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An accident occurred Friday evening at 8:50 on Route H about three miles west of Salem.  According to the Highway Patrol report, a 1997 Ford F-150 driven by 17-year old Sierra VanKirk of Salem, lost control of the pickup and crossed the centerline, side-swiping a 1999 Dodge Caravan, driven by 20 year old Amanda Vannortwick of Salem. The F-150 then ran off the left side of the road and struck a culvert, overturning five times.  Injured in the accident was VanKirk with serious injuries. A passenger in the Ford pickup, 17-year old Wesley Price of Bridgeton, MO, also received serious injuries.  VanKirk and Price were flown to St. Johns Hospital by Air Evac.  The Ford was totaled in the accident while the Dodge had minor damage.

An accident happened Thursday evening at 5:15 in Phelps County on Route W about four miles west of Highway 63. According to the highway patrol report, a 1992 Ford Ranger pickup driven by 28-year old Scott Christensen of Rolla was traveling east on Route W. As the Ford Ranger was rounding a curve, Christensen made an abrupt steering movement. Passengers 27-year old Jessica Conaway of Rolla and 25-year old Amanda Rush of Rolla were standing up in the open bed of the pickup and were thrown from the vehicle. Christensen suffered minor injuries and was treated at the Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla and released. Conaway and Rush suffered serious injuries and were airlifted to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. No one was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford Ranger sustained no apparent damage but was towed from the scene by C and C Towing of Rolla.

An accident occurred at 4:30 Saturday afternoon in Washington County on Route Y about a tenth of a mile north of Brakefield Road. According to the Highway Patrol report, a 1995 Harley Davison driven by 43-year-old Blake E Flieg of Licking, was traveling northbound on Route Y when Flieg was unable to negotiate a left turn, causing the vehicle to travel off the east side of the roadway and overturn. Flieg suffered moderate injuries and was transported to the Salem memorial Hospital by the Iron County EMS. The Harley Davison sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Abney’s Towing.

Donald Robinson was sentenced to a total of 423 months in prison on multiple drug and weapons charges, according to Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap and Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney Courtney George. Testimony presented at trial in March revealed that Robinson had quantities of methamphetamine and maintained a drug-involved premise at his property on County Road 8190 in Doolittle. Robinson also possessed multiple firearms in furtherance of this drug trafficking activity. Robinson, 48-years old from Doolittle, was convicted last March of two felony counts of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one felony count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, two felony counts of possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and one felony count of possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine.  He appeared for sentencing before United States District Judge Henry E. Autrey.

Troop I, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, recorded five traffic fatalities during the month of May 2009. This is two more than May 2008. The total fatalities for 2009 are 9 compared to 17 last year. In May 2008, there were 200 accidents with 76 injuries and three fatalities compared to 215 accidents with 101 injuries and five fatalities for May 2009. For the month of May in 2009, Crawford County reported that 38 accidents occurred with 12 injuries, Dent County reported that nine accidents occurred with two injuries and Laclede County reported that 48 accidents happened with 34 injuries and four fatalities. Also during the month of May, Maries County reported that 14 accidents happened with six injuries, Phelps County reported 71 accidents occurred with 28 injuries and one fatality while Pulaski County reported that 35 accidents happened with 19 injuries. Captain Lee Ann Kenley, commanding officer of Troop I Headquarters of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds us that it is vacation time once again, and children are out of school. With this time of year comes heavier traffic, road construction and children playing in yards, parks and playgrounds. Always be prepared for the unexpected while driving. Pay close attention to your driving at all times, watch your speed, wear your seat belt and keep your children safe by securing them in the proper restraints or seat belts. Remember, if you see an accident on the highway, a crime, or need to report a person driving who is endangering safety on the highway, contact the Missouri State Highway patrol at 1-800-525-5555 or hit *55 on your cell phone.

The Dent County Commissioners would like to remind all county residents that after October 1^st the post office will no longer forward mail sent to old rural route addresses. The post office has continued to deliver mail to both the old rural route addresses and the new physical address for the past year. After October 1^st, mail addressed to the old rural route addresses will be returned to sender as unable to be forwarded. Also the County Assessor’s Office is in the process of coordinating the mailing of real estate and personal property tax bills and would like residents to please call their office at 729-6010 to update their address. This is to ensure that your property tax bill is mailed to the correct address. Your mailing address may be different than the property address, if you own more than one property. Real estate and personal property tax bills are mailed by November 10^th and are due by December 31^st. Payments received after December 31^st will have penalties applied. The Dent County Commission contracted with the Salem TCRC to provide rural addresses to area residents. If any resident has not received their new address, they should contact the Salem TCRC at 729-8163.

Businesses who suffered property damage or loss from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 8^th through the 16th can register for federal disaster assistance. Registration is available by calling 1-800 621-3362 from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, or at www.disasterassistance.gov. In order to complete an application, the following information is necessary: a phone number, address of the damaged property, a brief description of damages, a Social Security number, any insurance information and a current mailing address. The counties in which residents are eligible to register for disaster assistance are: Dent, Shannon, Texas, and surrounding counties. Businesses of any size and private, non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets The U.S. Small Business Administration also sends loss verifiers to inspect damaged property of those who have submitted completed loan applications. And local building and safety inspectors may come to see if damaged structures are safe. All of these inspectors should have photo identification

Residents who suffered property damage or loss from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 8^th through the 16th can register for federal disaster assistance. Registration is available by calling 1-800 621-3362 or at www.disasterassistance.gov from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. In order to complete an application, the following information is necessary: a phone number, address of the damaged property, a brief description of damages, a Social Security number, any insurance information and a current mailing address. The counties in which residents are eligible to register for disaster assistance are: Dent, Shannon, Texas, and surrounding counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, in addition to grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate victims for their entire loss. For those with insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered by insurance. Residents who applied for disaster assistance and are not insured can expect to hear from an inspector who will schedule a visit to look at damaged property. FEMA schedules inspections within 7 to 10 days to verify losses.

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Funeral services for Robert L. Ferrell of St. James, age 76, will be held Wednesday at 11:00 at James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. Memorials are suggested to the family. 

Funeral services for Thomas Eugene Walker of Bourbon, age 81, will be held Wednesday at 11:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation will be tonight from 4:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Steelville Cemetery.

Funeral services for Dale Louis Belflower of Anutt, age 76, will be held Friday at 11:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Anutt Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Young Community Center. 

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