Archive for 2025

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released two reports from cases heard in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court held Wednesday, November 12th in Dent County front of Judge Michael Randazzo. In the first case heard, McKayla Black of Salem, who was on probation for the possession of a controlled substance in the form of methamphetamine and fentanyl, had her probation revoked by Judge Randazzo and she was sentenced to serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as requested by Prosecutor Curley. In the second case heard Wednesday, Phylicia Tinker of Salem had her probation for possession of a controlled substance revoked by Judge Randazzo. Tinker will now serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking community input on a project which will replace the Dent County Route B bridge over Dry Creek in 2026. Built in 1939, the Dry Creek bridge is in poor condition showing signs that it has reached the end of its useful life, and in need of replacement. Currently, construction will require a full roadway closure for Route B at the bridge, with a signed detour. The public is invited to attend an open-house style meeting on Thursday, November 20th at the Salem Public Library, north basement meeting space located at 403 N. Jackson Street in Salem. Visitors may stop by at any time that afternoon between 4:30 and 6:00 to speak with project team members, view exhibits outlining the planned work and proposed detour, ask questions and leave comments. There will be no formal presentation. Meeting materials will also be available online. In addition to the public meeting, there will be a three-week open comment period running November 13th through December 4th. Input may be submitted online through a form on the project webpage, emailed to CDCR@modot.mo.gov, or mailed to 1511 Missouri Blvd, Jefferson City, MO, 65102. All comments must be received or postmarked by December 4th, 2025. More details are available about the project are available online at modot.org/projects/route-b.

There will be a Gilmore Girls Night Paint N’ Sip class this Friday night from 6:00 until 9:00 at the Creative Arts Center instructed by Danielle Norris. The class is being held in honor of the 25th Anniversary of Gilmore Girls, as the class will get reacquainted with the quaint little town of Stars Hollow! Paint one of two choices of either a famous landmark or a collage of mementos. The artist will take you step by step through the process. You won’t want to miss this fun night! The cost of the program is $30 and all supplies will be provided and you must be 13 years of age or older to participate. The class will be limited to 6 attendees and will be maxed out at 22 people. To sign up, go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center. For more information, e-mail salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetter ment.com.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds drivers to watch for deer, which are more active this time of year, especially during evening and nighttime hours. Deer behavioral changes will be occurring due to mating season, which may cause an increase in roadway crossings. Hunting and crop harvesting may result in these animals being in places they aren’t usually seen. Drivers are urged to remain alert. When deer are seen, slow down and proceed with caution. Deer often travel in groups – stay on guard after a close call or when you see one deer. Natural features also affect deer movement. In areas where there are streams or wooded corridors surrounded by farmland, more deer may be present to cross roadways. Remember: Rural areas are not the only place where deer/vehicle strikes occur. In 2024, 21.1 percent of the traffic crashes involving deer happened in urban areas. Last year, Missouri had 2,951 traffic crashes where deer-vehicle strikes occurred. One deer strike occurred every 2.98 hours in the state. In these crashes, four people were killed and 420 injured. The majority of deer strike crashes occur from October through December each year, with the largest number taking place in November. The majority of deer strikes occur during the evenings from 8 to 9. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds drivers that an attempt to avoid striking a deer could result in a more serious crash involving oncoming traffic. Stay alert and make sure you and the occupants of your vehicle buckle up.

The Salvation Army will once again partner with Wal-Mart for the annual Angel Tree program as well as the Dent County Toy Drive to help local children this Christmas. Local residents have always enjoyed adopting a child, and shopping for clothing, coats, hats, and toys. Some families use this time of year to teach their children the importance of giving during the holiday season. The Angel Tree will be available beginning Wednesday, November 26th, through Saturday, December 20th. Sign-ups for families wanting to participate in the Angel Tree and the Dent County Toy Drive will be held in the afternoon on Monday, November 24th and Monday, December 1st at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory from 3:30 to 5:30. This program is for children from birth to 12 years of age. Parents must bring proof of child’s age and proof of residency (utility bill, birth certificate, report card). They must also know the interests of each child and clothing and shoe sizes. The Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit office hours are Monday thru Friday from 9 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon and is located in the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, 1200 W. Rolla Road, Salem, MO 65560. For additional information please call 573-729-8163 or e-mail sherry@salemcommunitycenter.org. The Dent County Toy Drive can be messaged directly on Facebook as well.

On Wednesday, November 5th, the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control arrested of 41-year-old Carl E. Swanson of St. James, in connection with a sexual abuse investigation conducted by the Troop I Criminal Investigative Unit of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Swanson with one count of Child Molestation in the 1st Degree, one count of Statutory Rape in the 2nd Degree, and one count of Statutory Sodomy in the 2nd Degree. Swanson is being held in the Phelps County Jail with a $250,000.00 bond. On April 28th of this year, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office requested the Division of Drug and Crime Control to investigate allegations of child sex abuse, involving former Doolittle Police Department Officer, Carl E. Swanson. At that time, Swanson was transported to the Phelps County Jail and placed on an investigative hold. These charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. 

