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The Dent County Commissioners met Monday for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported grading would be done on Dent County Road 6660 while materials would be added and grading done on county roads 6210, 6220 and 6320. Materials would also be added to Dent County Roads 2460 and 6470 while brush would be cut on county roads 5525 and 6255. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2160, 5330, 6160 and other roads that are capable of being graded at this time. Larson said materials would be added to Dent County Roads 2090, 2580, 2600 and 3010 while brush would be cut on county road 2115. He also stated that a man would be screening brown rock. Larson went on to say that he did not attend the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee meeting Thursday due to a lack of a quorum. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported he would be attending the MRPC Day at the Capitol today in Jefferson City. The commissioners then agreed to modify the 2015 budget to reflect the grant just received from DNR for the windows at the courthouse to be replaced. The Dent County Commission discussed putting a sales tax of one quarter of one cent on the April ballot to support the Road and Bridge Department due to the increased costs of maintaining the roads, both gravel as well as chip and seal. After some discussion, the commission passed an Order for Election for the quarter of a one cent sales tax referendum to be placed on the April ballot that would sunset after seven years. The money the sales tax is expected to generate is between $380,000-$410,000 and the issue needs just a simple majority to pass. The commission also re-appointed three persons to the Senate Bill 40 Board. Those three individuals are Phillip Giacomelli, Cathy Diehl and Marvin McDonald. They have been renewed for three-year terms expiring December 31^st, 2017. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be held Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department released reports involving an assault, a traffic violation and an injury from an altercation. On Saturday, January 17^th at 3:54 in the afternoon, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 1000 block of South Warfel in reference to an assault. The investigation of the report revealed that a 37-year old Salem male had assaulted a 27-year old female of Salem. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect for assault and for the possession of methamphetamine. He was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. That evening at 7:30, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 22-year old male of Rolla on an active arrest warrant from Clark County. He was released with a date to appear in court after posting bond. Later that night at 11:06, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 1600 block of South Water in reference to a male that was injured from an altercation. That investigation revealed a 46-year old Salem male had been seriously injured by a 55-year old Salem male during an altercation. Further investigation led to the arrest of the 55-year old male for first-degree assault. He was incarcerated pending the application for a warrant. The victim was transported to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis for severe injuries. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an investigation ongoing or previously mentioned.

Time is running out to nominate volunteers from 2014 for the Salem Area Community Betterment Association Gift of Time Awards and Gift of Time Honor Roll. Nomination forms are available now at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, the Salem Public Library, Salem News and the Visitors Center. Nominations for those deserving persons or organizations need to be submitted this Friday to SACBA. You can mail in your nomination to SACBA, P.O. Box 732, Salem, MO 65560; drop them off at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory or at the Visitor Center at 200 South Main; or fax your nomination form to (573) 729-6741. All nominations MUST be submitted by 5:00 Friday afternoon! The categories for volunteer recognition are: Education, Community Enhancement, Arts and Culture, Youth (an adult or adult organization), Youth (a youth or youth organization), Humanitarianism, and Historic Preservation. Any citizen may nominate any individual and/or any organization that has made a significant volunteer contribution to the community during 2014. An anonymous panel of citizens will select the Gift of Time awardees. The Gift of Time awards will be presented and all nominees will be honored at the Volunteer Recognition Dinner on February 19^th at 6:30 at the Gathering Place at the Grace Community Church. Tickets may be purchased at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, the Visitors Center and from SACBA board members.

At 11:20 am Saturday morning, an accident occurred on Phelps County Road 5340 eight miles south of Rolla. According the highway patrol report, a 2000 GMC Safari van driven by 16-year-old Johnnie M. Stogsdill of Rolla, crested a hill too fast and lost control of the vehicle, landing in the left road ditch. The vehicle received extensive damage, but was driven from the scene by the owner. Stogsdill and a passenger, 17-year-old Serina B. Cottrell of Salem, both sustained moderate injuries and were both taken to Phelps County Regional Medical Center by an ambulance. Both had safety restraints properly engaged.

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