Local News – Tuesday, December 28,2021
The Dent County Commission met Monday morning in the Courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in with the CART Tax receipts of $65,290.21, which was up by $6,248.68 from the $59,041.53 received in December of 2020. Year-to-date the CART receipts are up $59,288.09 or about 8.9%. In the road report District One Commissioner Wes Mobray said that grading would be done, and materials would be added to Dent County Road 5580, plus service on Truck #125 was being finished up. He noted that Grader #36 has a fuel leak and Deere is coming to pick it up. This is the same grader that had the electrical problems. He also said that brush cutter tractor #8 that they just got back now has an exhaust manifold leak and Deere is also coming after it because they don’t want it ran with the leak. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that Dent County Roads 2550, 2540 and 2530 were going to have materials added to them and they would be graded. Other roads to be graded included county roads 3260, 3275, 3270 and 3273. He noted that brush was going to be cut on county roads 2190, 2180, and 2185, plus maintenance would be done on Truck #124. Larson also said that he attended a Tourism Tax Committee meeting where two requests for reimbursement were submitted and both were approved. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles remined everyone that the Dent County Collector’s and Assessor’s offices will be open Friday until 5:30, but the rest of the county offices will be closed. The Collector’s and Assessor’s offices will be closed Monday and the rest of the county offices will be open. He noted that the Commissioners will meet Thursday to pay bills, and this will be the last payment of bills until after the county budget is approved on January 27th. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills were being reviewed and approved for payment by the Commissioners. She said her office continues to work on the county budget for 2022. Commissioner Larson noted that after the first of the year he would be announcing the closure of a couple of roads in the county. Curt Faigle with the 100 Acre Wood road rally was into visit with the Commissioners will be meeting again Thursday to pay bills and then Monday, January 3rd, for their first regular meeting of 2022.
The highway patrol reported on a couple of accident that happened on Christmas Eve. The first occurred Friday morning around 9:40 in Texas County on Highway 17 two miles north of Houston. The report stated that a 2020 Chevrolet 3500 Express being driven by 23-year-old Dakota Taylor of Rolla was attempting to make a left turn and was struck by a 2020 Ford F-350 being driven by 49-year-old Steven Root of Houston. Taylor suffered minor injuries and sought his own treatment. Both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet had moderate damage while the Ford sustained extensive damage. Both were removed from the scene by Jay’s Towing. The second accident happened Friday afternoon at 4:00 in Phelps County on westbound Interstate 44 at the 172-mile marker. A 2020 3500 GMC Savana van being driven by 48-year-old Trefner Rideout of Flint, Michigan travelled off the left side of the road and struck the cable barrier. The van then returned to the roadway before traveling off the right side of the interstate and striking a concrete bridge barrier. The van returned to the roadway once again before coming to a stop. A passenger, 19-year-old Quavion Rideout, also of Flint, Michigan, was transported by EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla for treatment of minor injuries. The GMC sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing.
Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that eight people died in traffic crashes during the 78-hour counting period, which began at 6 p.m. Thursday, December 23rd and ended at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 26th. Troopers investigated 310 traffic crashes resulting in 92 injuries and 4 fatalities. The patrol also made 67 DWI arrests over the counting period. Last year during the 78-hour Christmas counting period, there were 746 traffic crashes statewide. In those crashes, 10 people were killed and another 10 were injured and 62 DWI arrests were made during the counting period.
On December 25th, a Deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Highway 32 East. During the course of the stop a 38-year-old St. Clair woman was arrested on a warrant out of Jefferson County. A 32-year-old St. Louis man was also arrested for Driving Revoked/Suspended. Both subjects were transported to the Dent County Jail where the man was issued a summons and was released, while the woman was incarcerated on the warrant.
The Dent County Fire Protection District Boad of Directors will be meeting Tuesday evening, January 4th, at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the minutes from the December meeting will be the financial report and approval of bills. Following the calendar review the board will go over the monthly reimbursement report before addressing any old or new business brought before the board. After hearing various reports, the board will set the date for the February meeting before adjourning and going into closed session if needed. The regular meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors next Tuesday evening is open to the public.