Local News – Monday, November 6th, 2023
Last Friday afternoon around 1:15 to 1:20, the Dent County Fire Protection District was dispatched to the 500 block of South Main for a commercial structure fire in a former car repair shop that was currently unoccupied on property owned by the Trust of Edgar and Wanda Major according to the last plat maps. According to the Dent County Fire Protection District, fire crews responded to extinguish the fire. Due to the age of the building and the fire load, the building is a total loss. The fire had a few hot spots that were still smoldering and igniting into Saturday night. The status of the fire has been identified as an arson fire and is currently under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office. According to the district, one arrest has been made in conjunction with their investigation. Assisting at the scene were the Lenox Rural Fire Department and City of Salem personnel to help with the extinguishment. The fire district also wanted to thank the Salem Police Department, Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol for help with traffic control. The Dent County Fire Protection District also wanted to send out a big thank you to Phil-Mart for the donation of drinks, and Master Donuts for donating donuts for crew members and other responders to the fire which was greatly appreciated.
An accident happened Sunday morning at 6:00 in Texas County on Highway 63 about four miles north of Licking that took the life of woman from Edgar Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta driven southbound by 42-year-old Deann Morris of Edgar Springs, went off the right side of the roadway impacting a guardrail before returning to the road and going off the left side of the roadway impacting another guardrail. The Jetta began overturning, ejecting Morris from the vehicle. The Jetta came to rest in a steep ravine. Morris was pronounced dead at the scene by the Texas County Coroner Marie Lasater Sunday afternoon . Morris was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The coroner had the body transported to the Fox Funeral home in Licking. The Jetta was totaled and removed from the scene by Jay’s Automotive from Houston.
An accident occurred Friday evening around 6:44 in Phelps County on County Road 3060 about one mile east of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 1998 Chevrolet Venture driven by 36-year-old Devon Harrison of Rolla, was traveling eastbound and attempted to pass another vehicle. The Chevrolet struck a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 47-year-old Jeremy Stinson of Rolla, head on. Harrison suffered serious injuries and was transported by Air Evac to the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. A passenger in the Sliverado, 52-year-old Rebecca Stinson of Rolla, suffered moderate injuries and Stinson suffered minor injuries. Both injured parties were taken to Phelps Health by Phelps Health Ambulance and were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The report states that Harrison was not wearing a safety restraint. The Venture was totaled and removed from the scene by D&D Towing. The Sliverado sustained extensive damage and was towed by C&C Towing.
An accident occurred around 1:13 Sunday morning in Crawford County on Becker Road south of Idlewild Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by 18-year-old Trenton Brooks of Cuba, was traveling southbound and went off the roadway and struck a tree. Brooks suffered serious injuries and was transported by the Steelville Ambulance to the Missouri Baptist in Sullivan. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles Towing. The report goes on to say that Brooks was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident.
An accident happened Thursday afternoon around 2:06 on Highway 106 about five miles from Eminence in Shannon County. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Ford Ranger driven westbound by 29-year-old Samuel Williams of Winona, traveled off the right side of the roadway, over corrected and crossed the roadway and overturned. The Shannon County First Responders from Eminence and Birch Tree, along with the Eminence Area Volunteer Fire Department, Shannon County Deputies, and Mercy EMS responded to the crash where the driver had rolled the vehicle, possibly several times, before it came to rest upside-down. Williams was entrapped in the vehicle by the dashboard, which had pinned his legs to the floor of the truck. Firefighters from the Eminence Area Volunteer Fire Department used the “Jaws of Life” and other hydraulic tools to remove the truck’s door and to lift the dashboard off his legs. The First Responders cared for the victim while the firefighters worked, covering both him and the responders with a safety blanket to protect them both from flying glass and metal. Due to Williams wearing a seatbelt and the truck being equipped with airbags, he suffered moderate injuries. He was transported by the Mercy ambulance to the Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. The Ranger was totaled and removed from the scene by Baker’s Towing.