Local News – Tuesday, August 14th, 2018

The Dent County Commissioners held their tax rate hearing Monday morning at 10:00 at the courthouse. The General Revenue Fund rate is currently at $.0350, but since this is a rollback tax and the county sales tax collections are up for the first six months, the allowable rate after a number of calculations has been reduced to 0.00%. All three commissioners agreed on the rate reduction. The Senate Bill 40 Fund has a current rate of $.1338, but after the current year calculations, the maximum allowed this year is $.1341. The SB 40 board asked to take the maximum allowed this year at $.1341 and the Commissioners voted 3-0 to accept their request. The Road and Bridge Fund current tax rate is $.2527. Following the state's calculations, the maximum allowable rate allowed by the State Auditor is $.2534. The Commission approved unanimously to take the maximum allowable rate of $.2534. The Senior Citizen Service Fund rate for 2017 was $.0476 and the maximum allowable tax rate of $.0477 is allowed after the state's calculations. Their board requested to take the maximum allowable rate this year of $.0477. The request was approved by the commissioners by a 3-0. All the rates presented are per $100 assessed valuation. The hearing was adjourned.

The Dent County Sheriff's Department has released some reports. On Sunday, August 5th, deputies traveled to a residence in the 3000 block of Highway 119 to attempt to serve an arrest warrant. A 27-year old Salem man was arrested on a Probation and Parole warrant. He was transported to the Crawford County Jail and incarcerated. On Monday, August 6th, deputies responded to the 1000 block of Dent County Road 2210 in reference to a theft. The victim reported that several items were stolen. Those items included two impact wrenches, a torch set, Snap-on sockets, a Kobalt set, Craftsman screwdriver set, Kobalt screwdriver set, 5-foot wood level, a 3-foot level, and a pry bar. Also stolen was a homemade trailer with a 2006 gold Chevrolet pickup truck with no bed. This report is still under investigation. That same day, deputies responded to the 3000 block of Dent County Road 3220 in reference to a theft. The victim reported that two game cameras had been stolen and a trampoline was damaged. This report is still under investigation. Also on Monday, Auigust 6th, deputies responded to the 5000 block of Dent County Road 2240 for a domestic disturbance report. A 30-year old Salem man was found to have three capias warrants for his arrest. He was taken into custody and incarcerated in the Dent County Jail. On Tuesday, August 7th, Dent County Deputies responded to call from Hayes Auto Salvage in reference to a theft. It was discovered that two females and a male went to the business and bought tires with a counterfeit $100 bill. This report is still under investigation. On Wednesday, August 8th, deputies traveled to the 800 block of North Pershing to assist the South Central Drug Task Force with arresting a male subject with a warrant. He was located and arrested. A consent to search the residence was granted and several items that field tested positive for heroin/opiates were located. As a result, a 27-year old Salem woman was arrested and taken to the Dent County Jail. That same day, deputies conducted a traffic stop at the Al Brown field’s parking lot. The driver, a 44-year old Salem woman, was arrested for driving while having her license revoked. She was fingerprinted, issued a summons, and released. On Thursday, August 9th, deputies received a report of a stolen maroon Chevrolet Colorado. As deputies were traveling to the residence, they located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on it. After a short investigation, a 33-year old Salem woman was arrested for stealing a motor vehicle. She was taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. If anyone has information on an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff's Department at 729-3241.

The American Volunteers will be hosting the Second Annual Ron’s “Race for a Reason” this Labor Day weekend at Flat Nasty Off-Road Park. The big attraction is a Cross Country Race that costs $25 to enter and offers a 100% payback. The purse is already at $3,000 and it’s growing. Food will be available each day. Open trail riding will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the grounds with the Cross Country race starting at 10:00 Saturday morning. A special event will happen at the conclusion of the race when the last living Medal of Honor Recipient living in Missouri, Donald “Doc” Ballard, will present the check to the winners of the Cross Country Race. The 2nd Annual Ron's “Race for a Reason” will benefit The American Volunteers, a community service group of veterans and supporters. For more information about this special family friendly Labor Day event, you can go online to theamericanvolunteers.us

At the VFW National Convention in Kansas City in July, Medal of Honor recipient and State Funeral National Board member Donald “Doc” Ballard and the Missouri State Chairman and Woody Williams Award recipient Richard LaBrash were recognized for teaming up to actively represent the State Funeral Mission at the convention. Ballard was honored to stand at the podium in front of entire assembly to personally promote the State Funeral Mission whose objective would be to allow for a state funeral to be held for the final Medal of Honor recipient from World War II when he passes. This honor can only be ordered by the President of the United States. Before President Trump spoke, Ballard was personally approached and was embraced by four-star General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After the President spoke, “Doc” Ballard personally handed a special letter to the President from three Medal of Honor recipients: Don “Doc” Ballard, James “Doc” McCloughan and Woody Williams. The State Funeral Mission would honor those 16 million Americans who served during World War II by recognizing one of their own with this highest recognition. Petitions can still be signed. A petition is at the KSMO studios front office and at other locations in town. For more information about the State Funeral Mission and objectives, contact Richard LaBrash at 729-1394.