Local News – Friday, December 6th, 2019
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. In the road report District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Roads 2460, 4090 and 5520, while materials only would be added to county road 5510. He also said that brush would be cut on county road 6370. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3140, 3150, 5260 and 5280, plus county road 2200 would have materials added and would be graded. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that Tuesday evening he and Commissioner Larson attended the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste District annual full board meeting in St. James where two policy revisions were approved and various grant extensions were approved. They also attended the separate ORSWD Awards Dinner where seven awards were presented for Outstanding Achievement in Solid Waste Reduction. Skiles also noted that a crew was working on some electrical problems with some of the Christmas lights on the Courthouse. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that the Commissioners were approving bills for payment and her office continues work on the Dent County Budget for 2020. Commissioner reported that phone bids were taken for 2,500 gallons of gasoline for the Road and Bridge Department and County Fuels was the winning bidder at $1.89 per gallon. Dent County Assessor Tina Whitaker came in with her Map Maintenance Agreement with STC and the Commissioners signed the agreement for 2020-2021. Sheriff Bob Wells, Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley, and Treasurer Denita Williams were in to discuss a civil forfeiture. The task force had worked on a case that involved distribution of a controlled substance and seized money. The Judge in the case had ordered the $6,803.30 in seized money be turned over to the County Treasurer. According to state law, the Treasurer will turn the money over to the schools. It was stated that Law Enforcement has been working on several cases and has seized firearms and will have a firearms sale in the future with the proceeds to be turned over to the Treasurer and deposited in the General Revenue Fund. Prosecutor Curley discussed the Dent County Crime Advocate position that was made possible by a grant. He said that Cynthia Nash of his staff is taking the position and all expenses related to that position will be fully reimbursed back to Dent County by the grant. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
A Children’s Old-Fashioned Christmas will be held Monday evening from 6:30-8:00 at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History at the corner of Rolla Road and North Hickory. The kids can help decorate the “Children’s Tree,” by creating and decorating the old-fashion ways—popcorn, clothespin angels, paper chains, oranges, and cookies. This event is appropriate for children through about 12 years old. The cost is $1.00 per child or $5.00 per family. Adults are free.
The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors meeting took place at 7:00 Tuesday evening, December 3rd. Bills were heard and approved with an ending balance of $113,981.22 as of December 3rd. The 2020 budget was reviewed and approved. In the monthly reimbursement report, the department received a total of 27 calls for the month of November, bringing the total calls year to date to 260 with an average cost per call of $118.88. During the month of November, the department responded to 13 vehicle accidents, six first responder calls, four brush fires, two training calls and one mutual aid. Fire chief Brad Nash reported to the board that the top three categories of fire calls in 2019 so far were vehicle accidents, accounting for 23.5% of the calls, another 21.2% were first responder calls and structure fires came in third at 15.8%. These numbers account for almost 61% of the calls responded to in 2019. Chief Nash also updated the board on the progress of the renovation at the district fire station and stated that the new doors are in. Providing the weather holds, the roof is almost complete and should be finished soon. The new restroom is currently being framed in. Chief Nash noted that all in all, the progress is moving along as planned. The date for the next meeting was set for January 7th at 6:00 in the evening at the fire station.
A follow-up community conversation on the opioid epidemic and Narcan instruction will be held Tuesday evening, December 10th at 5:30. The forum provides the Dent County community the opportunity to share solutions to the opioid epidemic and give input on what citizens’ feel should happen. In order to be part of the solution, citizens can start by understanding what Naloxone (Narcan) is and how to administer it to a loved one or a member of the community. The forum is free and there will be a limited amount of complimentary appetizers and drinks so please RSVP to contact person Sherry Lea at (573) 729-8163. The forum will be held at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory and is sponsored by Your Community Cares Rural Health Coalition.
Don’t forget to attend the Salem “Parade of Lights” tomorrow night starting at 5:30 from the SBU-Salem campus at Grand and Franklin Streets to the Dent County Courthouse.