The Missouri Department of Transportation’s Focus on Bridges program has advanced as a finalist in the 2025 America’s Transportation Awards competition. The project, which took first place in the regional competition, is now in the running for the top two prizes: the Grand Prize and the People’s Choice Award, the latter of which is determined by public online voting. The Focus on Bridges program was launched in 2019 to repair or replace 250 of the state’s worst bridges, most located in rural, agricultural-dependent areas. All 250 bridges were improved within four years, ensuring reliable transportation and supporting Missouri’s top industry – agriculture – while strengthening the long-term resilience of rural areas. The program was launched by a $50 million General Revenue investment by the Missouri General Assembly and governor. Additionally, MoDOT received an $81.2 million federal grant that allowed the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to issue $301 million in bonds for the program that would be paid back with General Revenue, also approved by the legislature and the governor. Voting for the People’s Choice Award is live until November 17th, and the winning projects will be announced afterward at the annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Each winning project will receive $10,000 to donate to a transportation-related scholarship fund or charitable cause of their choice. To vote for the Focus on Bridges program, visit: https://transportationawards.secure-platform.com/a/gallery/rounds/44/vote/5138. Individuals can cast a vote each day until voting closes.

The Catch and Release Trout season in Missouri begins Friday, November 14th and goes through February 9th, 2026. The second Friday in November marks the opening of the annual winter “Catch and Release” no creel trout season at Montauk State Park as well as Meramec Spring Park, Bennett Spring State Park and Roaring River State Park. Fishing is allowed Friday through Monday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For more information about the services available at the Dorman L. Steelman Lodge restaurant and motel, snack bar, and store, call 573-548-2201.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. Dent County Emergency Management Director Derrick Marfitt told the commission one out of nine of the FEMA Projects submitted has been funded and that is the low water crossing guard rails on Dent County Road 3220, better known as the Golf Course Road. FEMA will pay $12,976.85 of the cost and SEMA will be paying $1,739.24. That money will be going into the Road and Bridge Fund. The total cost of that project as determined by FEMA was $17,394.20. The county will be responsible for the balance. Marfitt also proposed to the county to contract the Emergency Management Services to the Dent County Sheriff’s Department which is what Phelps County has been doing for the last 14 years, and Crawford County just started. By doing this, Marfitt said that if he should leave or be fired, the county would not have to start the process of finding a new EMD Director all over again which would also mean that all the FEMA projects already submitted, would have to be resubmitted by the new Emergency Management Director along with all the paperwork. As it stands now, if Marfitt should leave or be fired, Emergency Management Director responsibilities would fall on the shoulders of Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson according to state statute. Marfitt said this would also eliminate the double duties payroll issue as the Department of Emergency Management would be under the sheriff’s office and that EMD work would fall under the normal duties or other duties category on deputies’ paychecks. If the county commission wants to do this, Marfitt said the sheriff’s department would ask for $7,000 per year, and with the EMPG grant the county applies for, that amount could double if there is a Federally declared disaster. Marfitt said he has a sample agreement based off the Phelps and Crawford County contracts for the commission to review. The commissioners thanked Marfitt for his work and they will review the agreement. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in to report the sales tax receipts for October. The General Revenue and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Funds each received $95,409.96, which was up $8,253.29 from October of 2024. Year-to-date each fund is up $37,541.40 or about 3.7%. She said the Road and Bridge Fund received $47,704.73, and that’s up $7,205.78 from last October. Year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $51,569.56 and that’s about 10.7%. Williams reported each of the Jail Funds received $95,831.65, which was an increase of $14,412.25 from October of 2024. Year-to-date each fund is up $103,236.49, an increase of 10.7%. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk reported the county collection surtax and interest from March through October of $51,789.90 will be turned over to the tax entities. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said grading will be done on Dent County Road 5600 and brush will be cut on county road 5530. He also stated miscellaneous ditch work will also be done in the district. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported grading will be done Dent County Roads 2160, 2165, 2170, 2350 and 4380. Williams went on to say rock will be added and brush cut on county road 2150. Williams said he and Commissioner Green know the county is behind on brush cutting and hope to get that caught up. Presiding Commissioner Larson and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley had nothing to report. At the last meeting, it was reported that the 2007 county truck sold on Purple Wave for $9,108, the 2002 truck sold for $13,365 and the road groomer sold for $9,405 for a total of $28,878. Zach Moser with the Dent County Health Center also stopped by to update the county on the Care Cab and that they provided 120 rides in October. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Doe Run Maroon and Gray mine rescue teams took home multiple awards at the 43rd annual Missouri Regional Mine Rescue contest. Hosted by the Missouri Mine Rescue Association in conjunction with Missouri University of Science and Technology, Doe Run’s Gray team took first place in the field competition, and the Maroon team took second. In addition to the group wins, Gray team members Eric Click, Chris Brawley, and James Gamblin placed first in the first-aid competition, and Mark Barton and Sara Laskowsky earned first in the team technician competition.  Kevin James, environmental health and safety manager at Doe Run, said that the Gray team has worked very hard to ensure they are prepared to perform at a moment’s notice, and it showed at this contest. Doe Run is very proud of both teams and what they have been able to accomplish. The competition consisted of two days of separate mine rescue field problems: simulating underground emergency situations, a first-aid competition and benchman and team technician competitions to test technical troubleshooting of mine rescue equipment. Each event also included a written test to assess the team’s knowledge. Doe Run’s mine rescue teams train on a voluntary basis and compete in mine rescue competitions annually. The teams consistently place near or at the top at regional and national mine rescue competitions. Doe Run’s focus on safety is evident beyond mine rescue. Doe Run employees completed more than 48,000 hours of environmental, health, and safety training in 2024.