use the gift on things like creating new faculty jobs, providing scholarships and fellowships as well as launching a shuttle service between S&T and St. Louis to bring students to campus. Kummer is the founder of St. Louis-based HBE Corporation, a design-build health care firm. Missouri S&T is a research university of over 8,000 students focused on science, technology, engineering and math.

Salem Alderman Kevin James has called for a City of Salem Utility Committee meeting to be held Thursday evening, October 15th at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla. At the meeting, the committee will receive an update on the AMI Project and utility billing before getting an update on the BHMG’s AMI project review and assessment. Following that update, the utility committee will see demonstrations of online payments and pay-by-phone options. Finally any other topics from the committee members will be heard for future considerations and actions. The meeting of the City of Salem Utility Committee meeting is open to the public.

Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley has issued a press release on the status of the State of Missouri vs Donald Nash. This case concerned the death of Judy Spencer on March 11th of 1982. An initial police investigation determined she had been strangled with her shoelace, then shot in the neck by a shotgun, postmortem. The case remained unsolved for 25 years when in 2007, investigators collected DNA samples from Donald Nash to compare with DNA evidence found on fingernail clippings taken from Spencer’s body before advancements in DNA in 1982. There was also a small amount of DNA evidence on the victim’s shoe. Following the DNA analysis and with much attention given to the DNA under the fingernails, Nash was charged with capital murder in 2008 by then Prosecutor Jessica Sparks. Sparks later withdrew from the case, and a trial was conducted in 2009 with the state being represented by the Attorney General’s Office and the Defendant by private counsel. As a result of the trial, the jury convicted the Defendant of murder. The conviction was originally affirmed by the Missouri Supreme Court, who later appointed a special master to hear evidence for habeas relief requested by the defendant. In June of this year, the Special Master heard evidence about the case and recommended the Supreme Court to vacate the conviction rendered by the jury in 2009 due in part to a change in DNA expert testimony. During those hearings, the DNA expert revised his opinion on the effect of the DNA other than to say it’s more than no effect. On July 3, 2020 the Missouri Supreme Court vacated the sentence and remanded the case back to the trial court due, in part, to this change in testimony. Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley inherited the case and with assistance from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office began reviewing the case and discovered the bulk of the physical evidence remained in the custody of the Missouri Highway Patrol. All evidence was resubmitted for DNA re-testing in anticipation of the upcoming trial. Additional DNA testing was performed by the State due to the advancements in DNA technology and to be thorough. The MSHP DNA expert reviewed their previous findings and trial testimony. The expert indicated due to an increase in testing standards now implemented by MSHP laboratory they could no longer testify, as they did in 2009, that it was Donald Nash’s DNA that was located under the victim’s fingernails. Most importantly, the DNA analysis was recently conducted on the shoestring used to strangle the victim. DNA was identified from two male contributors. Donald Nash was then excluded as a contributor to the male DNA located on the shoestring used to strangle the victim. As a result of the change in testimony from the DNA analyst and the existence of genetic material from two unknown males on the shoestring, the charges against Donald Nash have been dismissed by the state. This decision was made following consultation with the prosecutors in the Attorney General’s Office, who concur with Prosecutor Curley’s conclusions and have recommended this same course of action.

An accident happened in Texas County Thursday afternoon at 1:58 on Highway 63 just south of Licking. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 Dodge Caravan driven northbound by 58-year old Mickey Wilson of Licking, attempted to avoid an animal that came into the roadway. The Caravan was then struck from behind by a 2007 Dodge Durango driven northbound by 61-year old Jerry Hale of Edgar Springs. Hale suffered moderate injuries and was taken to the Texas County Memorial District Hospital in Houston by ambulance. Both Wilson and Hale were wearing seat restraints at the time iof the accident. The Dodge Caravan sustained moderate damages and was towed from the scene by Jay’s Automotive of Houston. The Dodge Durango had moderate damages but was driven from the scene.

The Missouri Department of Transportation maintenance crews will be making driving surface improvements next week along Interstate 44 in Crawford County. The concrete replacement will take place in the eastbound and westbound lanes between from the Phelps County line to the Franklin County line. One lane in each direction will be closed in work areas between 6:30 in the morning and 5:00 in the afternoon starting this Tuesday and running through Thursday, October 15th. MoDOT appreciates the patience of motorists traveling through the area. Drivers are advised to watch for workers on the road, avoid distractions and obey all traffic signs. This work is weather permitting and could be delayed. For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).

