Local News – Tuesday, August 1st, 2023
An accident happened in Phelps County Sunday afternoon at 5:20 on Highway 63 about six miles south of Rolla that took the life of a man from Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven westbound by 62-year-old James Clark of Rolla, was making a left turn out of a residence and failed to yield to a 2016 Chevrolet traveling northbound and driven by 56-year-old Joseph Eisele of Florissant, Missouri. The Chevy struck the Jeep causing the Grand Cherokee to overturn and come to rest in the roadway. The Chevy traveled off the left side of the roadway and came to rest in a ditch. Clark was pronounced dead at the scene by Phelps County Coroner Ernie Coverdale. Suffering moderate injuries was Eisele and a passenger in the Chevy, 63-year-old Cindy Eisele. The Eisele’s were taken to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla by the Phelps Health Ambulance. The body of James Clark was taken to the Null and Son Funeral Home. According to the report, no one was wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing of Rolla.
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray indicated grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 6225 and 2470 while materials would be added to county road 6220. He said a driveway culvert was going to be installed on Dent County Road 6420 and workers would be replacing a side windshield that was broken on a tractor. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 3305 while grading was also going to be done on county roads 3190 and 5260. Polk went on to say brush was going to be cut on county roads 3220, 3233 and 3235, and a culvert was going to be installed on county road 3305. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he would be attending an Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting Thursday from 3:00 to 4:30 in St. James at the MRPC offices. Larson also reported the Missouri Association of Counties had founded a task force for counties for guidance on Senate Bill 190. The Dent County Commission is still requesting bids for a surplus equipment sale at the Dent County Road and Bridge Department. The bid specs are available and may be picked up at the Dent County Clerk’s office at 400 North Main during regular business hours. Interested parties may view the surplus equipment at the Dent County Road and Bridge Department which is located at 1621 West Scenic Rivers Blvd from 7:00 until 4:30, Monday through Thursday. Bids on surplus equipment will be due at the Dent County Clerk’s office before 10:00 the morning of August 14th. Please mark on the envelope that your bid is for the Road and Bridge surplus equipment. The Dent County Commission has the right to accept or reject any and all bids. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their next meeting this afternoon at 12:00 noon in the hospital library. Hospital Administrator Wayne Reid will give his report before the board hears a report on information technology. In old business, the board will be updated on the kitchen drain proposal, architectural work on the clinic, the strategic planning update, a budget review and approval before the legislative report. In new business, the board will hold the election of officers, discuss the COVID vaccination policy and also discuss purchases. Reports will then be heard on the summary of operations and statistics for the month of June as well as the 340B program, the hospital resources update, the hospital foundation report and a report from the Chief Nursing Officer Ashley Sullins. The board will also review the marketing and community relations. The board may then vote to go into closed session if needed. The meeting tdoay at 12:00 noon will be open to the public.
A drowning occurred Friday afternoon just after 4:00 in Shannon County on the Current River at Martin Hole about ten miles east of Eminence. According to the report from the water patrol, 48-year-old Jason Bollinger of Birch Tree, was floating in a 10-foot kayak when he fell into the water and failed to resurface. Bollinger was pronounced dead at the scene by the Shannon County deputy coroner at 4:21 and was transported to the Yarber Funeral Home in Mountain View. According to the report, Bollinger was not wearing a floatation .
Do you own a kayak but want to increase your paddling skills? Have you wanted to learn how to safely paddle down the river? You’re in luck! Missouri State Parks’ Learn2 Paddle River program can help you learn more about kayaking on the river. The program requires preregistration but is FREE. Participants must bring their own kayaks, life jackets, paddles, lunches, sunscreen, hats and sunglasses and wear appropriate attire for getting wet. The program will include a ground school where there will be an in-depth discussion on river safety, plans, equipment and paddling technique before the water school where participants will learn river paddling skills including ferries, eddy turns and low braces. Those in attendance will also learn how to read the river and river rescues. Classes will be held at the Current River State Park on August 6th from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon and you can register for that class now. Another class will be at the Current River State Park on September 10th, also from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. Registration for those classes is going on now. To find out more information or to register, go online to mostateparks.com/learn2-paddle-river. If a class is full, please enroll using the wait list function. If you have any questions, please email Taylor.Ratcliff@dnr.mo.gov.