Archive for 2025

At the Dent County Commission meeting Thursday morning, Grant Wilson from Representative Jason Smith’s Rolla office reported Smith just wrapped up his 2025 Farm Tour visiting 23 out of the 28 counties he serves. He visited crop farms, dairy farms, cattle farms and even a tree farm as well as some businesses. Wilson said that after the Labor Day weekend, Smith stated Congress will be working on trade deals with other countries to increase US exports to those countries. When Wilson was asked about when the change would occur for the reduction in taxes for overtime and tips, Wilson said he believed that would be retroactive to 2025 as would the Social Security temporary credit of $6,000 per filer, $12,000 if filing jointly and both spouses qualify. The commissioners thanked him for his follow up with FEMA as FEMA personnel found the Dent County paperwork that was submitted, and they should issue the first round of funding in the next 60-90 days. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said maintenance was being done on a grader, while chip and seal repair work is being done on Dent County Road 5015 also known as the Doss Road. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be adding rock and grading Dent County Road 4290, while only grading was being done on county roads 4300 and 4310. He stated brush is being cut on county road 2300 and a crew is working on replacing an airline on a dump truck. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson stated new carpet has been installed on the back steps of the courthouse, and there was a report of water being heard running at the Annex. Larson said a plumber investigated and found there was water line going into the building next to the Annex that was leaking and Commissioner Larson asked him to install a shut off valve between the buildings to stop the water flow. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the courthouse would be closed Monday for Labor Day. She also said the new assessor, Alisa Brookshire, would be sworn in this morning to take over the position from Jamie Homeyer. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said the tax sale of real estate was held Monday and all five of the properties sold for a total of $2,974.74, but there were no bids on the mineral rights tax sale. She stated that those who purchased property at the 2024 tax sale should now come in and get the Collector’s Deed as one year has passed. VanKirk also indicated that real estate and personal property tax bills will be mailed out on Tuesday, November 4th. 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. 

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to plan for a safe 2025 Labor Day weekend. The 2025 counting period for the Labor Day holiday will be from 6:00 this evening, and will last through 11:59 Monday night, September 1st. The Labor Day holiday is a busy boating weekend. Before you take your boat on the water, inspect fuel lines and hose connections for leaks, and test the battery to confirm it is charged. When refueling, turn off any electrical devices which could create a spark. After refueling, open the engine compartment to visually inspect and smell for fuel leaks. Activate the blower system for at least four minutes before restarting the vessel. In 2024, there were four boating crashes which included two fatalities and eight injuries. One person drowned during last year’s Labor Day holiday. Troopers arrested six people for boating while intoxicated during last year’s counting period. If you’ll be on the road this Labor Day holiday, make sure your vehicle is in good working condition before you depart. Drive courteously and obey all of Missouri’s traffic laws. Remember to buckle up and pay attention as you travel. In Missouri, 17 people died and 498 were injured in 1,047 traffic crashes over the 2024 Labor Day holiday. This means one person was killed or injured every 9.1 minutes. Troopers arrested 110 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s holiday weekend. The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways and waterways. The public is encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Report Line (800) 525-5555 or *55 on your cell phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency on the water or on the road. 

On Monday August 25th Patrolmen #115 and Sergeant #105 responded to the 900 block of South Warfel for a stolen vehicle. After a thorough initial investigation, they identified the suspect as Johnny L Barton. The officers worked to track the whereabouts of Barton and with the assistance of the Rolla Police Department, the vehicle was located abandoned. Patrolmen #116 and Detective #106 conducted a thorough follow up investigation and located Barton and took him into custody, with assistance from the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. Barton was transported to the Dent County Jail and is awaiting formal charges. A Probable Cause Statement was filed with the Dent County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley filed a Felony Complaint in the Circuit Court of Dent County. The Honorable Judge Kelsaw issued a $50,000 CASH/SURETY BOND warrant for the following: tampering with a motor vehicle 1st degree, operating vehicle Without a valid license. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held a workshop prior to their regular meeting on Tuesday evening at 5:30 in the Auditorium at 202 N. Washington, to discuss a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code regarding vacancy registration procedures for abandoned or vacant properties within the city. Under Section 4, properties that are reported or appear to be vacant will be investigated, and if they meet the criteria outlined in the amendment, owners will be notified by the Code Official and assessed a vacancy registration fee at their expense. Section 5 specifies that fees may not exceed $200 per six months for residential properties, and $0.05 per square foot for commercial properties, with charges beginning in the second calendar quarter after notice is issued. Property owners will have 30 days from notification to file objections or appeals. Failure to pay the required fees may result in additional fines. The proposed amendment will be reviewed by City Attorney James Weber before being presented to the Board of Aldermen for a vote and potential ratification. Following the workshop, the Board of Aldermen convened their regular meeting. After approving the agenda and consent agenda, the board authorized several street closures: 5th Street, Iron Street, and 4th Street up to the Library for the Dent County Historical Society’s anniversary celebration on October 10 from 8:00 to 7:00 in the evening; 4th Street, McArthur, and 3rd Street up to the High School for the School Kickoff Parade on the Friday before the football game; and the road at the Al Brown fields, requested by Michael Conners, for a musical concert on September 13 from 9:00 to 11:00 at night. The board also appointed Carolyn Christesen to the Library Board of Trustees. The board then conducted first and second readings of several ordinances: Bill No. 3683, levying a 2025 property tax of 67.80 cents per $100 of assessed valuation on real estate and personal property within the city for general revenue purposes; Bill No. 3685, reducing fees associated with the Abatement on Consent agreement between the city and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, allowing time for improvements to the wastewater treatment system while maintaining compliance with environmental standards; and Bills No. 3686, 3687, and 3688, regarding annexation, and zoning classifications to a 14.36-acre property owned by Brady Adams into the City of Salem. All ordinances passed unanimously. In other business, the board approved a bid from Table Rock Alerting Systems in the amount of $88,900 for the city’s storm siren system. The city had previously applied for, but was denied, funding through the Community Development Block Grant and lost necessary funding from the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Program. The city had budgeted $25,000 for the project as a grant match, and the remaining $63,900 will be covered from prior-year funds. The board approved both the bid and the corresponding budget adjustment. After receiving reports from city officials, the meeting was adjourned.

Missouri Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers, businesses, and consumers that beginning today, sales of child and adult diapers, qualifying feminine hygiene products and incontinence products will be exempt from both state and local sales and use taxes. Businesses that sell any of the qualifying items under this exemption will report the sales as a negative adjustment on their sales or use tax return and will no longer need to report these sales as part of their taxable sales. Businesses and consumers can review the Department’s FAQs page for guidance on which products qualify, as well as other common questions: dor.mo.gov/faq/taxation/business.

Need fishing gear? The Missouri Department of Conservation works with your own Salem Public Library as well as other locations around the state to loan fishing gear for free. Loaner gear includes fishing poles and simple tackle box with hooks, sinkers, and bobbers. Worms, minnows, or other bait are not provided. Call the Salem Public Library at 573-729-4331 or stop by at 403 North Jackson Street.  You can find other locations that offer the Department of Conservation Rod and Reel Loaner Program locations at mdc.mo.gov/fishing and search for the rod and reel loaner program.

An accident occurred in Dent County Monday afternoon at approximately 1:11 on Highway 32 eleven miles east of Salem. According to the Highway Patrol report an eastbound 2005 Dodge Neon, driven by a 23-year-old St. James man, traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. The man suffered minor injuries and was transported by private conveyance to Salem Memorial Hospital. The Dodge was totaled and removed from the scene by American Automotive. The report stated that the driver was not wearing a safety restraint.

The Dent County Fire Protection District has announced the arrival of three new fire apparatus, fulfilling a key commitment made possible by the passage of the Proposition Fire bond initiative. These new vehicles represent a significant upgrade, enhancing the district’s firefighting capabilities and strengthening service to the community. The new additions to the fleet includes a 2025 E-One Fire Engine priced at $889,202; a 2025 Fire Master Pumper Tanker with a 3,000-gallon water capacity for $414,031; and a 2024 E-One Pumper Tanker with a 2,000-gallon water capacity for $467,007. These modern apparatus replace aging vehicles that have served the district for decades, including a 1995 fire engine, a 1992 tanker, and a 2001 tanker. The transition from standard tankers to pumper tankers provides the district with significant advantages, especially in rural areas with limited water supplies. Unlike traditional tankers that only transport water, these pumper tankers can both haul and pump water, giving crews more flexibility and power in fire suppression efforts. The district emphasized that these investments would not have been possible without the public’s support. Fire Chief Dennis Floyd gives the Dent County voters the credit as their support for Proposition Fire made these critical upgrades possible. Floyd says with this new equipment, the department can respond more safely and effectively, especially in our rural areas where water access is a challenge. The Dent County Fire Protection District extends its deepest gratitude to the community for making these purchases possible. The new apparatus represents not just an equipment upgrade, but a lasting commitment to the safety and well-being of all Dent County, the fire district, and neighboring communities with the help of mutual aid. To ensure accountability and transparency, all Proposition Fire expenditures are publicly accessible online at: https://www.dentcountyfire.org/proposition-fire.

The Salem Senior Citizen Passes are now available for all Dent County senior citizens aged 62 years of age and older! Get your pass today at the Salem High School’s Main office located at 1400 Tiger Pride Drive. Bring a photo ID to verify your age and claim your pass. These passes allow the authorized card holder free entry to Salem Tiger Sports home games during the 2025-2026 regular season. These passes cannot be used at away games or post-season games regulated by the Missouri State High School Activities Association. If you have any questions or for more information, contact the High School office at 573-729-6641. 

