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Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning. At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Bobby Simpson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 545, 548, 624 and in the West Texas Township on Dent County Roads 244 and 245. Simpson also said brush would be cut on Dent County Road 609.  District 2 Commissioner J.J. Tune reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 212, 215, 320, 406 and on various roads in the Boss area. Tune also said that brush would be cut on Dent County Road 426. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he and MODOT Engineer Tom Stehn went last Friday to look at the one lane bridge on Route H. Skiles said he would like to see the bridge turned into a two-lane bridge to make driving conditions safer. Stehn said he would look into some possible options and would be getting back in touch with the Commission.  Stehn also told Commissioner Skiles that MODOT is looking into the possibility of putting rumble strips on the centerline of Highway 72 from Salem to Rolla. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that the last day to request a mail out ballot is Wednesday, March 28^th.  Curley also said that the clerk’s office would be open Saturday, March 31^st from 8 am to 12 pm for absentee voting. Commissioner Simpson then reported on the Community Development Block Grant Meeting that he attended concerning a new firehouse, community center and emergency helicopter-landing pad in Bunker. Simpson said he offered the City of Bunker up to $5,000 worth of man power and equipment usage for the construction of the emergency-landing pad. Commissioner Tune made the motion to approve the $5,000 and Commissioner Simpson seconded the motion.  Commissioner Simpson also reported on the chip and sealing of Dent County Road 651 that leads to Cedar Grove. There is 3.1 miles of gravel road that needs to be chip and sealed and the estimated cost is $65,000. Simpson said that since the road is mainly used for tourism, most of the tax money goes into the counties General Revenue Fund. Simpson requested that $50,000 be taken out of the General Revenue Fund under a Capital Expense and the other $15,000 be taken out of the Road and Bridge Fund. Commissioner Simpson made the motion to approve and Commissioner Tune seconded the motion. Also at the meeting Red Cummings attended to ask the Commission about the possibility of having a nightly meeting at least once a month to address any public concerns.  Commissioners Simpson and Skiles explained that routine business is best discussed during the day, because local and state offices are open during the day and if the Commission needs to address a problem immediately then they can do so. Commissioner Tune said that a nightly meeting would be held if there was an issue that was not of normal concern of the Commission.  The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department released their reports. On March 20^th at 1:30 in the afternoon, the Department received a report of a burglary, which occurred at a residence located at Highways 32 and AC in Boss. It was reported that an unlocked garage building had been entered and aluminum awnings had been taken. A deputy was dispatched to the location of the burglary and while en route another deputy located the aluminum awnings, which had been disposed of at a local recycling business. The name and a vehicle description were given and while a deputy was conducting a vehicle stop on Highway 32 East, a vehicle matching the description arrived at that location. As a result, 18-year old Randy Eugene Camden of Boss was taken into custody and charged with one felony count of burglary in the 2^nd degree, one felony count of theft/stealing and one felony count of property damage in the 1^st degree. He is currently being held in the Dent County Jail with bond set at $15,000 cash. On March 21^st at 8:15 in the morning, the Department received a report of a stolen mannequin from a property located off of Highway 119. The mannequin is 5’ 9” tall and weighs 30 pounds. If you have any information about these thefts, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

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Today..Mostly cloudy with a 90% chance for showers and thunderstorms, high of 73.
Tonight..Partly cloudy with a 30% chance for showers, low around 60.
Saturday..Partly cloudy with a 20% chance showers, high of 78, low of 58.
Sunday..Partly cloudy, high of 75, low of 59.