Local News – Friday, August 16th, 2019
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday at the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance as he was at Senator Blunt’s Ag meeting in Sedalia. Gary Larson served as the acting Presiding Commissioner. Matt Lloyd and Dan Ostrander from Fabick/Caterpillar were in attendance as the commissioners had some issues with the new Cat graders that just arrived. An electronics issues was corrected, but the machines were 3,400 pounds less than previous Fabick machines with less horsepower and the seats arm rests were too short and low for the grader operators to use. Lloyd said these machines have had an excellent service record in the areas they have been used and was the suggested model to replace the old grader the county used to use. The problem is that with the hilly roads in Dent County, the machines may not have enough power to push rock without losing traction. Both commissioners wanted to see what their operators say about how the machines operate before a solution may need to be reached on the new graders. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4090, 4220 and 5330 while brush will be cut on county roads 5015 and 5150. He said materials may be added to county road 4090 if time permits. District 2 Commissioner Larson said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2200, 2340, 4020 and 4030 while brush would be cut on county roads 2300 and 2370. Larson stated workers would be patching chip and seal roads 3190, 3233 and 6150. At the last meeting, the commissioners spoke with Public Administrator Sherida Cook regarding public administrative fees and returning phone calls from the public. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.
Healthy Dent County will host their annual Fundraising Gala on Monday evening, August 26th beginning at 6:30 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Doors will open at 6:00 with the program being held from 6:30-8:30. This year attendees will hear from keynote speaker Coach Jerry Kill, the athletic director at Southern Illinois University. Jerry Kill is one of college football’s most successful “program rebuilders.” He won a state championship with Webb City High School in 1989, a national championship with Division II Pittsburg State University, and built winning foundations at Saginaw Valley State, Emporia State University, Southern Illinois University, and Northern Illinois University. He stepped down from coaching in October 2015 due to health reasons. Coach Kill’s personal experiences with cancer and epilepsy led him and his wife, Rebecca, to create the Coach Kill Cancer Fund and the Chasing Dreams Coach Kill Epilepsy Fund. The funds directly aid patients and families in need of financial assistance; provide education to schools in creating Seizure Smart Classrooms; support Camp Oz, a camp where children suffering with epilepsy “can just be kids”; and assist many other health initiatives. Coach Kill has a local connection to Healthy Dent County’s Vice-Chairman, Andrew Wynn, as Coach Kill served as a coach and mentor to Andrew while he played football at SIU. Community health awards will be presented to local citizens, organizations and businesses that have been instrumental in providing health related services and programs to our community. This event is open to anyone in the community that wishes to learn more about Healthy Dent County and the Salem Community Center @ the Armory and find out ways to help support the work we do in our community. Reservations are requested by Monday, August 19th. To RSVP for the event please call 729-8163 or e-mail taylor@salemcommunitycenter.org.
The Dent County Sheriff's Department has released the following reports. On Friday, August 9th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of Dent County Road 5610. During the course of the traffic stop, a 28-year-old Bunker man was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia – amphetamine or methamphetamine. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. Then on Sunday, August 11th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Route K at Dent County Road 6190. During the course of the traffic stop, a 32-year-old Salem man was arrested for felony driving while having his license suspended. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Department, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If you have any information on an investigation please contact the Dent County Sheriff's Office at 573-729-3241.
There will be a blood drive today at the Salem Memorial District Hospital Doctor’s Library from 9:00 this morning until 2:00 this afternoon. All blood types are needed! Remember, you must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health and bring a photo ID! For more information, call Kathy Haines at 729-6626.