Archive for 2025

The City of Salem Administrative Building and Utility Office will delay opening until Monday afternoon at 1:00 to accommodate necessary system maintenance. During this time, the offices will be unable to process payments or conduct transactions, and staff will have limited access to internet services. However, residents may continue to make utility payments using the following methods: online payment portal by going to www.salemmo.com/city, automated phone system by calling 1-888-443-4087, or the drop box located in the drive thru. We appreciate the community’s patience as we work to ensure the continued security and reliability of our systems. For questions, please contact the Utility Office at (573) 729-4117.

Missouri State Fair Director Jason Moore announced that 62 youth, selected from Missouri 4-H and FFA State Fair exhibitors, will be awarded scholarships by the Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture committee. These students are seeking higher education at a university or college of their choice and will be recognized on April 24th during the annual State FFA Convention in Columbia. Scholarship applicants were evaluated in a variety of areas including Missouri State Fair participation, grade point average, community involvement and leadership roles. Since 1992, the Youth in Agriculture committee has now awarded 941 scholarships totaling $1,190,250. The scholarships are funded through the generosity of Youth in Agriculture sponsors and buyers of the livestock sold during the annual Sale of Champions; and the sponsors and buyers list is available online. A portion of each animal’s total sale value is allocated to the scholarship program. Chosen to receive a $1,750 scholarship, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture supporters, is Raymond Cunningham of Salem. The Youth in Agriculture committee is comprised of volunteers from across the state who work throughout the year to raise funds for the annual Sale of Champions auction and scholarships. 

The Dent County Prosecutor’s Office has issued a notice to all deer and turkey hunters for this season. Whether using a traditional paper permit or the MO hunting app, hunters must notch their permit immediately after harvesting a deer or turkey and then tele-check their harvest. To notch a paper permit, hunters should tear a small notch in the month and day of harvest on the permit. To notch a permit using the MO Hunting app, hunters should select the permit they wish  to use from the list in the app and follow the short prompts on the screen. Once the permit is notched, hunters may transport their deer or turkey within Missouri. Carcass movement regulations apply in CWD management Zone counties. As long as hunters stay with their harvested game, they don’t need to tag it, but if they leave their deer or turkey, they must attach a tag. Hunters with paper permits can simply attach their notched permit to the deer or turkey. It is recommended to seal the permit in a zip-top bag and attach the bag with a string, wire, or tape. Hunters using the MO Hunting app must attach a label with their full name, address, permit number, and date of harvest to the deer or turkey. All deer or turkey must be telechecked by 10:00 pm on the day of harvest, before processing the game, or before leaving the state, whichever comes first. After the deer or turkey has been telechecked, it may be processed, stored, or transported by anyone as long as it is labeled with the hunter’s full name, address, date taken, and Telecheck confirmation number.

Mayor Greg Parker called a special meeting of the Board of Alderman for Thursday evening at 6:00 in the old City Hall Auditorium located at 202 N. Washington Street. After roll call and approval of the agenda they will go into closed session pursuant to Section 610.021. Then they will adjourn.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station.  Roll call was taken followed by the approval of the consent agenda and minutes of the March meeting. Bills, payments, and statements were reviewed and approved, followed by the budget review and approval. The monthly reimbursement report was presented showing a total of 44 calls for the month and 100 year-to-date. Thirty-one of the calls were for various fires, while other calls included 4 medical assist, 2 motor vehicle accidents, and 2 other types of incidents. In old business Director Price stated the DCFPD board wanted to thank all that voted for Prop Fire and all the hard work from everyone involved. In new business CD Investments, Director Stokes reported on CD interest rates. Town & Country had the best rate on a 7-month Term CD of 4.37%. A motion was made to invest $30,000.00 in the Term CD was seconded and carried. In the chief’s report Chief Floyd presented a bid from Hoffcomp for turnout gear at $3,619.00 per person for a total of $ 10, 857.00 for 3 sets. The board asked for more bids. The goal is to bring turnout gear up to 2 per firefighter to comply with NFPA guidelines. The Chief also presented a bid for a skid unit for $23,995.00. He is currently waiting on more bids to come in. The date for the next meeting was set for Wednesday May 14th at 6:00 at DCFPD. Motion was made to go into closed session. In closed session James Hodges was interviewed, and a roll call vote was held to accept Hodges as a Probationary Firefighter with the department. The motion carried for acceptance.

The Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks in Springfield. The regional affiliate was formed in 2010. Its 12-member board includes representation from each of the eight Meramec counties and from MRPC. Jared Niederer of Gasconade County serves as chairman of MRCF. Recently board vacancies were filled in Crawford, Dent and Phelps counties. Roger Louderman of Bourbon will serve as the Crawford County representative; Ray Walden of Salem will fill the open Dent County slot, and Phelps County Associate Commissioner Sherry Stites will represent Phelps County on the board. Currently, MRCF has 50 funds totaling over $4.4 million. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is a public foundation serving the Missouri Ozarks. The foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region through resource development, community grant-making, collaborations and public leadership. Formed in 1973, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks has since grown to include 55 affiliate community foundations and more than 3,500 charitable funds totaling approximately $526 million in assets, as of March 2025. MRCF was the first affiliate fund in 2010. The MRPC, in addition to establishing the regional foundation and providing the initial investment to create a grant program, provides staff support to MRCF. For more information about MRCF, contact Bonnie Prigge at bprigge@meramecregion.org or call 573-265-2993.

A municipal election was held yesterday, in Dent County. A total of 991 voters cast their ballots for 15.32% of the 6,470 registered voters. Below are are the unofficial results of challenged races for Dent county:            * Indicates winners 

BUNKER R-III SCHOOL DIRECTORS: 

Nancy Amaral* 29 votes
Brandon Houston 8 votes
Kenneth Cook 14 votes
Ashlee Ingold 13 votes
David Hill Jr. 13 votes

DENT COUNTY FPD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Leigh Ann Price 510 votes
Elizabeth A. Gruendel 397 votes
Jeff Stokes Jr.* 527 votes
John Knight 452 votes

DENT COUNTY FPD PROPOSITION FIRE

Yes* 576 votes
No 329 votes 

SALEM EASTWARD ALDERMAN-2 YEAR TERM

Rick Letchworth* 159 votes 

SALEM EAST WARD ALDERMAN – UNEXPIRED TERM

Nathan Kinsey* 107 votes
Steve Evrard 84 votes

SALEM WEST WARD ALDERMAN 

Roger Brooks 95 votes
John Whelan* 111 votes
Brent Klapperich 39 votes

The City of Salem’s Utility Committee Chair Alderwoman Catherine Dent has called a meeting for this evening at 6:15 at the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the Roll Call and Approval of the Agenda will be the approval of the minutes of the March 12th meeting. Reports will be presented on Billing Updates and Work reports from Utility Crews. The Draft Budget for electric will be reviewed followed by electric rate review. The Draft Budget for water will be reviewed followed by water rate review. The meeting will then be adjourned. The meeting of the City of Salem’s Utility Committee is open to the public. 

The Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks in Springfield. The regional affiliate was formed in 2010. Its 12-member board includes representation from each of the eight Meramec counties and from MRPC. Jared Niederer of Gasconade County serves as chairman of MRCF. Recently board vacancies were filled in Crawford, Dent and Phelps counties. Roger Louderman of Bourbon will serve as the Crawford County representative; Ray Walden of Salem will fill the open Dent County slot, and Phelps County Associate Commissioner Sherry Stites will represent Phelps County on the board. Currently, MRCF has 50 funds totaling over $4.4 million. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is a public foundation serving the Missouri Ozarks. The foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region through resource development, community grant-making, collaborations and public leadership. Formed in 1973, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks has since grown to include 55 affiliate community foundations and more than 3,500 charitable funds totaling approximately $526 million in assets, as of March 2025. MRCF was the first affiliate fund in 2010. The MRPC, in addition to establishing the regional foundation and providing the initial investment to create a grant program, provides staff support to MRCF. For more information about MRCF, contact Bonnie Prigge at bprigge@meramecregion.org or call 573-265-2993.