Your World Today

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports for the latter part of July. On Tuesday, July 20th, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a domestic disturbance that had occurred in the 1000 block of Route B. Deputies traveled to the location and during the course of the incident, a 35-year-old Salem man was arrested for domestic assault in the 3rd degree, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the 1st degree, a felony resisting arrest charge, assault in the 4th degree – special victim, and property damage in the 2nd degree. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On Wednesday, July 21st, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on West Highway 32. During the traffic stop, a 32-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 2nd offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Friday, July 23rd, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 500 block of Route F to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of that incident, a 29-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active warrant through Rolla Police Department. She was transported to the Dent County Jail and was incarcerated. That same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Dent County Roads 3273 and 3270. During the traffic stop, a 48-year-old Salem man was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance except for 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, and the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated. Also arrested during the incident was a 38-year-old Salem woman for having active arrest warrants through Dent County. She was transported to the Dent County Jail and was incarcerated. If anyone has information regarding any open investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is partnering with Shannon County Museum, Ozark Riverways Foundation, the Ozark Heritage Project, and the Dent County Historical Society to host a “Celebration of the River Community at Round Spring” this Saturday evening from 5:00 until 9:30 at the Round Spring picnic pavilion. Local families and organizations will set up booths and displays that highlight the fascinating history of the Round Spring area. Live performances, presentations, music, and tours will be conducted throughout the evening. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnic dinner and join in the festivities at this free outdoor event. Events scheduled from 5:00 until 5:30 will include Wildlife & Geology of the Round Spring Area presented by ONSR Park Rangers. From 5:30 until 6:00 Lennis Broadfoot Comes Alive will be presented by Twin Pines Conservation Education Center. Archeology on the upper Current River presented by Alan Banks will take place from 6:00 until 6:30 then from 6:30 until 7:00 the History of Round Spring Cave & Remembrance of Round Spring is being presented by John Stewart & Allen Ramsey. From 7:00 until 8:30 “Friend Pickin” will provide musical entertainment. And finishing out the evening a park ranger will present a program in the amphitheater from 8:30 until 9:15. All participants should be prepared to practice social distancing at this outdoor event. If you are not yet fully vaccinated, masks are required when social distancing cannot be maintained. Round Spring is located 12 miles north of Eminence on State Highway 19. For more information, contact the Round Spring Ranger Station at (573)323-8093.

Missouri State Parks invites the public to begin their archery journey by attending hands-on courses at Echo Bluff State Park. Course will be held tomorrow from 10:00 until noon, September 18th from 2:00 until 4:00, and October 16th from 10:00 until noon. Participants may register for the August course beginning July 3rd. This program is for anyone who wants to learn the basics of archery and atlatl throwing. The Learn2 Aim courses offer two hours of free instruction and are open to ages 10 and older. Registration is required and all slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Missouri State Parks provides the equipment, including bows, atlatls, targets and expertise, in a safe environment. Participants should bring enthusiasm and a willingness to learn a historical skill. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes. Participants must be at least 10 years of age. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents and guardians do not have to participate but must be on hand to provide adult supervision. Participants should be comfortable around bows and atlatls. All Missouri State Park rules and regulations apply. This is a family-oriented event; alcohol and tobacco products are not allowed while participating in the Learn2 Program. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. For more information or to register, go to mostateparks.com/learn2.

The City of Salem wants to remind anyone who is past due on their utility bill or has not yet made payment arrangements with the city, that you have until 5:00 TODAY to pay your bill or set up a payment plan. Disconnect notices carry a $25 charge for the first three disconnects and a $50 charge after that. Contact the city utility office at 729-4117 or stop by 400 North Iron Street to make a payment or to make payment arrangements. The hours are from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 this afternoon. All previous month’s bills become past due and are subject to disconnect after the 5th of each month. The city also wants to remind everyone that you will find printed on your utility bill that it is your first and final notice. Remember, YOU are ultimately responsible for your utility bill, whether or not it comes in the mail.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the first station. After some discussion, the 2022 tax rate was set at $0.2377, which is the maximum allowed by law, and up from this year’s rate of $0.2374. After the tax levy hearing, the board approved the consent agenda and approved the minutes from the July meeting as presented. Bills were then reviewed and approved then the budget was reviewed which showed an ending balance as of July 31st of $169,923.57. There was no monthly reimbursement report at this meeting as the software is still being transferred and uploaded. In old business, Joe Weber from Weber and Associates was in attendance to answer any questions on the policy and procedures manual. The board is still reviewing the manual and Mr. Weber stated that he was available to answer any questions that may arise. In reports to the board, Chief Brad Nash reported that there was a problem with one of the door frames installed during the renovation. Cahill Construction will be onsite this week to check this out and repair, as necessary. Mike Godi discussed this year’s toy drive with the board that a place to store the toys is needed. The board will work on the problem and will get back with Mr. Godi. He also asked if the department was prepared for someone to replace Chief Nash in case something like COVID should happen to the chief. Chief Nash explained that he has plans in place in the event something like that should happen. The date was then set for the next meeting which will be Tuesday evening, September 7th at 6:00 at the Fire Station at #2 South Main Street.

