Archive for 2025

The Dent County Chapter of “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” will be holding their next meeting this evening from 5:30 to 6:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory’s Rotary Room. All volunteers are welcome and there are many ways to get involved. For more information about “Sleep in Heavenly Peace,” contact Patti at 703-964-6495. You can also e-mail Patti at patti.mckeown@shpbeds.org.

A one-vehicle accident occurred Sunday evening at 8:45 on Phelps County Road 2060, east of County Road 2090. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Pontiac being driven by a 46-year-old female from Rolla was traveling eastbound when it traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. The driver, who was not wearing a safety device, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Phelps EMS to Phelps Health. The Pontiac was totaled and towed from the scene by Tunes Towing.

The following general highway maintenance and construction work is planned in our are starting today and going through the 11th. Weather conditions may postpone scheduled work. Many projects will include lane closures which could cause delays.  All counties will have moving operations such as pothole patching, brush cutting, and pavement repairs continuing in various locations. Motorists should travel with care and be alert for slow-moving equipment. In Crawford County on Missouri Route 19 roadside work is planned from Missouri Route 49 to Edgar Road. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone. In Dent County Route 19 roadside work continues at Standing Rock Creek, south of Route N, as part of a bridge replacement project. Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures for the duration of the work, which is expected to be complete in May 2025. Missouri Route H resurfacing continues from Missouri Route 72 to Route M in Phelps County. One lane will remain open, and flaggers with a pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone. The project is scheduled for completion in May 2025. Route TT is CLOSED due to flood damage at Crooked Creek. Motorist must use an alternate route until further notice. In Phelps County Route H resurfacing continues from Route M to Route 72 in Dent County. One lane will remain open, and flaggers with a pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone. The project is scheduled for completion in May 2025. All work is weather permitting, and schedules are subject to change. MoDOT asks all motorists to buckle up, put your phones down, obey all traffic signs, slow down, and move over in work zones.  For more information about MoDOT projects, traffic updates, or other transportation related matters, please visit MoDot’s Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org or call their 24–hour Customer Service Center at 1–888–ASK–MoDOT (888 275–6636). While at modot.org, sign up for work zone updates sent directly to your inbox. Information is also available 24/7 by connecting with MoDot on social media including Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

