Your World Today

In the Dent County Circuit Court on Monday in front of Judge Megan Seay, Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley reported that a review of a RSMO Statute Section 559.115 probation hearing was held for Macaulay Boschen who is currently in the penitentiary at Boonville. The state objected to his release due to three conduct violations by Boschen. The counsel for Boschen requested his release to probation. The request for probation was denied and Boschen’s seven-year sentenced was ordered to be executed by the judge. Also on Monday, Dale Hunter of Rolla had a previous sentence of 10 years in the Department of Corrections executed under RSMO Section 217.362 that included long term treatment in connection with his probation revocation as requested by the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole. The court also heard a guilty plea from Carla Loughridge of Salem for the possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, and the possession of drug paraphernalia- a meth pipe. In the sentencing hearing, Loughridge requested probation while the state requested seven years under RSMO 559.115. Loughridge was sentenced to seven years suspended execution of sentence with drug court. Also on Monday, Sethe D. Berry admitted to violating his probation by possessing a cigarette lighter within the Dent County Jail, while serving shock time ordered in connection with a previous order for 20 days shock incarcerated issued for a probation violation for failing to report. Berry had previously pled guilty to distribution of a controlled substance and was placed on probation. Defense counsel requested continued probation and the Prosecutor Curley requested execution of the defendant’s sentence. After argument, defendant’s probation was revoked and his sentence of ten years incarceration in the Missouri Department of Corrections was executed.

City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to let everyone know that the penalty date for the February utility bills has been extended to March 25th. Walden said that various members of the public had pointed out a current city ordinance that indicates penalty dates for utility bills shall be twenty days from the bill date. As the February bills had a February 14th bill date, the February 28th penalty date initially indicated for the February bills was postponed. During Monday night’s meeting, the Salem Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance granting the City Administrator authority to adjust the discount and penalty dates with approval by the Mayor or President of the Board of Aldermen, if deemed necessary. Walden stated city staff are working with customers regarding questions about their bill and in some cases, have been able to use the new AMI system to assist customers in identifying possible ways to save on their utility bills. The city has an informational sheet available showing typical electric usage for different devices and with the city’s current electric rate, how much different devices might cost to operate on a monthly basis. You can get a copy of this information at the utility office or find it on the city’s Facebook page. Walden stated the March utility bills will not be processed before March 25th and actions will be taken to verify dates listed on all future utility bills. Anyone with questions are asked to contact the city utility office at 729-4117.

Small brooms in the days of wind and sail were often made from bits of rope. One such boom was called a Sailor’s Whisk. The Salem Area Arts Council is hosting a workshop on Saturday, March 7, 2020 starting at 3:00 p.m. at the Creative Arts Center in Salem. This traditional naval skill will be taught by Wayne Douglass, an authentic sailor! Using rope, each whisk broom will be formed using special knots that make each unique, resulting in a useful item or a memorable gift! All supplies and instruction will be provided for anyone from eight to eighty to learn and take home a finished product. A TRULY special price of $5.00 per person will cover all costs to make a whisk–a terrific bargain for both the activity and product. Call or text 247-0279 to register and arrange payment to hold your spot! The Creative Arts Center is behind the ONCRC.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is experiencing a shortage of all negative blood types. Donations are needed immediately to ensure that adequate reserve levels are maintained. The next blood drive in Salem will be Tuesday, March 10th from 1:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon at the First Baptist Church at 201 North Mac Arthur. During the month of March, donors will receive a blue “Rewind” t-shirt; a retro look back on your favorite cassette mix tapes of the past. To be eligible to give blood, you must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health, and present a valid photo ID. For more information, contact Cindy Sachs at 729-4241.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Congressman Jason Smith was in to absentee vote in the March and April elections and stopped in to visit. Deloris Gray Wood from the Dent County Historical Society was in to remind the commissioners of the celebration of 150th anniversary of the signing of the contract to construct the courthouse on March 30th at 4:00. There will be cake and water served and the event will be held outside the courthouse, weather permitting. A representative of Senator Blunt was also in attendance and said the senator is working on the transportation infrastructure bill and health care bill. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said brush was being cut on Dent County Road 6620 and chip and seal repair was being done on county road 4180. Purcell said maintenance was being performed on county trucks #57 and #119, plus the 430 Cat backhoe. He also said workers were finishing up repairing the bucket on the Cat 924 loader. Purcell did say if there was time some workers may get out to check and clean out some crossover pipes. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said brush would be cut on county roads 2320 and 2330, while materials would be hauled to Dent County Roads 3120 and 3280. He said chip and seal repairs would be made to various chip and seal roads. Larson said his crew would be working on county truck #115 and that brush cutter #16 is out with a flat. He also said maintenance was being done in the shop. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wanted to congratulate former Missouri State Highway Trooper Ron Copeland on his retirement after serving 28 years on the force. Copeland will be traveling to Jefferson City to sign up to run for the 143rd State Representative Seat. Skiles also said he would be attending the Meramec Community Enhancement Board meeting Tuesday. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said absentee voting continues for the March 10th and April 7th elections and the last day to register to vote in the April election will be March 11th. The commissioners decided to put out bids for grader blades and those bids would need to be submitted by 10:00 March 19th. The next meeting of the dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