A one vehicle accident happened Wednesday morning at around 7:20 in Dent County on Highway 68 about three miles north of Salem. According to the report released from the highway patrol, a 2003 Dodge Caravan being driven by 78-year-old Willaim Bingham of Centerville, was traveling north when he failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway, then struck a MoDOT sign and a utility pole. An occupant in the vehicle, 78-year-old Patsy Murphey of Centerville, suffered minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene. The Dodge sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing. The report went on to state that Bingham and Murphey were both wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident.

An accident happened Tuesday evening just after 8:00 in Phelps County on Highway F about two miles south of Rolla. The report released from the highway patrol states that a 1993 Ford F-150 being driven by a 16-year-old juvenile male of Rolla was traveling west when he ran off the right side of the road and struck several trees. A passenger in the vehicle, 19-year-old Jakob Faulkner of Rolla, suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. The report went on to state that the driver was wearing a safety restraint while the passenger was not. The Ford sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by C&C Towing.

To mark this year’s biggest summer meteor shower, Elephant Rocks State Park staff invites the public to a rare after-dark event at 8:00 this Friday. The Perseid Meteor Shower is caused by particles released by the Swift-Tuttle Comet and can be seen with the naked eye. Park staff will be available to direct visitors to the best and safest areas to view the shower. All are welcome and encouraged to dress for changeable summer conditions. It is often warmer on the rocks early in the evening as they radiate the heat they stored up in the hot summer sun all day. It then cools off as the night progresses, so be prepared to add layers as needed. Also be prepared to deal with insects like mosquitoes and ticks. Please remember to bring in only what you will be able to carry out when you leave. Trash receptacles are provided at the parking lot of the park. Participants are encouraged to be respectful of other visitors and to bring portable chairs and blankets to keep warm. Avoid excessive use of artificial lights and excessive noise during the event. No tents or other invasive camping equipment, such as propane heaters or lanterns, will be allowed. Absolutely no campfires will be allowed. Telescopes and binoculars are not needed to view the shower, but are welcome. Elephant Rocks State Park is located at 7406 Highway 21 in Belleview. For more information about the event, call the site at 573-546-3454.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Monday at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board heard from Bill Parsons about an Octoberfest being planned for October 29th, 30th and 31st near the 4th Street Mall from Hickory to Water Street on 4th Street. He also discussed utility bills for a number of different addresses and asked the aldermen to check into these bills that appeared excessive. After the consent agenda was approved, the board discussed Bill #3485 to establish new electric rates for the City of Salem. Utility Committee Chairman Shawn Bolerjack discussed with the board and crowd how the rates were determined and the different options the city looked at before finally deciding on a 4.4% increase to cover the February cold weather incident that left the city with an additional 1.46 million-dollar bill. Since there were a lot of calculations, Bolerjack suggested tabling the passing of the bill until the next meeting so the aldermen will have more time to review the numbers. Public Works Director Mark Nash presented equipment lease and rental options that could take care of the growing waste problem out at the city yard waste disposal site at the industrial park as well as perform other functions for the city. He also had a one-time price from Philip Mercer of $3,200 to do the clean-up work, but the aldermen continued to insist that no dollars would be spent on major purchases until the financial audit is complete. With that being said, they authorized Nash to get bids for gates to seal off the area and a video security system for the waste disposal site. The board did approve a bid of $6,566 from Vandevanter Engineering to repair a lift pump in the city. Nash said the city needed to get another lift pump to have on hand in case another went out as it is getting hard to get the parts in to repair these units and they should have the same type of lift pumps in all of the lift stations. The board again said they would not spend any money on capital improvements until the audited financial statements have been submitted. City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to thank Catherine Dent for volunteering to call people who had utility bills past due to come in and get a payment plan set up. He said the current utility bills for consumption for the June 15th through July 15th time period were mailed out last week. If you have not received your bill by Wednesday, please contact the utility office. Walden said anyone who is still past due on their previous utility bills need to have them paid off or have a plan in place by 5:00 this Thursday afternoon to avoid having their utilities shut-off on Friday, August 6th. Walden stated the contractors for the sewer line extension on Route J and Highway 72 to the hospital will begin work this week near the hospital. Walden also said the City of Salem will be eligible for $992,000 in ARPA funds and he suggested the city prioritize what projects should be addressed with that money and get public input. The city must commit by September 1st to receive the funds and Walden asked the aldermen to consider this at their next meeting on August 16th. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports for the middle of July. On July 16th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of East 7th Street and Young Street. During the traffic stop, a 20-year-old Salem man and a 44-year-old Salem man were arrested for active warrants through Dent County. Both men were taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. Also arrested during the traffic stop was a 21-year-old Salem woman for operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license, a 1st offense. