Local News – Tuesday, August 25th, 2020

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles had a prior commitment and was not in attendance so Commissioner Gary Larson was appointed Acting Presiding Commissioner by Dent County Clerk Angie Curley. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said virtually his entire crew continues to work on the road rebuilding project on Dent County Road 5520 and they hope to have the road back open by the end of the day on Wednesday. Purcell said brush would also be cut on county road 5410. He mentioned he attended the tourism tax committee meeting on Monday where four reimbursements were approved and one proposal was rejected. He also reported on Tuesday he attended the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency meeting. He said they still have openings for children in the Early Headstart and Headstart programs. He also mentioned they are looking for additional staff members including a teacher’s aide/bus driver as well as two class aides/bus monitors. If you are interested in those positions or would like to find out if your child can attend Headstart or Early Headstart, please contact Sara at 729-3500. District 2 Commissioner Larson said grading would be done on county road 3260 while brush would be cut on county roads 3110, 3140 and 3310. Larson mentioned that pipes would be installed on Dent County Roads 2180 and 3200 and materials would also be added to those roads. He went on to say he had a man helping District 1 with their road rebuilding on county road 5520. The commission voted to do phone bids for diesel and the low bid went to County Fuels who came in at $1.337 a gallon for 7,000 gallons. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind everyone the last day to register to vote will be October 7th for the General Election. She said this is also a good time to update your voting information if you have moved or had a name change. Curley also said if anyone has questions about absentee voting, they could call her office at 729-4144. The commission opened propane bids to supply the courthouse this winter at 10:00 and the low bid went to Chilton Oil Company at $1.09 per gallon. At the last meeting, the commissioners approved a CARES Act application reimbursement of $3,804.72 from the Salem R-80 School District. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

With school districts starting at different times, and with the possible modification of school schedules due to COVID-19 precautions, drivers are urged to be extra vigilant as students begin returning to class. Motorists are urged to slow down and pay attention as more children will be on or near roadways, walking and bicycling to school or waiting for the bus, many for the first time in several months. With many students returning to Missouri’s colleges and universities, motorists could experience increased traffic on major highways over the next two weeks. Here are some back to school safe driving reminders: Remember Buckle Up Phone Down! These four words are never more important than during the school year. Looking away from the roadway to send a text message doubles the chance of being involved in a crash. Avoid using your cellphone or any other activity that might take attention away from the roadway. And set a good example for your young passengers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled in. Always expect the unexpected! When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school. Remember, children in groups or who are arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic. Never pass a stopped school bus. It’s a state law that vehicles in both lanes must stop when a school bus has its red warning lights flashing and the stop sign is extended. And be sure to watch for school zones where speed limits are reduced. Parents and caregivers should talk to children about bus stop and traffic safety rules. Here are a few tips: Always stay in sight of the bus driver. Make eye contact when possible. Assume drivers cannot see you and never walk behind a school bux. Don’t hurry off the bus. Make sure to check traffic first. Use sidewalks where available. If you must walk in the street, walk single file facing traffic. Avoid using cellphones, ear buds and hand-held games as they can be a distraction. And remember when crossing a street, whether in a crosswalk or at a corner, to look left, then right, then left again and wait until all cars are stopped or the road is clear before stepping out. More information on school bus and pedestrian safety can be found at www.savemolives.com.

Between the dates of August 5th and 12th, the Salem Police reported the following incidents. On Wednesday August 5th at about 9:05 in the morning, an officer was dispatched to the intersection of Pershing and Center Streets for a report of a suspicious vehicle. During the investigation, one of the occupants was seen to be in possession of a syringe that later field tested positive for methamphetamine. As a result of the stop, a 23-year-old male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending the application of warrants. Then on Sunday morning, August 9th, at approximately 2:50, an officer was dispatched to a disturbance call in the 500 block of North Jackson. As a result of the investigation, it was found that one of the parties involved had an active Phelps County warrant for their arrest. As result a 28-year-old Salem female was arrested and incarcerated on the warrant. On Wednesday evening, August 12th, at about 7:25 an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of a shoplifter. It was reported that a 23-year-old West Plains female had stolen $23.38 worth of merchandise. She was arrested and then later released on a summons to appear in court. If anyone has information on an ongoing investigation, please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.