Local News – Friday, September 6th, 2019
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. City of Salem Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge was in to present her August report. She updated the Commissioners on business and site visits for the month, economic prospects, marketing activities, grant status and other related activities. A number of issues were discussed including status of the upgrade or full replacement of the City-County Website. Dent County Extension Director Sarah Massengale was in to introduce John Langdon the new Extension Livestock Field Specialist for seven counties in Extension’s Eastern Region. Langdon will be headquartered in the Dent County Extension office and can be contacted at the office by calling 573-729-3196. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said he had three men out and that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6230, 6210 and 6470. He said that brush would be cut on county road 5440, plus materials would be added and grading would be done on county road 6230. Purcell wanted to let residents traveling Dent County Road 6580 know that starting Tuesday, the 17th, the county will upgrade a low water crossing on the road and it will be closed on the Highway 119 end. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said that the closing of Dent County Road 4480 will continue through next week as his crew continues replacing a low water crossing. He noted that he had two men out and that the Chip and Seal Overlay Project was completed on Wednesday. The Commissioners noted that the 16 miles of overlay was the most the county has ever done and would not have been possible without the ¼ cent sales tax for Road and Bridge. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles congratulated the Salem Chamber of Commerce on another very successful rodeo over the weekend, plus he wanted to remind everyone of the Blue Oval Rally around the Courthouse on Saturday. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that bills were being approved. She reported that last week she attended the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authority meeting where she was re-elected Chair of the South Central Region County Clerks Association. She also reported that she was also appointed to serve on the Legislative Committee and will continue serving on the Scholarship Committee and the Bi-Partisan Election Officials Committee for Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. Courtney Wegman, Vice President L. J. Hart & Company was in to report that Dent County has completed sale of $6,000,000 of lease certificates of participation to complete financing of the new jail and law enforcement operations. The news release supplied by Wegman showed that lease certificates were purchased by Edward Jones, Progressive Ozark Bank, Town and Country Bank, First Community National Bank and the Bank of Missouri. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
A St. James woman was killed in a two vehicle crash that occurred in Callaway County Wednesday morning at 8:55 on Highway 54 just west of Route HH. According to the report from the highway patrol, 66-year old Helen Doss of St. James was driving a 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle eastbound on Highway 54 when she rear ended a 2010 International truck being driven by 31-year old Dustin Presley of Mexico, Missouri, causing Doss to be ejected from the motorcycle. Doss sustained serious injuries and was transported by MU Air Care to University Hospital where she died later Wednesday night at 7:39 from her injuries. Both drivers were wearing safety devices at the time of the accident. The Harley Davidson was totaled and removed from the scene by Tom and Steve’s Towing. The International received minor damage and was driven from the scene.
The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors Meeting took place at 6:00 Tuesday evening, September 3rd. After the call to order, the bills were heard and approved with an ending balance of $173,584.00 as of the end of August. The budget was reviewed and approved. In the monthly reimbursement report, the department received a total of 15 calls for the month of August, bringing the total calls year to date to 181 with an average cost per call of $117.73. In old business, Chief Nash stated that the renovation project is beginning and the parking lot work is underway. In new business, Chief Nash noted that the district had a shortage of SCBA masks and that he was able to purchase 32 masks from the highway patrol auction for $2300.00. The chief stated he felt they were purchased at a good price and should fill the needs of the department. The date for the next meeting was set for October 1st at 6 p.m. at the fire station.