Local News – Wednesday, August 15th, 2018
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse for their regular meting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said crews were out checking culverts to make sure they were free of debris before the anticipated rain this week. Purcell stated ditch work was being done on Dent County Road 4253 and materials were being added to the road as well. He mentioned brush cutting was being done on county road 2470 and fiber optic cable is being run under county road 2400 as the company will be drilling under the chip and seal to run the cable. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2120, 4040, 4285 and 4310 while brush would be cut on county road 5280. He said a crew was taking care of some downed trees on county road 4050 and some other men were working on the brush cutter. Larson said men would also be backsloping on county road 3200 to help with drainage after a fence was removed. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles attended a Transportation Advisory Committee meeting Thursday and they discussed the fuel sales tax issue in November that will increase the fuel tax ten cents over four years. They said that year-to date the fatalities statewide are up 35% over last year. Skiles said he was re-elected the chairman of the External Relations Committee and they discussed the upcoming legislative priorities and annual banquet. Skiles reported on the MRPC Board meeting where through the Central Workforce Development Board, St. James High School students are learning about manufacturing up close through businesses in the St. James area. Skiles said there are plenty of manufacturing jobs available through the Central Missouri Workforce Development Board and if anyone is interested, they should contact Sue Nardi at the Salem Community Center@The Armory for more information. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported the last day to register to vote for the General Election will be October 10th. If you need to update your voter registration information, please get in touch with her office at 729-4144. At the bid opening for the Justice and Jail Center Project held Thursday afternoon at the Bank of Salem Courtesy Room, bids were opened for general construction, food service equipment, laundry equipment, DEC, elevator, fire suppression and electrical. No decisions were made as Construction Manager Nick Smith from Septagon and the commissioners will review all the bids received. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse.
The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) is accepting grant applications for the 2019 grant round and they are due by noon on Friday, August 24th. Projects must be located or benefit the Ozark Rivers district, which includes the counties of Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. Grants are available to city and county governments, businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations and other interested parties to increase waste reduction, reuse and recycling rates in our district. A complete listing of priorities and target materials is included in the grant application and available online. The grant dollars awarded by Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District comes through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and represent a portion of the landfill tipping fees collected in the district. The grant application is available online at www.ozarkrivers.org. For more information, contact Jill Hollowell at jhollowell@meramecregion.org or call (573) 265-2993.
Elvis Tribute Artist Michael Florence will be participating in the semi-finals of the “Image of the King” contest in Memphis, Tennessee this Thursday, August 16th. Known as Sean Michael, Florence qualified for the semi finals in the preliminary round held Monday at the New Daisy Theatre in Memphis. The finals for the “Image of the King” contest will be held this Thursday evening, August 16th. Florence will also be singing this Saturday in Memphis to benefit St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Congratulations Michael!
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department reports that 48-year old Janice L. Bote of Salem, and 60-year old William E. Martin of Salem have each been charged with felony counts of being an accessory to the delivery of a controlled substance and for also being an accessory to unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges came from the result of a short term narcotics investigation held Sunday by the South Central Drug Task Force and the Dent County Sheriff’s Office in the 400 block of East First Street in Salem. The charges are a result of officers finding 5.5 grams of meth in Martin’s pocket, two glass meth pipes were found in a bedroom and an orange container that contained syringes and spoons was also located in a closet. A digital scale that police suspect was being used for distribution was found in Martin’s car. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Salem Police Department assisted with the case. Bond for Bote and Martin was set at $20,000 cash only.
The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will be holding a blood drive in Salem this Friday at the Salem Memorial District Hospital from 9:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. Supplies of all blood types right now are near normal levels, but demand will increase with the Labor day holiday looming in the near future. Those who donate blood at the event will receive a free T-shirt with a great summer message. To be eligible to give blood, a person must weigh 110 pounds, be in good health and bring with them a photo ID. If you need more information about the blood drive, please contact Jodie Gorman at 729-6626.