City of Salem Administrator Ray Walden wants to remind citizens that due to the customer service and security enhancements at the City Administrative Offices, the building is temporarily closed and the utility drive-thru is currently closed. Customers do have the option to drop utility payments off at the drop-box near the council chambers entrance door along 3rd Street, to mail payments to 400 N. Iron St., or to pay by phone at 729-4117. Utility staff will be available for in-person meetings today from 8:30 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon at the City Hall Council Chambers. Citizens can make an appointment or stop by on a first-come first-served basis. All phone numbers for departments located in the admin office building remain operational with staff working from other locations. The Administration building staff are expected to return work at the admin building by Monday, November 2nd. The remodeling project seeks to improve customer service and security. An open house is planned after the completion and the public’s patience during the project is appreciated.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wants to remind all drivers that a statewide media campaign will be held October 10th through the 18th with a speed limit enforcement running October 16th through the 18th. During this time law enforcement will be actively enforcing Missouri’s speed limit laws and reminding drivers of the increased risks associated with higher speeds. Despite the decrease in traffic during the national pandemic, speed related crashes are on the rise. To date there has been more than an 11% increase in traffic crash fatalities over this time last year. Crashes on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph and nearly five times as likely as a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below. In Missouri specifically, speed contributed to nearly 32% of the state’s 881 roadway fatalities in 2019 continuing an alarming trend related to speed over the last five years. The definition of speeding can be driving in excess of the posted speed limit, but also driving too fast for conditions that can also have dangerous consequences including providing drivers less time to react to adverse conditions, reducing a driver’s ability to negotiate curves or maneuver around obstacles in the roadway, extending the distance traveled before a vehicle can stop, increasing the distance a vehicle travels once the driver reacts to a hazard and the increase in the amount of force involved in a collision. Change your speed, change the ending. And, of course, always buckle up and put your phone down.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released reports of two additional cases that were heard in Crawford County Tuesday in front of Judge Megan Seay. Curley said Herman Helms of St. Joseph, Missouri pled guilty to two possessions of a controlled substance charges for methamphetamine. He was sentenced to six years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the state. In the other case, Anthony Justice of Salem pled guilty to burglary in the first degree for stealing merchandise from Wal-Mart after being formally trespassed. He also pled guilty to miscellaneous stealing and trespassing in a separate incident at Wal-Mart. Curley indicated the state sought seven years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 559.115. Probation and Parole recommended probation in this case. The defendant was granted probation over the state’s objection and Justice was placed in the Dent County Alternative Treatment Court. Justice was placed on five years supervision with a suspended imposition of sentence.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways will be conducting two managed deer hunts in October and November at Big Spring. To ensure public safety, portions of the Big Spring area will be temporarily closed October 16th through the 19th and November 6th through the 9th. These hunting opportunities are being extended to two special groups of the nation’s population, our youth and our military service members with permanent mobility impairments. The youth hunt will be held October 17th and 18th, and the Exceptional Warrior Mobility-Impaired managed hunt will be held November 7th and 8th. A total of 10 randomly selected hunters have been chosen for each hunt. Hunters for the youth hunt can harvest two antlerless deer with a center-fire rifle while hunters of the Exceptional Warrior Mobility-Impaired hunt can take two antlerless deer, or one antlerless and one antlered deer with a center-fire rifle. Because of the special hunt, portions of the Big Spring area will be temporarily closed to the public during both hunts. That includes Friday, October 16th, until the morning of Monday, October 19th; and Friday, November 6, until the morning of Monday, November 9. These closures help ensure public safety during these activities and include Peavine Road, the Big Spring Campground, the Peavine pavilion area, and all hiking trails within the Big Spring area. Big Spring and the boat ramp will remain open during the hunt and can be accessed from Hwy 103. All areas will reopen the Monday following each hunting event.

The Salem R-80 Administration has released a statement that this past Monday, October 5th, the Salem R-80 School District was notified that three high school staff members had tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). Students, their families, and other staff members who were in close contact with the three staff members were notified by the Dent County Health Department as it relates to possible quarantines. The Salem R-80 School District will continue to work closely with local health officials to monitor evolving circumstances and revise their plans as needed. They have placed a dashboard on the Salem R-80 website where you can view reporting information for the entire district. As a reminder, the 9th through 12th grade hybrid plan begins this Friday, October 9th. High school students will not attend school Friday.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday night at the fire station. At the meeting, the board reviewed the financial report that showed an ending balance of $146,281.67 as of September 30th. All bills were reviewed and approved, and as was the budget. After there was no old business to discuss, the board updated check signing cards for all the banks before setting the next meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board. That meeting will be Tuesday night, November 3rd at 6:00 at the fire station at #2 South Main Street in Salem. The meeting was adjourned.

