Local News – Friday August 30th, 2019
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4080, 4210 and 6580, while materials would be added to county road 6640. He reported that brush would be cut on county roads 4243, 4245 and 5420, plus a flat tire was being repaired on truck #125. Purcell went on to say that contractors are continuing with the Chip and Seal Overlay Project and he encourages drivers to be cautious when traveling in the vicinity of the work. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he had a man at the Road and Bridge Department loading the Chip and Seal trucks. He noted that materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Road 2370, plus brush would be cut on county road 4480. Larson said that he attended Representative Jason Smith’s Farm Tour at the Josh Wisdom Farm on Tuesday. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wanted to remind everyone of the Chamber of Commerce Rodeo Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 each evening at The Commons. He also said that the Courthouse would be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day. Assistant Dent County Clerk Melissa Piatt said the Commissioners were approving bills for payment and that County Clerk Angie Curley was attending the annual County Clerks Election Authority Conference at the Lodge of the Four Seasons. The Commissioners voted 3-0 to seek local bids for Lease-Purchase Financing for the new tractor and brush cutter the county is buying. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
An accident involving a 2005 Honda ATV happened Wednesday afternoon around 4:45 in Reynolds County on Route UU about one mile north of Bunker. According to the highway patrol report, 13-year old Gavin Mayfield of Bunker, was traveling eastbound on Route UU when he made a turn with the ATV and a passenger, Andrew Callahan, also of Bunker, slid off of the vehicle. Callahan sustained serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to St. Louis Childrens Hospital. Neither riders were wearing safety devices at the time of the accident. The ATV was removed from the scene by the owner.
Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to plan for a safe 2019 Labor Day weekend. It's everyone's responsibility to operate both vehicles and vessels safely and observe all Missouri laws. Incorporating safety into your weekend plan includes choosing your route, making sure your equipment is in good working condition, being aware of and following all of Missouri's traffic and boating laws, driving your vehicle or vessel courteously, wearing a seat belt or a life jacket to help ensure a safer Labor Day weekend. In Missouri, 11 people died and 470 were injured in 1,048 traffic crashes over the 2018 Labor Day holiday. Troopers arrested 113 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s holiday weekend. The 2019 counting period for the Labor Day holiday will be from 6:00 tonight and last through 11:59 Monday night, September 2nd. The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways enforcing Missouri’s speed limit, seat belt, and impaired driving laws, in addition to being available to assist motorists. The Labor Day holiday is also a busy boating weekend. In 2018, there were seven boating crashes which included three injuries, but no fatalities. There were no drownings over last year's Labor Day holiday. Troopers arrested 15 people for boating while intoxicated during last year's counting period. All available marine enforcement troopers will be working to make the waterways safer during the holiday weekend. Col. Olson also urges everyone to use a seat belt in a vehicle or a life jacket when you're on or near the water. The public is encouraged to call the Patrol's Emergency Report Line (800) 525-5555 or *55 on your cellular phone if you witness criminal activity or experience an emergency. These emergency numbers are operational for both highway and water emergencies. If your celebration includes alcohol, designate someone else to drive whether you are in your boat or your car.
The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of July. The Salem Police issued 3 equipment repair orders, 25 summonses to appear in court, 10 warning tickets, and 5 traffic tickets, plus they also served 10 city warrants and 10 fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated 7 traffic accidents, three burglaries, and made one death investigation, and investigated one leaving the scene of an accident. They also wrote one missing person report, 5 property damage reports, 20 stealing reports, 1 trespassing report, and one unlawful use of a firearem report. The department also investigated three reports of driving while having a license revoked and suspended, six possessions of a controlled substance reports, and seven possession of drug paraphernalia reports. The department was also dispatched for 45 animal calls, 34 ambulance assist calls, 32 well being checks, 17 requests for information, and performed 53 traffic stops for the month. The department received 1053 calls during the month of July and had 94 walk ins to the station while driving 8,030 miles during the month of July. They spent 22 hours in court testifying and 8 hours as court bailiff. There were 23 males and 16 females arrested in July.