Local News – Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5380, 5520 and 5600 while materials will be added and grading done on county roads 2490 and 4080. He said materials would be added and brush cut on county road 5680. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Road 4340, while grading only will be done on county road 4020 and materials only would be added to county road 4330. Larson said brush would be cut on county roads 4410, 5320 and 5325. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending the Southwest Missouri County Commissioners Association meeting today. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to mail out an absentee vote will be this Wednesday by 5:00, and the last day to vote absentee will be by 5:00 Monday, April 5th. She said her office would be open Saturday from 8:00 in the morning until noon for absentee voting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the CART taxes received by the county in March. The county received $53,437.66 which is $3,269.27 more than last March when the county received $50,168.39. Year-to-date, the CART fund is up $862.28 or less than 1%. Williams also brought in the semi-annual interest on the sales tax fund. She said the General Revenue Fund and LEST Fund each received $100.81, the Road and Bridge Fund received $47.76 and the two jail funds each received $95.52. Sheriff Bob Wells brought in a Dent County Second Amendment Preservation Act document which is a resolution by the county commission and sheriff’s office to abide by the 2nd Amendment for the right to keep and bear arms. The resolution states they “desire and declare their support for these principals relating to the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States in accordance with their oath of office.” All three commissioners signed the resolution as did Sheriff Bob Wells and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley. A signed copy will be hung at the courthouse as well as in the sheriff’s office. The commission will also send a copy to Representative Ron Copeland and Senator Justin Brown. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.
A one vehicle accident happened Friday evening at 6:30 in Texas County on Concord Road about 5 miles north of Licking. The report from the highway patrol states that a 1999 Toyota Corolla being driven west by 32-year-old Robert Melead of Salem, failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. A 6-year-old passenger in the car suffered minor injuries in the accident. Neither the driver nor passenger were wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.
A one vehicle accident happened late Sunday afternoon just before 5:00 in Phelps County on County Road 1190 east of Highway U. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2019 Factory 190 motorcycle being operated by 58-year-old John Rector of St. James was eastbound when he lost control and began to skid. The motorcycle traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned ejecting Rector. Rector suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla. According to the report Rector was not wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. The motorcycle had minor damage and was able to be driven from the scene.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education in closed session Thursday employed a number of probationary teachers from William Lynch Elementary, the Upper Elementary School, the Middle School and the Senior High School. They also employed Kaylie Jay as a speech language pathologist, Erin Wilson as a 3rd grade teacher, Janelle Wesson as a high school science teacher; Zachary Studdard as a high school science instructor, Tracy Strange as a school outreach coordinator and Branden Piatt as the administrative intern. The board also employed Tori Snitker as a high school assistant principal, moved Shelia Adamick to the 12-month administrative secretary position and added ten days to Assistant Principal Clay Moody’s contract. The board also employed coaches for the 2021-2022 school year. The coaches include Bryan Carty, Tony Edwards, Kyle Anderson and Dustin Bell as assistant football coaches, Bryson Barnes and Rich Beckett as Middle School football coaches, Darcy Reardon as an assistant softball coach, Elizabeth Hogan will be the winter and fall cheerleading coach, Courtney Smith will be the Middle School cheerleading coach, Kristen Barnes as the head volleyball and middle school volleyball coach, Bryan Carty as the head boys’ basketball coach, Andy Felkerson as the assistant boys’ basketball, Chris Kamprath as the 8th grade boys’ basketball coach, Jerry Adkins as the 9th grade boys’ basketball coach, and Calvin Malone as the 7th grade boys’ basketball. Other coaches employed were Jake Reardon as the head girls’ basketball coach, Nick Frillman as the assistant girls’ basketball coach, Derek Freeman as the head track coach, Travis Sampson, Darcy Reardon and Brian McNamee as assistant track coaches, along with Tony Edwards and Jake Reardon as assistant baseball coaches. Other coaches employed were Will Hubbs as head tennis coach, Travis Sampson as the head cross country coach, Kyle Anderson as the head golf coach, Kristi Steelman as an assistant volleyball coach, and Phillip Karr as the head softball and baseball coach. Karr was also employed as athletic director and Clay Moody was named assistant athletic director. The closed session was then adjourned.