An accident happened in Franklin County on Interstate 44 westbound at the 248 mile marker Tuesday night at 9:15. According to the highway patrol report, 28-year old Devon Cardin of Dixon, fell asleep causing a 2008 GMC Sierra driven westbound to travel off the left side of the roadway, strike the cable median barrier and then overturn. Suffering serious injuries was 26-year old Kailyn McCall of Rolla who was a passenger in the Sierra. She was taken to the Mercy Hospital in St. Louis by the Meramec Ambulance. McCall was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. Cardin was wearing his restraint and did not suffer any injuries. The Sierra was totaled and removed from the scene by Patriot Towing.

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 3:50 in Phelps County on Stoltz Road about one half of a mile north of the Rolla City Limits. According to the highway patrol report, a northbound 2002 Yamaha Vstar, operated by 41-year-old Cody Gumm of Rolla, drove into the backside of a northbound 2019 Ford Taurus, driven by 84-year-old Loyd Edgar of Edgar Springs. Cody Gumm suffered serious injuries and was transported by Phelps Air to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. The report stated that Gumm was not wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. It also stated that Loyd Edgar was wearing a safety restraint. The Yamaha sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing, while the Ford sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

A special waste collection for residential and farm electronics, appliances and tires is planned this Saturday from 9:00 to 1:00 at the St. Robert Community Center located at 114 J.H. Williamson Drive in St. Robert. The city of St. Robert and Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), with funding through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD), are offering this collection. The collection is open to residents from Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. To minimize personal contact, those bringing items to the collection are asked to stay inside their vehicles, and assistants will unload items. Stoves, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, and other appliances will be collected free of charge. Free electronics also include computer components, laptop computers, keyboards, hair dryers, VCR/DVD players, cell phones or anything that runs on a cord or battery. Oil and gas must be removed from tanks of any items such as push mowers, weed eaters, etc. Fees on certain items will be collected as follows: $25 for CRT TVs over 27 inches and wood console TVs, $20 for CRT TVs under 26 inches, $15 for flat screen TVs, $10 for all computer monitors and refrigerated appliances with Freon. Fees for tires are as follows: $2 each for passenger tires, $7.50 each for semi-truck tires and $35 each for tractor tires. Please ensure that rims have been removed from tires prior to collection. There is a list of items that may not be accepted. Contact Jill Hollowell at MRPC at 573-265-2993, Ext. 109 for more information on those items or e-mail her at jhollowell@meramecregion.org.

Are you still familiar with your voting rights to make sure that your vote counts on November 3rd? Right now, you can submit an application in person, by mail, e-mail or fax to the Dent County Clerk’s office to vote absentee which does require an excuse. You can also request in person or by mail to do a mail in voting. These application methods MUST be received by the Dent County Clerk no later than October 21st. You can also vote absentee in person from now until November 2nd at the Dent County Courthouse where you complete an absentee application, receive your ballot and cast it at that time. If you still have questions about absentee balloting, or mail-in voting, please call the dent County Clerk’s Office at 729-4144 or stop by the Dent County Courthouse.

Are you a business owner, a business manager or wanting to start a business? There will be a Business at Breakfast event Thursday morning from 7:00 to 7:45 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory hosted by Sally Burbridge, Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director, and by Sarah Hultine Massengale from the MU Extension virtually. This is a change of venue from the original location. Those interested will hear from Kelly Sink from the MRPC who is the administrator of the Dent County CARES funding, to learn what other businesses in our region are doing to creatively utilize the special federal funding to support their businesses. You may come in person, or virtually via zoom. You MUST RSVP to attend by contacting Sarah Massengale at hultines@missouri.edu by noon TODAY and specify you are reserving a seat or needing the virtual link. There will be Danishes and coffee served!

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be holding a special meeting in the City Hall Council Chambers on Thursday, October 8th starting at 7:00 to go into closed session to discuss litigation, personnel and contracts. The meeting was called by Aldermen Kevin James and Greg Parker and it is not open to the public.