A fatality accident occurred at 5:06 Monday morning in Phelps County on Highway 63 approximately 300 feet north of County Road 8010. According to the highway patrol report, a northbound 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by 61-year-old Charles Faulkner of Vichy, attempted to make a U-turn and was struck by a northbound 2001 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 59-year-old James Lutz of Rolla. Faulkner was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:50 by Phelps County Coroner Andy Davis. Faulkner was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident and the body was taken to Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla. Suffering moderate injuries in the accident were Lutz and an occupant of the Silverado, 24-year-old Tanisha Reed of Rolla. Both were transported by ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. The report stated that Reed was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident while Lutz was not. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage and were removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing.

The Salem Cosmopolitan Club will hold their 69th Variety Show and Miss Salem Competition this Saturday, March 7th at the Salem City Hall Auditorium starting at 7:00. There will be nine girls vying for the title of Miss Salem at the show and they are Trinity Gorman sponsored by T. Fulton Construction, Ceceilia Reed sponsored by Salem Truss, Cheyanna Click sponsored by Salem Publishing Company, Inc., Emma Southards sponsored by Main Street Café, Harmony Alexander Sponsored by McDonalds, Brecklyn Holtz sponsored by Country Mart Pharmacy, Jainey Pettus sponsored by Riverways Federal Credit Union, MacKensie Thompson sponsored by Lake Road Steel and Cheyenne Roderman sponsored by Elwood Real Estate. David Massengale will be the emcee for the event that will also feature the talents of dancers from Linda Maledy’s Academy of Dance, plus performances by Rachel Privett and Friends, Neely and Noah Leathers, and the Salem Upper Elementary 5th grade teachers and friends. Judges from South Central Missouri will determine this year’s Miss Salem as well as the first and second runner-ups. The girls will vote on the Miss Personality title. The 2019 Miss Salem, Lauren Grogan, will crown the new Miss Salem at the event.

Twenty-nine years ago today, the first edition of Your World Today was published which featured the results of the opening day of trout season at Montauk and the Salem Board of Alderman meeting to be held that night. The color was “Irish Green” and about 175 copies were printed that were delivered to 20 locations in Salem. Today, about 500 copies are printed daily and are distributed to over 40 locations in Salem, Echo Bluff and in Bunker in “Reflex Blue,” and our stories include the results of the opening of trout season at Montauk and the Board of Aldermen meeting agenda for tonight!

Opening day of trout season at Montauk State Park saw 60 degree temperatures and an outstanding turnout of men and women ready for a new season. As of 4:30 Sunday, a total of 2,154 adult trout tags were sold and another 303 children’s trout tags were sold. The largest trout caught was a 10 pound, 12 ounce rainbow by Jason Johnson of Bixby. Jacob Moncrief and Dan Norris, both of Licking, each caught an 8 pound, 4 ounce rainbow trout, and Patrick Potts of Licking caught a 7 pound, 13 ounce trout. Trout season will be open until October 31st.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00. Following the consent agenda, the board will get an update from City Administrator Ray Walden on numerous projects going on now in the city. After his report, the board will hear and discuss Bill #3437 about amending the codes of the City of Salem in regards to vacation rentals; and Bill #3438 that amends the city codes for the electric department, water department and sewer department dealing with the prompt payment discount and delayed payment penalty. The board will then go into closed session to discuss personnel, contracts and litigation. The meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen is open to the public.

