Local News – Thursday, September 7th, 2023
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports for the final week of August. On Saturday, August 26th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 600 block of North Main Street. The driver, a 26-year-old Salem man, was found to have a revoked driving privilege. He was then arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. That same day, a deputy responded to the Dent County Jail for an assault that occurred between two female inmates. After the investigation, it was determined that a 28-year-old St. Louis woman was assaulted by a 23-year-old Salem woman while both were in custody. An investigation into the assault is ongoing. On Sunday, August 27th, a deputy was dispatched to the 100 block of Dent County Road 6570 for the report of a stolen vehicle. A 2008 Ford truck belonging to a 52-year-old Salem man had been taken sometime between August 18th and August 27th. The vehicle was later recovered in Belleview, Missouri. On the Thursday, August 31st, a deputy took a report of a stolen ATV from the 400 block of Main Street in Bunker. The victims, a 46-year-old Bunker man and a 32-year-old Bunker woman, told the deputy the ATV had been taken during the overnight hours. The investigation into the theft is ongoing. Please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241 if you have any information about an investigation.
In 2022, there were 177 Missouri traffic crashes involving farm equipment and implements. In those crashes, seven people were killed and 63 were injured. Missouri has entered harvest season and it’s important that drivers and farmers pay attention and share the road. Farmers and motorists are encouraged be courteous drivers and to obey all traffic laws. Whether you’re driving a vehicle or operating farm machinery, you must pay attention to the roadway, other drivers, and traffic signs. Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers. Farmers should make sure your farm equipment is properly marked with lights and a “slow-moving vehicle” emblem when you travel on the roadway and if traffic accumulates behind you on the road where it is difficult to make a safe pass, pull off onto the side of the road in a level area, so vehicles can pass. Always drive as far to the right as possible. Remember it’s harder to see you at dawn or dusk, so please don’t travel on the road during those times if possible. Often, all-terrain vehicles are used for agricultural purposes. ATV s being used for farming can only travel on highways during daylight hours and must be equipped with lights, a bicycle flag, and a “slow-moving vehicle” emblem. The law requires anyone under the age of 18 to wear a safety helmet when operating an ATV; the Patrol, however, recommends operators wear a safety helmet regardless of age. Missouri law allows agricultural machinery and implements to be operated on state highways between the hours of sunset and sunrise for agricultural purposes provided such vehicles are equipped with the required lighting. Like other motor vehicles, most modern farm tractors have seat belts. Always use a seat belt when operating a tractor equipped with a roll-over protection structure.
An accident happened Tuesday evening just after 6:00 in Phelps County on Interstate 44 eastbound at the 187 mile-marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban being driven by 25-year-old Destiny Deshurley of St. James, traveled off the left side of the highway and struck a concrete construction barrier. Deshurley, who was not wearing a safety restraint, suffered minor injuries and was taken by Phelps Health ambulance to Phelps Health hospital. The suburban sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by C & C Towing.
An accident happened Tuesday afteroon just after 1:30 in Phleps County on Phelps County Road 2340 near county road 2430. According to the highway patrol report, a 1983 Chevrolet K20 with no driver was rolling into the intersection and struck a 2011 Nissan Versa being driven by 76-year-old Rosemarie Warren of St. James, causing the Nissan to travel off the right side of the roadway and strike a tree. Warren, who was wearing a seat restraint, suffered minor injuries and was taken by Phelps Health ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital. The Nissan was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeons Towing. The Chevrolet received minor damage and was to be removed from the scene at a later time.
Team members from Missouri State Parks invite the public to visit mostateparks.com and view informational videos for Johnson’s Shut-Ins and Taum Sauk Mountain. After watching the videos, the public is encouraged to provide input and comments, as well as submit questions about the parks or historic sites and their operations. Park team members will respond to the comments, answer questions and provide information. The videos are online and available for comment through the month of September for visitors to view at their leisure. Once the month ends, the comment function will be turned off, but the video will remain online for viewing. Input from the public is important to Missouri State Parks. The online videos are helping to inform the public on the current status and future plans for parks and historic sites, and offer visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.