Local News – Tuesday, June 12th, 2018
According to State Auditor Nicole Galloway, former Viburnum City Clerk Dana Mayberry has pled guilty to receiving stolen property, a Class B Felony. In a statement she released on her plea, “Officials that violate the public’s trust and use their position to enrich themselves must be held accountable” Galloway stated she was grateful for law enforcement and Iron County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Parker for working with her to seek justice for taxpayers in Viburnum. Auditor Galloway released the results of the city of Viburnum audit report last year. The audit identified more than $100,000 in fraudulent activities over a number of years. She promises to keep trying to get the legislature to finally pass legislation that would provide law enforcement with the tools they need to more swiftly combat fraud and public corruption.
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson was not in attendance due to a death in his immediate family. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated the southern half of Dent County received about an inch of rain Friday night and another 1 ¾ inches Saturday. Although there was minimal additional damages to the roads, crews were out repairing the washouts as needed. Purcell said materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2460, 2490 and 5015. He also said just grading would be done on county roads 4225 and 5650 while brush was going to be cut on county road 6670. Sam Gorman, Road Supervisor for District 2, gave the report for the district and said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2313, 2580, 2610, 2613, 4410 and 6160. He went on to say materials were going to be added to county roads 2630 and 2640. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles indicated he would be attending the Ozark River Solid Waste Management full council meeting today. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the sales taxes receipt numbers that came in this month. For the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund, monies received were $88,056.27 which is more than $10,000 over the June 2017 figure, and brings the year-to-date increase up to $66,624.52 over last year. That is an increase in sales tax revenue of 16.2% over 2017 in those funds. The Road and Bridge Sales Tax Fund received $39,443.27 which is about $4,250 more than the 2017 June figure of $35,180.93. Year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Sales Tax Fund is up $23,228.98 over 2017 and that comes to an increase of about 12.25%. The two jail funds each received in June $78,561.31 in sales tax money. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
The Dent County Sheriff’s office has released some reports. On Sunday, June 3rd, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 32 West. The driver, a 35-year old Salem woman, was arrested on several warrants and as well as driving without having a valid license. She was taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On Monday, June 4th, deputies responded to a residence on Dent County Road 3190 for a report of property damage. It was reported that an Intercounty Electric box had been shot with a firearm. This report is still under investigation. On Thursday, June 7th, deputies traveled to a residence in the 400 block of Dent County Road 4220 to attempt to serve an arrest warrant. The 40-year old Salem man was located and arrested. A consent to search his bedroom was granted and a Suboxone strip and red straw that had residue on it field tested positive for methamphetamine were found. He was taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation should contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.
An accident happened in Phelps County on Route KK about 4.5 miles east of St. James Sunday afternoon at 3:36. According to the highway patrol report, 29-year old Tracey Earls of Cuba was driving a 2005 Chevy Impala westbound when she crossed the centerline and struck a 2013 Kubota Tractor also driven westbound by 46-year old Michael Ripplemeyer of St. James causing the tractor to overturn. The Chevy traveled off the right side of the roadway. Ripplemeyer suffered serious injuries and was flown to the Mercy Creve Coeur Hospital via Phelps Air Ambulance. Earls suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical by the North Crawford County Ambulance. The Chevy and the Kubota both had extensive damages and were towed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.
Echo Bluff State Park invites the public to an informational meeting at 4:00 this Saturday afternoon at the park’s Betty Lea Lodge. The public is invited to share comments about the park and its operations. Park staff will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. Input from the public is important to Missouri State Parks. These informational meetings help create two-way communication with the public. The meetings give staff the opportunity to let people know the current status and future plans for the park or historic site, and they offer visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities. Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive, Eminence. For more information about the meeting or about other events at the park, call 573-751-5211.