Local News – Tuesday, July 12th, 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales taxes received by the county this month. For the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund, the county received $92,830.3 which is $6,000.12 more than 2021 when the county received $86,830.20. For the year, the county is up $297,553.54 over last year. For the Road and Bridge Department Fund, the county received $44,002.03 this month compared to $41,671.95 received in July of 2021. For the year, the Road and Bridge Department Fund is up $146,287.96. In the two jail funds, the county received $87,970.27 in each fund and that is $4,625.36 more than the 2021 figure of $83,344.91. Each of those funds is up $291,309.76 from last year. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray reported the rebuilding of Dent County Road 5220 continues with ditches being pulled, materials being added and grading done. He said grading would also be done on county roads 2480 and 5600 while brush will be cut on county road 5080. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2240, while workers would be out replacing road and stop signs on county roads 3223 and 3240. Larson said maintenance was being done on the roller in preparation of asphalt work. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he and Commissioner Mobray attended the Four Rivers Community Health Center Grand Opening on Friday in the former Dent County Health Center building on McArthur. Skiles will be attending the Salem Chamber of Commerce luncheon today and will also be attending the Dent County 4H/FFA Expo being held out at The Commons this week. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the Collector and Assessor on all collections, abatements, and add-ons for June. She said absentee voting continues in her office and the last day to mail out an absentee ballot will be July 20th. Curley wants to remind everyone that campaigning cannot be done within 25-feet of a polling location. This includes shirts, caps, jackets or literature in support or in opposition of a candidate. The commissioners met with Corky Stack from Stack Engineering and they voted to reject the previous bids for the courthouse renovation and will readvertise for bids at a future later date. They also set the tax rate hearing for 2022 for August 25th at 10:00. Great Rivers Engineering called and will be advertising for construction bids for the FLAP projects including the Tan Vat paving project and Cooley Bridge Project. The bids will be due by 4:30 on August 3rd and opened on August 4th at 10:00. For more information to bid, call Aaron Beeson from Great Rivers at 417-886-7171. The commission also awarded the chip and seal bid to Boyd Schleicher for $293,008. The next meeting of the commission will be held Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened Sunday morning just before 6:00 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about 6 miles south of Edgar Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan being driven by 67-year-old Rebekah Davenport of Licking, was going northbound when she traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck the guardrail and overturned. Davenport, who was not wearing a seat restraint, suffered serious injuries and transported to Phelps Health by an EMS. The Dodge was totaled and removed from the scene the Jay Towing. The highway patrol was assisted by the Duke Fire Department.

An accident happened Sunday afternoon just after 4:00 in Pulaski County on westbound Interstate 44 about four miles west of St. Robert. The report from the highway patrol indicates a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban being driven by 40-year-old Brooke Schaub of Chesterfield, was slowing to enter a construction zone when she was struck from behind by a 2019 Buick Envision being driven by 77-year-old Wenona Carney of Rolla. Carney and a passenger, 79-year-old Sandra Jones also of Rolla, were both taken by the Pulaski County Ambulance service to Phelps Health for the treatment of minor injuries. The Buick was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing. The Chevrolet was able to be driven the scene with minor damage. The report went on to state that all involved were wearing seat restraints.

The Dent County Sheriff’s office has released several reports for the last week of June. On Saturday, June 25th, deputies responded to the 19000 block of East Highway 32 for a reported stealing complaint. Upon arrival of officers, it was discovered that several items had been taken from the location without the owner’s consent. This investigation is ongoing. The next day on the 26th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 3000 block of Route O. As a result of the stop, a 55-year-old Rolla man was arrested for driving while being intoxicated. He was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On Tuesday, June 28th, a deputy responded to the 35000 block of Highway 72 for the report of an assault. After an investigation, a 21-year-old Salem woman was found to be the suspect in the assault and the investigation is still ongoing. On Thursday, June 30th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 3190. During the course of the stop, a 33-year-old Salem man was issued a citation for driving while having his license suspended or revoked. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s office if you have any information regarding an investigation at 729-3241.

The City of Salem Board of Alderman will meet this evening at 6:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers. After approval of the consent agenda, Bill #3511 that would create an ordinance establishing rates for electric services provided by the City of Salem, will be read and discussed. Also, to be read and discussed will be Resolution #21-2022, which is a Resolution showing the city’s intent to adjust wastewater sewer rates. The board will discuss Mayor Greg Parker’s appointment of Rich Parks to the Airport Board before hearing from the mayor, the aldermen and other administration officials. The board will then go into closed session. The meeting tonight is open to the public.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce congratulates the winners of the 2022 Independence Day Parade. The 1st Place winner in the commercial division was Town & Country Bank and 1st Place in the Non-Commercial category went to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This year the Lone Pine Ranch was the horsemanship winner. A big thank you goes out to Sinks Pharmacy for being the parade winners sponsor this year.