Archive for 2025

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will be meeting this evening at 7:00 in the hospital library. After public comments by speakers who must sign in and are limited to 3 minutes, the Board will approve minutes of the April regular meeting and the May special meeting, plus hear a FY2024 Audit presentation. Chief Executive Officer Brooke Bollman will present her report before hearing the summary of operations for the month of April as well as reviewing and approving the monthly financials. The Board will hear the Chief of Nursing Report, the Human Resources report, and the Chief of Staff Report. Old business will include the Election of Officers. In new business, the Board will get an update on a memorial and a shed. The Board may then go into Executive Session for discussion with legal counsel and consider personnel matters. The regular meeting of the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public.

An accident occurred Friday afternoon at 1:06 on Highway 32 four miles east of Salem. According to the Highway Patrol report a 2002 Peterbilt 379, operated by a 54-year-old Salem man, swerved to avoid another vehicle, ran off the right side of the roadway, striking a tree and a fence. The report stated that the man suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Salem Ambulance to Salem Memorial Hospital. The report went on to state that the man may be flown by unknown helicopter to Mercy St. Louis. It was unknown whether the driver was wearing a seat restraint. The Peterbilt was totaled and left roadside on Highway 32 at Dent County Road 4237 to be towed by Chris and Sons Towing.

The Finance Committee held a workshop Thursday evening at 6:00 in the Old City Hall Auditorium located at 202 N. Washington, to review the draft budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, presented by City Administrator, Sally Burbridge, and Finance Director Stacy Houston. The proposed budget totals $29 million and is balanced, reflecting a 17% increase over the 2024–2025 fiscal year. This increase is primarily due to grant-funded projects, which account for approximately $10.4 million in total expenditures. The draft includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for all City employees, along with merit-based increases of up to 1% for eligible staff based on performance evaluations. In preparing the budget, staff incorporated several key assumptions, including the adoption of a new employee health insurance plan and adjustments to the pay schedule to maintain market competitiveness with minimum wage requirements. After presenting the draft budgets for the different committees in the City, Houston noted that several of these committees have not yet convened to approve their respective budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports. On Monday May 12th deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 3800 block of E. Highway 32. During the course of the stop, a 43-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while suspended/revoked and other traffic violations. The subject was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was booked and released. Then on Wednesday May 14th deputies responded to Shawnee Mac Lakes for a report of a possible assault. During the course of the investigation, a 20-year-old Salem man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. The next day Thursday May 15th deputies arrested a 31-year-old Salem man on an active arrest warrant. The subject was transported to the Dent County Jail where he bonded out on the warrant. Later the same day deputies took a report for a fraud that occurred in the 200 block of County Road 3040. The victim, a 29-year-old Salem man, advised he was scammed out of over $9,000 online. The investigation is pending. If you have any information relative to these ongoing investigations, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced another extension of an allowance for heavier-than-normal truckloads of rock, sand and gravel on Missouri highways for flood relief, levees and other public infrastructure flood repair. The waiver allows private and for-hire motor carriers to haul up to 10% more than their licensed weight on Missouri highways. The waiver will remain in effect through June 30, 2025. While the waiver is in effect, participating motor carriers must abide by the following limitations. A loaded, gross weight is not to exceed 10% above the gross licensed weight of the commercial motor vehicle. The waiver applies to transportation of rock, sand and gravel only within the state of Missouri. Drivers must obey posted bridge weight limits. When crossing a bridge, the driver must restrict the vehicle speed to no more than 30 mph. Travel under this allowance is only allowed on non-interstate highways. Those taking advantage of the weight allowance cannot operate on any portion of the interstate highway system. Drivers can check the Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org for up-to-date road closure information.

Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at each of the five Missouri Veterans Cemeteries today. Each of the ceremonies will include a keynote speaker, firing volley, and a reading of the names of all Veterans that were interred in the cemetery during the last year. Missouri Veterans Cemeteries Executive Director Paul Kirchhoff said that being present at these Memorial Day ceremonies is a small way we can show respect and honor our military members and thank their families for their dedication and sacrifice. He encourages everyone to attend one of these events and pay tribute to these heroes. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was established as a day for Americans to honor those who were killed during the Civil War. MVC continues the tradition of honoring fallen military members with remembrance events at all locations. In South Central Missouri the Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Ft. Leonard Wood is located at 25350 Highway H, Waynesville, with ceremonies starting at 1:00. For more information about the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Waynesville contact Stacy Wilson at 573-774-3496. The Missouri Veterans Commission operates seven State Veterans Homes, five Veterans Cemeteries, the Veterans Suicide Prevention Program, and the Veterans Services Program. The Commission is committed to honoring and serving Missouri’s Veterans whose dedication and sacrifices have preserved our nation and its freedoms. For more information about the Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779 or visit mvc.dps.mo.gov.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters and anglers that squirrel, and black bass seasons is open. The hunting season on eastern gray and fox squirrels runs through Feb. 15, 2026. Allowed methods include shotguns, rifles, and other legal firearm methods, as well as archery equipment, slingshots, or atlatls. Squirrels may also be harvested with cage-style traps during the hunting season as long as hunters have a valid Small Game Hunting permit. Traps must be labeled with the hunter’s full name and address, or Conservation Number, be attended daily, and have an opening of 144 square-inches or smaller. The daily limit for hunting, including the use of cage-style traps, is ten and the possession limit is 20. Hunters must have a permit valid for hunting small game or be exempt. Get more information on squirrel hunting and trapping from MDC’s 2025 Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations online at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/4yJ. Need recipe suggestions? Browse squirrel recipes at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZcQ. Anglers may catch-and-keep black bass, such as largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky bass, through Feb. 28, 2026. Black bass can be found statewide but have a closed season part of the year in most streams south of the Missouri River. Black bass can be caught and released legally throughout the year anywhere in Missouri, and legal-sized bass may be kept all year long from impoundments and streams with no closed season. In most state waters, the daily limit on black bass is six. Fish taken from most rivers and streams must be 12-inches long. Additional regulations may apply to specific waters or areas. Anglers must have a valid fishing permit or be exempt. Find more information on bass fishing in MDC’s 2025 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations, available where permits are sold, or online at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/4yU. Find tips from MDC on cooking fish at their website, https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zrk.

