Local News – Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading and material would be added and two crossover pipes would be replaced on Dent County Road 5390. He went on to report grading would be done on county roads 5015 and 5070, while brush would be cut on county roads 5015, 5070 and 6350. Purcell said the tourism committee last Monday approved nine reimbursements and two new proposals were accepted. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading would be done on Dent County Road 2210 while two men would be going to Springfield to retrieve the Mack Truck that was repaired. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported he was on a 90 minute conference call last Wednesday to find out information about the business grant program through the CARES Act, only to be told at the end of the call that the information he received was just an opinion and that the inspector general would have to make the determination if something is a legal deduction. Skiles did say that a meeting would be held this Wednesday at 1:00 at the Phelps County Courthouse with the MRPC to discuss the business grants for the CARES Act funds. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the CART funds received by the county in June and they were $40,323.24 and that is $16,725.40 less than the June of 2019 figure of $57,048.64. Year-to-date, the county CART taxes are down $23,262.85. Williams also brought in the DESE report that shows the breakdown of funds being sent to schools from fines and interest from July 1, 2019 to June, 2020. A total of $89,339.05 was distributed to seven schools with Salem R-80 receiving the most money from this fund as they received $41,302.51 in fines and another $320.56 in interest. Williams also brought in the budgeted transfer of funds from the Senior Citizens Fund to the Nutrition Center which is $14,000, and $6,750 to SMTS. The board opened three bids for a 2008 Crown Victoria vehicle from the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the highest bid received was from Schwartz Sales, LLC at $877.50. The board then approved the request from Sheriff Bob Wells to purchase two new 2020 Chevy Tahoes for the Sheriff’s Department at the state bid price as budgeted, as well as approving the sheriff to request local lease/purchase financing for the vehicles that will be opened at 10:00 Monday morning, June 29th. Skiles also said the commissioners received from the MRPC four requests from public entities to be reimbursed for direct COVID-19 expenses from the CARES Act funds with three requests from Green Forest R-2 and one request from Northwood R-4. The board then approved the bid for 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel from Phil-Mart at the cost of $1.39 a gallon. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday, June 29th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has submitted the following reports. On Friday, June 12th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at Highway 68 and Highway 19 North intersection. During the course of the traffic stop, a 21-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through Dent County. The man was taken to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. Also on the 12th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on County Road 6150. During the course of the traffic stop, a 29-year-old Salem woman was arrested for driving while having her license revoked or suspended, a 2nd or 3rd offense. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If you have any information on any ongoing investigation, please notify the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources, has announced an expanded reservation window for campgrounds, increasing from a six-month period to a 12-month period. At 7:00 in the morning Tuesday, June 30th, campers can reserve a campsite at Missouri State Parks one year prior to arrival date to better allow for planning for visitors and staff. Reservations are required at most campgrounds and park-run lodging prior to arrival, and can be made up until 7:00 the night of the day before arrival. Campers are encouraged to make reservations online at www.icampmo.com. Mike Sutherland, Missouri State Parks Director, said that the one-year camping reservation window will better allow large groups traveling together to book in advance. As of Tuesday, June 30th, all campers, such as the anglers who camp at the trout parks year after year, can begin making their reservations for the 2021 season. Visit mostateparks.com to find a park close to home and to check for individual park advisories before heading to the park. If you have questions regarding Missouri State Parks, please contact us at moparks@dnr.mo.gov.

The Salem Police department has released several reports. During the evening of June 4th at around 10:00 an officer was contacted at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office about harassment. It was reported that the victim was receiving threatening messages from a 20-year-old Salem female. As a result of the investigation, the 20-year-old woman was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the application of warrants for harassment. Early Sunday morning the 7th, at 1:08 an officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Franklin Street for a report of a possible overdose. Upon arrival, contact was made with a 41-year-old Salem man that was not overdosing, however it was found that the man had an active warrant for his arrest out of the Dent County Sheriff’s Department. The male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Finally on Monday, June 8th at about 10:00 in the morning, an officer was dispatched to the car wash on Highway 32 west for a report of a suspicious male. During the investigation it was found the man was sleeping in his car. In plain view was a glass pipe that the officer recognized to be a methamphetamine pipe. Consent to search the vehicle was obtained and a baggie containing approximately .3 grams of Methamphetamine was located. As a result, the 21-year-old man from Salem was arrested and later released on a summons to appear in court. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.