News
The Dent County Commission met Thursday in front of a full house at the Dent County Courthouse. In the hearing of persons, Charlie Walker and his wife Leona were in attendance wanting to know why James Fulton wants to close county road 2230. Fulton, who was also in attendance with son Travis and JT Bisque, said that he was not “closing” the road. He just wants the county to vacate the road to make it into a private drive. Commissioner Gary Larson stated that in effect he was “closing” the road to the general public by his personal request and the petition that was signed, but Fulton disagreed and said that is not what he was doing. He reiterated that he wants the road vacated since the county has not done anything to it for ten years. He said that he is following the procedures called for in the Missouri statutes to do this properly. At this point, the Walkers left the commissioners office as it was obvious that there had been some history between Fulton and Walker from a previous incident that had no bearing on the decision affecting Dent County Road 2230. James Fulton then asked Commissioner Larson the status of his request and petition. Larson indicated that he had spoken with Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley and thought that Curley would get back with him Thursday. If he didn’t hear from Curley on Thursday, Larson stated that he would contact him on Friday. At this time, Fulton said that he wanted to clarify some errors or misconceptions from the Salem News article on the commissioner’s meeting from Thursday and Monday. The first point he made was, again, clarifying that he is not “closing” the road. Secondly, he stated that the paper said that he was the “only family on the road” and that is not true. He said that three families live on the road. The third point he made was that the county has not performed regular maintenance on the road. Travis Fulton spoke up and said that was a lie, no matter what the county records indicate as he inferred that the Fulton family was the only one that maintained the road. The fourth point he wanted to make was that Mr. Turner made the comment that Fulton wanted to “control both sides of the road” which he said wasn’t true as Mr. Turner would not know what was on his mind. Fulton said that he would be at a future meeting to find out what Commissioner Larson finds out from the prosecutor. Dwayne Land, representing the Public Water District Supply #1, came in to get a copy of the county’s guidelines on burying utilities as the Oak Hill R-1 School District is considering joining the water district. The district would have to run a water line about 1,500 to 1,800 feet along a county road to reach the school. The guidelines indicate burying “lines” four feet below the ditch line of the county road but it didn’t really indicate if that was for phone or water lines. Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that he would ask the prosecutor for further clarification on this but told Land to go ahead with their proposal to the school. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Purcell said that workers would continue putting up downed signs, picking up trash and tires from ditches and servicing a county pickup truck. District 2 Commissioner Larson said that brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 2370 and 3050, and that tree limbs were being removed along Dent County Road 4040. He went on to say that some men would also be working at the shop. Larson explained that both he and Commissioner Purcell are aware that many county roads are getting rough, but wanted the public to understand that with the roads being frozen, only patch grading can be done in some cases. He said that the road crews would address the problems as soon as the weather allows them to grade the roads correctly without doing further damage to the roads. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that he attended the CCAM meeting on Wednesday and that they finalized plans for the commissioner’s training in February. He also said they discussed legislative issues including the possibility of the elimination of funding for county assessments, and also the elimination of funding to the Solid Waste Management Districts that regions use to help reduce solid waste going into landfills by promoting recycling and other methods of reducing waste by local governments and entities. There is talk that the money would go to DNR for distribution. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that the proposed budget is available in her office from 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday until the budget hearing on Monday, January 28th at 7:00 at the Dent County Judicial Building. The courthouse will be closed Monday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the next meeting would be held on Thursday, January 24th at 9:00 at the courthouse. The meeting is open to the public.
Sports [TOP]
Brady Floyd scored 22 points and Chad Elliott added 17 more as Salem outscored Newburg 25-11 in the third quarter to beat the Wolves, 62-48. Salem is 6-8 on the year and they will play Saturday afternoon agaisnt Blair Oaks at 5:00 at St. James.
The Salem Lady Basketball Tigers will host Licking tonight at 6:00 at the SHS Gym. There will be no JV game. Salem enters the game 7-8 on the year and 1-2 in the SCA. You can hear that game on KSMO Radio and online at ksmoradio.com.
The 17th ranked Missouri Tigers will be in Florida on Saturday to face the 10th ranked Gators. Missouri is 13-3 on the year and you can hear the game on KSMO Radio, starting with the pre-game show at 12:30 in the afternoon.
The St. Louis Blues will open their regular season tomorrow night at 7:00 against the Detroit Red Wings at the Scottrade Center. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio.
Don’t miss your chance to meet and greet as well as your chance to get autographs as the 2013 St. Louis Cardinal Caravan will be rolling into Rolla this Saturday, January 19th at the Rolla High School Gymnasium beginning at 6:00 pm. Cardinal players scheduled to appear are Shelby Miller, Oscar Taveras, and Seth Maness. Cardinal Alumni will include; John Mabry, Cal Eldred and Alan Benes as well as emcee Al Hrabosky (The Mad Hungarian).
Obituaries [TOP]
Funeral services for Margaret Mary Rieken of Mexico, MO, formerly of St. James, age 89, will be held today at 3:00 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. James. Visitation will be from 1:00 until service time at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Interment will be in the Ozark Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Rolla.
Funeral services for Frankie Schmeider of Bunker, age 69, will be today at 2:00 at the Christ the King Catholic Church in Bunker. Visitation will be after 11:00 today at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Bunker. Interment will be in the Bunker Cemetery.
Funeral services for Erma Gladine Whalen of Steelville, age 90, will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation will be tonight from 4:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the Steelville Cemetery.
Funeral services for Louise V. Noles of Salem, age 88, will be held Saturday at 12:00 noon at the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until service time. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the family.
Funeral services for Gladys Sheffield of Fort Polk, Louisiana, age 79, will be held Saturday at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be from 10:00 until time of service at the Chapel. Interment will be in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Funeral services for Paul Lee (Kermit) Jacobs of Salem, age 76, will be held Monday at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery.
Weather [TOP]
