Your World Today

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, both District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell and District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated that crews would be out sanding and salting county roads, especially on curves and hills and other slick spots that are shaded most of the time. Purcell also said that brush would be cut on Dent County Road 6420. Purcell went on to report that he attended the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency meeting in Winona Tuesday where funds are still available for many of their programs. Purcell says funds are still available for home repairs, weatherization, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, better known as LIHEAP. All applicants must meet particular income guidelines for each of the programs available. Renters must have owner approval and owner participation to receive services. For more information about any of the programs listed, call 729-3500 if you live in Dent County, call 573-663-2855 if you reside in Reynolds County, and for Shannon County residents, call 573-325-8271. You can also check out the website: https://scmcaa.org. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wants to remind those who are interested in the Dent County Assessor’s position after Assessor Tina Whitaker retires on December 31st, need to let the Dent County Commission know of your interest. Stop by the regular meetings on Monday or Thursday from 9:00 until 12:00 noon before the end of the year. Three people have already indicated to the commission of their interest in the position. The commissioners will appoint a person to take over the Assessor’s position to start on January 2nd. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she would be working on the county budget for 2020. The commissioners also approved by a 3-0 vote to renew the county’s liability insurance and auto insurances through MOPERM for the 2020 year. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of November. They issued four equipment repair orders, 13 summonses to appear in court, six warning tickets, and nine traffic tickets, plus they also served three fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated ten traffic accidents, wrote three property damage reports, seven stealing reports, and one trespassing report. The department investigated three reports of driving while having a license revoked or suspended, one driving while being intoxicated, four possession of a controlled substance reports, and five domestic violence reports. The department was also dispatched for 55 animal calls, 30 ambulance assist calls, 30 well being checks, 10 requests for information, and performed 62 traffic stops for the month. The Salem Police Department received 1155 calls during the month of November and had 113 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 7,181 miles during the month and spent 15 hours in court testifying and eight hours as court bailiff. There were 15 males and seven females arrested in November.

An accident happened at 6:30 Wednesday evening in Dent County on Highway 32 about 14 miles east of Salem. The report from the highway patrol states that a 1997 GMC Jimmy being driven by 19-year old Austin Roark of Salem, was eastbound when the GMC traveled off the right side of the road and struck a tree. Roark was transported by a private vehicle to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for the treatment of moderate injuries. According to the report, Roark was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The GMC was totaled in the accident and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

The City of Salem has been trying to clean off the roads and are running into vehicles parked on the side streets. If possible, please remove your vehicles from the roadway so that the roads can be treated and cleaned properly that will make travel safer for everyone. Also, there are certain streets within the city limits of Salem that have been designated as emergency “Snow Routes.” These streets shall have priority over other streets for the clearing of snow, ice or other debris: Third Street to the west from Highway 19 to Dilworth Lane, and Third Street to the east from Pershing Avenue to Iron Mountain Road; Fourth Street from Pershing Avenue to McArthur Avenue; Sixth Street (Rolla Road) from McArthur Avenue to Pershing Avenue; Jackson Street to the north from Sixth Street (Rolla Road) to the dead end; Tenth Street from Highway 19 to Walnut Hill Drive; Pershing Avenue from Tenth Street to Highway 32/72 East; Center Street from Highway 19 to Craig Industrial Drive; Carty Street from Highway 32/72 East to Center Street; Craig Industrial Drive from Highway 32/72 to Iron Mountain Road; Babb Lane from Highway 32/72 West to Roosevelt Street; Doss Road south from Highway 32/72 East to the city limits; Roosevelt Street to the east from Highway 19 to Babb Lane and west from Highway 19 to Wines Street; Wines Street from Roosevelt Street to Highway 32/72 West; Missouri Avenue from Highway 32/72 West to Third Street; Park Street from Highway 32/72 West to Sixth Street (Rolla Road); Franklin Street to the west from McArthur Avenue to Highway 72 and to the east from Highway 19 to Pershing Avenue; Dilworth Lane from Route J to Highway 32 West; and Center Street to the west from Missouri Avenue to Dilworth Lane. Remember to remove your vehicle from these routes when an accumulation of ice and snow is expected so that the route can be cleared. Your car or truck could be towed at your expense, or you could be sited for a parking violation.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports for Wednesday, December 11th. First, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in 1700 block of Highway 32 West. During the course of the traffic stop, a 19-year-old Salem man was arrested for possession of marijuana and/or synthetic cannabinoid of 10 grams or less. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was finger-printed, issued a summons and then released. That same day, deputies traveled to the 1200 block of East Third Street to assist the Missouri Department of Social Services – Children’s Division with an investigation. Upon arrival at a residence, deputies arrested a 25-year-old Salem man, a 28-year-old Salem man, and a 23-year old Salem woman for the possession of a controlled substance. Also arrested during the incident was a 43-year-old Salem man for the possession of a controlled substance and keeping or maintaining a public nuisance. A 55-year-old Salem man was arrested for warrants through Dent County for failure to register as a sex offender and a also a Probation and Parole warrant. All of the subjects were transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information relative to these incidents.

Santa’s Workshop will be held Friday at the Salem Community Center@The Armory from 4:30 to 6:30 where children can come and have pictures with Santa Claus, do crafts, enjoy hot chocolate and more. The event is FREE and open to everyone.