Local News – Thursday, May 11th, 2023
An accident happened in Shannon County on Highway 19 about a mile north of Eminence Tuesday afternoon around 1:30. According to highway patrol report, a 2022 Ram 2500 being driven by 62-year-old Paul Ahrens of Lamar, Arkansas, went off the side of the left side of the road and went down an embankment about 30 feet before coming to rest in some thick brush after striking a tree. According to the report from the Shannon County First Responders, had the accident not been witnessed, the vehicle would have been completely hidden and perhaps not found for days. Two Emergency Medical Responders from the Shannon County First Responders were able to gain entry to the truck through the rear and begin care. Volunteer firefighters from the Eminence Area Volunteer Fire Department and employees of Baker’s Towing worked to stabilize the truck, which was perched precariously on some rocks and tree trunks. EMTs and paramedics from Mercy used a rope line to descend to the vehicle and take over definitive medical care from the First Responders. The patient was placed in a basket stretcher which was lifted up to the road via ropes and with a lot of hard work by several volunteers of several agencies. Ahrens suffered serious injuries. He was stabilized and transported via Mercy ambulance to the Eminence Fire Station where a Mercy helicopter transported them the Mercy St Louis hospital. The Ram was removed from the scene by Baker’s Towing.
A fatality one vehicle accident happened early Wednesday morning at 5:30 in Reynolds County on Route N about 8 miles west of Lesterville. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Chevy Tahoe was being driven north by 30-year-old Jacob Adams of Potosi. The accident occurred as the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway. Adams then overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle before striking a tree and overturning. Adams was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:20 Wednesday morning by Reynolds County Coroner Jeff McSpadden. The Tahoe was totaled and removed from the scene by Rowdy’s Towing. The report went to state that Adams was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The highway patrol was assisted on the scene by the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Department.
The Dent County Sheriffs Department has released several report for the first week of May. On Monday May 1st, a deputy responded to Seville Care Center on Highway 72 for a report of medication missing from the facility. This an open investigation and suspect information is pending. That same day a deputy responded to the 3000 block of Highway K for a report of items being stolen from a boat. The victim, a 50-year-old Salem man, told officers that a trolling motor and graph were stolen from his boat by an unknown person or persons. The investigation is ongoing, pending investigative leads. Still on the same day deputies responded to the 300 block of Dent County Road 6280 for a dispute between neighbors. The reporting party, a 35-year-old Jadwin woman, told deputies that her neighbors had fired a gun in the direction of she and her husband. Contact was made with the alleged suspect and the investigation is ongoing. And finally on Thursday, May 4th, a deputy conducted an investigation into a littering complaint in the 7500 block of East Highway 32. A suspect was identified and contacted. Charges are pending against the individual responsible. If you have information regarding any ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriffs office at 729-3241.
The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the fire station at #2 South Main Street. The board heard the financial report which showed an ending balance of $204,519.33 as of April 30th. Bills, payments and statements were reviewed and the election bill from the County Clerk for $9,870.00 was presented and approved by the board. During the calendar review it was noted today a group of first graders would be touring the station and that a home school tour would also take place later this month on a date yet to be determined. The monthly reimbursement report showed a total of 22 calls for the month of April bringing the total calls year to date to 117. Some of those calls included five building fires, three brush or a combination of brush and grass fires, and two either propane or natural gas leaks, and two special type of incidents. By-laws were then reviewed with no changes being made. Fire Chief Brad Nash then made his report to the board. Chief Nash reported that Engine 85 is still in the shop awaiting parts and that Engine 83 has some transmission problems and is being repaired in Springfield. He also mentioned that the search and rescue John Deere gators are at John Deere for repair. The repeater is still having some problems since the electric storms two weeks ago. The radio company has been out and got it going but parts are weeks out and possibly not even available. Board members asked Chief Nash to get more information so the board can move forward with the repair or replacement of the repeater. Before adjourning the date for the June meeting was set for 6:00, Tuesday evening June 13th.