Local News – Friday, January 4th, 2019
An accident happened in Phelps County Thursday afternoon at 2:17 on Highway 63 about seven miles south of Rolla that took the life of a Rolla man. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Ford F-250 driven southbound by 74-year old Richard Brown of Lenox, veered into the northbound lane and into the path of 2017 Buick Envision driven by 80-year old David Potter of Rolla. After impact, both vehicles traveled off the east side of the roadway. Potter was pronounced dead at the scene by the Phelps County Deputy Coroner Gavin McDonald. His body was taken by the Phelps County Coroner’s office to the Null and Son Funeral Home. Brown suffered serious injuries and taken by the Phelps County Ambulance to Phelps Health before being airlifted by Phelps Air to the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. Both drivers were wearing their seat restraints at the time of the accident. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing in Rolla. The Missouri Highway Patrol was assisted by the Howell County Sheriff’s Department and Rolla Rural Fire Department.
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done on Dent County Road 5650, plus a crew would be cleaning out culverts and doing ditch work on county road 6300. He went on to report that a crossover pipe would be cleaned out and ditch work would be done on county road 6190, plus brush would be cut on county roads 5610 and 5620. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that roads were too wet to do full grading so materials would be added and patch grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4290, 3120 and 2160. He added that patch grading only would be done on county road 2070, plus a man was cutting brush on county road 2340. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that the work on the new jail was progressing nicely. He also wanted to make the public aware that utility work is to be done on Rolla Street and that there will be restrictions during the work. Skiles said the tentative starting date for the work is Wednesday, January 16th. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that her office continues to work on the 2019 budget. She reported that the tentative budget would be ready for the public by the 17th. The Commissioners voted 3-0 to set the budget hearing for January 28th at 10:00. Dent County Collector Dennis Medlock was in to report that the December online payments for real estate and property taxes totaled $45,857.08. He said online collection of payments started when Dent County Collector Elect Shannon Vankirk started working in the Collector’s office. At 11:00 the Commissioners went into closed session with Sheriff Bob Wells in attendance to discuss personnel. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning and the meeting is open to the public.
The Dent County Sheriff's Department has released a number of reports. On Tuesday, December 18th, deputies received a report of an accidental gunshot wound near the 1000 block of Dent County Road 4110. Once deputies arrived on scene, it was discovered that a 60-year old Salem man had accidentally shot himself in the hand while cleaning a pistol. A Dent County deputy applied a tourniquet to the man’s arm and administered first aid until an ambulance arrived on scene. The male was transported by ambulance to Salem Memorial District Hospital helipad and airlifted to Columbia. On Saturday, December 22nd, deputies traveled to the 200 block of Route H for a report of an assault. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that a 19-year old Salem man had kicked in the front door of the residence. The victim to the crime did not wish to pursue charges and the case was closed due to lack of victim cooperation. That same day, deputies traveled to the 200 block of Dent County Road 4155 for a report of a domestic occurring between a mother and her daughter. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the daughter had taken her mother’s phone and struck her mother in her right eye. The phone was returned to the mother and she did not wish to pursue charges. The case was closed due to lack of victim cooperation. Later on that day, deputies traveled to the 1000 block of Dent County Road 2520 for a report of a disturbance. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that a 38-year old Salem women had traveled to the residence to speak to her mother. When the female was told to leave the residence, she did not leave and knocked on the door, which left a dent in the door. The female was arrested the next day for trespassing in the 1st degree and property damage in the 2nd degree. The female was transported to the Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If you have any information on any ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.
According to information received from the City of Salem Administrative Offices as of Thursday, January 3rd, Rachel Hinderliter had filed for the East Ward Aldermanic position; while Kevin James and Harley Elwood-Conaway have filed for the West Ward position. Filings will continue until January 15th, 2019. Remember, there is a $25 filing fee to file for the aldermanic positions at the City Administrative Offices.