Local News – Monday, December 31st, 2018
An accident occurred in Phelps County Thursday morning at 10:50 on Route O about one mile south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a southbound 2005 Toyota Prius was driven by 52-year old James Scott of Rolla, attempted to pass another vehicle on a hillcrest and he steered the Prius to the right to avoid an oncoming vehicle. The Toyota traveled off the right side of the roadway, then returned to the roadway and overturned, coming to rest in the roadway. Scott suffered serious injuries and was transported to Phelps County Regional Medical Center by Phelps County Ambulance. Scott was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Toyota Prius was totaled and removed from the scene by C & C Towing.
Dent County Collector Dennis Medlock reminds everyone tonight at midnight, you must have your real estate and personal property taxes paid or you will be charged a penalty and interest. The hours the Dent County Collector’s Office will be open today will be from 8:00 until 5:30 this evening. If you mail your taxes today, take you payment envelope inside and have the postal clerk hand stamp it with today’s date. DO NOT JUST PUT IT THROUGH THE SLOT OR IN THE OUTSIDE MAILBOX AND THINK IT WILL BE POSTMARKED DECEMBER 31ST! You can also drop off your payment in the drop box in the front southwest corner of the courthouse lawn. Again, that needs to be dropped off before midnight TONIGHT. You can also pay your taxes online. Refer to your tax bill on instructions on how to pay online. There are additional fees associated with paying your bill online with a debit or credit card. If you have any questions, please call the Dent County Collector’s Office at 729-3911.
The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved an agreement which provides an interim rate reduction of approximately $1.94 million for natural gas customers of Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri. The interim rate reduction will take effect on January 2nd and will remain in effect until the Public Service Commission decides a natural gas rate case Ameren Missouri filed with the Commission on December 3rd, 2018. The interim rate reduction reflects the impact of the change in the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. For residential customers, natural gas rates will drop by approximately $0.0158 per CCF (per hundred cubic feet of gas). For a residential customer using approximately 100 CCF a month, natural gas rates will drop by approximately $1.58 a month. This will appear as a separate line item on the monthly natural gas bill as a credit. Ameren Missouri provides natural gas service to approximately 131,000 customers in 25 Missouri counties including Dent, Gasconade, and Phelps Counties
A one vehicle accident resulting in two injuries, happened Thursday afternoon at 12:30 on Route T, about three miles south of Newburg in Phelps County. According to the highway patrol report, a 2003 Dodge Dakota driven northbound by 30-year old Elizabeth Birdsong of Rolla, traveled off the right side of the roadway. Birdsong overcorrected, and the Dakota returned to the roadway crossing the centerline, then traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Injured in the accident were two passengers: 12-year old Alexis Birdsong and 6-year old Hannah Birdsong. Both were transported by Phelps County Ambulance to Phelps County Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. According to the patrol report, everyone in the vehicle was wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Dakota was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing.