Local News – Tuesday, January 31st, 2023

The Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting Monday at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray and District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said work crews would be out sanding the chip and seal roads and also checking out the other roads for any needed treatment. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated that last Wednesday, the commission did not close the courthouse due to weather but none of the office holders or their employees showed up. Skiles said the policy says that full time employees will be paid if the commissioners close the courthouse due to weather or whatever reason, but if the employee elects not to come in, they are to take a vacation or sick day if they want to be paid for that day. Some of the office holders were following the stipulated policy while others were just going to authorize their employees to be paid as if the commission did close the courthouse without having to use a vacation or sick day. Skiles asked the commissioners how they wanted to handle the situation. The discussion involved office holders stating they didn’t have their employees come in because of the weather and their safety as they live a distance from the city, and because of the slick conditions around the courthouse which could cause a person to fall and get hurt. The office holders also emphasized that they are in charge of the employees and they can make the decision to close their office if they so choose. However, the policy was approved by all the office holders and no one had made any mention to the commission that they didn’t approve of the policy as written and that it should be revisited. The conversation then turned from the policy on closing the courthouse to fairness in holiday pay for those working 8, 10 or 12-hour shifts and how much they are paid on those days off where the person on a 10-hour shift would get two hours more pay than someone on an 8-hours shift. After more discussion, Commissioner Larson said to just pay the employees however the office holder submitted their time sheets and that the issue would need to be reviewed by the commission and office holders. The commissioners approved the MRPC Notice of Decision for the $30,000 in ARPA Funds to be released to the Salem Nutrition Center, and later approved the bid from Rich Devereux and Company, LLC from St. Charles for $18,500 to do a financial audit of the county. The commissioners elected to put off approving a quit-claim deed until their next meeting Thursday at the commissioner’s office at 9:00 at the courthouse. That meeting is open to the public.

Missouri State Parks announces campsites previously on hold at Montauk State Park and Roaring River State Park will be released for guests to reserve in March and April. Both campgrounds will undergo improvements later in 2023, but will be temporarily available until construction dates are determined. The campsites released will be in campground Loop 4 at Montauk State Park, which will undergo an electrical upgrade from 30 amp to 50 amp sites; and in campground Loop 3 at Roaring River State Park, which will be converted from basic sites to sites with sewer, electric and water. Both projects are in the design phase and should be sent out for bid later this spring. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

During the week of January 14th to January 20th there was a total of 133 calls for service. Officers with the Salem Police Department conducted 32 traffic stops for various traffic violations with 9 resulting in a summons or arrest. Officers conducted 2 traffic accident investigations along with 4 informational reports. Of the calls for service and traffic stops, the following reports were generated. On Saturday afternoon, January 14th, at approximately 4:00 an officer was dispatched to WalMart for a report of shoplifting. It was reported that a male subject had stolen a phone case that was valued at $54. As a result of the investigation a 23-year-old Salem male was arrested and later released on summons for shoplifting. Then on Tuesday January 17th at near noon officers were dispatched to the intersection of Oak and Missouri Highway 32 for a report of shots fired. It was reported that during a disturbance a female subject brandished a handgun and fired two shots at two other subjects. An investigation was conducted into the incident wherein spent shell casings were recovered. Further investigation led to finding the female subject that had fired the shots. As a result a 26-year-old Salem female was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail for charges of Assault in the 1st degree, Unlawful Use of a Firearm, Armed Criminal Action, and Harassment in the 1st degree. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any investigation.