Local News – Friday, January 17th, 2020
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An accident happened in Dent County Wednesday evening at 5:03 on Highway 19 about a half mile south of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Chrysler Town and Country driven northbound by 33-year old Regina Connell of Salem, was slowing for a vehicle who was making a turn when it was struck from behind by a 2017 Chevy Equinox driven northbound by 28-year old Erica Hopkins of Salem. After the collision, the Chevy Equinox crossed the left side of the roadway and struck a fence. The Town and Country was pushed off the right side of the road where it struck an embankment and a telephone pole. Connell was ejected from the vehicle and suffered moderate injuries. She was transported by Air Evac to Cox South Hospital in Springfield. Connell was not wearing a seat restraint at time of the accident while Hopkins was wearing a seat restraint. The Chevy sustained extensive damage while the Town and Country was totaled. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem.
A one vehicle accident happened early Wednesday morning shortly after 7:00 in Iron County on Highway 49 about three miles south of Viburnum. According to the report released from the highway patrol, a 2014 Volkswagen being driven by 24-year old Sarah Laskowsky of Defiance, was southbound when she ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Laskowsky, who was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, was transported by ambulance to Missouri Baptist Medical Center in Sullivan for treatment of minor injuries. The Volkswagen was totaled and removed from the scene by Abney’s Towing.
There will be a CBCO Blood Drive today at Salem Wood Products off Highway 19 north from 11:00 until 5:00. The need is for “O” negative blood and “AB” plasma. Remember you have to weigh 110 pound, be in good health and bring a photo ID.
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. In the road report District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would take place on Dent County Roads 5680, 6400, 6410, 6420, and 6435, while brush would be cut on county roads 6010 and 6580. He went on to say that a crew would be cleaning out pipes on county roads 2470 and 6080, plus another crew would be patching chip and seal on county road 6180. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that patch grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4270, 5240, and 5245, while washouts would be graded on county roads 2370 and 2530. Larson added that materials would be added to county roads 2370, 2530, 4270 and 5240. Presiding Commissioner Darrel Skiles reported that on Wednesday morning he and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley were in Jefferson City where they were sworn in as MAC Board members. At the meeting they reviewed and approved the 2020 MAC budget. Skiles also said he attended the CCAM Board meeting during Wednesday afternoon where their 2020 budget was reviewed and approved, plus they received a legislative update. Curley reported that in addition to the MAC Board meeting she had a meeting at the Secretary of State’s office during the afternoon. She went on to remind voters that at the March 10th Presidential Preference Primary voters will have the option of requesting a ballot for Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Constitution or Green Party and that February 12th is the last day to register for that election. Curley also noted that the tentative 2020 Dent County Budget is available for public review. Skiles noted that the Courthouse will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Day and that the 2020 Dent County Budget hearing will be January 27th at 10:00. At Monday’s meeting Interim Assessor Jaime Homeyer, Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley and Public Administrator Sherida Cook came in to discuss their budget requests for 2020. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning, January 23rd, at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.
Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley has released some reports from the 42nd Judicial Court held on January 10th in Dent County in front of Judge Megan Seay. Curley reports that Rachel Casey of Salem, who was on probation for the felony possession at the time of her plea, had her probation revoked and she was sentenced to serve seven years for the possession of heroin in the Department to Corrections that includes a 12-month long term drug treatment program under Revised Missouri State Statute 217.362. That same day in court, Steven McCarter of Salem was sentenced to three years in the Department of Corrections for a Class E felony “driving while having his license revoked” charge from an incident that occurred on October 21st, 2019. Curley also reported that Danny Lato, Jr. of Salem pled guilty to two cases of the possession of heroin. Lato was sentenced on both charges to serve seven years for the possession of heroin in the Department to Corrections that includes a 12-month long term drug treatment program under Revised Missouri State Statute 217.362. Those sentences will run concurrently.