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The Dent County Commissioners met Monday for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported sales tax receipts from the state in March were $80,444.92 which is $24,985.71 more than the money collected last month. The year-to-date collections for 2014 are up $15,474.23 from the same time period in 2013. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said patch grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Roads 2440, 2445, 6460 and 6470, while only materials would be added to county roads 5015 and 5080. Purcell stated that repairs would be made to the chip and seal roads 4110 and 4210, and one man would be screening rock. Commissioner Purcell also said that the county would need to seek bids for a brush cutter and they would need to be received by March 27^th at 10:00. Bid specs would be available at the county clerk’s office. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported brush would be cut on Dent County Road 3350, and road crews would be patching muddy spots on county roads 2370 and 2530. He also said that workers would be patching numerous chip and seal roads, and one man would be hauling brown rock. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that all three commissioners attended the South Central County Commissioners meeting last Friday. There were about 30 commissioners, and seven or eight county clerks that attended the meeting. He said that Congressman Jason Smith spoke to the group about the Ozark National Scenic Riverways proposed draft managements plan. He also stated that State Senator Mike Cunningham as well as State Representatives Robert Ross, Tony Dugger and Jeff Pogue also spoke to the group. Skiles indicated the county would need to get new plat books soon and bid specs would be prepared. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to register to vote for the April 8^th election would be Wednesday, March 12^th, the last day to vote absentee would be April 7^th, and the last day to ask for a ballot to mailed out is April 2^nd. She reported her office would be open from 8:00 AM until noon on Saturday, April 5^th for absentee voting. She went on to say the voting equipment would be tested on March 25^th at 9:00 and that is open to the public. Dent County Collector Dennis Medlock presented to the commission his Annual Collector’s Settlement for the county that total collections in 2013 were $7,178,814.74 with just over $785,000 in delinquent taxes and abatements of $74,602.26. All the distributions were also listed for the county in 2013 with the schools getting the bulk of the money totaling $4,753,800.97. At the last meeting, the commission agreed to seek bids for chip and seal for the county roads and those bids would be accepted until 10:00 in the morning on March 27^th. The commissioners also signed the sales agreement to trade in a 2011 420E backhoe for a 2011 430E backhoe straight up with zero dollars exchanged. Bryan Craig from Craig Technology Consulting visited with the commission about technology proposal for the Road and Bridge Department. The commission will seek more proposals and make a decision at a later time. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident occurred at 12:30 early Saturday morning in Phelps County on County Road 1000 about four miles east of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, 21-year old Jared Brown of St. James was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger west when the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. The accident was not reported until 8:16 that morning. An occupant, 16-year old Brandon Fraley of St. James, suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by ambulance. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Spugeon’s Towing on St. James. Brown was arrested later that morning at 11:44 and charged with felony leaving the scene of the accident that resulted in injury, careless and imprudent resulting in a crash, and failure to register a motor vehicle. He was taken to the Phelps County Jail and was later released.

An accident occurred in Phelps County on Sunday at 7:45 in the evening on private property west of Highway 68. According to the Highway Patrol Report a 2013 Zhejiang All-Terrain Vehicle, driven by 22 year-old Thomas J. Auxier of St. James, was making a left turn and struck a parked cattle trailer. Auxier sustained minor injuries and sought no immediate medial treatment, while a passenger, 23 year-old Joshua R. Mudd of Rolla, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps County Regional Medical Center by private vehicle.  The ATV was left at the scene.

An accident occurred at 5:39 Monday morning in Jefferson County that took the life of a Dittmer man. According to the highway patrol report, 27-year old Keith Christopher of Dittmer was driving a 2006 Yamaha on Route B just north of Simpson Hill Road when he struck the rear of a 1998 Freightliner driven by 44-year old Michael Ross of Rolla, who had slowed. Christopher was pronounced dead at the scene by Big River personnel at 5:57 and his body was taken to the St. Louis County Morgue. Both were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

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