Local News – Friday, July 24th, 2020
Registration for the Dent County Head Start program for three and four-year old children, as well as Early Head Start program for children from six weeks to three-year old children is going on now. These programs are provided free of charge as they are federally funded for children from low-income families. The program is administered through the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency. Head Start is available during the school year four days a week while Early Head start is a year round program that is available five days per week. Parents will need to provide proof of income for the last 12 months for the household, the child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, as well the social security cards for all household members. Parents will also need to provide a Medicaid or other insurance card. Parents who have questions or who need to schedule an appointment should call the Salem office at 1405 South Wines at 729-3188.
Colonel Eric T. Olson, the superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reports the results of the patrol’s high speed enforcement campaign. From noon to midnight each day on Friday, July 17th and Saturday, July 18th troopers’ enforcement activity included 2,557 traffic stops, 668 citations for moving violations, 1,256 warnings were issued, 598 speeding citations were issued of which 200 of them were for motorists traveling 20 plus miles per hour over the speed limit, 264 seat belt violations, 513 motorist assists and 119 crashes. This high speed enforcement campaign was an effort to address a drastic increase in egregious speed and hazardous moving violations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fatal crashes have increased dramatically in Missouri, despite a period of significantly lower traffic volume. Currently, Missouri is experiencing a 16 percent increase in traffic fatalities compared to last year. Across the state, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has seen a 58% increase in speeds at or above 26 mph over the speed limit from January through June 2020 when compared to the four-year average. Troopers issued 4,869 summonses to drivers traveling 26 mph or more over the speed limit during that time. The data shows the most common violators are between the ages of 15 and 29. Most of the speed violations occur during the weekend.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Saturday, July 4th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 3000 block of Dent County Road 5240 for the report of a subject violating an order of protection. During the course of the incident, a 37-year-old Salem woman was arrested for an active warrant through the Texas County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail where she later posted bond and was released. On Sunday, July 5th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 6630. During the course of the traffic stop, a 46-year-old Jonesburg female was arrested for possession of marijuana of less than 10 grams and the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail where she was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. That same day, deputies traveled to JB Malones parking lot for a report of a male subject threatening to shoot the reporting party. During the course of the investigation, a 47-year-old Salem man was arrested for two counts of the unlawful use of a weapon, subsection 4; two counts of harassment in the 1st degree, armed criminal action, driving while being intoxicated, a persistent offender; and driving while having his license revoked, a 2nd or subsequent occurrence. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On Thursday, July 9th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 8500 block of North Highway 19 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 39-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail where she later posted bond and was released. On Friday, July 10th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 1700 block of West Highway 32 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 54-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. If anyone has information regarding any ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.
The Impact 100 Dent County, a committee within the Dent County Community Foundation, has awarded two grants totaling $7,000.00 to two organizations in our community. The first grant award went to the Salem High School Computer Science program. These funds will be utilized to support curriculum and training for students in this field of study. The second grant award was presented to the Salem Memorial Hospital. Monies from this grant will be spent to purchase a UV-C light disinfection to control the spread of disease throughout the hospital. The Impact 100 Dent committee was organized in 2019, and hosts an annual grant rounds to those not for profits that are selected from an application and selection process. The Impact 100 Dent County committee is a giving circle of individuals who seek to enrich our community in a meaningful and sustainable way.
An accident happened Tuesday afternoon shortly after 3:30 in Phelps County on Route V about two miles north of Interstate 44. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2008 GMC Yukon being driven east by 61-year old Jerry Lantham of St. James, traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a sign, a tree and finally a culvert. Lantham and a passenger, 60-year old Debra Latham, also of St. James, suffered moderate injuries and both were transported by ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. According to the report neither were wearing safety restraints. The Yukon sustained moderate damage and was towed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing.