Local News – Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday for their regular meeting. City of Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge was in attendance to give her monthly report. She said there is a new and several ongoing economic projects going on with three new business licenses in April. She said she has 10 pre-applications submitted for the “Welcome Home” program in varying stages of income levels. She stated she had 20 local contractors come to a pre-bid meeting on the “Welcome Home” program and how it works. The radio interview Burbridge did last Tuesday with Riverways Federal Credit Union CEO Scott Schults and MRPC Representative Patrick Stites on KSMO is available on the city’s website online. Burbridge gave updates on the Voluntary Residential Demolition Program and housing study, plus she said work at the certified site continues with the extension of the contract with Godi Excavating and a new contract for soil bores from SCI Engineering. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said work crews will try to continue grading on Dent County Roads 5530 and 6370, while materials will be added, and grading done on county road 6080. He also said brush would be cut on county road 2490. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated his crews would be adding materials and grading on Dent County Roads 2070 and 4290 while only materials would be added to county roads 2060 and 4280. Larson said grading would also be done on county road 4060 and brush would be cut on county road 4430. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending a meeting today in Jefferson City with Missouri Department of Revenue Director Wayne Wallingford in Senator Brown’s office along with Senator Brown and State Representative Ron Copeland to discuss the county sales tax issue. He said he and Commissioner Mobray attended the Jadwin Rural Fire Department’s annual meeting and the Montauk Rural Fire Department’s fundraiser Saturday night at their respective fire houses. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said with the upcoming August and November elections, anyone with a name or address change needs to come by her office and update their information. To change your voter information, you will need to sign the form to update the information. Curley also said that the county has not received any letters of interest from people who would like to serve on the Dent County Health Center’s Board of Directors to fill their vacancy. Those interested must have their letter in to the clerk’s office by 10:00 in the morning on May 12th. If you have questions, please call the clerk’s office at 729-4144. At the last meeting, David Massengale from the US Forest Service brought in a Road Project Agreement between the county and Mark Twain National Forest as well as a Cooperative Forest Road Agreement between the county and the Forest Service. The commissioners signed both agreements. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred Sunday afternoon at 5:15 in Phelps County on Water Street north of Highway T. According to the Highway Patrol report a 1997 Kawasaki Motorcycle, operated by 24-year-old Shawn Leach of Rolla, struck a pothole, traveled off the left side of the roadway, and caught fire. Leach suffered serious injuries and was flown to University Hospital in Columbia. The motorcycle was totaled and removed from the scene by D&D Recovery. At 5:34 Leach was arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), felon in possession of a firearm, no motorcycle license, failure to register a motor vehicle, no insurance, careless and imprudent driving involving an accident. Leach was released to the hospital.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports for early April. Friday evening, April 1st, at approximately 7:00 officers were dispatched to the 500 block of South Tower Street for a report of a domestic disturbance. During the investigation officers found that two subjects had gotten into an altercation and an assault had taken place. One of the subjects involved was very intoxicated and uncooperative with officers. As a result of the investigation, a 41-year-old Salem male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending the application of warrants. That same night near midnight officers were dispatched to the 800 block of South Hickory Street for a report of a domestic dispute. As officers arrived, they encountered a male subject involved in the altercation that was acting very irate and intoxicated. As a result of the incident, a 25-year-old Salem man was arrested and issued summons for disorderly conduct. The male was incarcerated on a 12-hour safe keep to sober up. Shortly afterwards at about 1:00 Saturday morning, April 2nd, officers were dispatched to South Nelson for a report of a domestic assault. As a result of the investigation, it was found that one of the parties involved had an active warrant for their arrest out of the Platte County Sheriff’s Office. As a result, 46-year-old Michael Welch of Salem was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail on his warrants with a bond amount of $d3,000. Then on Wednesday afternoon, April 6th, at approximately 1:30, officers conducted a traffic stop for expired license plates near the intersection of Center and Missouri Highway 19. During the stop, it was found that the driver had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. As a result, 49-year-old Todd Sontchi of Salem was arrested and incarcerated in the Dent County Jail with the bond of $5,000. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information on any ongoing investigation.