Local News – Friday, April 6th, 2018
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 reported that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Road 2490, while grading only would be done on county roads 5450 and 5220. He went on to say that he had a man piling the chips that are being hauled in for this summers chip and seal work. Purcell noted that a crew had installed two foot by two foot Missouri Farmers Care Agri Ready signs on the county roads at the county line. He went on to say that the Commissioners realize that roads are rough and there are potholes, but the crews are getting to them on a rotational basis and the roads will be graded. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4300, 6160, 2500, and 2520, while county road 3220 would have materials added and it would also be graded. Larson said that county road 2630 would have materials added to it. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that on Wednesday he attended the MRPC Investment Board meeting in St. James where the primary issues discussed were the budget and dues structure and there would be more meetings on these issues. He reminded everyone that there would be no meeting of the Commission on Monday as they will be attending the Missouri Association of Commissioners Legislative Conference in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for March and that she balanced with the collector and assessor on all monthly collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of March. She also said that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning, April 12th at 9:00 at the courthouse, and the meeting is open to the public.
An accident occurred March 20th at the intersecting streets of Parkview place and route J. According to the Salem Police report, a 2000 Ford Ranger driven by Sheri Cline of Rolla and a 2013 Ford Edge driven by Donna Nichols of Salem were westbound on route J approaching Parkview when the Ranger signaled to make a left turn. The Edge failed to stop, and contact was made with the Ranger. Cline suffered minor injuries and sought her own treatment while Nichols also suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment. Both vehicles had moderate damage.
The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their April meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. After approval of the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting, the Board reviewed and approved bills as presented. The Board then reviewed the budget and saw that it was close to the same amount as this time last year. The monthly reimbursement report was presented with a total of 26 calls for the month that included five calls for structure fires, two calls for a brush fire, one call for a car fire, one call for a landing zone, four calls for first responders, four calls for vehicle accidents, five calls for mutual aid, two calls for Haz-Mat, and two calls for training. The total calls year-to-date is 96. There was no old or new business brought before the Boar. During reports, Fire Chief Brad Nash reported that the UTV the district purchased has arrived at the dealership and will be ready for possible pickup next week. The Board then set their next meeting for Tuesday, May 1st at the fire station beginning at 6:00 pm and the meeting was then adjourned.
The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced that bridge work will be done on Route F between Highway 32 and Route E starting April 9th. The maintenance work on the Holt Creek Bridge will close the road to through traffic, and traffic will be detoured around the work area. Once work is complete on the Holt Creek Bridge, contractors will begin work on the Dry Fork Creek Bridge. The project is scheduled to be completed in June. MoDOT asks drivers to plan an alternative route now ahead of the closure. For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central.
Country Mart and Council for a Healthy Dent County have partnered together to create a “Fresh Fruit for Kids” program. Displayed at the front of the produce isle inside the Country Mart store is now a three-tier basket display filled with fresh fruit. Children 12 and under are encouraged to take a piece of fruit to snack on while shopping with their family for free! This is a part of Healthy Dent County’s “Healthy Schools Healthy Communities” initiative through the Missouri Foundation for Health which they have been a part of since 2013.