News – Monday, February 3rd 2025

Thursday evening at the Judicial Building, the Dent Count Opioid Settlement Committee met to discuss applications for funding from the opioid settlement monies being received by the county. The committee prioritized that funds will be used to treat or serve those in Dent County first, and that applications have no minimums or maximums. Deputy Rick Letchworth led the committee discussion which was focused on the nine applications received for funding. The fund currently has $325,609.22. The board heard about Parted Waters who requested funding for residential housing, the Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition who requested funding to expand their “Too Good for Drugs” classroom instruction to include 7th through 9th graders as well as create a mentoring program, and the Dent County Health Center who submitted three applications to provide additional meeting space in the community, provide transportation for mostly non-medical needs in the community, and wanting to create a review board for reports on opioid abuse or overdose. The board also heard about two applications from the Salem Memorial Hospital with the first concentrating on three Lucas Devices for chest compression and the creation of harm prevention kits, with the other application being the purchase of a new ambulance; an application from the Dent County Sheriff’s Office for two Lucas devices, a new TruNarc analyzer and compensation for officers being taken off the road to work narcotics; and the last request was from Four Rivers Community Heatlh Center. The total amount of the applications for funding came to $1,068,368.85. Letchworth said the committee will discuss the applications and submit their recommendations to the MRPC. Once he gets them back from the MRPC, he will present them to the Dent County Commission for their approval to be funded. He said the process should take about a week or so.

On Monday, January 27th, a Rolla man pleaded guilty and admitted transporting a minor across state lines for sex in the US Eastern District Court in St. Louis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins prosecuting the case against 48-year-old Scott M. Arnold-Micke. He pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of a minor to engage in a criminal sex act. He admitted in his plea agreement that in 2021, he took the 17-year-old victim to Chicago, where they used drugs and engaged in sexual acts. Arnold-Micke met the victim that summer and they began engaging in drug use on an almost daily basis after Arnold-Micke moved from Sullivan, Missouri to Rolla. Arnold-Micke is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30th. Both the U.S. Attorney’s office and Arnold-Micke’s lawyers have agreed to recommend 230 months in prison. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Rolla Police Department, and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

Healthy Dent County is excited to introduce the Circuit30 Program, a full-body workout designed to fit into even the busiest schedules, by hosting a public Open House for the first two weeks of February. This is a fantastic opportunity to check out the new program, tour the facilities, and get a feel for the new machines. The Open House will be from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday, now through February 14th, at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. This innovative program features 15 brand-new, state-of-the-art machines, all available in a private and welcoming environment, making fitness approachable for all. Three group orientation sessions are being held each day from 9:00 – 9:30 AM, 12:00 – 12:30 PM, and 5:00 – 5:30 PM where participants can learn more about the program and how it can work for them. This program is just the latest in several programs available at the facility, other notable classes and programs include; Yoga, Kickboxing, Spin Classes, and Zumba, just to name a few. For more information or to sign up for an orientation session which is open to anyone, please contact them at 573-739-1127 or via email at susie@salemcommunitycenter.org.