The death of a 10-year old Salem girl has led to charges being filed against the Salem couple that had adopted her. According to circuit court documents, 51-year old Randall L. Abney and 44-year old Susan A. Abney were each charged with a felony count of abuse or neglect resulting in the death of a child. They are incarcerated in the Dent County Jail and are being held on a $500,000. The incident occurred Saturday evening when law enforcement was called out and found an unresponsive child in the 400 block of Dent County Road 4225. Then child was pronounced dead at 7:41 at the Salem Memorial District Hospital. The charges against Randall and Susan Abney are only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Any evidence to support these charges will have to be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty it will be to determine guilt or innocence.

With fall firearms turkey season now underway and lasting through October 31st and archery turkey season underway, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) advises turkey hunters it could be another challenging season. According to MDC, turkey production in
Missouri steadily increased during the 1990s before declining during the 2000s. While production began to increase throughout much of the state from about 2009 to 2014, Missouri has had poor production over the last several years. MDC preliminary data from this year’s annual wild turkey brood survey indicate turkey production will likely be on-par with production during the last several years. According to MDC, the statewide poult-to-hen ratio for this year is projected to be about 0.9, which is the same as the 2018 and 2019 years. Weather conditions during the nesting season and through much of the brood-rearing period were favorable across most of the state. Yet, despite favorable weather, this year’s expected low production isn’t surprising considering the PHR trend from previous years. Get details about fall turkey hunting from MDC’s 2020 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet,available where hunting permits are sold or online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fall-deer-and-turkey-hunting-regulations-and-information. Buy hunting permits from vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits or through MDC’s free Mo Hunting mobile app, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.

An accident occurred Monday afternoon in Phelps County at 4:12 on County Road 8410 at the intersection of County Road 8380 eight miles from Rolla. According to the Highway Patrol Report a southbound 2015 Ford Focus, driven by 32-year old Danielle Durga of Waynesville, failed to yield to a westbound John Deere Tractor, operated by 57-year-old Thomas Parker of Rolla. The tractor struck the Ford in the side and both vehicles came to rest in the ditch. Durga suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps Health in Rolla. According to the report she was wearing her safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Big Boys Towing. The John Deere sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released reports of two cases heard in Crawford County Tuesday in front of Judge Megan Seay. In the first case, Curley said Kathy Eplin of Vandalia pled guilty to the distribution of controlled substances, the delivery of controlled substances into a county jail, and also for felony driving while having her license revoked. She was sentenced to 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as requested by the state. Curley also reported that Dawnyale Coffman of Salem pled guilty to the possession of methamphetamine, the distribution of a controlled substance, and for keeping or maintaining a public nuisance. Coffman was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the state.

A one vehicle accident happened Thursday morning at 7:00 in Reynolds County on Highway 21 about five miles north of Ellington. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2012 Buick Enclave being driven by 30-year old Edward Coleman of Salem was southbound when he suffered a medical issue. This caused the vehicle to travel off the right side of the roadway and strike two trees. A passenger in the vehicle, 56-year old Karen Reese of Ellington, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Reynolds County EMS to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Both Coleman and Reese were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Buick was totaled and removed from the scene by Aissies Towing.

Representatives from the Missouri State Parks invite the public to attend an informational meeting at Current River State Park at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 3rd at the barbecue house. This is a combined public meeting for Current River State Park and Roger Pryor Backcountry. The public is invited to share comments about the facilities and their operations during the meeting. Staff will be present to provide information and answer questions. Input from the public is important to Missouri State Parks. These informational meetings, which are being held in all state parks and historic sites, help create two-way communication with the public. The meetings give staff the opportunity to inform the public of the current status and future plans for the park or historic site, while also offering visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities. Current River State Park is located on Highway 19, approximately 23 miles south of Salem and approximately 15 miles north of Eminence. For more information, call Current River State Park at 573-751-1224.

The Dent County Community Foundation is hosting a virtual auction to help raise funds for the Dent County Community Foundation. Since the inception of the foundation along with our agency partners we have raised over $1,300,000.00 in locally raised funds that have been returned to our not for profit agencies here in Dent County. Recent grant awards include funding for The Salem R-80 Construction trades program, the Salem Memorial District Hospital, and the Salem R-80 Computer science program. There are lots of great auction items, only two days left to get your gift or travel destination to the Current River or a beautiful coastal getaway at Kure Beach in North Carolina. There are also lots of gift certificates and gift baskets for you to give during the upcoming holiday season. Here is the link to register for this exciting event www.biddingowl.com/DCCF or call Mary Beth Cook at 573 -453- 6091 with any questions you might have.

