Local News – Wednesday, November 30th, 2022
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported on the CART Funds received in November which came to $71,737.92. That is up year-to-date about 11.61% over 2021. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5170, 5500 and 6580 while brush will be cut on county roads 5510 and 6245. Mobray said rock would be hauled to county road 5590 which is part of the Title II fund project. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading will be done on Dent County Roads 2050, 2240 and 2403 while brush was being cut on county roads 2550 and 2560. Larson said materials were being hauled to county road 2070 and men were going to Springfield to get a load of oil for chip and seal repair on county road 2250. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported on the broadband meeting he attended in Rolla on November 18th, and it was a very good meeting. Last week, several office holders were at the MAC meeting and conference. The commission agreed to stay with the MAGIC Consortium for employee health insurance which is through United Health Care with a $4,500 deductible for each employee. There are other options where the employee can buy up to a $3,000 or $2,000 deductible. The county agreed to pay up to $2,500 of the employee’s deductible once an employee has met their portion of their plan’s deductible. The commission agreed to purchase a new furnace for the annex from Victor Heating and Cooling. LLC for $4,900 installed which was in stock. The commission also discussed the current annual contribution for CERF and they agreed it should remain the same as before where employees to pay 4%. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley also wants to remind political entities candidate filing will be from December 6th through the 27th and they will need to advertise those filing dates and openings. At the last meeting, Skiles spoke with attorney Jack Garvey concerning the opioid litigation that Dent County was a part of and he said the county will be receiving $37,000 annually for 18 years with 15% of the money going to General Revenue and the other 85% going into a separate fund to be used for opioid abuse treatment and prevention programs. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released several reports. On Wednesday, November 16th, a deputy responded to the 11000 block of West Highway 32 for a report of a stolen camper from the owners who are from Farmington. It was reported their Dutchman camper was stolen by a person or persons unknown sometime in the previous five weeks. That investigation continues. The next day a deputy took a call for a report of child abuse to an 8-year-old Dent County child. The alleged perpetrator was the father of the victim. An investigation into that report is continuing. On Monday, the 21st of November, a deputy responded to Dent County Road 5380 for a truck that was reported to have been burned. The vehicle, a 2006 Ford F-250, was located by the roadside. Investigators from the Dent County Sheriff’s office and the Missouri Highway Patrol Vehicle Inspection Unit initiated an investigation which is continuing at this time. That same day, deputies assisted the Cole County Sheriff’s Office in recovering a stolen ATV from a Dent County address. Their investigation revealed that the ATV, a Yamaha YFZ450, was owned by a 22-year-old Salem man who had acquired the ATV in a trade for a pickup truck in Crawford County. The ATV was recovered by deputies and the investigation will continue by the other involved law enforcement agencies. Finally on Wednesday, November 23rd, a 44-year-old Salem woman came into the sheriff’s office to report her handgun had been stolen. The report was taken by a deputy, then shortly thereafter the victim called the office back and told them that she had found her handgun and that it had not been stolen. The case was then closed. If you have any information about any investigation, please call the sheriff’s department at 729-3241.
An accident happened Sunday afternoon just after 3:30 in Pulaski County at Route Z and Trout Road. According to the report released by the highway patrol, a 2008 Nissan Altima being driven by 23-year-old Shawn Allen of Rolla, traveled off the right side of the roadway before striking an embankment and overturning. Allen, who was not wearing a seat restraint, and a one-year-old girl, who was properly restrained, both suffered serious injuries and were both taken by Pulaski County ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Creve Couer. The Nissan was totaled and removed from the scene by Jacks Wrecker.
When you’re driving around town this holiday day season check out these businesses that entered the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Window Decorating Contest: McDonald’s, Allen’s Treasure Chest & Den, American Family Insurance, VIP Properties, Pizza Hut, Trinty, Progressive Ozark Bank, Parsons Chiropractic, Edward Jones, the Ozark Natural Cultural Resource Center, Salem License Office, Country Chic Boutique, Tax Masters, and US Bank.