Archive for 2025

A fatality accident occurred Monday evening at 6:13 in Maries County on Highway 63 approximately one quarter of a mile south of Highway 68. According to the Highway Patrol report a southbound 2013 Dodge Ram 3500, operated by a 35-year-old Rolla man, crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2000 Ford F-150 head on, which was driven by a 69-year-old Vichy man. An occupant of the Ford, a 63-year-old Vichy woman, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Maries County Deputy Coroner Amanda Sanbothe at 6:59. The body was transported by the Deputy Coroner to the Maries County Coroner’s Office. The male driver of the Ford F-150 suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Maries Osage Ambulance District to University Hospital in Columbia. Both occupants of the Ford were wearing safety restraints, while it is unknown whether the driver of the Dodge Ram was. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Fast Lane Towing.

The Salem Parks and Recreation Board will be meeting today at 5:00 at the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the call to order, roll call and approval of the agenda will be the consideration and approval of the June 12th, 2025, minutes. The Parks and Recreation Director will report, followed by LWCH Grant Discussion, and Budget Update. The meeting called by Parks and Recreation Board President Carlos Lopez will then adjourn.

MDC invites deer hunters, landowners and managers, wildlife watchers, and others interested in Missouri’s white-tailed deer to an MDC Wild Webcast on Deer Management on Monday evening, September 29th, from 6:00 – 7:00. The Wild Webcast will include information about new deer regulations for the coming season, MDC’s deer management plan for the next decade, and MDC’s efforts to keep Missouri deer healthy. The webcast will also include new information on chronic wasting disease (CWD), epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), and how MDC is working with hunters, landowners, and other partners to keep Missouri deer healthy. Register in advance for the MDC Wild Webcast on Deer Management. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov.
The Creative Arts Center will be holding an art in the parking lot fundraiser event on Saturday September 27th from 10:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon at the Salem ONCRC, Creative Arts Center, and Farmers Market parking lot located at 202 South Main in Salem. Admission is free, bring your friends and family for an afternoon of fun! There will be vendors, food & drink trucks, the Ozark Heritage Student Art show and art sale inside the Creative Arts center, the Riverways exhibit inside the ONCRC, a car show outside Regine’s Common Kitchen, live entertainment and seating under the Farmers Market pavilion, various art demonstrations and free activities for kids, giveaways, silent auction items, and MORE!!! Designated parking will be available at the Fire Station and in the parking lot of the Brick House on the S-curve. For additional information, or if you would like to volunteer your time helping at the event, please email salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com.

Salem Memorial District Hospital is proud to announce that its Clinical Laboratory has received excellent results from its most recent Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) inspection. Surveyors praised the lab team’s performance, noting only four minor items—areas they said are often cited only when no significant issues are present. Brooke Bollman, SMDH CEO, noted that this outcome is a testament to the skill, dedication, and professionalism of the laboratory staff. Every test performed in the lab plays a vital role in patient care, and the community can be confident that those results are held to the highest standards of quality and accuracy. CLIA inspections are rigorous reviews conducted by federal regulators to ensure laboratories meet strict standards for safety, accuracy, and reliability in testing. The overwhelmingly positive report reflects the hospital’s ongoing commitment to patient safety and continuous improvement. Bollman shared that this success is about more than just passing an inspection—it represents the culture of excellence they are building at Salem Memorial District Hospital. She said that patients, families, and the community deserve the very best. The hospital extended gratitude to its laboratory professionals for their hard work and to the entire clinical team for supporting high-quality patient care across all departments. For more information about Salem Memorial District Hospital and its services, visit https://www.smdh.net/.

The Salem High School Track remains closed to the public through this Friday for cleaning, repairs, and resurfacing. The Tiger Trail is open to the public at the Salem Upper Elementary School at 1601 Doss Road as well as the Frisco Trailhead on 3rd and Grand Street and the Lake Ziske Trailhead located at the Shawnee Mac Conservation Area.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the City Hall Auditorium. After public comments, the Library Board has recommended for the Board of Alderman’s consideration that S.N. Ball IV become a member of the Library Board of Trustees. In new and miscellaneous business, the board will hear about four requests for community support funding from not-for-profit organizations that total $28,200 which is more than the allocated amount of $20,000 in the budget. The city received applications from Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the Fireworks Committee, the Dent County Extension and SACBA. The board will then discuss getting eight new HP elite Mini 800 Desktops for $7,744.00 with a three-year warranty, and also eight refurbished to replace the current laptops in the police department, all that have Windows 10. The board will discuss the annual contract with SumnerOne with the Laserfiche Cloud for $6,077.00 and also discuss the annual contract with Trumpia for the city texting service for $6,000.00. The board will also hear about the intergovernmental agreement with the Dent County Commission for lighting structures for the county’s TAP grant for new sidewalks around the courthouse for $25,000.00. The board will also hear three first readings of bills including Bill #3689 to create an ordinance establishing fees for dusk-to-dawn lights provided by the city; Bill #3690 to create an ordinance establishing criteria for determining utility disconnects during extreme weather conditions; and Bill #3691 to create an ordinance amending the amount of utility deposits for the city. After the reports of city officials, the board will go into closed session to discuss personnel. The meeting of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen tonight is open to the public.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson was not in attendance due to a previous commitment and Commissioner Keith Green was appointed as the Acting Presiding Commissioner for the meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Green said backhoe work is still being done near the creek in the Montauk area. He also reported crews will grade Dent County Roads 4160 and 6470 if road conditions allow, and brush will be cut on county road 5600. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams indicated crews will be working on low-water crossings and unclogging pipes. He went on to say brush would be cut on county roads in the Lecoma area. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported she attended her Missouri Association of County Clerks conference last week in Kansas City and heard from a number of excellent speakers. She also said clerks across Missouri are starting to prepare now for the elections in 2026. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said the Dent County Assessor Alisa Brookshire has verified the values for the Senate Bill 190 tax credits that will be going out on the tax bills in November. VanKirk wanted to let those who signed up for the credits know they should be getting an e-mail to let them know they will be receiving their credits. It is just an informational e-mail. 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.

