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General Manager Steve Batts of the Southeast Missouri Mining and Milling Division of the Doe Run Company reported that a worker was killed in an accident while scaling the mine roof at the company’s Fletcher Mine and Mill near Bunker on Wednesday. The Doe Run employee was later identified as 54-year old John Hoodenpyle Sr. Batts indicated scaling is a standard safety practice to check for and remove loose rock from the working mine area, when some loose material fell and struck the cab of Hoodenpyle’s equipment, fatally injuring the worker. No other employees were injured and the remaining employees were all brought above ground after the accident. The Mine Safety and Health Administration were immediately notified of the accident by Doe Run. Upon arrival, MSHA and the mine rescue team secured the area of the mine where the incident had taken place and began the investigation into the accident. All underground operations at the Fletcher Mine will remain suspended until MSHA approves a return to work. Hoodenpoyle had been employed with the Doe Run Company for four years.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. Richard LaBrash was in to thank the Courthouse personnel for their tremendous support of the Adopt-a-Veteran Program for the Veterans Home at St. James, which allowed the Sons of The American Legion to provide Christmas for all the Veterans at the Home. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done on and materials hauled to Dent County Roads 6540, 6633 and 6220, while grading only would be done on county road 5170. He went on to say that materials would be hauled to county road 4225 and brush would be cut on county road 5520. Purcell added that chip and seal would be patched on county road 5015 and that blades were being replaced on grader number 26. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said that brush was being cut on Dent County Roads 3180, 2130 and 2120, while materials would be hauled to county roads 2155, 2340, 2090 and 2080. He went on to say that a culvert was being replaced on county road 2340 and that culverts were being cleaned out on county road 2330. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he attended the CCAM Board Meeting in Jefferson City on Wednesday for the finishing touches on the program for the February meeting of CCAM. Skiles said that the CCAM Board discussed legislative issues. He said there was a good chance the State would add $1 per diem reimbursement for prisoners and that there would probably be some efforts again to increase the county sheriff’s salaries. On a positive note, Skiles shared a letter from DNR’S Missouri Heritage Properties Program informing the county of a grant approval for $31,224 towards replacement of the round windows on the third story of the courthouse. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reminded citizens of the 2015 Budget Hearing coming up Monday, January 26th, at 6:00 in the Judicial Building Courtroom. Curley attended the County Clerks and Election Authorities meeting in Jefferson City and one of the legislative issues discussed was the effort to close schools on election days. Safety concerns are the main issue prompting these efforts. Curley added that she balanced with the Dent County Collector and Dent County Assessor on all add-ons and abatements for December. The Commissioners continued their discussion relative to putting a County Sales Tax for the Road and Bridge Department on the April ballot. Skiles noted that a proposal must be to the County Clerk by 5:00 pm Monday, January 26th, if they want to proceed. Larson also brought up a budget change he needs to make Monday night for District 2. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in to share that the January CART receipts were $54,749.46, which is an increase of $2,945.81 from January 2014. Mike Elliott from Town and Country Insurance came in to drop off the insurance schedules for county vehicles and equipment, which reflects an increase of about 6%. Herman Vance, Access Specialist with the Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence, was in to re-evaluate the Courthouse and Judicial Building to see what if any changes had been made since 2010. The next meeting of the Commission is Monday morning at 9:00 in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

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