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The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning. For the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6450, 6190, 6200 and 6370. Purcell also said that work continues on the widening of Dent County Road 5220. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2150 and 4330.  Larson also said that a crew would be installing a driveway pipe on Dent County Road 3220 and cutting brush on Dent County Road 3140.  Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he and the other Commissioners attended an Economic Stimulus Funds meeting in Columbia on Wednesday. Skiles said the main topic of discussion was on how counties can make energy efficiency improvements.  Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that there was a 20% turn out for the August 4^th Special Election. Economic Development Director Sharon Tubbs came by the meeting to inform the Commission of a vacancy on the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board. Tubbs said the vacant position needs to be filled by a representative from a rural school and would like to see the Commission appoint someone within the next two to three weeks.  The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 and that meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of July. During the month, they wrote nine traffic tickets and one equipment repair order. They served 23 summons to appear in court and three fugitive warrants. The Salem Police Department investigated 11 accidents, four assaults, and five domestic assaults. The Police Department also investigated 10 reports of stealing, four reports of property damage, three burglaries, a report of disorderly conduct, four reports for open containers, three reports of forgery, two reports of trespassing, one report of unlawful use of a weapon, one ex-parte violation, three 96-hour commitments and one report of leaving the scene of an accident. They also investigated one report of possession of synthetic drugs. The police received 1,816 calls for service during the month, handled 133 walk-ins to the station and redirected 88 calls to the animal control officer. They also spent four hours in court testifying and four hours as court bailiff. The calls in July included 14 calls for escorts, 14 9-1-1 calls, nine intoxicated driver investigation calls, two calls for a suspicious person or vehicle, two calls for peace disturbances, 19 ambulance assist calls, 11 calls for alarms sounding, six calls for fights in progress, nine domestic dispute calls, three calls for an intoxicated pedestrian, one fire call and two wreckers were needed. The Salem Police Department drove a total of 9,361 miles during the month of July.

Three Phelps County people have been indicted on federal charges involving a murder for hire conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced. Count I of the indictment alleges that between March and July 30, 2009, these three defendants were involved in a murder for hire conspiracy. Count II alleges that they tampered with a witness by attempted murder. Count III alleges that they solicited a person to murder Mikey Gresham. Count IV charges Roy and Elsie Cameron with soliciting a person to murder Jimmy Dean Seest. Indicted were 42-year old Roy Cameron and 59-year old Elsie Cameron, both of Rolla, by a federal grand jury July 30^th, on one felony count of conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities to commit murder for hire, one felony count of conspiracy to tamper with a witness, and two felony counts of solicitation to commit murder. Todd J. Busque, 32-years old from Newburg, was indicted on the same charges, but only one felony count of solicitation to commit murder. They are expected to appear in federal court next week in St. Louis. If convicted, conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities to commit murder for hire carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; Conspiracy to tamper with a witness carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; Solicitation to commit murder carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Reap commended the work on the case by the United States Forest Service, the South Central Drug Task Force, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, the Rolla Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Assistant United States Attorney Jeannette Graviss, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce August Chamber Membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 12^th at the Salem TCRC beginning at noon. The quest speaker will be Dennis Pryor Administrator of the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Lunch will be provided at a cost of $8. For more information or to reserve your spot for lunch, contact the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at 200 South Main Street in Salem or call the Chamber at 729-6900.

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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A Funeral Mass for Mary Louise O’Day of Harrah, Oklahoma, age 91, will be held this morning at 10:00 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Springfield. Interment will be in the Hazelwood Cemetery in Springfield. All arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary in Salem.

Funeral services for Paul Allen Light of Rolla, age 53, will be held today at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Rhea Cemetery in rural Rolla with Full Military Honors. Memorials are suggested to the Paul Light family.

Funeral services for Rose Ann (Krill) Thompson of Bunker, age 87, will be held Saturday morning at 10:30 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Bunker. Visitation will be tonight from 5:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Chatman Cemetery in Bunker. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Chatman Cemetery c/o Dina Houston of Bunker.

Funeral services for Dennis J. Watkins, Sr. of Salem, age 66, will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Carty Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Smile Train.

Funeral services for Flossie M. Zika of Edgar Springs, age 86, will be held Saturday at noon at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be from 10:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Smith Cemetery in Edgar Springs. Memorials are suggested to the Tri-County Center for Independent Living.

Funeral services for Betty L. Nelson of St. James, age 63, will be held Sunday at 1:30 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be Sunday at 12:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Asher Cemetery in St. James. Memorials are suggested to the Phelps County Hospice.

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