News – Tuesday, 16th, 2024

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning in the courthouse. Grant Wilson from Congressman Jason Smith’s Rolla office was in to touch base with the Commissioners. Wilson reported that as a result of the assassination attempt Saturday of former President Donald Trump the House Oversight Committee has scheduled a meeting with the Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle for Monday, July 22nd. He also noted that Congress is off this week necessitating the weeklong wait for the meeting. In the road report District One Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2400, 4235, 4237, 4240 and 5600. He also reported that a man had gone to Springfield for oil for chip and seal, and he had two of his crew out. Mobray also noted that he and Dent County Collector Shannon Vankirk would be attending a City Hall meeting that night at Bunker regarding SB190. District Two Commissioner Gary Polk reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2010, 2020, 2025, 4310, and 4340. He said rock would be added and grading done on county road 3355. Polk also reported that Monday part of his crew took the backhoe to the Sligo area to clean out culverts and bridges on county roads 4010, 4032, and 4480. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he was gone on vacation last week and would meet with the Tourism Tax Committee Monday night. Larson also mentioned that the County had received information from the Missouri Department of Agriculture about the opportunity to enroll in the Department’s Re-monumentation Program for 2025. The Commission will meet with the County Surveyor before making a decision for next year. Dent County is already participating in the program this year and has $8,300 budgeted for it. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that bills and payroll were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. She also noted that absentee voting continues through August 5th and July 24th is the last date to mail out a ballot. If you have questions about voting, registration, dates, etc., contact her office at 573-729-4144. Vankirk was in to discuss SB190 after speaking with MAC attorney Travis Elliott. She also sent Elliott the City/County Collection contact to review and get more clarification on that due to SB190. At 10:30 the Commissioners opened bids for concrete work at the road department salt shed. The bid from Godi Excavating was for $28,490.00 and from Gray Construction was $27,880.00. The Commissioners voted 3-0 to accept the Gray Construction bid. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the Courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

An accident occurred in Dent County Sunday afternoon at 12:44 on Highway K at Highway Z. According to the Highway Patrol report a northbound 2012 Nissan Versa, driven by 75-year-old Joan Sutton of Salem, pulled into the path of an eastbound 2014 Ram 1500, driven by 40-year-old Thomas Barnard of Rolla. Sutton suffered serious injuries and was flown by Phelps Air to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. The report stated that Sutton and Barnard were both wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

An accident occurred Sunday evening at 5:30 in Phelps County on private property near County Road 3140. According to the Highway Patrol report 69-year-old Randy Romine of Rolla was operating a southbound 2005 Honda Rancher. The Honda overturned, ejecting Romine, and then rolling over him. He suffered serious injuries and was transported by St. James Ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. The report stated that Romine was not wearing any safety equipment at the time of the accident. The Honda sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

An accident occurred in Phelps County Saturday afternoon at 1:14 on Highway 63 at Phelps County Road 5240. According to the Highway Patrol report a northbound 2010 Ford Edge, driven by 47-year-old Esther Gann of Licking, was following a 2005 Chevrolet Colorado, driven by 38-year-old Scott Jenkins of Newburg. Jenkins slowed to make a right turn and Gann failed to yield causing the Ford to strike the rear of the Chevrolet. The Chevrolet then traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Jenkins, along with a 14-year-old male juvenile, suffered serious injuries and both were transported by Phelps Health EMS to Phelps Health. The report stated that Gann and the juvenile were both wearing safety restraints, while Jenkins was not. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by D and D Towing, while the Ford sustained extensive damage and was driven from the scene.