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The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, the entire commission is asking everyone not to do any type of outdoor burning with these extremely windy and dry conditions. Dent County Fire Protection District Chief Brad Nash reports there have been 12 structure fires this month and that does not include flue fires. He also said that since the 23^rd of January, they have had a total of 17 calls. This does not include all the calls responded to by the Lenox, Montauk and Timber Fire Districts. Conditions are simply too dry and the winds are accelerating the spread of these fires or re-igniting them once they have been brought under control. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated that a full service was being done on Grader #26. He reported that work crews were checking roads for downed limbs and trees that have blown over the roads and need to be removed. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said that his crews were out taking care of some reported downed trees and limbs, and that some workers will be clearing out culverts. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wants to remind everyone of the Dent County Budget hearing that will be held tonight at 7:00 at the Judicial Building Courtroom, which is open to the public. He said there is not much difference between the budget this year and the one for last year except for the increase in the cost of holding elections in 2014, and also those costs that had to be incurred due to court mandated expenses such as the increase in the prosecutor’s salary, increased juvenile court costs and others. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said bids were taken for propane for the courthouse Friday and the low bid was Titan at $4.39 per gallon. About 500 or so gallons were purchased by the county. Curley said the last time the county bid out propane the cost per gallon was $2.13. At the last meeting, Randall Maley with the Department of Health and Senior Services came in to check the air quality at the Courthouse. He reported the humidity level was good as it was below 10%, but the third floor is becoming deteriorated. That being said, the Courthouse is in better shape than other buildings around the same age as it is. Maley said he would be sending the commissioners an official written report. The next regular morning meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public. 

The Salem High School Library will be the location of a financial aid meeting from 5:30 to 7:00 tonight. Parents and students can hear a presentation from a Missouri College of Science and Technology Financial Aid representative. For more information, contact the Salem High School Counselor’s at 729-5990. Refreshments will be served.

The Salem Police Department has released more of their reports. On Friday, January 17^th at 4:30 in the morning, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 400 block of West Fourth Street in reference to a domestic disturbance. The investigation led to the arrest of a 43-year old Salem male for disorderly conduct. He was issued a summons to appear in court and incarcerated on a 12-hour hold. Later that afternoon at 12:26, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of East First in reference to an assault. That investigation revealed that a 33-year old Salem male had assaulted a 26-year old Salem female. He was arrested, issued a summons to appear in court, and released. On Saturday, January 18^th at 1:53 in the early morning, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 100 block of South Carty where a vehicle had ran off the road damaging a fence and landscaping. The investigation led to the arrest of a 34-year old Salem male for driving while intoxicated. He was issued a summons to appear in court and incarcerated on a 12-hour hold. Later that afternoon at 12:57, an officer was dispatched to Walmart in reference to a shoplifter. That investigation led to the arrest of a 39-year old Salem male for stealing merchandise valued at $5.97. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Sunday, January 19^th at 2:30 in the afternoon, an officer was detailed to Walmart in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation led to the arrest of a 27-year old Belleville female for stealing merchandise valued at $133.69. She was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Tuesday, January 21^st at 10:08 in the morning, an officer was dispatched to the Walnut Motel in reference to a theft. That investigation revealed that someone took items from a room valued at $250. Later that night at 11:09, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 100 block of East Second in reference to a disturbance. The investigation revealed that a 36-year old Salem female had assaulted a 41-year old Salem male. She was arrested for 2^nd degree assault and incarcerated pending the application for warrants. On Wednesday, January 22^nd at 12:01 in the early morning, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 100 block of North Park in reference to an assault. The investigation revealed that a 27-year old Birch Tree male had assaulted a 20-year old Salem female and then left the scene. On Thursday, January 23^rd at 10:42 in the morning, an officer was dispatched to an unoccupied residence in the 1600 block of Doss Road in reference to a break in. The investigation revealed that someone entered a residence by force and damaged the entryway, causing $100 worth of damage. Contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding these reports.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has released an arrest report for Dent County. On Saturday, January 25^th at 1:25 in the early morning, 19-year old Caitlin Lawrence of Salem was arrest on three misdemeanor Dent County warrants for failure to appear on original charges of failure to produce insurance, failure to register a motor vehicle, and no seat belt. She was taken to the Dent County Jail and held on bond.

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