An accident that happened in Phelps County Thursday morning at 11:39 on Phelps County Road 8110 near Phelps County Road 8080 that left four Rolla men with injuries. According to the highway patrol, 18-year old Michael Bright of Rolla was driving a 1997 Ford Explorer southbound when the Ford traveled off the left side of the roadway. The Explorer then overturned and struck a utility pole. Two passengers in the Explorer, 20-year old Christopher Claypool and 20-year old Ros Comparato, were both ejected from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries. Claypool was flown to the University of Missouri Columbia Hospital while Comparato was flown to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Suffering moderate injuries were the driver, Michael Bright, and another passenger, 21-year old Logan Boyer. They were both taken to Phelps Health in Rolla. No one in the vehicle was wearing a seat restraint. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing.

An accident happened at 5:07 Thursday evening in Dent County on Highway 19 about four miles south of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2010 Chevy HHR driven northbound by 51-year old Steven Wright of St. Clairsville, Ohio, ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned before the Chevy came to a rest. Suffering minor injuries were 36-year old Nicole Wright of St. Clairsville as well as the three Wright children: a three-year old male, a ten-year old female and a 12-year old female. Everyone was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by the Salem Ambulance. The Chevy HHR was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. Everyone involved was wearing their seat restraint.

The Salem Area Arts Council’s “Art Across the Ages” that will be on display to celebrate ‘Youth Art Month” at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center today through March 27th. For more information, please feel free to call the representative of the Salem Area Arts Council at (573) 247-0279. The Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center is at 202 South Main in Salem.

At the February 27th Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees meeting, the Board of Trustees voted to set a $10.00 draw fee for labs due to the increase cost of supplies and biohazard disposal. The $10.00 fee is effective March 2nd. If anyone has any questions, please contact the Dent County Health Center at 729-3106.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that weather permitting materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4412, 4124, 5430 and 5450, plus brush would be cut on county road 6670. He also noted that part of his crew was rebuilding the loader bucket on the 924 Cat, while others were building a back bumper for Cat Grader #24. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that no grading was being done in his district and that brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 2330 and 4433. He said that materials would be added to county roads 3120 and 3180 where two pipes were being installed. Larson went on to say that patching would be done on county road 3190 chip and seal, plus Grader #31 was being serviced. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that on Monday he attended the Missouri House Sub-committee informational meeting on prisoner per-diem. He said several commissioners and sheriffs testified concerning the approximately $32,000,000 owed to the counties by the State of Missouri, with over $150,000 owed to Dent County. Skiles said that Wednesday he participated in the Missouri Partnership’s Raising the Bar program’s site evaluation of the community and assets by Ginovus, a business site selection firm from Indianapolis. He said the goal was to obtain an independent evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses in drawing companies to Salem. The Commissioners approved a resolution 3-0 affirming Dent County’s membership in the Magic Health Insurance Consortium. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment and that absentee voting for the March 10th election continues through March 9th. She said that testing of the voting equipment would take place today at 9:00. Curley also noted that filing for the August 4th Primary continues through March 31st, plus the last day to register to vote in the April 7th Municipal Election is March 11th. Mike Elliot with Town and Country Insurance was in to discuss cost estimates and coverage for the Courthouse, the Judicial Building and the new Jail. The Commissioners approved by a vote of 3-0 moving the coverage of the new Jail from Builder’s Risk Coverage to Permanent Insurance Coverage. They also voted 3-0 to set the deductible for the new Jail at $5,000. They will look at changes on coverage on the other buildings in March. Ron Copeland was in to visit with the Commission. Nick Smith and Dwight Ramsburg with Septagone, Sheriff Bob Wells, and Major Len Pabin came in to discuss the new jail. The Commissioners are tentatively looking at a ribbon cutting ceremony in mid-April. The Commissioners agreed 3-0 and signed the letter and abatement for the 2014 Timber Industries Real Estate tax bill. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk and Curley signed the letter and abatement. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday at 9:00 in the courthouse and it is open to the public.

An accident happened in Dent County Wednesday morning at 7:15 on Highway 72 about nine north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Saturn Vue driven northbound by 31-year old Jennifer Shaw of Salem, lost control of the Saturn on an ice covered bridge and the Vue traveled off the roadway and struck a guardrail. Shaw suffered minor injuries and was taken by the Salem Ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. The Saturn sustained moderate damages and was removed form the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. Shaw was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.