Local News – Tuesday, November 8th, 2022
The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported sales tax revenues received in November which were skewed in the comparison from last year when the Department of Revenue had to pay back sales taxes they withheld in October by mistake. In the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund, the county received this month $83,818.12 and that is $61,239.22 less than in 2021. Year-to-date, those funds are up $340,707.40. In the County Road and Bridge Fund, sales tax revenues received were $39,032.64 and that is down $31,196.29 from the $70,228.93 figure from 2021. Year-to-date, that fund is up 54% at $168,254.75. The jail trust and operating funds both received $78,062.82 in November and that is $27,040.54 less than the money received in 2021. Year-to-date, each jail fund is up $335,099.14. Dent County and Salem Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge gave her report to the commission showing little economic change in October. She did say she mailed off copies of the paid checks to Godi Excavating to the state to prove work at the Certified Site in the Industrial Park has been completed and is waiting on them to get back with her if there is anything else needed. She did say she got with the county surveyor and found the sign at the entrance to the Industrial Park is not on MoDOT right-of-way and it does not have to be moved. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2440, 4220, 6440 and 6360 while brush would be cut on county road 6210. Mobray indicated materials were being added to county road 5600 as part of the Title II project, and he said he would be meeting with Ozark National Scenic Riverways Superintendent Jason Lott about some projects they would like to do near the Current River. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2030 while only grading would be done on county roads 2110, 3350, 3360, 3370 and 4020. He said brush would be cut on county road 2330 and a downed tree would be removed from county road 6160. He said a man would be going to Springfield for oil for chip and seal repair which will be done on county roads 2240 and 2250. He also said he was meeting with representatives from the Mark Twain National Forest on county road 4330 to discuss their blocking off spaces used for camping for many years. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said there would be a meeting Wednesday at 2:00 at the courthouse with Corky Stack and the contractor, Alexander Construction out of Rolla, to discuss the work at the courthouse. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said voting will begin at 6:00 this morning and go until 7:00 at your appropriate polling location and please bring a valid photo ID when you vote. If you have questions, call her office at 729-4144. At the last meeting, the commission approved adding Daniel Salyer, Jr. and Marcus Gorman to the Tourism Tax Committee. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
An accident happened Sunday afternoon at 3:06 in Phelps County in the eastbound lane of I-44 at the 197.2-mile marker that took the life of a man from Bourbon. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 Volvo VNL was stopped for heavy traffic when a 2008 Saturn Outlook driven by 50-year-old James Hendricks of Bourbon, struck the back side of the Volvo. Hendricks was pronounced dead at the scene by Phelps County Coroner Ernie Coverdale. His body was taken to the Rolla Crematorium by the Phelps County Coroner. Hendricks was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Saturn sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the St. James Fire Department.