A rural Dent County man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly firing an AR-15 rifle at two utility workers early Tuesday morning, injuring both, and later telling authorities he believed he was the victim of a conspiracy. According to the Dent County Prosecutor’s Office, 49-year-old Jimmy “Shane” Hoornaert was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, armed criminal action, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and unlawful use of a weapon while in possession of drugs. The charges stem from an incident that occurred around 4:00 on the morning of May 20, 2025, near his residence on South Highway 19, south of Salem. Deputies responded after Intercounty Electric Cooperative reported that two of their employees had been shot while working to restore power following storm damage. The men were reportedly sitting on a company ATV in a neighboring driveway when gunfire erupted. According to the probable cause statement, Hoornaert fired three rounds from a Del-Ton AR-15. The bullets struck the ATV, and metal fragments injured one worker in the knee and the other in the ear. A medical exam later confirmed that one victim had metal fragments embedded in his leg, while the other had a superficial wound consistent with a burn from a bullet fragment. Initially, Hoornaert told deputies he had fired the weapon “into the air” to scare off people he claimed were harassing him. During a later interview, he admitted to possibly hitting the ATV, he claimed the shooting was accidental and denied intent to harm anyone. Earlier Hoornaert also made claims, alleging that local residents used cloaking devices, night vision goggles, and even an armed child to harass him and steal his cattle. He denied recent methamphetamine use, though deputies reported dilated pupils and bloodshot eyes, and a urine test later returned positive for methamphetamine and amphetamines. A later search of his camper uncovered methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and four additional firearms, including pistols and a revolver with the serial number removed. Investigators also recovered large quantities of ammunition in various calibers. On May 20, Judge Nathan Kelsaw issued an arrest warrant citing that Hoornaert posed a danger to others. The court set bond at $500,000 with strict conditions, including drug testing and no contact with victims. Hoornaert appeared in custody within 48 hours and was read the charges and his rights during his initial court appearance. A request to reduce bond was denied, and Hoornaert remains in custody at the Dent County Jail. Charges set forth in a criminal complaint are only accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A bond hearing is scheduled for June 3, 2025, at 10:00 in the morning.

Memorial Day weekend brings Missouri to life with busy state parks, lakes, and attractions. Our state has a lot to offer, especially when the weather is nice. A little planning will go a long way to making Memorial Day weekend activities a success. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds everyone to include safety when they plan their holiday weekend. Everyone should expect more travelers on Missouri’s roadways and an increase in boating traffic on the state’s lakes and rivers. Drivers and boat operators are reminded to always wear a seat belt when traveling in a vehicle, and wear a life jacket when near, on, or in the water. This year’s Memorial Day holiday counting period begins at 6:00 this evening and ends at 11:59 pm., Monday, May 26, 2025. Every available trooper will be on the road or on the water, enforcing Missouri laws and assisting people. The Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) during Memorial Day weekend. Over the 2024 Memorial Day holiday weekend, there were 1046 vehicle crashes statewide which injured 486 people and killed 10 (Troopers worked 275 traffic crashes involving seven fatalities and 161 injuries). The Memorial Day weekend is also an unofficial start to the boating season. During the 2024 Memorial Day weekend, there were seven boating crashes which included no fatalities and seven injuries. No one drowned over last year’s Memorial Day weekend. Last year, troopers made 128 driving while intoxicated and six boating while intoxicated arrests. Motorists or boaters in need of assistance or who want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 (or *55 on a cellular phone). For road condition reports, travelers can visit the MoDOT website to view their traveler map, download the MoDOT app, or call 1-888-275-6636. Motorists and boaters are encouraged to do their part to make Missouri’s road and waterways safer.  You can follow the Patrol on “X” for the most current news @MSHPTrooperGHQ