This week is Child Passenger Safety week. Children rely on adults to keep them safe, in and outside of the vehicle, which is why it’s so important to include child safety in a communication plan. MODOT offers communication material related to child passenger safety, including car and booster seats, and pediatric heatstroke prevention. Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children. Every day in 2023, on average, two children under 14 were killed and 345 were injured in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles. A total of 700 children were killed in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles in 2023, and over 125,000 were injured.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their regular meeting Wednesday evening in the administration building located at 1409 W. Rolla Road. After approval of the agenda and consent agenda, Superintendent Dr. Nathan Wills shared a thank you card and provided a series of updates, including progress on the FEMA building, football field and track repairs, water leak issues at the practice field, the Career and Technical Education Enhancement Grant, and plans for a School Resource Officer. He also reported on staffing changes in the nursing department, the district’s teacher and staff recognition program, long-range planning for Upper Elementary and William Lynch Elementary, as well as roof repairs at Upper Elementary and repairs to the football field scoreboard. After the reports from administrators, the Board approved several motions in new business, including the district’s bus routes, the Intervention, Title, and Dyslexia Plan, and a contract with CTS for occupational and physical therapy services. The meeting also included personnel updates, with the transfer of Faye Parker from the middle school to William Lynch Elementary and the resignation of Debbie Baird as head nurse at William Lynch Elementary. The board then entered executive session to discuss personnel, student,  and real estate issues, before adjourning. 

The Missouri State Highway Patrol invites those interested in exploring employment with the Patrol to attend a Career Expo on Thursday, September 25th from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon at MSHP Law Enforcement Academy located at 1510 E. Elm Street in Jefferson City. In addition to the position of trooper, the Patrol workforce includes over 60 civilian career paths. Divisions with current openings will have representatives available to answer questions about positions and projects, employee benefits, and what it’s like to work for the Patrol. Currently, there is a wide variety of job opportunities located throughout the state. Employment opportunities are currently available in the Aircraft Division, Bomb Squad, Budget & Procurement Division, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Communications Division, Crime Laboratory Division, Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Dive Team, Driver & Vehicle Safety Division, Fleet & Facilities Division, Gaming Division, Human Resources Division, Missouri Information Analysis Center, Recruiting & Community Outreach Division and Water Patrol Division. The Missouri State Highway Patrol offers an excellent benefits package, which includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement and savings in the MoDOT & Patrol Employees’ Retirement System that includes deferred compensation and a cafeteria plan); vacation and sick leave as well as 13 paid holidays, flexible work schedules and more. Some positions also offer a teleworking option. For more information contact Captain Danielle Heil, Recruiting and Community Outreach Division, at (573) 526-7106, ext 1021 or Corporal Robert “Mike” Malone, Recruiting and Community Outreach Division, at (573) 508-9804.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson was not in attendance due to a previous commitment. Deloris Gray Wood from the Dent County Historical Society was in to update the commission about the 155th birthday celebration of the Dent County Courthouse. She stated the event will begin at 11:00 in the morning on Saturday, October 4th with the Pledge of Allegiance and the flag raising ceremony. She said there will be music by Southern Sound and Current River Bluegrass, classic cars brought by the Current River Car Cruisers, Air Evac will have a helicopter at the event, the Dent County Fire Protection District will have their new trucks at the celebration, and Country Mart will be donating 155 mini cupcakes for the event. Gray went on to say that Rick Mansfield will be speaking as a character of the time, Kent Nichols will have his documentary on Dent County’s involvement in the Civil War available, Liz Condray will present a history on the judges that have served in Dent County, and there will be art drawings of the courthouse. The event is free and open to the public. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said the concrete work to shore up some roads and repair low-water crossings in the Montauk area will be finishing up. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams stated chip and seal road patching with asphalt will be done on Dent County Roads 2200 and 3290, plus crews will use the Dura-Patcher to do repair work on the chip and seal road edges on Dent County Roads 3290, 3220, 3230 and 3240. Most of the edge work will continue into next week. Williams said those roads have already had their asphalt patch repairs made. At the last meeting, Presiding Commissioner Larson visited with City of Salem Administrator Sally Burbridge to verify the city has agreed to pay $25,000 for new light poles to put around the courthouse square when the sidewalks are replaced. She said the city is on board with the payment for the light poles for the project. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.