Your World Today

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. Brett Hoffman, Field Representative for Representative Jason Smith’s office was in to visit with Commissioners and update them on Federal issues. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the sales tax figures for the month. General Revenue and Law Enforcement Sales Tax funds each received $86,319.73, which is up $18,463.07 from May of 2020 receipt of $67,856.66. However year-to-date each fund is down $224,333.75 or 58.3%. The Road and Bridge Fund receipts were $35,924.74 and that amount is up $4,726.92 from a year ago which was $31,197.82. But year-to-date Road and Bridge is down $117,216.23, which is about 66%. The Jail Maintenance and Jail Construction funds each received $71,756.64. That figure is up by $9,390.20 from last year’s $62,366.44. However, year-to-date those two funds are down $234,276.00, which is also a 66% drop. Leann Kahn was in to check on progress concerning the gate on Dent County Road 4128. First District Commissioner Wes Mobray said that Prosecuting Attorney Curley had asked that the area in question be surveyed. Kahn indicated that the survey had been done and that the area had been flagged. Mobray said that the issue is back to the prosecutor and that he would notify Kahn when and if she needed to attend another Commissioners meeting. In the road report, Mobray said brush would be cut on Dent County Road 5600 and that some large pipes were being replaced on county road 2470, plus an 18” pipe was being installed on county road 2480. He went on to say that rock was being spread where the culverts were being installed on the two roads and that the Bunker area was being checked due to the heavy rains in that area over the weekend. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3260 and 2110. He said that Department of Conservation rock was being added to road 2110 and that would continue all week or until finished as that is to be completed by the end of May. Larson added that a man had gone to Springfield for oil to do Chip and Seal repair. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he was at the Capital last week representing CCAM. He said Senate Bill 53, which is the Law Enforcement Bill, had passed the Senate and was sent to the House of Representatives where they proceeded to attach an amendment raising the county sheriff’s annual salary to $72,500 and tie its increase to State Judges salaries. Skiles emphatically noted that CCAM fully supports law enforcement and doesn’t oppose raising Sheriff’s salaries, but does oppose taking away local control. The bill as amended passed the House and will now go to Conference Committee. Skiles again noted that County Commissioners throughout Missouri are very disappointed in Missouri Legislators. He did complement Representative Ron Copeland for getting an amendment passed that would limit the increase to 20% per year until the $72,500 is achieved. Skiles added that he was attending a SACBA meeting Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning he would be in Jefferson City attending the Missouri Association of Counties Board Meeting, plus a Missouri County Commissioners Association Board meeting during the afternoon. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that all registered voters in Dent County should have received their blue voter canvass card. She said if it’s correct, voters should keep it as their voter registration card. If corrections need to be done voters can make the corrections on the back and send it back to her office. Voters can also call her office or stop by to make changes. Curley noted that the Commission was paying payroll and Commissioners were approving bills. She also noted that she balanced with the Treasurer on all accounts for the month of April and that she would also be attending the Missouri Association of Counties Board meeting on Wednesday. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened Monday morning just after 6:30 in Texas County on Buffalo Road about three miles north of Licking. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2007 Ford E-350 Van being driven by 52-year-old Zane Vankirk of Lenox was traveling west when he traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Vankirk, who was not wearing a safety restraint, was taken by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston for treatment of minor injuries. The Ford van sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Jays Automotive of Houston.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department released a report that began on April 27th as the Dent County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a 1990 Chevrolet truck had been stolen from the Bunker School District R-III. The next day, they received a second report of a stolen vehicle, this time a 2003 Chevrolet Truck, from the Bunker area. The vehicle was reported stolen from an address in the 100 block of South Main. A short time later, the sheriff’s office received a report of a commercial burglary that occurred at the Conway Feed Store located at 206 Main Street in Bunker. Deputies traveled to the location and during the course of the investigation, it was discovered that approximately $5,800.00 worth of property was stolen. During the investigation, information received identified the suspect to be 26-year-old Austin Hill of Bunker. Further investigation revealed Hill was also a named suspect in the theft of both motor vehicles that had occurred the prior two days in the Bunker area. On April 29th, the Dent Count Sheriff’s Office received information that Hill was seen driving a red Jeep Wrangler with a black top. A short time later, the deputy observed a red Jeep Wrangler drive past his location and began following the vehicle, attempted a traffic stop, however the vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit began. The Jeep was traveling northbound on Highway 72 and turned onto Route C. While in pursuit, the deputy identified the driver as Austin Hill as the vehicle continued to travel west on Route C until it left the roadway. The Jeep drove up onto an embankment on the left-hand side of the roadway and drove through private property damaging five fences before the Jeep came to a stop. Hill then fled on foot. The vehicle involved in the pursuit had been stolen from Iron County and contained stolen property from the Conway Feed Store. Hill was not located during the subsequent search of the area until an hour later when a report came in that a 1995 Ford F-150 had been stolen from the 1000 block of Dent County Road 3270. Surrounding police agencies were notified in an attempt to locate Hill. Later, a detective with the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office located Hill in Rolla as well as the 1995 Ford F-150. Hill admitted to all the crimes indicated and is incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. He was formally charged with three felony counts for stealing of a motor vehicle/watercraft/aircraft, a felony arrest for resisting or interfering with an arrest, a felony for tampering with a motor vehicle in the 1st degree, and two counts of property damage in the 1st degree. Hill is currently being held on a $250,000 cash or professional surety bond. Additionally, Hill is also being held on a probation violation, which is a 50,000.00 cash or surety bond. The charges for which Austin Hill was arrested for are accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

