Local News – Friday, July 14th, 2023
The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Tad Headrick talked to the commission about a concern that had spread on social media that after the governor appointed Gary Polk as the District 2 Commissioner, his road received immediate attention. Headrick wanted to bring this to the attention of the commission to address the rumors and chatter. Both Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson and District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated the road he lives on simply came up on the county road rotation for maintenance and no special treatment was given. Headrick also asked if it was possible for the commission to do some gravel work around the Anutt Community Church where he said the there are a lot of ditches around the road that make it difficult for the elderly to use the church. Commissioner Polk said he would try to get someone out there today to take a look. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave the sales tax report for the monies received in July. She said the General Revenue Fund and LEST Fund each received $89,128.26 which is $3,702.06 less than for July of 2022. Year-to-date, the GR and LEST funds are down $4,103.93. The Road and Bridge Fund received $41,921.42 in July which is down 2,080.61 from July of 2022. Year-to-date, that fund is down $1,551.80. The Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $84,264.63 and that is down $3,705.64 from July 2022 receipts. Year-to-date, that fund is down $115.38 These figures are all net of the monthly withholding by the Department of Revenue. Brian Williams from McCoy Construction and Forestry in Cuba was in to update the commission on the status of their new graders and they are still scheduled to be delivered to McCoy on September 22nd and the commission should have the graders the last week of September. In the road report, Mobray said work crews would be out checking roads from the storms Thursday morning. They also will be working on a brush cutter that shorted out on the road and they will be changing some fuses as recommended by company repair person who has not yet been to Dent County. They hope that will correct the problem. District commissioner Polk said grading was done on Dent County Road 3090 and grading on county road 3120 will be completed. He said stockpiling of rock continues at the county shed and Polk said materials would be added and patch grading done on county road 4260. Polk also said culverts would be installed on county road 3165 and crews will be checking for washouts. Presiding Commission Gary Larson said the county, in accordance with the Secure Rural Schools Act, would put $80,000 into Title I Funds and $20,000 into Title III Funds. Larson was also invited to the Missouri State Fair by Senator Josh Hawley in August. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the assessor and collector on all abatements, add-ons and collections for the month of June. She also said she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of June. Curley brought to the commission Dent County Resolution #1 that comes from the Missouri Ethics Commission that establishes a procedure for certain elected officials to disclose any possible conflict of interest or substantial interests they may have with them holding office. The county clerk, presiding commissioner, prosecuting attorney and judges must file these forms every two years. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
An accident happened Wednesday morning in Dent County at 11:30 on County Road 2400 five miles west of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2012 Suzuki 400 being operated by 17 year old male juvenile of Albuquerque, New Mexico was traveling north when he entered a curve. The bike then traveled off the left side of road, overturned, and struck a barbed wire fence. The teen suffered serious injuries and was taken by Salem Memorial ambulance to Air Evac. The Suzuki sustained minor damage and was secured at the roadside. The report went on to state that the operator was not any wearing safety equipment.
The Creative Arts Center will be holding a two-day book binding workshop where you can learn to make your own journal. The workshop will be held Monday, July 17th and Tuesday, July 18th from 1:00 until 3:00 in the afternoon with Alexandra ‘Lexie” Mutch. Participants will be tearing down paper, cutting and gluing covers unique to their tastes, then sewing a strong and lovely binding for their own blank book. The cost is $30 per person for those 12 years of age and above and all supplies are provided. Sign up at the salemcommunitybetterment.com website under “Programs” for the Creative Arts Center. A minimum of three people will need to sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to no more than 12.
Residents of the City of Salem can place their limbs and branches blows down in the recent storms at the curbside next week for pickup. The city will be picking up the debris starting Monday, July 17th and continuing through Friday, July 21st. Please bundle your twigs and sticks together to make it easier on the guys picking up the limbs, twigs and sticks. There will be no charge for this service.