Local News – Friday, August 2nd, 2019
The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that he was a crewman short and that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5170, 5180, 5650 and 4235 if time permitted. He went on to report that materials would be added to county roads 5680 and 5650, plus brush would be cut on county roads 6180 and 4220. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5280, 5300, 5320 and 4405 if there was adequate time. He said that brush would be cut on county road 2080 and two men were working on Loader #3. Larson also reported that two men were patching chip and seal at various locations in preparation for the application of the overlay plus a man was screening brown rock at the Road and Bridge Department. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that on Tuesday he attended the IDA meeting where information was presented about a possible program to improve sub-standard housing in Salem. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley noted that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. Commissioner Purcell excused himself from the meeting to go to St. James where he was to meet with Kelly Sink-Blair of MRPC and Kelly Witsett with the Forest Service concerning an application for funds through the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) for replacement of the Cooley Bridge. Dwight Ramsburg and Nick Smith were in at 11:00 with a Jail Project update. At Monday’s meeting County Collector Shannon Vankirk was in to discuss a letter from the Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley regarding the postponement of property taxes for 2019 for the Timber Industries, Inc. property pending a review of the hazardous material inquiry. Tina Whitaker, Dent County Assessor was in and gave her notice that she will retire December 31st, 2019. The next regular meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
A teenager from St. Peters was injured on at about 2:20 in the Meramec River about two and a half miles upstream from the Blue Springs Ranch in Crawford County on Saturday afternoon July 27th. According to the highway patrol report, 13-year old Carrie Stalf of St. Peters was swimming in the river and surfaced in front of a 2008 Blazer boat being operated by Shawn Petty of Salem that was headed up river. Stalf suffered minor injuries and was taken by a personal vehicle to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan for treatment. The swimmer was not wearing a flotation device.
The Salem Police Department has released the following reports. On Sunday morning, July 21st at about 10:24, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to a theft from a vehicle. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown entered a red 2006 Chevrolet truck parked near the 400 block of North Henderson and took $80.00 in cash. The report is under investigation. That night at approximately 7:30, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation of the report revealed a 29-year-old female of Salem had taken several items valued at $52.48 without paying for them. The report is under investigation. Later that same evening at 11:55,
an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of North Jackson in reference to a fight in progress. That investigation led to the arrest of a 31-year-old male of Salem on an active arrest warrant from the City of Salem and a 25-year-old male of Salem for the possession of drug paraphernalia and on an active arrest warrant from Cuba, Missouri. The two suspects were incarcerated on the warrants and the 25-year-old suspect was issued a summons to appear in court for possession of drug paraphernalia. On Monday morning, July 22nd at 10:46, an officer was contacted at the Salem Police Department in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or psersons unknown took a weed trimmer valued at $129.99 from the porch of a residence in the 600 block of East Third. The report is under investigation. Later Monday afternoon at 1:38, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 33-year-old female of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $12.88. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 573-729-4242 if you have any information about an ongoing investigation.
The State of Missouri will hold its annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday today through this Sunday night at midnight. During this time period, certain back-to-school items will be exempt from the 4.225 percent state sales tax. These items qualify for the sales tax-free weekend: clothing with a taxable value of $100 or less, school supplies that do not exceed $50 per purchase, computer software with a taxable value of $350 or less, personal computers that do not exceed $1,500, computer peripheral devices that do not exceed $1,500 and graphing calculators that do not to exceed $150. According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, Salem and Rolla did not opt of the sales tax holiday, nor did Dent County. Phelps County did opt out and their county sales tax will be collected. The tax-free weekend was first offered in 2004 to make shopping for school supplies a little easier on the budget.
Victor Baptist Church in Anutt will be having a FREE Back to School Giveaway today from 3:00 to 7:00 and tomorrow from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM. You can pickup school supplies, clothing for all seasons, household items, small appliances, books, games, toys and more. There are no qualifiers, everyone is welcome and everything is FREE!