Local News – Tuesday, March 9th, 2021

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Chairman of the IDA Board, Donald Dodd, reported that three members of the board are up for re-appointment. Dodd stated that the terms of Jeff Sellers and Sherman Odom are up as well as the term of Joan Sample. Dodd stated that since Sample moved out of the county, she could no longer serve on the board and he will find someone to replace her. He asked if the commission would reappoint Sellers and Odom and the commission did by a 3-0 vote. Dodd also reported the board elected officers and he was again elected chairman, Dean Jones was elected as vice-chairman and Joan Sample was elected as Secretary. Since Sample cannot serve on the board anymore, they will have to elect a new secretary at their next meeting. Dodd also reported the IDA Board would like to contribute $20,000 to the City of Salem Demolition Program with a couple of stipulations to be used to remove or demolish dilapidated old homes. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5220 and 6115 while materials would be added and grading done on county roads 2470 and 5380. He said brush would be cut on county road 5615 and the county will be installing a new culvert on Dent County Road 4220. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2580, 2590, 2593, 2600, 2610 and 2613. He went on to say that two pipes will be installed on Dent County Road 4030, then materials will be added and grading done on that road. Larson also stated materials would be added to county road 3370. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending an Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board meeting Tuesday, a County Commissioner Association of Missouri meeting Wednesday morning in Jefferson City to be followed by new commissioner training. Then on Thursday, Skiles will be attending a PHA Board meeting to be followed by the MRPC Board meetings. Finally on Friday, Skiles will attend a South Central County Commissioners Association meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley stated the last day to register to vote in the April 6th Municipal Election will be March 10th. She said absentee voting continues at the courthouse through April 5th. Curley stated her office balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of February, and she balanced with the collector and assessor on all collections, abatements and add-ons for the month. She had the county sign the letter from Curt Faigle from the 100 Acre Rally in the Woods that welcomes their group to Dent County, and the commission also approved the contract from Stonehenge properties, LTD-Revcorp for the 9-1-1 recording system contract for five years at $3,562.76 per year. Curt Faigel also came to the meeting and went over the roads to be used in this year’s event and stated it would be in Dent and Crawford counties only. The event will be held March 19th and 20th. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

A Licking resident was injured on Saturday afternoon just before 4:00 on Highway 63 in Callaway County just north of the Katy Trail bridge. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2002 Ford Focus being south by 19-year old Zhanaya Lawhorn from Columbia, was traveling south on Highway 63 and side swiped a 2021 Ford F-350 also traveling south and being driven by 63-year old Lori Reed of Licking. After the accident, the Focus traveled off the left side of the roadway, came back across the road and traveled off the right side of the road before coming to rest after striking a tree. Reed suffered minor injuries and was transported by a private conveyance to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla. Lawhorn received moderate injuries and transported by ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia. The Focus was totaled and secured at the scene. The F-350 had extensive damage and was removed by Tow Pro of Holts Summit. The report states that Reed was wearing a safety restraint while Lawhorn was not.

An accident happened Sunday evening just before 7:00 in Texas County on Highway 63 just two miles north of Houston. According to the report from released by the highway patrol, a 2013 Dodge Durango being driven by 40-year old Desirae Curtis of Licking was traveling north on 63 and came to a stop. The Dodge was struck from behind by a 2017 Kia Forte being driven by 20-year old Alice Morgan of Plato. Morgan and two juvenile passengers all suffered minor injuries. The children were both taken to Texas County Memorial Hospital. Morgan was also taken to Texas County Memorial Hospital by a private conveyance. Both drivers and the passengers were all wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Dodge had minor damage while the Kia sustained extensive damage. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Jays Towing. The highway patrol was assisted on the scene by the Houston Fire Department and Houston Rural Fire Department.

USDA officials have announced a March 31, 2021 application cutoff for producers that have an existing active CSP contract enrolled as a 2017 classic and/or the 2017 renewal contract. To be eligible for the renewal opportunity, the existing contract must expire in 2021. The CSP program helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resource concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance – the higher the performance, the higher the payment. Producers with an existing, active 2017 contract will receive a notification letter about the opportunity to apply for a renewal contract from NRCS. The letter will detail the CSP renewal application process. For more information about conservation planning and programs to help treat natural resource issues on your land, visit www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov or your local USDA Service Center in Houston at 417-967-2028.