More reports have been submitted by the Salem Police Department. On Monday afternoon, April 12th, at approximately 3:45 an officer was dispatched to Wal Mart for a report of a shoplifter that had fled on foot. Officers located the suspect along with the reported shoplifted items. As a result, a 37-year-old Salem female was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the application of warrants. The next evening at approximately 6:00 officers were dispatched to the Fourth Street Mall for a report of a couple actively fighting in front of the store. Once officers arrived, they noticed it was a couple that they had dealt with 2 times prior just a couple hours prior for the same thing. As a result, a 22-year-old Salem female and a 29-year-old Salem male were arrested and issued summons for disorderly conduct. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

If you are in need of assistance to pay your utility bills there are several options available to area residents. To make it easier to seek assistance, the South Central Community Action Agency, Catholic Charities, and The Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit will be available each Tuesday through the end of May from 10:30 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. If you’re unable to attend in person you may also contact the South Central Community Action Agency at 729-3500 ext. 10 or email Sarah Arnett at sgivens@scmcaa.org, or Angelia Murphey at Catholic Charities by calling either 573-323-4044 or 417-522-5940 and be sure to mention that you’re a Dent County resident. You can also email Angelia at amurphey@ccsomo.org. You may also contact Sherry Lea or Lacey Walker at the Dent County Service Unit of the Salvation Army by calling 729-8163 or email sherry@salemcommunitycenter.org. You’re asked to contact the South Central Community Action Agency first before contacting the other two agencies. There are other local churches and organizations that have funds to assist as well but please contact the above listed agencies first and you are asked not to contact local churches at this time.

The Dent County Prosecutor’s office reports that on May 5th, defendant Scott Mayberry pled guilty to Child Molestation in the 4th Degree for an incident that occurred in 2017 with a child under the age of 17 in the case of the State vs Scott Mayberry. The defendant was a prior and persistent felony offender with two prior felony convictions that resulted in Prosecutor Curley certifying the defendant as a persistent offender and thereby enhancing the range of punishment to a seven-year maximum sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Judge Scott Schrum presided over the proceeding and sentenced the defendant to seven years as recommended by Prosecutor Curley. The charge was following a disclosure from the victim, who was an adult at the time of the disclosure, to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. As a result of the disclosure, an investigation was conducted by Dent County Deputies Michael Letchworth and Matt Atkinson. The charges were filed by Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley on December 8th, 2019, after receiving a probable cause statement from Dent County Sheriff’s Detective Letchworth. Curley released a statement saying the victim and her family were pleased with the result. Curley wanted to thank the Dent County Sheriff’s department, for conducting an exceptional investigation that provided the tools needed to obtain a conviction. Curley stated that if you or someone you know is a victim of child abuse, please tell your parent, school counselor or a law enforcement officer.

A quick reminder that Waste Corporation of America will be providing the annual residential spring cleanup for City of Salem residents again May 10th through May 14th. They ask that residents have all trash curbside the night before your normal scheduled trash day. E.P.A. law will not allow the collection of the following materials that include yard waste, batteries, tires, motor oil, chemicals, or solvents or paint, appliances or non-compactable items such as concrete, tree stumps, steel, or construction debris. For more information or for more questions, you may call 1-800-926-3935.

An accident happened Wednesday morning just before noon in Reynolds County on Route HH about 10 miles south of Ellington. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 1993 Mack log truck being driven by 70-year-old Michael Hatcher of Bunker, was traveling west and went off the right side of the road and overturned. Hatcher, who was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, was transported to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis by Life Flight helicopter for treatment of serious injuries. The Mack was totaled and removed from the scene by Mike and Ike Towing.

The Dent County Fire Protection District board of directors met Tuesday evening at 6:00. The budget showed an ending balance of $280,787 in the general fund as of April 30th. The monthly reimbursement report was then presented with a total of 22 calls for the month of April including 3 structure fires, 9 brush fires, 1 car fire, 2 vehicle accidents, 1 haz-mat and 2 training calls, along with 2 mutual aid calls. Total calls year to date stands at 130 with the average cost per call being $95.46. Joe Weber from Weber and Associates was present to discuss and present a policies and procedures manual for the board to review. Weber presented the board with a starting draft that included pertinent information pertaining to the NFPA that is required for fire districts. Weber also stated that he had incorporated known policies of the district within the manual as a starting point. The board will review the draft and modify as needed then meet again with Mr. Weber to work on a final draft before incorporating the manual. The board then declared the election results and as there was no opposition for the election and incumbent members remained in office. The election for officers of the board was held and elected was Craig Smith as President, Dave Wells as Secretary/Treasurer, and Chief Brad Nash as the keeper of records. Chief Nash reported to the board that floor refinishing would start on May 10th. Due to the volatile nature of the chemicals used in the process, the fire station will have to be closed for about 3 weeks or until the project is completed. Nash stated he will be working remotely to answer the phone and only the truck bay area would be available for firefighters. All office areas will be closed. Chief Nash also reported that the guttering crew will be here starting the week of May 10th to start the installation of the downspouts. The painting company has the downspouts painted and ready for installation. Before adjourning the date was set for the next meeting to held Tuesday, June 1st at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. The June meeting will be open to the public.