Local News – Tuesday, March 13th, 2018

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the sales tax money received in March. For the General Revenues Fund, a total of $101,118.66 was received which is $19,904.33 more than March of 2017, and year to date the sales taxes for general Revenue are up $42,607.39 which is a 20.35% increase over last year. The Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund echoed that of General Revenue for monies collected. The Road and Bridge Fund received $44,525.15 in March compared to $34,814.99 received in March of 2017. That increase from 2017 to 2018 is $9,710.16 which is a 14.65% increase. The Jail Operating Fund received $87,163.49 while the Jail Building Trust took in $87,163.50. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6420 while only grading will be done on county roads 5400, 5615 and 6040. He said materials would be added to county road 6410 while a crossover pipe and materials are added to Dent County Road 2470. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2360, 4020 and 4410, while materials would be added and brush will be cut on county road 4060. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated he attended the MRPC meeting where a lot of discussion was centered on President Trump’s federal Focus on improving infrastructure. Skiles said he and Commissioners Larson and Purcell attended the South Central County Commissioners meeting in Houston last Friday. He said they heard from Mike Pace from the Missouri Highway Commission who discussed funding issues to get road work done. Skiles said the group heard from State Senator Mike Cunningham and State Representatives Robert Ross and Jeff Pogue as well as representatives from 8th District Representative Jason Smith’s office and Senator Clair McCaskill’s office. All three commissioners agreed it was a good meeting. Skiles updated those in attendance on the jail project saying the commission is still working with Shive/Hattery on design work. He also said the county has been working with the city on getting title to Water Street that helps move the footprint of the project to help with parking issues. Skiles said the decision on when to put out bids has been delayed a bit as the county and Shive/Hattery watch to see what is happening with the state legislature on the topic of prevailing wage. He said bids would likely be going out late this summer on the project. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts, and her office also balanced with the collector and assessor on collections, add-ons and abatements. Curley said absentee voting continues at her office and that the last day to mail out an absentee ballot is March 28th. She went on to say her office would be open on Saturday, March 31st from 8:00 until noon for those who want to vote absentee. Curley wants to remind those that you must have a photo ID to vote in the April 3rd election. If you have questions, please call 729-4144. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a number of reports. On Friday, March 2nd, deputies took a theft report. It was reported that mail had been stolen from a mailbox on Dent County Road 6580. This report is still under investigation. On Sunday March 4th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at Dent County Road 6480 and Route YY. The driver, a 42-year old Salem man, was arrested for driving while having his license revoked. During the arrest, a metal smoking device with marijuana residue was located on him. He was fingerprinted, issued citations, and released. Later that day deputies responded to Dent County Road 6460 for a report of property damage. It was discovered that a gate and gate post were damaged. This report is still under investigation. After that deputies responded to the 10000 block of Route H for a property damage report. It was discovered that a mailbox had been damaged. On Monday March 5th, deputies took a report of a vehicle being broke into on Highway 119. It was reported that a 2001 Ford Ranger was broke into and a blue mag flashlight, jumper cables, a socket set and miscellaneous wrenches were stolen. Later that day deputies traveled to a residence on Dent County Road 4155 to look for a runaway juvenile. A consent to search the residence was obtained and conducted and the juvenile was not located. What was located inside the residence was a silver metal tray with two pipes with burnt marijuana residue, a metal grinder and four plastic baggies with green leafy plant matter (marijuana). A 27-year old Salem woman was arrested, fingerprinted, issued citations, and released. If anyone has any information regarding any ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and Phelps County Public Housing Agency (PHA) Family Self-Sufficiency program will host a free workshop this Friday in St. James on “Tackling the Tough Skills: Problem Solving.” This workshop is the fourth in a series of five that will cover topics such as attitude, responsibility, communication, problem solving and preparing for the workplace. All workshops are held from 10:00 in the morning until to noon at Phelps County PHA located at #4 Industrial Drive in St. James presented by Christy Saylor, the Missouri Ozarks Community Action (MOCA) county projects coordinator. These free training workshops are a part of MRPC and PHA’s efforts to help prepare families by making them aware of the resources available to assist with self-sufficiency. Free training classes are a part of MRPC and PHA’s efforts to help prepare families by making them aware of the resources available to assist with self-sufficiency. Each participant who attends will receive a $25 Wal-Mart gift card, as long as they meet income qualifications. For information or to RSVP, call Savannah Vandegriffe at 265-4200 ext. 132.