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail where she was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. That same day, a deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle on East Fourth Street. The vehicle failed to yield to the deputy’s patrol vehicle’s emergency lights and siren. The vehicle was finally stopped at the intersection of North Russell Street and East 3rd Street. During the investigation of the traffic stop, a 23-year-old Salem man was arrested for resisting or interfering with an arrest, detention or stop, the possession of a controlled substance except for 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, and failure to register the motor vehicle annually with Missouri Department of Revenue. The man was taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On Sunday, July 18th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 2340. During the traffic stop, a 40-year-old Cook Station man was arrested for a felony driving while having their license suspended charge. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On Monday, the 19th of July, a deputy traveled to a location in the 1600 block of West Highway 32 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 42-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. He was transported to the Dent County Jail and was incarcerated. If anyone has information regarding an ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County and the City of Salem Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge gave her report to the commissioners for the month of July. She mentioned there would be a general housing meeting Wednesday and the “Love Thy Neighbor” volunteer group Mission Week will be next week. She also said there would be a social mixer at Echo Bluff State Park on September 14th from 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening to pull interested agencies and individuals together for economic development. She went on to say the annual meeting of the Enhanced Enterprise Zone board will be Thursday. In the road report, District 1 commissioner Wes Mobray said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 4210 while only grading would be done on county roads 5420 and 6500. Mobray stated brush would be cut on county roads 6400 and 6410, and tires would be put on truck #125. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 3220. He went on to report that the county was going to work on the road at the end of county road 2300 where the low water crossing is to prepare it for chip and seal. He said another crew would be checking for washouts in the Lecoma and Boss areas. Commissioner Mobray had the amendment from Great Rivers Engineering for the supplemental survey work needed by MoDOT for the Cooley Bridge Project to qualify it for the FLAP project. The cost up to $3,000 would be paid from the FLAP monies. The amendment was signed by Commissioner Darrell Skiles who then said he would be in Jefferson City today to help interview candidates for the Executive Director position for the Missouri Association of Counties. The new person will replace long time director Dick Burke. Skiles said the prosecutor had prepared a Quit-Claim Deed on property owned by Dennis and Sandra Parks to remove an easement for a county road that the county has no intention of building. The Commissioners agreed to sign the Quit-Claim Deed. Bids were opened on two vehicles owned by the sheriff’s department: a 1998 Dodge Van and a 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer. There was one bid on the van and it came from Schwartz Sales in Salem for $677, and there were three bids on the Trailblazer and the high bid came from Chafin Auto Sales for $1,675. The bids were accepted. Commissioners Larson and Mobray wanted to let people know that chip and seal will be going on this week in both districts so people should be aware when encountering those work crews on the roads. They also wanted to remind people there are a number of surplus county items at the County Road and Bridge Department shed on Highway 32-72 West on display that can be bid on. To get specifics on the equipment and vehicles that are available, stop by the Dent County Clerk’ office in the courthouse. Bids MUST be in by 10:00 Monday morning, August 9th at the clerk’s office, and please mark on the envelope “county equipment bid.” Sheriff Bob Wells was in to update the commissioners on the federal prisoners that are now being housed at the Dent County Jail. Wells said he has 20 male prisoners that came from St. Charles which is in the Eastern District which also includes St. Louis. He said the county gets paid $65 a day for each prisoner. He said this will bring in about an additional $9,000 per week to the jail operation. He also said that when a prisoner has to be taken back to the Eastern Court system for trial or sentencing, two armed deputies are paid $23.46 each per hour and the county gets 56 cents per mile. Wells said there are also 55 local prisoners in the jail from Dent, Shannon and Phelps counties. The county also receives payment from those other counties to house their prisoners, but less than the $65 payment they get for federal prisoners. Wells said the price of meals has gone down from $3.33 per meal to $2.71 per meal which consists of two hot meals and one cold meal for each prisoner. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Mid-Missouri Addiction Awareness Group in partnership with the MRPC Rural Opioid Initiative is inviting everyone to participate in the Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Awareness Walk going on this Saturday starting at 10:00 at the Dent County Courthouse Square. People will be walking “to end the stigma” and provide opioid use disorder education, increase awareness and identify prevention strategies in the Meramec Region. For more information about the walk, send an e-mail to maagwecare@gmail.com or to charmon@meramecregion.org. You can also learn more at maagwecare.com.