Your World Today

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released information on a number of cases heard in front of Judge Michael Randazzo on Wednesday, May 22nd. In the first case heard, Ronald Breeding of Salem pleaded guilty to felony resisting arrest as a persistent felony offender. Breeding was sentenced to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as requested by the prosecutor. The case of Kristin Thompson of Salem was heard and she pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a weapon. Thompson made the plea after serving 24 days in jail. Prosecutor Curley sought a four-year suspended execution of sentence due to the nature of the incident with the standard terms of probation and no contact provisions with the victim and his family. Thompson sought a suspended imposition of sentence with probation. Over the objection of the state, Thompson received a suspended imposition of sentence and was placed on probation for five years. The probation case of Bobby Oller of St. Louis was heard as he was on probation for felony driving while having his license revoked and the possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutor Curley requested his probation be revoked and Judge Randazzo agreed, sentencing Oller to serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. In the case of Isaac Ghormley of Salem, he pleaded guilty to the possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine. Judge Randazzo sentenced him to a seven years suspended execution of sentence with five years of probation and parole after serving a jail sentence as requested by the prosecutor. The next case heard was that of Trevor Elrod of Salem who pleaded guilty to a Class E felony for domestic assault in the 3rd degree after serving 45 days in the Dent County Jail. Elrod was sentenced to a four-year suspended execution of sentence with five years of probation and parole with no contact with the victim or the victims’ father. In the last case heard that day, Britta Botkin of Salem pleaded guilty to the possession of a controlled substance-fentanyl. She was sentenced to serve seven yeas under the RSMO Section 559.115 program as requested by Prosecutor Curley.

The Mudbugs will be meeting this Thursday from 2:00 until about 3:30 at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History to find out how many different wildflowers they can find. Maybe enough to win the color scavenger hunt? The Mudbugs will do a little flower pounding art and the Muslin cloth will be provided. Mudbugs can bring their own white T-shirt to decorate! They may even try their hand at making dandelion tea. The Mudbug activity is geared toward children age 6-12 or so, but all ages are welcome. They will do their best to accommodate younger children. A donation to the Bonebrake Center of $2.00 per child is appreciated. Contact Janet Price for more info at moonshadowmomentsllc@gmail.com.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds hunters and anglers that squirrel and black bass seasons opened this past Saturday, May 25th. The hunting season on eastern gray and fox squirrels runs now through February 15th, 2025. Allowed methods include shotguns, rifles, and other legal firearm methods, as well as archery equipment, and slingshots. Squirrels may also be harvested with cage-style traps during the hunting season as long as hunters have a valid small game hunting permit. Traps must be labeled with the hunter’s full name and address, or Conservation Number, be attended daily, and have an opening of 144 square-inches or smaller. The daily limit for hunting, including the use of cage-style traps, is ten and the possession limit is 20. Hunters must have a permit valid for hunting small game or be exempt. If you are a fisherman, anglers may catch-and-keep black bass, such as largemouth, smallmouth, spotted or Kentucky bass, now through February 28th, 2025. Black bass can be found statewide but have a closed season part of the year in most streams south of the Missouri River. Black bass can be caught and released legally throughout the year anywhere in Missouri, and legal-sized bass may be kept all year long from impoundments and streams with no closed season. In most state waters, the daily limit on black bass is six. Fish taken from most rivers and streams must be 12-inches long. Additional regulations may apply to specific waters or areas. Anglers must have a valid fishing permit or be exempt.

There is a collection box at Salem Public Library for old, damaged, or soiled American flags. Anyone may leave a flag there now through Saturday, June 8th. The library will deliver these flags in need of retirement to the American Legion Post 99. The Legion will properly dispose of them in accordance with the United States Flag Code.

During the week of May 4th through the 10th, officers with the Salem Police Department were dispatched to a total of 80 calls for service. Officers conducted eight traffic stops for various traffic violations with two resulting in a summons or arrest. Officers also conducted five traffic accident investigations and wrote four informational reports. Here are some of the arrest reports: On the evening of Monday, May 6th at around 5:00, officers arrested 39-year-old Khira Longacre of St Louis, for active warrants for her arrest out of Jasper County, Missouri. The arrest was made following a traffic stop of a vehicle near the intersection of Hickory Street and Highway 32. On Thursday afternoon, May 9th close to 2:00, officers arrested 42-year-old Matthew Lewis of Leasburg, for an active probation and parole warrant with no bond out of Crawford County. The arrest was made following a short term investigation into the location of Lewis. Finally, during the afternoon of Friday, May 10th near 4:00, officers arrested 32-year-old Ryan Knight of Salem, for two active no bond warrants out of Dent County. The arrest was made following officers on patrol identifying the Knight walking near the intersection of Hickory Street and Highway 32. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