The Conservation Federation of Missouri is celebrating another great year for its “Share the Harvest” program, thanks to significant contributions from the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and MFA Incorporated. These generous donations expanded the program’s capacity, enabling hunters to donate more venison than ever before to families in need throughout Missouri. Share the Harvest connects hunters with local food banks by facilitating venison donations through approved meat processors. This year, the program saw a remarkable increase in participation, with hundreds of additional deer harvested and processed. The result was thousands of pounds of high-quality venison distributed to food-insecure Missourians. The program also helped mitigate crop damage caused by deer in some of the state’s top row-crop regions, benefiting both agriculture and local communities. Donating venison through “Share the Harvest” is simple. Hunters can bring their deer to any participating processor and choose how much meat to donate. With this year’s expanded capacity, the program provided more venison than ever before, delivering critical resources to food-insecure communities and addressing agricultural challenges in rural areas. Since its inception in 1992, Share the Harvest has provided nearly 5 million pounds of venison to families in need. The Conservation Federation of Missouri, the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, MFA, countless hunters, and other partners such as Feeding Missouri and the Missouri Department of Conservation have also played a critical role in the program’s success over the years. Share the Harvest exemplifies the power of partnerships to make a meaningful impact across Missouri. For more information about Share the Harvest and how you can get involved, visit confedmo.org/share-the-harvest or go to mdc.mo.gov.

An accident happened Sunday afternoon at 4:22 on Highway 19 about 14 miles north of Eminence that left two Salem girls with injuries. According to the highway patrol report, a 12-year-old girl was driving a Polaris Ranger UTV northbound when it went out of control after she made an abrupt turn causing the UTV to overturn onto its left side. The 12-year-old Salem girl sought her own treatment while the 13-year-old girl was transported by the Mercy EMS to Mercy St. Francis Hospital in Mountain View. None of the girls were wearing safety equipment. The Polaris was removed from the scene by a private party. The highway patrol was assisted by the Shannon County Sheriff’s Department and Timber First Responders.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 5040, 5045, 5050 and 5060, while grading will be done on county road 2460. He indicated crews would be replacing crossover pipes in District 1 as well as installing a new driveway pipe off of Route P. He stated rock would be added to county road 5510 where a soft spot is being patched. Green went on to say that work will be done on Dent County Road 6665 Wednesday morning to repair or check on a buried pipeline in that road. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported workers will be adding rock and grading on Dent County Roads 4050 and 4055, while only grading will be done on county roads 5330 and 5333. Williams said brush will be cut on county road 2080 and a crew will be opening culvert pipes on Dent County Road 3180. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the Missouri Department of Economic Development will hold an update on the Missouri Broadband Initiative this Friday to update the public on the current status of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind tax entities that their board approved tax rates are due in her office by the close of day this Friday. She also will be attending the annual County Clerk Conference in Kansas City in September and is asking Dent County businesses to donate an item to be part of a large gift basket that will be auctioned off at that conference. This is a way that she can showcase what Dent County local businesses have to offer to other county representatives around the state. Contact her office at 573-729-4144 for more information. The Commission then agreed to seek bids for lawncare and snow removal at the Courthouse, Judicial Building and Annex beginning October 1st through September 30th, 2026. Bids will be due and opened at 10:00 in the morning on September 11th. The Commission also agreed to seek bids to provide the courthouse with propane. Bids will be due and opened at 10:15 in the morning on September 11th. The duration of the bid contract will be from October 1st through September 30th, 2026. Further, the commission agreed to seek bids for the county Property/Auto/Liability/Error & Emissions insurance. Bids are due by Thursday, October 23rd and will be opened at 10:00 in the morning. Please contact the County Clerk’s office if you would like any information on the following bid request.  573-729-4144. 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.

General highway maintenance and construction work is planned in the area through the 31st. Weather conditions may postpone scheduled work. Many projects will include lane closures which could cause delays. Moving operations such as pothole patching, mowing, and pavement repairs continue in various locations. Motorists should travel with care and be alert for slow-moving equipment. All work is weather permitting, and schedules are subject to change. Many projects will include lane closures which could cause delays.  In Dent County on Route DD, pavement repairs are planned for until the 28th. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone. In Crawford County on Route 19, culvert replacement is ongoing through the 28th from Route 8 to Seven Cedars Road. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone.

In Monday’s Your World Today stories about the Salem R-80 and Library Board’s meetings and tax rate hearings, the tax rates did not include the “per $100 assessed valuation” clarification. The Salem R-80 Board tax is $2.75 per $100 assessed valuation for the operating levy, plus there is a 45-cent debt service per $100 assessed valuation for a total of $3.20 per $100 assessed valuation. The Library Board tax rate valuation is 30 cents per $100 assessed valuation. We apologize for the omission.