Local News – Monday, October 17th, 2022
An accident occurred Saturday afternoon around 12:58 in Dent County on Route CC about two miles east of Route C. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Mini Cooper driven by 33-year-old Yolanda Skaggs of Salem, was heading westbound and travelled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Skaggs suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Ambulance to Cox South Hospital in Springfield. A passenger in the vehicle, a 15-year-old male juvenile, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Texas County Memprial Hospital by a private vehicle. The report goes on to say both parties were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Mini Cooper was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, the Montauk Rural Fire Department and Salem Ambulance.
Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley released a report that is a stark reminder of the danger that local law enforcement incurs when protecting our community on an everyday basis. On May 6th, 2021, Dent County Deputies Drew Smith and Crystal Hayes were attempting to execute an arrest warrant on David Brown for the felony of failure to register as a sex offender. During their attempt, the defendant began discharging a firearm from a bedroom in the residence, causing the deputies to retreat to cover. A stand-off ensued that later resulted in the arrest of David Brown with additional charges for armed criminal action and various felonies. Last week on October 11th, a sentencing hearing was conducted after David Brown entered a guilty plea. Circuit Judge Michael Randazzo presided over both cases. The state was represented by prosecuting Attorney Andrew M. Curley and the defendant was represented by a public defender. Deputy Crystal Hayes testified at the hearing. The state argued for a 20-year sentence due to the severity of the circumstances of the incidents, the victim impact and due to the defendant’s extensive prior criminal history. The defendant requested leniency in the form of eight years in the department of corrections. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Randazzo sentenced Brown to 20 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as recommended by Prosecutor Curley. At the time this incident occurred, there was a mother and a child in the residence. Due to the quick thinking and action of Deputy Hayes and Deputy Smith, no one was physically injured.
The Dent County Clerk’s office at the Dent County Courthouse has sample ballots available for you if you would like to pick one up and before voting in the November General Election. They are free. She can also e-mail or fax one to you. Just call her office at 729-4144. On the ballot, there are contested races for the US Senator seat, a state auditor, US Representative for the 8th District, State Senator Seat for the 16th District, Missouri Supreme Court Judges, Missouri Appellate Court Judges in the Southern District and four constitutional amendments. They also have in the office the plain language explanations of those constitutional amendments. They are lengthy and are too large to be copied by the clerk’s office, but you are more than welcome to bring your phone and photograph them to review them at home or at your leisure. Currently, excused absentee voting is going on at the courthouse, Monday through Friday during normal business hours, and you must have a photo ID to vote. Unexcused absentee voting will begin on October 25th through November 7th. Acceptable photo ID’s are a nonexpired Missouri driver or non-driver license; a nonexpired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card; a nonexpired United States passport; or another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri which is either not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election.
The City of Salem Planning and Zoning board will be meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington Street. The board will hear a request for a conditional use permit for a childcare facility on property owned by Angela Arthur located at 1111 South Hickory Street. They will also hear a request from Sherman and Marsha Odom for a conditional use permit for the installation of a cellular tower on property located at 1702 Doss Road. Immediately following the closing of the public hearing, the planning and zoning board will hold a public meeting to either recommend or not recommend them to the Salem Board of Aldermen. The meeting of Planning and Zoning board of commissioners Tuesday evening at 6:00 will be open to the public.