Local News – Tuesday, December 10th, 2019

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday for their regular meeting. At the meeting, Executive Director of Healthy Dent County Sherry Lea brought in the annual contract for Healthy Dent County to provide rural addressing services for the county for $12,000. They have provided this service for 11tyears and have had over 7,100 contacts concerning addresses in that time. The commission approved the contract for 2020 with a 3-0 vote. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported sales tax revenues for the Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund and the General Revenue Fund received in December were $96,664.91 for each fund which is up from December 2018 where $71,057.07 was collected. That is a difference of $25,607.84 more money collected which brought the amounts year-to-date in each fund into the black by $2,826.28. In the Road and Bridge fund, receipts in December were $33,125.63 which was $12,523.53 more than 2018 and left an increase year-to-date in the fund of $7,146.43 or an increase of about 1.5%. In the Jail Trust and Operational Funds, each account received $91,295.98 in December which is $25,160.54 more than last year in December and year-to-date, those numbers left an increase in each jail fund of $23,538.60 and that is about a 2.84% increase. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4210 and 6040. He said a grader had broken down in the southeast area of the county and a technician was going to repair the machine before grading was going to be done on county road 5520. Purcell said brush would be cut on county roads 6370 and 6400. He also wanted to remind citizens to be on the lookout for anyone who is dumping trash or other items on county roads. Try to get the make and model of the vehicle they are driving and license plate, then call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 and let them confront the people littering. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2237, 3330, 3335 and 3337 while materials would be added and grading done on county road 5260. Larson also indicated that brush would be cut on county roads 2130 and 5300. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wanted to congratulate the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salem for an outstanding Parade of Lights Saturday night. He also wanted to remind people to support the Salvation Army bell ringers donating their time to help raise money to help those in need for next year at Country Mart, Wal-Mart and Dollar General. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported her office balanced on all, accounts with the Dent County Assessor and Collector on monthly collections, abatements and add-ons. She also said her office continues to work on the budget. Sarah Massengale of the Dent County Extension was in to present the extension budget to the county and it is the same as it was for 2019. 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 Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their December meeting this afternoon in the hospital library beginning at noon. After approval of the agenda and minutes of the November 19th meeting, will be the administrator’s report that will include a department director presentation, a summary of the operations for the month of November with Monica Stogsdill, the Chief of Nursing Report for the month with Debbie Hines, a report on the hospital foundation with a spotlight on the Mammography Fund Policy being discussed as well as the marketing and community perception with COO Jason Edwards. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will the present the auxiliary report before updating the Board on the hospital expansion and expansion financing options. Lucas will also announce the dates for the election filing. In new business, purchases by the hospital will be reviewed. The December board meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released a number of reports. On Thursday night, the 28th at approximately 11:35, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. An investigation at the stop led to the arrest of a 33-year-old male of Salem for the possession of morphine and possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. The next afternoon, Friday November 29th, at about 4:29, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of South Pershing regarding a report of property damage. An investigation revealed a 28-year-old male of Salem had punched holes in the wall and broke two windows out of the residence causing damage valued at $750.00. The suspect was arrested and issued summonses to appear in court and released. Later that same evening at approximately 6:43 an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of South Pershing in reference to a domestic disturbance. The investigation revealed a 28-year-old male of Salem had assaulted a 47-year-old female also of Salem. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect for domestic assault. The suspect was incarcerated pending an application for a warrant. Contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any of these investigations.