Your World Today

An accident occurred in Dent County Wednesday morning at 11:40 on Highway 19 about four miles north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, 20-year-old Paul Gunner of Salem was operating a 2003 Suzuki SV1000 when Gunner attempted to drive on one wheel. Gunner lost control of the Suzuki, causing it to overturn and it ran off the left side of the roadway. Gunner suffered moderate injuries and was transported by private vehicle to Salem Memorial District Hospital. The report stated that Gunner was not wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. The Suzuki sustained moderate damage and was removed by private conveyance.

A number of reports for late June have been released by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. On Sunday, June 27th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 3500 block of North Highway 19. During the traffic stop, a 23-year-old Steelville man was arrested for driving with a revoked license. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. That same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on South Main Street. During the traffic stop, a 55-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 2nd or 3rd offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Then on Tuesday, June 29th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of West Rolla Road. During the traffic stop, a 43-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active warrant through the Salem Police Department. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail where she later posted bond and was released. Also, on the 29th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Route JJ. During the traffic stop, a 39-year-old Salem man was arrested for an aggravated DWI, driving while having his license revoked or suspended, and failure to comply with ignition interlock device requirements. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and placed on a 12-hour safekeep hold. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Looking for a new way to explore and learn about Missouri’s outdoors? The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages kids and adults to check out the free mobile gaming app called Agents of Discovery. MDC is partnering with the gaming app to help the public explore natural areas around the state. Discover nature through completing “missions”, all while learning about Missouri’s forest, fish, and wildlife. What type of pollinators are found in in the state? How do bald eagles hunt their food? Find out the answers to these questions and more as you navigate Agents of Discovery. Your mission is to discover new and exciting facts about fish, forest, and wildlife in Missouri. Complete nature-based challenges at home, while visiting an MDC nature or visitor center, or while attending MDC events, such as Eagle Days or the Missouri State Fair. Fire up the app and play mini games to complete a mission. Once finished, users have the opportunity to claim rewards. Gamers can post their challenges on social media using an MDC Snapchat filter, or grab small prizes at an MDC nature center. The more missions you play, the more rewards you can earn. To participate, download the free app and create an Agent profile. Then pick a mission in your area. Download the mission before heading to it, so you can play the game without WiFi or a data connection. Then use your secret agent tools to find and unlock challenges. While exploring in nature, MDC recommends being aware of your surroundings and staying on the trail at all times. Agents of Discovery is available for download through the App Store for Apple products or Google Play for Android devices. The first event-based mission will be at the MDC Pavilion during the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia Aug. 12-22. New missions will launch every three months.

The City of Salem wants to remind everyone that penalties and disconnects for the non-payment of your utility will go back into effect TODAY! Payment or arrangements for the payment of the May 15th through June 15 utility consumption bill must be made by next Thursday, July 22nd to avoid penalties, and by 5:00 in the afternoon on Thursday, August 5th to avoid being disconnected. You will find printed on the bills they are the first and final notice. Remember, YOU are responsible for your monthly utility bill whether or not it comes in the mail. The Utility Office will continue a variety of medias to remind customers with balances due of the upcoming dates and options to avoid penalties and disconnects. On August 6th, the city will start performing disconnects for the non-payment of bills. The electric service can be disconnected remotely from the utility office,. while water disconnects will requiring a service person to go onsite and perform the shutoff. If you have questions or would like to set up a payment plan, contact the City of Salem Utility Office at 729-4117.

Have you been to the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center in Salem where they still have open the exhibit entitled “Dent County Pictorial History?” If you have not yet attended, you are missing a chance to see how history has affected Dent County and their citizens, changes made over the years as well as progress made, all courtesy of a number of photographs taken over the years by the newspapers in town, family photos, special occasion photos such as church and family outings and much more. There is no charge to attend the exhibit and it is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. The exhibit will remain open until August 31st at 202 South Main Street in Salem, next to the Farmers Market.

An accident happened in Phelps County Tuesday afternoon at 3:55 on Highway 63 about a mile north of Rolla that took the life of a Rolla teen. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Ford Escape driven northbound by a 16-year-old female juvenile, crossed the center line and side-swiped a 2011 Chevrolet Impala driven southbound by 54-year-old Jerry Prewitt of St. James, before striking a 2019 Jeep Compass driven southbound head-on, driven by 27-year-old Abigail Bowen of Rolla. The 16-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene by the Phelps County Coroner Ernie Coverdell. Her body was transported by the coroner to the James and Gahr Funeral Home in St. James. Bowen and a passenger in the Jeep Compass, 46-year-old Leann Robertson of Rolla, suffered serious injuries. Bowen was taken from the scene by the Phelps Ambulance and taken to Phelps Health, while Robertson was life-flighted to the University Hospital in Columbia. Prewitt, Bowen and Robertson were each wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident, while the juvenile girl was not. The Ford Escape and Jeep Compass were both totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing, while the Impala had minor damage and was driven from the scene. It was the first fatality in Troop I this month.

