Local News – Friday, November 9th, 2018
The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the sales tax figures for money received this month by the county. She stated the General Revenue Fund and the Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $77,375.00 for the month which is an increase over the November 2017 figure of $59,048.75. That is an increase of $18,326 over last year and brings the year to date total increase of sales tax collected for 2018 in the General Revenue Fund and the LEST fund each at over $147,873 which is an increase of 19.5%. The Road and Bridge Fund collection was also up from 2017 for the month of November coming in at $33,163.17 which is $4,036.03 more than the 2017 figure of $29,127.14. Year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $56,458.55 which is an increase of 15.9%. Williams reported that each jail fund received $72,217.09 this month and so far that fund has collected $1,640,930.22. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5600, 6380 and 6400 while materials would be added and grading done on county road 6090. Purcell also said a man would be hauling brown rock to the Road and Bridge Department shed. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3040, 3160 and 5340 while materials would be added and grading done on county road 2540 which is a Department of Conservation road. Larson went on to say brush would be cut on county road 4020. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles attended a Public Housing Authority meeting Thursday afternoon and the MRPC meeting Thursday night. He said the courthouse would be closed on Monday, November 12th in honor of Veteran’s day. Skiles wanted to thank all the veterans for their service to our nation. He also wanted to remind everyone to be careful if they are out and about with the opening of firearm deer hunting season this weekend. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that 61% of the registered voters turned out for the General Election. She wanted to thank the media for letting people know about preparing ahead before getting to the polls so that the lines for the most part were fairly short at all locations. She did want to let those who want to register to vote online for future elections to only go to the Missouri Secretary of State website. Some other websites that say they offer this service have turned out to be fraudulent and you would be giving them a lot of your personal information that could end up being used against you. Curley said the easiest way to register to vote is to come into her office where they can help you with the process. She did say if you do register online, contact her office afterward to make sure your name shows up on their voter rolls. Curley said she currently is working on the 2019 county budget, and that her office balanced with the collector and assessor on all abatements, add-ons and collections for the month of October which the commissioners reviewed and approved. A representative of LAGERS came in to talk with the commission and Sheriff Bob Wells about the retirement program. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday, November 15th at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.
A five vehicle accident occurred Thursday morning at 7:20 on Highway 63 at Kingshighway in the Rolla City Limits. According to the highway patrol report, a 2010 Ford F-250, operated by 32-year old Edward Ruiz of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was fleeing from law enforcement. At that time, a 2003 Buick LeSabre operated by 39-year old Danielle Duncan of St. James, and a 1985 Chevrolet S-10 operated by 20-year old Giuliana Woods of Rolla were on Kingshighway and were entering the intersection. Ruiz failed to stop for the steady read signal. The Ford F-250 struck the Buick, which then struck the Chevrolet S-10. The Ford struck a light pole and overturned, ejecting a passenger, 23-year-old Tabitha McGaha of Albuquerque. Debris from the crash then struck a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox, operated by 61-year-old Donna Davis of Rolla, and a 2013 Ford Focus, operated by 68-year-old Carolyn Crow of Licking. Ruiz and McGaha both suffered serious injuries and were transported by Phelps EMS to Phelps County Regional Medical Center. Duncan, driver of the Buick, and a passenger 53-year-old Carla Kinder of Rolla, both suffered moderate injuries and were transported by Phelps County EMS to Phelps County Regional Medical Center. Ruiz, McGaha, Duncan and Kinder were all later flown to University Medical Center in Columbia. The Ford and Buick were both totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing. The Chevrolet S-10 was totaled and removed by C & C Towing. The Chevrolet Equinox and Ford Focus sustained minor damage and were driven from the scene. The report stated that Ruiz and McGaha were not wearing safety restraints while all others in the other four vehicles were at the time of the accident.