Local News – Tuesday, February 12th, 2019
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax figures received this month. The General Revenue Fund and the LEST Fund each received about $63,074 this month which is up from last year’s February amount of $62,290. Year-to-date those funds are each up over $735. The Road and Bridge Fund received $28,077.67 and that is less than last February’s figure of $30,265.00. Year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $3,348.10. Williams reported on the Jail Operating Fund and the Jail Trust Fund and both received over $56,070. Last February, each of the funds received $66,016.08. Year-to-date, both funds are up $9,075 and that is about a 7.04% increase. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell and District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson each reported that crews were out Saturday night and Sunday sanding and salting roads trying to alleviate slick areas. They will be out today repairing or replacing road sign as well as cleaning out clogged culverts with the expected rains. Both districts have a spreader box that is being repaired in preparation of the next winter system. Commissioner Larson reported on the CCAM training that he and Commissioner Purcell attended last week. He said they heard from Don Black, former commissioner from Carter County, who was speaking about the flood of 2017 and how the counties come together to help out their neighbors in time of disaster. At the training, Larson and Purcell heard from Steve Hobbs about a counties “rainy fund” although it is not certain how such a fund can be set up. They stated they heard from MoDOT that it’s the end of the Fast Track program and that the BRO Program was being reduced by 15 million dollars to counties. Larson said they heard from Governor Parson who said he is looking for 350 million dollars for bridge and road repair, and that he told the commissioners the counties will be reimbursed their per diem for prisoners they are owed from previous years. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said her office balanced on all January accounts with the treasurer’s office, and she balanced with the collector’s office and the assessor’s office on all monthly collections, assessments and add-ons for the month of January. She said the last day to register to vote in the Municipal Election in April will be March 6th, and absentee voting for that election will begin on February 19th. She also wanted to remind voters that some districts will not be having an election in April. If you have any questions, call her office at 729-4144 and they can let you know. Remember, if your voting information has changed, please contact the Dent County Clerk’s Office at 729-4144. Curley also let the commissioners know she has finished the Dent County Year-to Date Financial Statement for 2018. The Financial Statement will be published in the Salem News. The commissioners approved their 2019 agreement with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce for $750 which is the same as 2018. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
An accident occurred at 9:25 Monday morning in Phelps County on Highway 68 about ten miles south of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a northbound 1995 Ford Explorer, driven by 29-year old Robert Lewis of Salem, began skidding and traveled across the center line. Lewis overcorrected and the Explorer traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. A passenger in the Ford, 37-year old Connie Sweigard of Salem, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Phelps Health by the St. James Ambulance. The report stated that both Lewis and Sweigard were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.