Local News – Friday, April 19th, 2019

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that the six to seven tenths of an inch of rain overnight has left roadways too wet too grade so his crew was doing equipment maintenance. He said a hydraulic leak on Dump Truck #123 was being repaired and shims were being put in Grader #24, plus some of his crew was cleaning culverts and others were replacing county road signs. Purcell went on to say that with the improving weather some good progress has been made on many of the roadways and that weather permitting materials would be added to Dent County Road 6245. He reported that Tuesday he attended the South Central Community Action Agency meeting and that funding is available for all programs including child care, Head Start, Early Head Start, weatherization, etc. Purcell said that income guidelines apply and for more information call 729-3500 and talk to Sarah. Wednesday Purcell attended a Tourism Committee meeting where one reimbursement request was submitted and approved, plus one proposal was submitted and approved. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 3180 and 3283, plus service work was being done on a pup trailer. He also noted that he had a man hauling rock to stock pile at the Road and Bridge Department and that right now he is short a grader and a dump truck that are being repaired. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that last Thursday he attended the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting where MoDOT reported the number of potholes since the first of the year is at an all time high for 2019 compared to previous years. Later that evening Skiles attended the MRPC meeting where plans are starting for the Annual Awards Banquet and Requests for Proposals are being developed for the event. He reported that on Friday of last week and Wednesday of this week he was in Jefferson City attending the Central Region Work Force Investment Board meeting where the board was working on budget and audit issues. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment and that Thursday afternoon she would be attending a meeting about the County/City/Chamber Website were they are working towards seeking bids on development of a new website. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released the following reports for April 9th through the 11th. On Tuesday, April 9th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 1600 block of Highway FF. During the course of the traffic stop a 33 year-old Salem male was arrested for driving while having a revoked license, 2nd offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. Then on Wednesday, April 10th, deputies were requested in the Dent County Courthouse for a court ordered preliminary breath test. Deputies arrived at the Dent County Courthouse and requested a 34 year-old Salem women to submit to the breath test. The female refused and began to yell. The female was held in contempt of court and placed under arrest. While the female was being escorted back to the Dent County Jail, she became combative and attempted to pull away from the Deputy. After attempting to pull away multiple times and refusing to cooperate with Deputies, she was escorted inside the Dent County Sheriff’s Office.
The female was incarcerated in the Dent County Sheriff’s Office for contempt of court and resisting or interfering with an arrest, stop, or detention. On Thursday, April 11th, deputies with the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and Officers with the Salem Police Department traveled to a residence near the 150 Block of County Road 5050 to attempt to locate a male with an active warrant for his arrest through probation and parole. During the course of the investigation a 27 year-old Salem male was arrested for the active probation and parole warrant and unlawful possession of a firearm. The male was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and incarcerated. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information about an ongoing investigation.