Local News – Tuesday, July 13th, 2021

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, President of the Industrial Development Authority Board Donald Dodd asked the commissioners to approve the recommendation of Jenna Deason to replace Joan Sample on the board who had moved from the county. The commissioners approved the recommendation. Dodd also said that Sample had been the Secretary/Treasurer of the board before she moved. The IDA board elected Bob Parsons to replace her in that position. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said patch grading would be done on Dent County Road 5400 while brush would be cut on county roads 4150, 4155, 4157, 6180 and 6380. Mobray said a work crew would be installing two culverts on Dent County Road 6370. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated brush would be cut Dent County Roads 3270, 3273 and 3275, and a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. Larson said a work crew would be working on truck #116 performing major brake work. He said the crew would be working on installing a four-foot pipe on Dent County Road 3220 and adding materials this week. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said the Ozark National Scenic Riverways has extended the comment period on the proposed Road and Trails Management Plan to August 18th from July 18th. People will be able to download and review the plan and comment to the National Park Service at parkplanning.nps.gov/OZAR_RTplan. You can also review the plan at the Salem Public Library and mail in your comments to Superintendent Jason Lott, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, P. O. Box 490, Van Buren, Missouri, 63965. For more information about the plan, please contact Dena Matteson at (573) 323-4814. Skiles went on to say he would be attending a meeting at the Salem Community Center@The Armory Wednesday about updated information on the Dent County 9-1-1 system and rural addressing. Skiles presented the sales tax figures for the money received in July for Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams who was unable to attend the meeting. Skiles stated the General Revenue Fund received $86,830.20 this month which was $11,835.80 more than July of 2020. Year-to-date, that fund is down $240,402.10 which is due to the Department of Revenue holding back sales taxes from the county due to a state overpayment last year. The Road and Bridge Fund was up $5,898.95 over last July as the county received $41,671.95 this month. The jail trust and operation funds each received $83,344.87 for July and that was $11,925.91 more than the county received in July of 2020. All the funds were affected by the sales taxes being withheld by the state and are down over 40% from last year’s figures. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk was in to report her monthly turnover. She said she has 8 pieces of property for the tax sale and citizens can contact her office for more information. Sheriff Bob Wells was by to note that he would like to seek bids to sell the 1998 Dodge Van and the 2009 Trailblazer. Bids will be due to the Sheriff August 2nd by 10:00 and will be opened that morning at the Commissioners’ meeting. At the last meeting, Anderson and Associates were in attendance to discuss the exterior work on the courthouse. They did an evaluation and will get back with the commission. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley reports on four cases heard Friday, July 9th in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court in front of Judge Megan Seay. In the first case, Devin Glore of Salem pled guilty to the distribution of .5 grams of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the state. In the next case, Angela Howell of Salem had her probation revoked for the possession of a controlled substance. She was sentenced to serve four years in the Department of Corrections as requested by Prosecutor Curley. In the next case, Mark Calkins of Salem pled guilty to two counts of the distribution of suboxone. In the sentencing hearing, Prosecutor Curley sought 10 years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 559.115 on both charges. Attorney Charlie Rouse representing Calkins requested probation. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Megan Seay sentenced Calkins to a suspended execution of a ten-year sentence in the Department of Corrections and placed Calkins on probation. In the last case of the day, Kari Hiatte of Gerald had been on probation on a felony charge for the possession of a controlled substance. Judge Seay revoked her probation and sentenced Hiatte to seven years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 559.115 that included shock incarceration for 120 days.

City of Salem Mayor Brad Nash has called for a Special Meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen for this evening, July 13th, at 6:00 at The Community Center @ The Armory, 1200 West Rolla Road. Agenda items to be considered include the sale of a crawler, plus bids for a 289D3 Caterpillar Skidsteer for $1,120.62 per month for 60 months and a 2021 325G John Deere for $865.45 per month for 60 months. The Board will also go in to closed session for the discussion of personnel. The meeting of the special meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen tonight is open to the public.

Are you wanting to learn to fish? MDC offers Discover Nature – Fishing Program that provides a series of free lessons throughout the state. All fishing gear is provided. Learn more at dnf.mdc.mo.gov. If you have a need for fishing equipment, MDC works with numerous libraries and other locations around the state to loan fishing gear for free. Loaner gear includes fishing poles and simple tackle box with hooks, sinkers, and bobbers. Worms, minnows, or other bait are not provided. Find MDC Rod and Reel Loaner Program locations at the MDC website: www.mdc.mo.gov.