An accident happened Tuesday morning at 8:22 in on Highway 32 about six miles west of Salem. According to the report released by the highway patrol, a 2010 Buick Enclave being driven by 48-year-old Sunny Shelton of Yukon was traveling eastbound when she crossed the center of the roadway. The Yukon struck a 2004 Peterbilt being driven 47-year-old Stace Pryor of Salem. Shelton suffered minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene. The Buick sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by All-American Towing. The Peterbilt had moderate damage and was driven from the scene. The report went on to state that both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

The Salem Police Department has released several reports. On Wednesday evening, June 23rd around 10:00, an officer was dispatched to the area of Carty and Center streets for a report of someone shooting off fireworks outside the allowed times. During the investigation, the subject responsible for setting off the fireworks was non-compliant and refusing to cease in shooting off fireworks. As a result, a 41-year-old Salem man was issued three summons to appear in court. During the afternoon of June
24th at approximately 2:00, an officer responded to the 1200 block of east Third Street to locate a subject with an active arrest warrant. The officer located the subject and a 40-year-old woman from Salem was arrested and incarcerated on her warrants. About an hour later an officer responded to the 300 block of west Seventh Street to locate a woman that had an active arrest warrant. Contact was made with the woman and as a result a 42-year-old woman from Salem was arrested and posted bond on her warrants. On Sunday afternoon, June 27th near 1:00, an officer was dispatched to the Mobil/Dirt Cheap location for a report of the stealing of fuel. It was reported that $36 was pumped into a white Dodge Charger and the subject did not pay for the fuel. The incident is still under investigation. On Wednesday, the 29th at approximately 5:30 in the afternoon, an officer responded to the 200 block of west Third Street to attempt to locate a man with two active arrest warrants. Contact was made with the man and as a result a 58-year-old man from Salem was incarcerated on his warrants at the Dent County Jail. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting Tuesday night at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, the board approved selling the old crawler for $2,500 to Woolf Equipment in Salem before discussing bids on a 2021 Caterpillar 289D3 Skidster and a 2021 325G John Deere Skidster. Public Works Director Mark Nash discussed each and recommended the Caterpillar as they have had less mechanical issues versus the John Deere, even though it costs a little more. Nash said the
machine could be used for multiple uses including its main use of moving the yard waste and debris at the Industrial Park waste site, but also at the cemetery, for the street department and in ditches. The cost of a 60-month lease was $1,120.62 per month with a buyout at the end of the lease for $26,670. There was a discussion about non-yard waste items being delivered illegally to the dump site at the Masters’ Industrial Park including construction materials, furniture and treated wood. The board wanted to see violators cited and Chief Joe Chase said it would fall under the Section 210.530 of the City Ordinances for illegal dumping. These was a discussion about the installation of cameras or even closing the waste site with a gate, but no decisions were made on those suggestions. Board President Kim Steelman said that she felt until the financial audit of the city has been completed, she didn’t feel the city should enter into any long-term agreements. After a long discussion, the board approved a motion to allow Nash to lease a skidster similar to the Caterpillar for short terms such as a month at time until the audit is completed to work at the waste site. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County 4-H and FFA Expo begins today at The Commons with the 4-H Exhibit judging this morning at 10:00. The Dessert Auction will be held this evening at 6:00 at the Youth Building at The Commons. On Thursday morning, the livestock registration will be held from 9:30 until 11:30 with the livestock weigh-ins beginning at 12:30. Friday will be a day full of shows starting with the Hog Show at 7:00 in the morning immediately followed by the Sheep and Goat Show. The Small Animal Show will start at 1:00 to be followed by the Beef and Dairy Show at 2:00. On Saturday, the 17th, the FFA/4H Market Sale will begin at 9:00 in the morning and will be broadcast live on KSMO Radio and online at ksmoradio.com on Twitch; and the event will be video streamed live on the KSMO YouTube channel and on the Facebook KSMO Stream page. Buttons for those channels can be found on our website at www.ksmoradio.com. Admission is free for everyone and a variety of food from local vendors will be available.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, President of the Industrial Development Authority Board Donald Dodd asked the commissioners to approve the recommendation of Jenna Deason to replace Joan Sample on the board who had moved from the county. The commissioners approved the recommendation. Dodd also said that Sample had been the Secretary/Treasurer of the board before she moved. The IDA board elected Bob Parsons to replace her in that position. