Your World Today

An accident happened Sunday night in Phelps County at 7:15 on Route F at the Dry Ford Creek Bridge about 5.4 miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup driven eastbound by 60-year old Colleen Marxkors of Rolla, lost traction with the road and the pickup went off the roadway and into a ditch. Marxkors suffered serious injuries and was taken by a private vehicle to Phelps Health in Rolla. She was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford sustained extensive damage in the accident and was removed from the scene by Tunes Wrecker.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road report, both District 1 and District 2 Commissioners Dennis Purcell and Gary Larson stated their crews were out treating chip and seal roads, and concentrating on hills and curves on all county roads to make them passable. Purcell stated that a crew had to install new road signs on Dent County Road 6225 and Larson said another crew would be working at the shop changing a spreader box from one pickup to a different truck. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported on the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting that he attended last Thursday at the MRPC office. Skiles said the standing priority concern is to make Highways 63 and 50 four lanes through the Ozark Region. The members then heard about the 30 other transportation priority needs from the other counties before voting on the priorities they felt were the most important that need to be addressed. The Gladden Creek (or Standing Rock) Bridge came in as the 3rd most important concern from the committee. This does not mean that the bridge will be replaced immediately, but if MoDOT should find extra funds it could be moved up on the list. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported she would be working on the 2020 county budget. The next meeting will be Thursday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

After 42 years of federal service, 36 with the National Park Service (NPS), Ozark National Scenic Riverways Superintendent Larry Johnson is retiring on January 3, 2020. Larry has been the superintendent at the park since 2015. Johnson is extremely proud of his time at Ozark, during which he led the park through an extensive recovery effort following the devastating flood of April 2017. He guided the initial emergency response as well as the longer-term planning efforts for rebuilding.Johnson and his wife of 38 years, Jan, will stay in the Van Buren area for a time before ultimately settling down in Iowa to be close to their family. Meanwhile, Larry looks forward to more exploration of the area, spending more time researching family history and hiking and biking area trails. A retirement luncheon will be held at noon on Friday, December 20th, at park headquarters in Van Buren. Guests are welcome and can R.S.V.P. by calling (573) 323-4852.

The Missouri Conservation Commission approved recommendations by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at the Commission’s December 13th meeting for upcoming deer-hunting and fall turkey season dates. The 2020 and 2021 Archery Deer Hunting Dates will be September 15th through November 13th and November 25th through January 15th, 2021. Fall Firearms Turkey Season will be October 1st through 31st. Firearms Deer Hunting Dates are October 31st through November 1st for the Firearms Deer Early Youth Portion. The Firearms Deer November Portion will be November 14th through the 24th. Firearms Deer Late Youth Portion will be November 27th through the 29th. Firearms Deer Antlerless Portion will be conducted December 4th through the 6th. Finally, the Firearms Deer Alternative Methods Portion will be December 26th through January 5th, 2021. Details on hunting regulations, harvest limits, allowed methods, required permits, and other related information will be available in MDC’s “2020 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information” booklets. Both will be available where permits are sold prior to the related seasons. Buy Missouri hunting permits from numerous vendors around
the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through MDC’s free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO Fishing, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices. Learn more about deer and turkey hunting in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov.

The Salvation Army’s “Angel Tree” at Wal-Mart still has a number of “angels” remaining as of Sunday evening and the last day to adopt an “angel” will be Tuesday. It is the goal of the Dent County Salvation Army Service Unit to try to make sure that every Dent County child’s Christmas morning is bright and you can help by adopting an angel. It is easy to help out. Just follow these steps: Select a tag representing a specific child from the “Angel Tree” at Wal-Mart. Then shop for gifts based on the parent’s suggestions. You do not have to purchase everything on the list, just use it as a guideline. Once you are finished shopping, bring the unwrapped gifts to the Wal-Mart Service Desk along with the “angel tag” by tomorrow. Your gifts will be distributed to your adopted “angel” on Thursday, December 19th. For questions about the “Angel Tree,” please contact the Dent County Service Unit of the Salvation Army at 729-8163.

A fatality accident occurred late Saturday morning at around 11:15 in Phelps County on Grant Road approximately six tenths of a mile
south of the Doolittle city limits. The report from the highway patrol states that three female juveniles were traveling north on a 2009 Kubota RTV 1140 CPX and the accident happened as the vehicle was making a left turn and started to skid, overturned and ejected all three of the occupants, landing on top of the 14-year old victim who was transported by Phelps Health EMS to Phelps Health and was pronounced dead at 12:10 by Dr. Clay in the Phelps Health emergency room. The other two 13 year old juveniles were not injured in the accident. According to the report, none of the juveniles were wearing safety devices. There was no damage to the Kubota.

An accident occurred Saturday evening at 5:05 in Dent County on Highway 19 about seven miles north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2017 Jeep Renegade driven by 59-year old Martha Tibbs of Salem was traveling southbound and struck a deer. Tibbs suffered minor injuries and was transported to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by ambulance. She was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Jeep sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

An accident happened in Maries County Friday afternoon at 4:15 on Highway 63 in Vichy involving 2 Rolla residents. According to the report released from the highway patrol, a 2004 Ford Ranger driven by 20-year old Mark Kidd of Rolla was southbound when he was struck from behind by a 2005 Ford Freestyle being driven by 27-year old Randa Fogelman of Rolla. Kidd was transported by the Ozark Central EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla for treatment of minor injuries. Both drivers were wearing safety restraints according to the report. The Ranger sustained extensive damage and was driven from the scene. The Freestyle was totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 7:00 in the Council Chambers of City Hall. After the consent agenda is approved, the board will hear from City Administrator Ray Walden who will provide the board an update on current city projects and update them on office holiday closures as well as a discussion on the December utility bills. After Walden has completed his report, the board will discuss a trailer court license application submitted for approval. Chief Keith Steelman will discuss the destruction of 2013 police records with the board. The Board will also hear Resolution #27-2019 that authorizes the filing of an application with the Missouri Department of Natural bResources State Revolving Loan Fund program for the construction of the new sewer to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. The board will then go into closed session to discuss real estate, contracts and personnel. The meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen is open to the public.

The Missouri Conservation Commission approved recommendations by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at the Commission’s December 13th meeting for upcoming turkey-hunting season dates. The 2020 Spring and Fall Turkey Hunting dates are as follows. Spring Youth Portion will be April 4th and 5th and Regular Spring Turkey Season will be April 20th through May 10th, while Fall Firearms Turkey Season will be October 1st through 31st. Details on hunting regulations, harvest limits, allowed methods, required permits, and other related information will be available in MDC’s “2020 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information.” Buy Missouri hunting permits from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through MDC’s free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO Fishing, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices. Learn more about turkey hunting in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov.