Local News – Friday, July 14th, 2017

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5420 and 6370 while tree limbs would be trimmed on Dent County Road 4120. Purcell went on to say brush would be cut on county roads 4210, 6300 and 6303 while materials would be added and spread on Dent County Road 5060. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported his entire crew would be working on the low water crossing on Dent County Road 4060 ad they will be using 18 yards of concrete. Larson said county road 4060 would be closed until next Thursday, July 20th to allow the concrete to cure. He said the county doesn’t want to take any chances of a larger truck going over the low water crossing before it is completely set up and damaging the new crossing. Larson appreciates everyone’s’ patience in this matter. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said Monday the City of Salem Planning and Zoning Commission approved their request to close Iron and water Streets from 5th Street to Rolla Road for the new Jail and Justice Center project, and made their recommendation to the Board of Aldermen. The Aldermen also approved the request with the stipulation the city retains the water and sewer easements on Iron Street. An ordinance will be drawn up that will be approved at the next meeting. Skiles also had a Quit-Claim Deed for Max and LaWanna Inman that was approved by Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley and the Commission agreed to sign to relinquish any interest they would have with the property that was used to improve approaches when the work on Highway 72 was done. The commissioners left the building to have the Quit-Claim Deed notarized. At 10:30, Commissioners Purcell and Larson had a conference call with FEMA to discuss the improvements made to the roads from the washouts from the flooding and set up a time they can come and visit. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department released reports involving property damage, a shoplifter, drug use, and theft from a vehicle. On Monday, July 3rd at 12:51 in the early morning, an officer located a 32-year old Salem female at a residence in the 900 block of South Oak who had active arrest warrants from Dent County, Crawford County, Franklin County and Phelps County. She was taken into custody on the warrants and incarcerated pending a court appearance and extradition. Later that morning at 11:22, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 500 block of South Jackson in reference to property damage and a theft. The investigation of the report revealed someone unknown broke the door glass out of a vehicle valued at $100.00 and took a gaming console valued at $599.00. The report is under investigation. That night at 8:03, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The report led to the arrest of a 28-year old Salem female for stealing merchandise valued at $27.92. She was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Tuesday night, July 4th at 11:49, an officer responded to a residence in the 400 block of East Ninth in reference to someone using drugs who would not leave the residence. The report led to the arrest of a 20-year old Salem male for possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and on an active fugitive arrest warrant from Crawford County, Missouri. He was incarcerated pending the application for warrants and extradition. On Wednesday, July 5th at 4:02 in the afternoon, a vehicle was stopped for an arrest warrant investigation. The investigation led to the arrest of a 46-year old Salem male on an active arrest warrant from Dent County and a 47-year old Salem male on an active arrest warrant from Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Austin, Texas. Both were incarcerated pending a court appearance and extradition. On Thursday morning, July 6th at 8:47, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 500 block of South Jackson in reference to theft from a vehicle. The report revealed someone unknown took items valued at $728.00 from a black 2000 Ford truck parked in the driveway of a residence. Further investigation led to the arrest of a 27-year old Salem male for the theft. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

An accident occurred at 8:35 Tuesday night in Phelps County on Highway F about eight miles southeast of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan driven by 36-year old Nicholas Fazzio of Rolla was traveling westbound and attempted to avoid a deer in the roadway. The Kawasaki struck the deer and slid off the roadway. Fazzio suffered minor injuries and refused treatment, while a passenger, 36-year old Laura Picker of St. James suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center. The Kawasaki sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

Naturally Meramec is a movement in the Missouri Meramec Region that works to capture the uniqueness of the region in the eight-county region including Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski, and Washington Counties making it a destination. This is accomplished by promoting local products and services and assisting small agriculture, tourism and culinary businesses through collective marketing efforts, education, training and technical assistance. You can become a member of Naturally Meramec. It’s free! Call Connie Willman at 573-578-6712 for more information.