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said patch grading would be done on Dent County Road 5400 while brush would be cut on county roads 4150, 4155, 4157, 6180 and 6380. Mobray said a work crew would be installing two culverts on Dent County Road 6370. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated brush would be cut Dent County Roads 3270, 3273 and 3275, and a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. Larson said a work crew would be working on truck #116 performing major brake work. He said the crew would be working on installing a four-foot pipe on Dent County Road 3220 and adding materials this week. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said the Ozark National Scenic Riverways has extended the comment period on the proposed Road and Trails Management Plan to August 18th from July 18th. People will be able to download and review the plan and comment to the National Park Service at parkplanning.nps.gov/OZAR_RTplan. You can also review the plan at the Salem Public Library and mail in your comments to Superintendent Jason Lott, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, P. O. Box 490, Van Buren, Missouri, 63965. For more information about the plan, please contact Dena Matteson at (573) 323-4814. Skiles went on to say he would be attending a meeting at the Salem Community Center@The Armory Wednesday about updated information on the Dent County 9-1-1 system and rural addressing. Skiles presented the sales tax figures for the money received in July for Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams who was unable to attend the meeting. Skiles stated the General Revenue Fund received $86,830.20 this month which was $11,835.80 more than July of 2020. Year-to-date, that fund is down $240,402.10 which is due to the Department of Revenue holding back sales taxes from the county due to a state overpayment last year. The Road and Bridge Fund was up $5,898.95 over last July as the county received $41,671.95 this month. The jail trust and operation funds each received $83,344.87 for July and that was $11,925.91 more than the county received in July of 2020. All the funds were affected by the sales taxes being withheld by the state and are down over 40% from last year’s figures. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk was in to report her monthly turnover. She said she has 8 pieces of property for the tax sale and citizens can contact her office for more information. Sheriff Bob Wells was by to note that he would like to seek bids to sell the 1998 Dodge Van and the 2009 Trailblazer. Bids will be due to the Sheriff August 2nd by 10:00 and will be opened that morning at the Commissioners’ meeting. At the last meeting, Anderson and Associates were in attendance to discuss the exterior work on the courthouse. They did an evaluation and will get back with the commission. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley reports on four cases heard Friday, July 9th in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court in front of Judge Megan Seay. In the first case, Devin Glore of Salem pled guilty to the distribution of .5 grams of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the state. In the next case, Angela Howell of Salem had her probation revoked for the possession of a controlled substance. She was sentenced to serve four years in the Department of Corrections as requested by Prosecutor Curley. In the next case, Mark Calkins of Salem pled guilty to two counts of the distribution of suboxone. In the sentencing hearing, Prosecutor Curley sought 10 years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 559.115 on both charges. Attorney Charlie Rouse representing Calkins requested probation. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Megan Seay sentenced Calkins to a suspended execution of a ten-year sentence in the Department of Corrections and placed Calkins on probation. In the last case of the day, Kari Hiatte of Gerald had been on probation on a felony charge for the possession of a controlled substance. Judge Seay revoked her probation and sentenced Hiatte to seven years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 559.115 that included shock incarceration for 120 days.

City of Salem Mayor Brad Nash has called for a Special Meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen for this evening, July 13th, at 6:00 at The Community Center @ The Armory, 1200 West Rolla Road. Agenda items to be considered include the sale of a crawler, plus bids for a 289D3 Caterpillar Skidsteer for $1,120.62 per month for 60 months and a 2021 325G John Deere for $865.45 per month for 60 months. The Board will also go in to closed session for the discussion of personnel. The meeting of the special meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen tonight is open to the public.

Are you wanting to learn to fish? MDC offers Discover Nature – Fishing Program that provides a series of free lessons throughout the state. All fishing gear is provided. Learn more at dnf.mdc.mo.gov. If you have a need for fishing equipment, MDC works with numerous libraries and other locations around the state to loan fishing gear for free. Loaner gear includes fishing poles and simple tackle box with hooks, sinkers, and bobbers. Worms, minnows, or other bait are not provided. Find MDC Rod and Reel Loaner Program locations at the MDC website: www.mdc.mo.gov.