Local News – Tuesday, February 1st, 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Road Supervisor Jason Akins gave the report for Commissioner Wes Mobray who was not in attendance due to other commitments. Akins said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5610 while only grading would be done on county roads 6380 and 6670. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 4055 while brush would be cut on county roads 5200 and 5225. Larson said crews would be installing a driveway pipe on county road 2315 and workers will be getting the equipment ready for the expected snow on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he attended the MRPC Legislative Day last Tuesday and met with Senator Justin Brown and Senator Elaine Gannon as well as Representatives Ron Copeland, Bennie Cook and numerous others. They addressed the Transportation Advisory Committee prioritized list of improvements that need to be made, and also discussed legislation to protect counties from the Department of Revenue debacle that affected Dent County that could have crippled a county that didn’t have the reserves Dent County did. Then on Thursday, Skiles said he, Larson and Mobray accompanied Representative Jason Smith to the Royal Oak Charcoal plant north of Salem to find out more about their 40-million-dollar expansion. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she has prepared the 2021 Dent County financial statement that will be published in the Salem News. At the last meeting held Thursday after the public hearing, the commissioners approved the contract between the Dent County Jail, Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells and the Ozark Correctional Health Care LLC to provide medical services at the jail. The commission also approved the renewal policy for buildings and their contents for the County of Dent to Savers Property and Casualty Insurance Company through Town and Country Insurance in Salem. It was noted the courthouse will be closed on Friday, February 11th for Lincoln’s Birthday and on Monday, February 21st for Washington’s Birthday. The commission will also start meeting on Thursday mornings again starting this Thursday at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse and that meeting will be open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports for the end of December. On Monday, December 27th, at approximately 3:30 in the morning officers were dispatched to the area of Third and Iron Mountain Road for a report of a possible gunshot. Upon arrival officers contacted a suspicious male walking in the area. As contact was made with the subject it was found the subject, later identified as Issac Ghormley, had three felony warrants out for his arrest. Ghormley fled from officers on foot. After a short foot pursuit Ghormley was taken into custody and incarcerated at the Dent Couty Jail. No evidence of a gunshot was located. That afternoon, at approximately 4:30, an officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Askins and International for improper registration. As a result, it was found the driver, identified as 40-year-old Sarah Folgate of Bunker, had an active warrant out of Reynolds County. Folgate was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. Then on Friday evening, December 31st, at approximately 8:00, an officer was dispatched to Third and Iron Mountain Road for a report of a disturbance. Upon further investigation contact was made with a male subject identified as Brandon Conklin. Conklin was intoxicated and combative, plus it was found that Conklin had an active warrant for his arrest for 1st Degree Assault out of Wright County. Conklin resisted arrest and forced officers to utilize a taser to subdue him. Conklin was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending extradition. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Producers selling local foods at farmers markets can learn about best practices, marketing tips, state regulations and available resources in a five-part webinar series presented in February by University of Missouri Extension. Participants will hear from extension specialists, successful producers and representatives from the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas. The five sessions, held via Zoom, will be from noon-1:00, Monday through Friday, February 7-11. The sessions include growing “niche produce” to reach new customers; boosting sales by participating in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and/or Double Up Food Bucks; learning the state regulations you need to know to sell your product at the market; discovering the best marketing and customer service practices; and finding out about resources available from MU Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The cost is $20 for the entire five-part series. All sessions will be recorded and available for a period of time after the event. Register at extension.missouri.edu/events, go to the search bar and type in farmers market and go the “2022 Selling at the Farmers Market” entry. For more information, contact Leslie Bertsch at bertschl@missouri.edu or 314-400-2115.