News

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done on Dent County Road 6580 and brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 5530 and 6180. Purcell also said that ditch work would be done and material would be hauled to Dent County Road 6230. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Road 4380, brush would be cut on Dent County Road 2050 and material would be hauled to Dent County Road 3030.  Larson also said a crew would be hauling brush from the Spring Creek crossing on Dent County Road 3210 and hauling trash that was dumped from Dent County Road 3220. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that Donald Dodd, who is Dent County’s representative on the MRPC Transportation Advisory Committee, is resigning from his position effective August 9^th. Skiles said the Commission needs to make a recommendation for his replacement and after a discussion, they recommended the City Administrator Clayton Lucas. Lucas lives in the county and the Commission feels he would make a good asset to the committee. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that the courthouse would be open Saturday, August 4^th from 8:00 am until noon for absentee voting. The Commission also discussed the bids that Sherry Lea from TCRC brought in for the new computer needed for rural addressing. The current computer used for rural addressing doesn’t have enough memory to keep adding new addresses. The Commission voted 3-0 to accept the bid from ABS for $789.00. The new computer will have enough capacity to support new addresses and future updates. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 and it is open to the public. 

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their regular meeting Thursday evening at the district administrative offices. Superintendent Steve Carvajal reported that the Open House for the elementary school would be held from 5:30 to 6:30 at William Lynch Elementary on Monday, August 13^th, the Open House for the upper elementary school would be from 6:30 to 7:30 at the Upper Elementary School on August 13th, and the Open House for the Junior High and Senior High would be held from 6:30 until 8:00 on August 14^th. Carvajal wanted to thank Mike Godi and Michael Walden from the Eagle Scouts along with his father Ray Walden for the volunteer work they did at the junior high school. In the facilities update, the new pavilion at the football field is almost complete, while there is a problem with the boys junior high bathroom as the walls will have to be replaced from a water leak, and the roof on southeast corner has a split in the seem. Assistant Superintendent John McCulloch stated that this portion of the roof has not yet been replaced and needs to be. Carvajal stated that the landscaping was all but done, and that a flagpole would be installed at the Salem Baseball Field next year with a flag from the American Legion. He went on to say that the flagpole at the elementary school would be repaired. Carvajal said that the contract with Coca-Cola would be extended and the extra money received would go toward a new scorers table in the gym. The board members discussed the board training held on July 13^th and 14^th at the Salem TCRC. The board accepted the bid from Hiland Dairy for milk products, IBC Sales from Columbia for bread, diesel fuel from MFA, and Integrity Pest Solutions for pest control. The board set the tax rate hearing, budget hearing and next regular meeting would be held at 6:00 on August 16^th at the administrative boardroom. The board discussed a resolution for a WADA transfer from Fund 1 to Fund 4 of over $507,000. This was an increase from the earlier decision by the board that allowed them to transfer 5% or about $384,000 to Fund 4. The Salem school qualified for a 7% transfer instead of 5% and the board approved the transfer of the extra money. The board approved the MSBA policy updates and accepted the resignation of the Upper Elementary School Nurse Desiree Terrill. The board discussed getting a new school vehicle for staff to use. Superintendent Carvajal said that currently the school reimburses staff 30 cents a miles for between 10,000 and 15,000 miles which comes to as much as $4,500 each year. Carvajal said that the school qualifies to receive the state pricing on a new vehicle. He felt that a Suburban would accommodate a number of staff at one time when they had to travel plus be able to transport small teams to competitions as the vehicle could pay for itself in about six years. The board voted 6-1 to allow Carvajal to get bids for a new Suburban with Jim McDaniels voting against the use of a car saying that using a school bus is safer and more economical. The board then went into closed session.

An accident occurred at 6:45 Thursday evening in Dent County on Highway 32 about twelve miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Audi driven by 33-year old Karen Boyd of Jefferson City failed to stop at a stop sign and struck a 2002 Ford Ranger driven by 60-year old Linda Mathey of Valles Mines, MO. Mathey suffered moderate injuries while Boyd suffered minor injuries. Both were taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Everyone involved was wearing a seat restraint. The Ford was totaled in the accident and the Audi sustained moderate damage. Both vehicles were removed from the Scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

Troop I, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, recorded zero traffic fatalities during the month of June. This is two less than June of last year. There were a total of 170 accidents with 71 injuries and no fatalities for June this year compared to 165 accidents with 104 injuries and two fatalities for June 2011. The total fatalities for 2012 are nineteen compared to thirteen for the same time period last year. Reporting were Crawford County with 32 accidents and seven injuries, Dent County reported 16 accidents with three injuries while Laclede County reported 38 accidents with 14 injuries. Also reporting were Maries County with six accidents with six injuries, Phelps County reported 45 accidents with 19 injuries and Pulaski County reported 33 accidents with 23 injuries.

Sports [TOP]

The St. Louis Cardinals had the day off yesterday but will start a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs tonight at Busch Stadium. Kyle Lohse will take the mound for the Cards against Ryan Dempster. You can hear tonight’s game on KSMO Radio at 6:40.

Jesus Montero finished 3-for-4 with a solo home run and four RBI to lead Seattle over Kansas City, 6-1, in the finale of a four-game set. Eric Hosmer hit safely twice and Chris Getz knocked in the lone run for the Royals, who have dropped eight of 10 overall. Will Smith (1-3) allowed four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings for the loss. The Royals will start a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins tonight.

Obituaries   [TOP]