Your World Today

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning for their first meeting of 2020. In the road report District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5255 and 5525, while materials would be added and grading done on county roads 5150, 5160, 5180, 6460 and 6470. He also reported that brush would be cut on county road 6080. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Roads 3080, 3090, 5225 and 5240, while grading only would be done on county road 2510. Larson also reported that brush would be cut on county roads 2155 and 2150. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that the IDA Board had a vacancy and the Board recommended Lori Plank to be appointed to the Board. The Commission approved Plank’s appointment 3-0. Skiles noted that he had looked over the ending 2019 actual expenditures and General Revenue along with most of the county office holders ended the year under budget. He said work continues on the 2020 budget. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the tentative 2020 budget would be available to the public on January 16th.The Commissioners voted 3-0 to set the 2020 budget hearing for January 27th at 10:00. Curley reported that the last day to register to vote in the March 10th Presidential Preference Primary Election is February 12th and that absentee voting for the March 10th election would start January 28th. She also said that February 25th is the first day for candidate filings for the August 4th Primary Election, plus that’s the first day for absentee voting for the April 7th Municipal Election. At Monday’s Commission meeting Jamie Homeyer was appointed to the Assessor’s position and she was sworn in Tuesday morning. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 in the Dent County Courthouse.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that no one died in a traffic crash during the 30-hour 2020 New Year’s holiday counting period. Last year, there were 11 fatalities during the much longer 102-hour counting period. The 2020 New Year’s counting period only ran from 6:00 New Year’s Eve night until New Year’s Day night at 11:59. The 2020 New Year’s Holiday Traffic Statistics indicated that troopers investigated 72 crashes that included 34 injuries with no fatalities. They also made 56 DWI arrests during the counting period.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for December 25th and 26th. Christmas morning at approximately 9:09, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of West Roosevelt in reference to an assault. The investigation of the report revealed a 37-year-old male of Salem had assaulted a 69-year-old male and a 38-year-old female, both of Salem. A further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect for assault, assaulting officers, resisting arrest and property damage. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application of warrants. On Thursday afternoon, the 26th, at approximately 12:58, an officer was dispatched to Fifth and Washington Streets in reference to a female lying in the street. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 40-year-old female of Salem for the possession of methamphetamine and the possession of other controlled substances. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application of warrants. The report is under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have information regarding any investigation.

The Dent County Service Unit of The Salvation Army would like to announce that they have successfully reached their $35,000 goal during this year’s Christmas Kettle Campaign. Along with the monetary donations received in 2019, 262 local children were adopted at the Angel Tree that was located at Wal-Mart. The local Salvation Army Board would like to thank everyone who made monetary donations and/or adopted an angel. They also extend their greatest appreciation to the dedicated volunteers that took time out of their busy holiday season to ring the bells at all the kettles. The community’s continued generosity will be distributed throughout 2020 to those less fortunate in Dent County.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports following the Christmas holiday. On Friday, December 27th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of South Main Street. During the course of the traffic stop, a 36-year-old Salem man was arrested for operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license, his third time for the subsequent offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. That same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1500 block of West Highway 32. During the course of the traffic stop, a 23-year-old Bunker man was arrested for the possession of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid of 10 grams or less. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Sunday, December 29th, a Deputy responded to the intersection of West Highway 32 and Gertrude Street due to an officer with the Salem Police Department requesting emergent assistance. The deputy arrived on scene and assisted the officer with arresting a 37-year-old Salem man. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail where he was incarcerated. If anyone has information about an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The Phelps County Public Housing Agency (PHA) is now accepting rental assistance applications via a new online application website. The online application allows for greater accessibility of qualifying individuals. The online application can be found at phelpsco.housingmanager.com. The Housing Choice Voucher Program works to help very low-income families, the elderly and the disabled afford decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. Individuals need to have a valid email address to apply online. Paper applications are still accepted every Wednesday from 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon at the St. James location. The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) provides staffing to the Phelps County PHA that provides rental assistance to over 750 low-income families in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps (outside the city limits of Rolla) and Washington counties. The PHA also offers the Family Self-Sufficiency Program where clients develop a goal-oriented, five-year plan that moves them toward self-sufficiency and independence from government programs.