Archive for 2025

The Dent County 4-H and FFA Expo kicks off Tuesday, July 16th at The Commons with the setting up of the Exhibit Entries. Those entries will be judged starting Wednesday morning, July 17th at 10:00. Wednesday evening at 6:00 will be the Dessert Auction. Entry forms are available at the Dent County Extension Office or call them at 573-729-3196 and they can e-mail you an entry form. Dessert items must be brought in between 3:00 and 5:00 to the multi-purpose building at The Commons that Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday, July 17th, livestock registration will be from 9:30 until 11:30 and all livestock MUST be in place by 11:00. Weigh-ins are scheduled to start at 12:00 with the Small Animal Show beginning at 3:00. The “Pig Pals” practice will be at 4:00 with the show to follow at 5:00. The exhibitor and family supper will be held at 6:00. On Friday, July 18th, the shows will kick off at 7:00 in the morning with the hog show, followed by the Sheep and Goat Show. The Beef and Dairy Show will start at 2:00 Friday afternoon followed by the Buyer’s supper at 6:30. Saturday morning, July 19th, the highlight of the Expo will be the 4-H and FFA Market Sale which will begin at 9:00. The auction will be carried live on KSMO Radio (AM 1340 and FM 95.7) and also live streamed on KSMO Media (ksmoradio.com, KSMO Stream Facebook and the KSMO YouTube Channel.) For additional information contact the Dent County Extension office at (573) 729-3196.

The countdown to the 2025 Missouri State Fair is on, and organisers are encouraging Missourians to take advantage of advance ticket deals and a packed entertainment lineup. The Fair runs August 7th through 17th in Sedalia. Advance admission and carnival tickets are available now through August 6th, offering significant savings for fairgoers. Adult admission tickets are priced at twelve dollars in advance which is a three dollar savings. Unlimited carnival wristbands tickets are available in advance for twenty-five dollars, a . A bundled “Daily Deal” option, which includes admission and unlimited rides for one day, is available for thirty-seven dollars, a savings of eighteen dollars. During the 11-day Fair, regular-price tickets and daily specials will also be available. Full details can be found on the Missouri State Fair website at mostatefair.com. This year’s State Fair Grandstand, presented by CFM Insurance, will host eight concerts, two tractor pulls, and one auto race. Concert highlights include: Wynonna Judd with The War and Treaty on opening night, August 7th. Followed by Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms, and Spin Doctors on August 8th, Oliver Anthony with Davisson Brothers Band on August 9th, And closing out the concert series with Jon Pardi and Karley Scott Collins on August 16th. Concerts on select nights will be followed by fireworks and drone shows, sponsored by Missouri S&T and VisitMO.com. All grandstand concert tickets are sold separately from gate admission. Children under two may attend concerts for free but must sit on a parent’s lap. Other scheduled events during the fair include The Governor’s Ham Breakfast on August 14th, featuring Missouri Grown foods and attracting leaders in agriculture and state government. Tickets are fifty dollars and include gate admission. For more information, schedules, and a full list of ticket locations, visit MoStateFair.com.

Interstate 44 nightly core drilling operations are ongoing. Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will be obtaining core samples at various locations between Conway and Rolla. Work is planned overnight, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, through July 22nd. Motorist can expect intermittent single-lane closures, both directions, and expect delays. Core drilling allows for a detailed examination of the layers of roadway and supporting geology below the roadway surface. By studying the samples obtained in the cores, the project team can make more informed decisions on design and material elements for future work along I-44. Motorists are advised to use extra caution through work zones, obey all traffic signs, and avoid any distractions.  For traffic updates or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit their Traveler Information Map.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said the crews will be grading Dent County Roads 6350, 6410, 6420, 6480 and 6485 while brush will be cut on county road 6460. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said two grader operators were out so brush will be cut on Dent County Road 2300. Williams reported crews will be installing a driveway culvert on county road 3090 and rock will be hauled to that location, plus crews will be doing patch work on county road 3210 over a culvert and on a low-water bridge. Williams went on to say that six large culvert pipes are being taken to Dent County Road 2500 for extensive work that will begin on Monday. Once that work begins Monday, Dent County Road 2500 will be closed until the work is completed. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended the Meramec Regional Community Foundation meeting in St. James at the MRPC offices on Wednesday. The MRCF’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the eight-county Meramec region through resource development, community grant making,  collaboration and public leadership. This meeting concentrated on aiding numerous Phelps County organizations with help from the tornado damages they suffered this spring. He said the community had raised around $100,000 that was placed in a fund at the MRCF. Larson stated that eight organizations received funding totaling $71,388 and they included Russell House which received $1,388; with $70,000 going to seven other organizations with each getting $10,000. They included the Phelps County Faith Foundation, Community Partnership Foundation, Phelps County Fairgrounds, Rolla Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Phelps Health Foundation, Salvation Army and Choices for People. Larson also stated the county received a letter from the state to help provide funding for the remonumentation of the established surveyed Public Land Survey System corners. The commission will be in touch with the county surveyor on this. At the last meeting, Collector Shannon VanKirk reported the monthly collections from June which came to $109,342.33. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday at the Fire Station at #2 South Main. The bills were then reviewed, approved and signed, showing a remaining balance of $363,879.20. The budget was reviewed and approved with only the firefighting equipment line item being over budget by 34%. The monthly reimbursement report showed a total of 14 calls for June and 157 calls for the year-to-date. There were four calls for fires, four for medical assistance, one utility problem, one hazmat call, one accident, one alarm, one agency assist, and one call was classified as other. In old business, the board discussed truck purchases, but that was tabled until the next meeting. The radio grant the fire district was hoping to get was canceled by the US Government. The board also discussed the old Fidelity tower lease, but that was also tabled until the next meeting. The board approved to allow the board president to sign the intent resolution for bond expenditures allowing the reimbursement to the Dent County Fire Protection District general fund for the expenditures paid from the general fund prior to receiving bond finances. The board also approved using the Bank of Salem for the payback of the bond service, and to use Progressive Ozark Bank for the items purchased with bond monies. Treasurer Dave Wells reminded the board the Tax Hearing would be held in August where the board will have to set the new tax rate, The date will be determined once the paperwork is sent to the department with the assessment figures from the clerk. He also said the state auditor form “C” will need to be filled out and filed. To get that done, the district will supply the figures from the clerk to L.J. Hart and Company to develop the levy calculations and available options for the debt service levy. Chief Dennis Floyd reported that truck #8026 was out of service due to an engine malfunction. The board heard quotes from John Knight and Chief Floyd on bunker gear and elected to go with Banner Fire Equipment Inc. who is a distributor of Fire-Dex products. Fire-Dex is a manufacturer specializing in firefighter Personal Protective Equipment, particularly known for its innovative and protective gear for first responders that complies with NFPA rules. The decision to get the dual compliance gear was made quickly in order to save $20,000 as the price will go up July 14th. Chief Floyd asked for an early reimbursement for Earl Jarvis Jr which was approved by the board. The next meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District will be Tuesday, August 12th at 6:00 at the fire station.