An accident happened in Dent County Monday morning at 2:29 on Highway 119 at Route E that took the life of a Salem teenager. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Pontiac G6 driven westbound by a 16-year-old male juvenile from Salem, experienced a mechanical failure causing the Pontiac to travel off Highway 119 from Route E into the wood line, striking a tree. According to the report, a passenger in the Pontiac, 18-year-old Danny Luebbers of Salem, was pronounced dead at the scene by Dent County Deputy Coroner Gina White. His body was taken to the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Another passenger, a 15-year-old male from Salem, suffered moderate injuries as did the juvenile driver. The 15-year-old boy was taken to the Salem Memorial Hospital by the Salem Ambulance while the 16-year-old driver was taken by a privately operated vehicle to the hospital. It was unknown if the juveniles were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident while the report indicated that Luebbers was not. The Pontiac was totaled and removed from the scene by American Automotive. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the Salem Police Department.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, May 16th. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated that there were four COVID-19 cases reported, 40 lead cases, 19 screenings for sexually transmitted infections, two cases of Influenza and nine animal bites. The environmental report by Assistant Administrator Roma Jones showed there where seven total inspections conducted, no recalls, no sewer complaints, and 23 environmental questions were fielded. A townhall meeting and informational session was planned for May 30th at 7:00 in the evening to provide information and answer questions about the new Consumer Food Safety Regulation. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there were 3 CPR Courses, no consultations for Childcare Health, one Show-Me Healthy Women appointemnt, 33 Title X appointnments, two Presumptive Eligibilities (Temporary Medicaid) and 340 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 512 total appointments other than WIC, 144 Nurse Practitioner appointments, 125 treatment court visits, 185 lab appointments and 52 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner Service Details showed one Show-Me Healthy Women appointment, nine family plannings, two well-child visits, 10 online appointments, nine other physicals, 21 SEMO physicals, 12 other visits, and 75 acute illness appointments. Laboratory details showed 195 individual patients, nine appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, four pregnancy tests and no lead tests. Immunizations for April totaled four for COVID-19, three for Influenza, and 90 for other vaccines, including the new RSV vaccine and new formulations of pneumonia vaccine. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that letters and invoices for the first food inspection fee have been mailed out and regulations and fees become effective July 1st. Moser recapped recent events including the Health Fair which had 64 attendees, five total trainings that sent staff around the country, at no cost to DCHC, plus two vaccine clinics in April. He discussed a number of maintenance issues which included replacment of a toilet, the completed installation of a larger generator, and the expectation of an insurance claim due to the April 18th hail storm which damaged the outdoor electronic sign and possible parts of the building. Moser also discussed progress on the Strategic Plan. The Health Center financial reports for April, including the overall results from H & R Block, were reviewed. Discussion was held on the balance sheet, income statement, and budget statements. After these questions were answered, the financial reports and the report from H & R Block were approved. In new business the draft of the Financial Audit was presented. The Board requested time to review the audit befoe granting approval. The preliminary report was an unmodified opinon with no material weaknesses or findings. Moser made the Board aware of a list of changes that could be made to the building and potential long-term facilities planning. Board member Bob Gravely asked about the opioid settlement money for Dent County. Moser confirmed that Dent County, through the Commissioners, has received money, but has not spent it. The Commission will be using MRPC to evalute uses of the money. The Board went in to closed session to discuss personnel. The only motion in closed session was the approval of the April 18th closed session minutes. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, June 20th at 5:00.

An accident happened Saturday afternoon at 4:35 in Phelps County on Route BB and Phelps County Road 3130. According to the highway patrol report, a 2106 Ford Fiesta driven eastbound by 22-year-old Hope Olguin of Rolla, stopped to make a left hand turn and was struck from behind by a 2007 Toyota Yarris driven eastbound by a 16-year-old female juvenile of Rolla. Olguin suffered minor injuries as did two passengers in her vehicle: 20-year-old Jason Archuletta and 20-year old Miahann Warrick of Rolla. Everyone was taken by a personal vehicle to Phelps Health for treatment. Everyone involved was wearing a seatbelt. The Ford Fiesta had minor damage and was driven from the scene while the Toyota Yarris sustained moderate damages and was towed from the scene by the owner.