News
The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, Commissioner Dennis Purcell of District 1 reported that workers were removing a downed tree on Dent County Road 6080, cutting brush on Dent County Road 5610, and adding materials to Dent County Roads 4080 and 5100. He also said that two trucks were hauling brown rock. Purcell also gave the average road count on the south side of Dent County Road 6180 for three days and it came in at 1,496 vehicles. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said that workers would be putting up downed road signs and stop signs on various roads and that maintenance was being performed on Tractor #4. Both commissioners stated that workers would be checking roads to clean the leaves out of culverts and crossover pipes where needed. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he attended the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee meeting last Thursday and he is now the new voting representative for county commissioners of Region I. He also said that the committee approved the request from the Dent County Fire Protection District to change the $15,500 in accepted grant funds to upgrade radio equipment rather than use the money to purchase new equipment. He also said that he would be attending a Public Transit Planning Meeting at the MRPC today and he was also going to have to preside over two Public Housing Authority hearings. Commissioners Larson and Purcell met with Representative Jo Ann Emerson at the construction of the new Swiney Bridge near Bunker on Dent County Road 5680 along with representatives of the Forest Service, Missouri Department of Conservation, Great Rivers Associates Engineering and Widel Construction. Six pilings will be driven on each side and four more will be in the middle before the deck is laid for the bridge. Wayne Becker from the Dent County Sheriff’s Office came in and told the commission that repairs to the security system at the judicial building will come in at under $800 and there are more cameras up than before. The Law Enforcement Restitution Fund Board approved a request from Salem Police Chief Keith Steelman for $5,700 to purchase tasers for the police department, and the commission had to sign off on the request. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reminded everyone that the polls would be open today from 6:00 AM until 7:00 PM to vote, and make sure that you bring your voter registration card or ID with you to the polls to speed up the process. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.
The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Monday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. Alderman Jerry Randell was not present due to illness. City Administrator Clayton Lucas said that there were two proposals for the old Middle School property. The first was by Kent Nichols for his new company called Impressida Innovations. He said that this company is still at least two years away from doing anything with the property and no more than five to eight years away. He did ask that the roof be repaired so that no more water will come in, and that the building be secured from further vandalism as they would be interested in the property if that were done. He said that this company would consist of engineers, inventors and visionaries that would be developing new products to patent. Nichols said that the building structure is sound as long as further deterioration does not occur. The second option came from Dabicka Environmental and Demolition Services that was contingent on the city obtaining grants to remove asbestos and Brownfield grants to demolish the building. The company would then tear down one or all three buildings for the amount of the grants. The board made no decision on either proposal but will look into seeing what grants may be available. Mayor Gary Brown said that the sales tax collections for October were up over $10,000 for the month and year-to-date, the sales tax collections are up over $67,700. Alderman Kenneth Nash made mentioned that a number of the motorized wheelchairs are driving on the streets without a flag or an antenna. Police Chief Keith Steelman said that officers would try to inform those in violation of the ordinance on having a flag or antenna. Mayor Brown said that the Board would be meeting on November 15th at 6:00 at the Council Chambers to discuss the updated ordinances. He said that there was an incident with a tractor-trailer truck that hit a guy wire and broke five poles, tore down lines and more. Damages amounted to $3,063.17 in materials, $2,237.25 in equipment usage and 92.5 man- hours that will be billed to the insurance company. City Administrator Lucas said that the next Strategic Planning Meeting would be held on December 11th at 6:00 at the Upper Elementary School. The board then voted to go into closed session.
Ameren Missouri residential and business customers will pay lower rates for natural gas compared to last winter under a new Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA). The lower rates, approved by the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC), are the result of lower wholesale costs. The new PGA became effective on November 1st for Ameren Missouri’s 127,000 gas customers. Customers in the Rolla service area are expected to pay an average of $0.83 per one hundred cubic feet (Ccf) of natural gas, which includes the cost of interstate transportation, leased storage, and the natural gas commodity. This is down from last season’s average of $0.89 per Ccf. Monthly bills are based on the actual amount of natural gas used by a customer. The PGA reflects the wholesale cost of natural gas, plus the cost of transporting gas to the company’s system. The cost reduction is passed on to the customers, dollar for dollar, through the PGA without a markup in price. Ameren Missouri reminds customers that they can reduce their natural gas usage by installing more efficient natural gas equipment. Through December 31st, Ameren Missouri is offering rebates for a variety of natural gas appliances. Visit ActOnEnergy.com for details and information about rebates for natural gas furnaces and boilers.
An accident occurred at 7:05 Monday evening in Dent County on Highway 32 about twelve miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 Ford F-350 driven by 49-year old Terry Headrick of Osage Beach ran off the roadway, through an embankment, and overturned. Headrick suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital and was later taken to the Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. He was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford sustained extensive damage and was removed by Whitaker’s Towing.
Sports [TOP]
The St. Louis Cardinals announced that they have promoted John Mabry to Hitting Coach, after he spent the 2012 season as Assistant Hitting Coach, and that Blaise Ilsley has been promoted to Bullpen Coach following five seasons as the Pitching Coach for the Cardinals Triple-A Memphis affiliate. Mark McGwire, who held the Hitting Coach title the past three seasons, recently informed the team of his decision not to return in 2013. The team also extended offers to all the other coaches from last season for the same position.
Obituaries [TOP]
Funeral services for Goldie Lee Maylee of Rolla, age 72, will be held Thursday at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be from 11:00 until time of service. Memorials may be made to the Goldie Maylee family.
Funeral services for Eric A. Milton of Salem, age 36, will be held Friday at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Thursday night from 5:00 until 7:00. Interment will be in the Hanson-Easton Cemtery.
Funeral services for Lola Hermes of O’Fallon are incomplete and under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem.
Funeral services for Bertha Rainwater of Boss are incomplete and under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem.
Weather [TOP]
