Local News – Tuesday, August 16th, 2022
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray was not in attendance due to his appearance at the Missouri State Fair and Road Supervisor Jason Akins gave his report. He said grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 5600 and 6080 while brush would be cut on county road 5440. Akins also said excess brush was going to be moved away from the edges of county road 6055. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3130 and 3180 while only grading would be done on county roads 3135, 4290 and 4340. Larson said materials would also be added to Dent County Road 2340 and possibly to county road 2240. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he attended the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting Thursday in St. James and introduced Sally Burbridge. The committee re-elected officers and they were the same as last year. Skiles stated the committee looked at unfunded projects to see if any of them had moved up on the priority list, but there were no changes so the Crooked Creek Bridge on Highway 19 south is still a priority in the STIP plan. Skiles indicated the External Relations Committee meeting was held and they discussed the annual awards dinner to be held October 13th in Vienna. At the Meramec Regional Planning Committee meeting, the members heard about the different opioid programs the MRPC has worked with in trying to bring that situation under control. The MRPC also gave Ray Walden a plaque for his 11 years of service. Skiles said he would be attending Senator Blunt’s agricultural advisory committee meeting Thursday in Sedalia and will not be at the commissioners meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported she balanced with the county collector and assessor on all collections, add-ons, and abatements for the month of July. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a few reports for the second week of August. On Monday, August 8th, a deputy took a report for a stolen firearm from a vehicle. The incident took place in the 18000 block of S. Highway 19 between July 31st and August 7th, 2022. The firearm was entered into the national database as stolen. No suspect information was available. Then on Wednesday, August 10th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at East Third and North Warfel St. During the stop, a 53-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having their license suspended or revoked. The subject was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, photographed, and released on citation. The next day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 4900 block of North Highway 19. During the stop, a 66-year-old Salem man was arrested on an active Phelps County warrant. The subject was transported to the Dent County Jail for processing. On Friday, August 12th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on East Fourth Street. During the stop, a 25-year-old Salem man was arrested for a DWI and for the possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to the Dent County Jail for further investigation and the issuance of formal charges. Later that day a deputy took a report for an identity theft. The victim, a 39-year-old Bunker woman, reported that an unknown person had used her personal information to open an unauthorized bank account. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 573-729-3241 if you have any information on any ongoing investigation.
Mayor Greg Parker called a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Salem for Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 202 North Washington. After roll call, the board will go into closed session to discuss personnel and contracts. The closed session is NOT open to the public.
The South Central Community Action Agency is accepting applications for Head Start and Early Head Start for the 2022-23 school year. Children for Head Start must be three or four years old where Early Head Start accepts infants and toddlers up to the age of three. Please call to schedule an appointment for either program at 729-3188 and speak with Nancy at Extension 11 or dawn at extension 13. When you set up your appointment, you will need to bring proof of income for the last 12 months, proof of SNAP, proof of birth date, Social Security Cards for all members of the household and the child’s current immunization record. They do accept 10% of children with special needs or children with severe disabilities. The Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded programs and are provided at no cost. There is not transportation provided for the early Head Start Program while transportation may be provided for the Head Start Program.
The next Mudbugs activity will be Thursday afternoon at 2:30 at the Bonebrake Center. Thursday is MUD DAY! Yes, there will be mud, and if the kids don’t get at least a little muddy, they’re not doing it right! So, wear old clothes. We’ll keep the hose close to rinse off. The plan is to walk the grounds, collect some natural “stuff”, and use mud and the stuff to make some “tree spirits”. Bring your creativity! If there is time, the kids will make some “Hairy” mud critters to take home and watch grow. And of course, popsicles! Hope to see you there!