A Dent County resident was involved in an accident Sunday afternoon at 1:00 on I-44 at the 155.2-mile marker. According to the Highway Patrol report a westbound 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse, driven by a 60-year-old Salem woman, hydroplaned off the left side of the roadway and overturned. The woman suffered minor injuries and was transported by Pulaski County Ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla. The report stated that the woman was wearing a safety restraint. The Mitsubishi was secured roadside for later tow.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the following 2025 July Fourth holiday statistics for the counting period from 6:00 Thursday evening, July 3rd, through 11:59 Sunday evening, July 6th. Troopers worked nine boating crashes, which included four injuries and zero fatalities. Troopers made 13 boating while intoxicated arrests. There were no drownings over the Independence Day holiday weekend. In 2024, there were 10 boating crashes, which included seven injuries and no fatalities. No one drowned during last year’s July Fourth holiday while troopers made 12 boating while intoxicated arrests. This year on the roads, troopers worked 246 traffic crashes, which included 115 injuries and eight fatalities. Troopers also made 114 DWI arrests. During the 2024 counting period, 14 people were killed and 560 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,366 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 149 people for driving while intoxicated. The fatality statistics could change if late deaths occur, or if other departments report late fatalities.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the City Hall Auditorium at 202 N. Washington Street. After approving the agenda and consent agenda, the board made several committee appointments: Carrie Sutterfield was officially appointed as the new Economic Development Director, and Sherry Lea was reappointed to another term with the Housing Authority. The board also held second readings of several bills, including Bill No. 3673, which aimed to maintain existing electric rates but failed due to lack of motion. Bill No. 3674 was approved, amending section 700.090 of the city code to update electric rate structures. Under the new ordinance, commercial customers will pay a $12.00 service availability charge and $0.1308 per kilowatt-hour (KwH), with a minimum charge of $52.32 for 400 KwH or less. Residential customers will be charged an $8.00 service fee and $0.1276 per KwH, with a $25.52 minimum for 200 KwH or less. Bill No. 3675 also passed unanimously, requiring a demand meter for customers who have a monthly kilowatt demand (KwD) of 25 or more over the past 12 months. These customers will now pay $0.1240 per KwH and $3.60 per KwD, in addition to a $12.00 service fee. Bill No. 3676 was unanimously approved as well, providing Employment Incentive Rates for commercial customers that meet the program’s eligibility requirements. Under this program, they will pay a $12 monthly service fee, plus $0.0875 for every kilowatt-hour, and $5.63 for each KwD. All new rates are effective immediately. During the City Official’s reports City Clerk Tammy Koller thanked the cemetery staff for their continued work, and Mayor Greg Parker expressed appreciation to everyone who helped organize the Fourth of July festivities. Public Works Director Steve Paine reported on ongoing street repairs and reminded residents to call the main office for concerns with pavement repair. Parks and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois noted that the city pool is operational but Westport Pools has been scheduled to inspect the pump as it is running rather loudly. She also announced upcoming flag football sign-ups. Newly appointed Economic Development Director Carrie Sutterfield introduced herself to the board. Alderman Letchworth offered prayers to flood victims in Texas, and Alderwoman Dent thanked the community for their support of the Salem Choir’s Independence Day performance. The meeting adjourned to an executive session to discuss attorney-client privileges.