Local News – Tuesday, December 14th, 2021
An accident happened Sunday night at 9:17 on Route J about a mile west of Oates. According to the highway patrol, a 2005 Chevy Silverado driven eastbound by 69-year-old Virginia Graham of Boss, crossed the centerline and struck a 1999 Lincoln driven westbound by 74-year-old Donald Barton of Boss. Graham suffered serious injuries and was transported by Survival Flight to Mercy St. Johns’ Hospital. Neither Graham nor Barton wear wearing seat restraints. The Chevy was removed from the scene by Blackie’s Auto while the Lincoln was removed by Dement’s. A Reynolds County deputy assisted at the scene.
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday for their regular meeting at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the final sales tax monies received by the county for the 2021 year. For the General Revenue Fund and the Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund in December, the county received $93,008.11 which was $9,363.27 more than the $83,644.84 received in December 2020. For the Road and Bridge Fund, the county received $44,090.87 and that was $4,319.49 more than the 2020 figure of $39,771.38; and in the Jail Operating and Trust Funds, the county received $88,169.41 for the month of December and that is $8,618.82 more than the $79,550.59 received in December of 2020. Overall, the county funds are down between 23 and 27% from the funds received from a year ago due to the Department of Revenue sales tax blunder that the county has had to pay for. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6580 while only grading would be done on county roads 5380 and 6190. Mobray said he would be attending a City of Bunker Council Meeting tonight. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson had a meeting to attend at 9:00 and was unable to give the road report so Travis Turner gave it for him. Turner said grading was going to be done on county roads 2130, 2270, 2403, 6120 and 6140. He further stated brush would be cut and materials would be added on county road 2370. Turner went on to say a new fuel tank was being installed on county truck #116. Larson arrived after the road reports were presented. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported on the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting last Thursday at the MRPC office in St. James. Skiles said the entire region voted on their transportation priorities for the upcoming year to be presented to MoDOT. Skiles said the top priority again this year was the replacement of the low water crossing on Route TT in Sligo with a bridge. He also said the Highway 32 bridge at Boss over the Huzzah Creek came in 4th in the scoring. Skiles said at the MRPC meeting held Thursday night, they prioritized their federal and state needs and then received an update from the Department of Economic Development. Skiles went on to say he would probably be attending a County Commission Association of Missouri Executive Board meeting on Friday in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the collector and assessor on all collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of November. She also said she would be addressing some art classes at the Salem High School to inform students of a contest to create a new “I Voted” sticker that would be used for the next two years. This is the first time this is being done in Dent County. The winner of the contest will be recognized at all the voting locations and through the local media. Also at the meeting, Sarah Massengale and Dru Howard from the extension brought in their budget request for 2022, and David Massengale from the US Forest Service came in to discuss Title II funds. The next commission meeting will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their December meeting tonight at 6:00 in the hospital library. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations and statistics for the month of November as well as the auxiliary report, followed by the Chief of Nursing Report with Ashley Sullins. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards will give the hospital foundation report as well as the marketing and community perception report. In old business, Lucas will update the board on how COVID-19 is affecting the hospital, give a report on the Cerner conversion, discuss the CLIA survey and talk about the District 3 board seat becoming available in the upcoming April election. In new business, the board will discuss any purchases. The board may vote to go into closed session. The SMDH Board meeting is open to the public.
The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Business Window Decorating Contest judging was held over the weekend. After all the scores were tallied, Steel Magnolias in downtown Salem on 4th Street was named this year’s winner of the $250 Grand Prize.