Local News – Monday, November 1st, 2021
The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a filing made Ameren Missouri to change the Delivery Charge Adjustment (DCA) on the bills of Ameren Missouri natural gas customers. The establishment of the DCA was part of an agreement reached by parties in a natural gas general rate case filed by Ameren Missouri in December of 2018. That agreement was approved by the Public Service Commission in August of 2019. The current DCA for a residential customer is approximately $0.0158 per Ccf (per hundred cubic feet) of natural gas. As a result of this adjustment, the DCA will drop to approximately $0.0085 per Ccf starting TODAY. A residential customer that uses 100 Ccf’s a month will experience a decrease in their bill of approximately $0.73 a month. Ameren Missouri provides natural gas service to approximately 135,000 customers in Missouri including customers in Dent, Gasconade and Phelps counties.
An accident happened Thursday afternoon just before 5:00 in Franklin County on westbound Interstate 44 at the 224-mile marker. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2011 Lincoln MKZ being driven by 72-year-old John Betts of Rolla traveled off the right side of the interstate and struck a guardrail. A passenger in the vehicle, 73-year-old Margene Betts, also of Rolla, was taken by Missouri Baptist ambulance to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan for treatment of minor injuries. The Lincoln sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Chuck’s Towing. The report went on to state that both occupants were wearing safety restraints.
An accident happened Friday night just after 10:30 in Phelps County on Interstate 44 eastbound at the 184-mile marker. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2010 Ford Mustang being driven by 18-year-old Logan Neumann of St. Ann ran off the south side of the interstate and struck a rock embankment. Two passengers in the vehicle, a 5-year-old and 7-year-old males, were taken be Phelps Health EMS to Phelps Health Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. All of the occupants were wearing safety restraints at the time. The Mustang was totaled and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing.
Once again, The Doe Run Company ranked among the top teams at the Missouri Regional Mine Rescue Contest. The event was held from September 30th to October 1st at the Missouri University of Science and Technology’s experimental mine in Rolla. The Maroon Team placed first in the mine rescue field competition, the biggest event of the competition. The field competition tests how well the team strategizes and adheres to mine rescue procedures during an emergency scenario. The Gray Team finished third, earning Doe Run two of the top three positions. James Gamblin, Chris Brawley and Eric Click earned first place in the first aid competition for the Gray Team, which consisted of a CPR and first-responder scenario. Maroon Team members Brandon Roderman, Richie Brewer and Mike Snyder took third place. Gray Team members Mark Barton and Skyler Westrup came in first in the team technical event, which measures participants’ expertise in operating mine rescue equipment, such as breathing apparatuses and gas-level monitoring. Garry Moore of the Gray Team also earned a third-place finish in the bench competition for his skill in maintaining and repairing self-contained breathing apparatuses. Doe Run’s two mine rescue teams complete eight hours of training monthly to practice first aid and rescue scenarios. Among the teams’ many accolades are two national championship titles. Mine rescue training is a responsibility the teams take on in addition to their regular job roles. Team members work in a variety of jobs in Doe Run’s six underground mines, such as electricians, drillers, blasters, mechanics, hoistmen, instrument technicians and truck drivers. Members of Doe Run’s Maroon Team include: Captain Steve Setzer, Jarred Tackett, Nathan Setzer, Richie Brewer, Brandon Roderman, Jake Piatt, Mike Snyder, Luke Davis and Andrew, Hampton. The Gray Team includes: Captain Charlie Walker, Eric Click, Mark Barton, Skyler Westrup, James Gamblin, Chris Brawley, Mitchell Kisser and Garry Moore.
The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meeting Tuesday night at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda the board will review the Policy and Procedures manual. The minutes from the October meeting will then be reviewed before hearing the financial report and approval of bills. Following the calendar review will be the monthly reimbursement report. Old and new business will then be brought before the board before going into closed session if necessary. The date will then be set for the December meeting before adjourning. The meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors is open to the public.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol will be close all testing stations on Thursday, November 11th in honor of veteran’s Day. MoDOT Motor Carrier Services will be also closed that day. Services will resume to their normal schedule on Friday, November 12th.