Local News – Tuesday, April 24th, 2018
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams came in to report that the CART receipts for April were $55,438.89. She reported year-to-date receipts were up $1,764.84 or .81%. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said due to the rain he had crews out checking for clogged pipes and crossovers. He added that brush was being cut on Dent County Roads 6283 and 6495, plus he had a man stockpiling materials at the County Road and Bridge Department. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that materials would be added to Dent County Roads 2550 and 3190, plus when the weather permits, chip and seal repair on county road 3220 would be completed. He added he had a crew putting in a pipe on Dent County Road 2550, plus his men were checking for clogged pipes. Larson said that some of his crew was working on a particular pipe on Dent County Road 2180 that habitually washes out. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that on Thursday he attending the Listening Session at the US Forest Service, the purpose of which was to give the public the opportunity to discuss issues with Forest Service personnel. Skiles said some of the topics discussed included trail maintenance and accessibility, private property access, timber harvest permits, and feral hogs. Friday he attended the MRPC Re-investment Committee meeting in St. James where the due structure changes were the major topic. Skiles indicated he would present specifics of the changes once the final decision is approved by MRPC. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
An accident occurred Sunday morning at 2:55 in Phelps County about 8 miles east of St. James on Highway 8. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Lincoln Continental Town Car, driven by 18-year old Makayla Potts of Vichy, was traveling westbound when it traveled off the right side of the road. Potts overcorrected, traveled back across the roadway, struck a guardrail, rotated counter clockwise, and struck a bridge rail face. Potts and two passengers, 17-year old Kennedi Mathis of St. James and 16-year old Kylee Wilken of St. Clair, suffered moderate injuries. Potts and Wilken were transferred to Phelps County Regional Medical Center, while Mathis sought her own treatment. A third passenger, 19-year old Michael Tanner of Steelville, suffered minor injuries and sought his own treatment. No one was wearing a safety restrain at the time of the accident. The Lincoln sustained moderate damage and was towed by Spurgeon’s Towing of St. James.
An accident happened Sunday at 2:05 in the afternoon in Phelps County on Highway 63 at Phelps County Road 2000. According to the highway patrol report, 72-year old Robert Hill of St. James driving a 2009 Ford Ranger westbound, failed to yield to an oncoming 2001 Toyota Rav4 driven by 19-year old Michael Cunningham that was traveling northbound, and pulled into the path of the vehicle causing a collision. Hill and Cunningham each suffered minor injuries and were taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center. The Ford Ranger was totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing while the Toyota Rav4 sustained extensive damage and was removed by C&S Towing. Both Hill and Cunningham were wearing seat restraints.
Dalton Sanders of the Salem FFA Chapter was named state winner in the Missouri Teach Ag public speaking contest at the 90th Missouri FFA Convention, April 19th & 20th, 2018, in Columbia. This year’s theme was “Ag Educators: Building Communities” which focuses on promoting agricultural education and emphasizes the importance of agricultural education in communities. This contest was sponsored by Missouri Teach Ag. The Missouri FFA has 25,375 members representing 343 chapters. The national organization has more than 653,000 members representing 8,568 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Spring Creek Artisans will be hosting SpringFest on Saturday from 9:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon at the historic Bonebrake Center in Salem at the corner of Rolla Road and Hickory Street. Phillip Gentry, a woodcarver specializing in wood caricatures, will be the featured artist. Come see all of our new artists work. A wide variety of handmade items, from original paintings, wood carvings and turnings, pottery, baskets, fiber art, quilts, cornhusk dolls, gourd art, stained glass, jewelry, metal sculpture and gift cards will be on sale. The first 50 customers will receive a free seed packet just in time for spring planting. For additional information you can contact Russ Biros, president of the artisans at 417-458-9894.