Farming plays a vital role in Missouri’s economy, history, and identity. In the coming weeks, farmers across the state will be harvesting their crops. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds drivers to share the road. Expect to see an increase in farm machinery traffic–especially on rural highways. Please obey all traffic laws and remain vigilant. Farmers and motorists alike are encouraged to be safe, courteous drivers. In 2019, there were 193 Missouri traffic crashes involving farm equipment. In those crashes, three people were killed and 64 were injured. Whether you’re driving a vehicle or operating farm machinery, you must pay attention to the roadway, other drivers, and traffic signs. Drivers, it’s important that you do your part! Stay alert for slow moving farm equipment. When you come up behind a tractor or other farm machinery, please slow down and be patient. Wait to pass until you have a clear view of the road ahead and there is no oncoming traffic. Never pass on a hill or curve. Often, all-terrain vehicles are used for agricultural purposes. ATVs being used for farming can only travel on highways during daylight hours and must be equipped with lights, a bicycle flag, and a “slow-moving vehicle” emblem. The law requires anyone under the age of 18 to wear a safety helmet when operating an ATV; the Patrol, however, recommends operators wear a safety helmet regardless of age.

On Wednesday evening, the Salem R-80 Board of Education held a special meeting in the district administration offices boardroom to discuss a new Hybrid Learning Plan which was requested at the last board meeting. Dr. Lynne Reed explained that the plan would be for 6th thru 12th grade students only with half students coming to school Monday and Wednesday and the other half Tuesday and Thursday with Friday being a virtual classroom day. This plan would allow for more effective social distancing of the staff and students. Reed explained that a survey of effected staff showed 33 of 68 teachers were in favor of moving forward with the plan while 10 wanted all students to remain in school and 8 opted for full closure should the COVID-10 numbers in Dent County keep rising and more students are quarantined. Reed explained how the plan would affect the rural school students, especially those who are bussed, and that two of the rural schools would come on the A schedule and the other two schools on the B schedule. The school has purchased 100 Kajeet hot spot units that would be distributed to families with no internet access. All that would be needed is a cell phone signal. There would also be a daily Learning Lab from 3:30-5:30 to allow for students to use internet access. Meals could also be distributed to students on the day they attend class and for the days they are attending from home. The school is currently short staffed for the food service personnel as well as substitute teachers. An estimated 200 students would be affected by this plan with the school currently having a total of 125 students, school-wide, under quarantine. Assistant Athletic Director, Clay Moody, reported that attendance vouchers could be distributed for future sporting events. The board approved the plan that was presented with full discretion on when the plan would be implemented by the administration. This plan would be temporary and students could return to full time school when county numbers improve. Reed stated there would be at least one-week notice given before the plan was implemented to allow for staff and parents to make arrangements.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports. On Saturday, September 19th, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of an assault that occurred at a residence in the 2000 block of Route H. Deputies traveled to the residence and during the course of the incident, a 61-year-old Salem man was arrested for assault in the 4th degree. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail, where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Also on the 19th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 5000 block of South Highway 19. During the course of the traffic stop, a 38- year-old Salem man was arrested for operating a vehicle on a highway without having a valid license, a 1st offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Then on Monday, September 21st, a deputy traveled to the 38000 block of Highway 72 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 43-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through Probation and Parole. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and was incarcerated. On Tuesday the 22nd, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 600 block of Route W to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 29-year old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through probation and parole. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. Then on the 23rd, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at Route DD and Route H intersection. During the course of the traffic stop, a 61-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while being intoxicated. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Finally on Sunday, the 27th, Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 72 and Route H. During the course of the traffic stop, a 20-year-old Salem man was arrested for operating a vehicle without a valid license. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail, fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at (573) 729-3241 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Healthy Dent County has partnered with Fitness On Demand to give members access to leading digital fitness content while at the Fitness Center. Members will have immediate access to popular and new content from the world’s leading fitness experts. This new digital
technology is available across in-studio screens, kiosks and any fitness room in the facility via mobile streaming to a device. Content covers everything from high intensity workouts to functional fitness for strength and mobility to wind down, stretching and relaxation after a long day. To learn more about this exciting new product, call the Fitness center at 739-1127 or stop by the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, located at 1200 W. Rolla Road.

The Salem Police Department released the following accident report. Tuesday morning, September 22nd, at approximately 6:39 a northbound 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, owned and operated by Lawrence Sherril of Salem, collided with a deer on Highway 72 about one half mile past J Highway. No injuries were reported and the Chevrolet sustained minor damage. The Camaro was driven from the scene.