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The Dent County Sheriff’s Department arrested seven Salem individuals on Monday, March 15^th for drug related crimes that occurred over the last few months. According to court records, 40-year old Trampus Watson of Salem, was charged with distributing a controlled substance near a school. This charge stems from an incident on August 31^st, 2009. Watson was arrested and held on a $50,000 cash only bond. Also arrested was 21-year old Jonthon Ayers of Salem and he was charged with the distribution, delivery, or sell or attempt to or possession with intent to distribute, deliver, or sell a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance except for 35 grams or less of marijuana. These charges stem from an incident on September 10^th, 2009. Ayers was being held on a $25,000 cash only bond. Also being arrested Monday were 42-year old Donny White of Salem, and 23-year old Amber Harrison of Salem, and they were charged with distributing a controlled substance near a school and possession of a controlled substance except for 35 grams or less of marijuana. The charges against White stem from an incident on October 12^th, 2009, while the charges against Harrison come from an October 22^nd, 2009 incident. Both were being held on a $25,000 cash only bond. Also arrested was 59-year old Larry Ray of Salem, and 30-year old Annette Durham of Salem who were charged with distributing a controlled substance near a school, and possession of a controlled substance except for 35 grams or less of marijuana. These charges stem from an incident with Ray from December 4^th, 2009, and a December 10^th, 2009 incident for Durham. Both Ray and Durham were being held on a $50,000 cash only bond. Also arrested was 28-year old Matthew Schwartz of Salem who was charged with the distribution, delivery, or sell or attempt to or possession with intent to distribute, deliver, or sell a controlled substance. These charges stem from a December 22^nd, 2009 incident. Schwartz was arrested and held on a $25,000 cash only bond. All seven individuals have a preliminary hearing set for April 15^th.

The Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading was going to be done on the Turtle Loop which is Dent County Road 5600. Grading is also going to be done on Dent County Roads 4090, 4150, 6060, 6085 and 6110. He said that rock would be added to Dent County Roads 4080 and 5600, and that workers would be patching the chip and seal on Dent County Road 6180. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that rock would be added and grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2100, 3120 and 3180. He said only grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3170, 3173, 3175, 5200 and 5225. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that the Juvenile and the Public Administrator Offices are in the process of being moved to the Annex. Once that is completed, the commission will get the area ready for the Dent County Prosecutor to move to their area to ground floor level. At the last meeting, Spencer Jones and Jason Sivils with the design and engineering firm Great River Associates discussed funding bridge projects in the county. They went to look at some bridges in the county and made some recommendations. Heather Stiles and Ryan Redel with the Missouri State Auditor’s office visited with the commission and began a performance audit of the county Monday. The state auditor’s office contracted Davis, Lynn and Moots to come in and do a financial audit of the county starting March 30^th. The Commissioners then agreed to hold their quarterly night meeting on April 19^th at the Judicial Building courtroom. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Senator Frank Barnitz is planning to host a meeting tonight for small business owners and entrepreneurs in the 16^th District to get information about state programs and services that could help their business. The meeting will be held at 6:00 pm in Rolla at the Havener Center on the Missouri University of Science and Technology campus. The meeting will include presentations by representatives from the Missouri Department of Economic Development and Missouri Technology Corporation. Workforce development, tax incentives, and ways to better utilize technology are some of the areas that could be discussed. Lieutenant Colonel Allen Rolfing will speak about the Show-Me Heroes program, a new initiative in the state to connect military veterans with job opportunities and Richard LaBrash, owner of DefBar Systems in Salem, will also address the crowd about his experience with state programs and services and how they have helped him to develop and expand his business. The event will also include an extended question and answer portion so that those in attendance can ask questions and discuss any possible concerns.

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