The federal REAL ID enforcement deadline is this Wednesday. The Missouri Department of Revenue encourages Missouri residents to verify their driver license or identification card is REAL ID compliant before the enforcement date. A Missouri-issued REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card will have a star, as shown below, in the upper right-hand corner. A driver license or ID card that is noncompliant with REAL ID will have “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” in the upper right-hand corner. Applying for a REAL ID is not mandatory. However, individuals will soon be required to present a REAL ID-compliant document for official purposes including, but not limited to, entering nuclear power plants, accessing federal facilities, and boarding federally regulated domestic flights. Learn more at dor.mo.gov/driver-license/issuance/real-id/.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Jimmy Martin from Dent County Road 5323 was in to discuss washouts at his driveway and District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said he will be out later to check it out. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said crews would be out checking for washouts and clogged culverts after the intense rain on Wednesday. He also said glass will be installed in the backhoe if it comes in. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said his crew would be stockpiling six and eight-inch rock at the road and bridge department, plus another crew would be adding rock to county roads 4050 and 4055. Williams said some posts and signs will be put out on county roads 2500 and 2510. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson had nothing to report while Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the voter registration canvassing begins today. Her office will mail out about 10,000 postcards, which is required by the Revised Statutes of Missouri Section 115.179. This is done to assure the accuracy and integrity of the voter records in the jurisdiction. When you receive the voter registration card, if you have had a address change or have legally changed your name, update the card on the back and return it to the Dent County Clerk’s office by mail or in person. If the information is correct, no action is needed, and you can keep the cards for your records. The commissioners discussed selling the gazebo on the front lawn of the courthouse as it could be in the way when work on the courthouse sidewalks TAP grant begins, plus there needs to be some maintenance work done to it that was not budgeted. The commission agreed to accept bids on the gazebo until 10:00 in the morning on June 2nd. The commission has the right to accept or reject any and all bids. The commissioner also approved the memorandum of understanding from the Dent County Health Department submitted by Zach Moser for employee drug screening services for Dent County at $16 per test. Moser was in attendance in case they had any questions. The Dent County Commission will NOT be meeting on Thursday, May 8th due to it being Truman’s Birthday. At the last meeting, Healthy Dent County Executive Director Sherry Lea visited with the commissioners about the MRPC Annual Banquet proposal and what their thoughts were about some of the questions she had so that her proposal to the MRPC could be finished and sent to them. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) invite young anglers to learn about fishing and to fish for trout for free at Montauk State Park’s Kids’ Fishing Day tomorrow from 6:30 in the morning until 5:00 in the evening. Kids aged 15 and under will not be required to purchase a daily trout tag and can get a free trout tag for the day at the park registration booth from 2:00 to 5:00 on May 2nd or on the day of the event. The spring branch will be reserved for young anglers and stocked with trout throughout the day. Volunteers will be on hand to assist. Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Parents are welcome to help the kids, but only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. Adults are not allowed to fish by themselves. Fishing isn’t the only attraction of Montauk State Park Kids’ Fishing Day. Attendees can get free tree seedlings, watch fly-tying demonstrations, visit a mobile aquarium, and try archery on an archery range. There will also be drawings for door prizes throughout the day. Individuals must be present to win. Free hotdogs and soda will be served from 11:00 to 1:00. Volunteers are needed to help with this event. Individuals wishing to volunteer do not need to be experienced anglers. To volunteer or donate to Kids Fishing Day, or for more information about the event, contact the Montauk Hatchery at 573-548-2585 or Hatchery Manager Kyle Case at Kyle.Case@mdc.mo.gov. Montauk State Park is located at the headwaters of the Current River southwest of Salem. For more information or for directions, visit mostateparks.com.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board will be holding a special board meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 at the hospital library. After public comments are heard, the board will go into Executive Session.

Three cases were heard in front of Judge Michael Randazzo on April 23rd in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court. In the first case, Michael Scott of Salem pled guilty to a felony charge of driving while having his license revoked and not having insurance. Scott was sentenced to serve 15 days in jail as recommended by Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley. In the next case heard, McKayla Black of Salem who was on probation for two felony possession of controlled substance charges, had absconded from drug court. A probation hearing was held where Prosecutor Curley sought a seven-year sentence pursuant to Section 559.115 of the Revised Missouri State Statutes as requested by the Missouri Department of Corrections. Black sought continued probation. Over the objection of the state, Black was granted continued probation with an added condition to complete the New Sanctuary Beginnings Program. Also on Wednesday at the conclusion of an Alford hearing, Albert Terrill of Salem was found guilty of felony stealing and for driving while having his license revoked. Terrill was sentenced to serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as recommended by Prosecutor Curley. 

The Dent County Health Center will be holding their Spring 2025 Health Fair and Vaccine Clinic Friday, May 2nd, from 7:00 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon. No appointments are necessary. Dent County residents can get free basic screenings of blood pressure, height and weight, and BMI calculation. Rapid Heart Health Screenings are available for Lipid (Cholesterol) and A1C for $34.50. Expanded services will be available for blood chemistry for $3.80, a Vitamin D test for $13.75, Basic Thyroid test at $3.50 and Blood Counts for $3.00. Other services available include Free Rapid Blood Lead Screening, Free household item lead testing, plus free Narcan and free STD Testing. Updated COVID-19 vaccines will also be available. Information and scheduling for additional services will be available. No orders are needed for the screenings as the Dent County Health Center has a standing order for health screenings. In order to speed up the process, no insurance will be accepted. The DCHC is located at 1010 East Scenic Rivers Boulevard, across from Town and Country Bank. To answer other questions about the Health Center Spring Health Fair and Vaccine Clinic feel free to call 573-729-3106.

Saturday, May 3rd will be the Community Wide Yard Sale in Salem as yard sales will be occurring all over town and out in the county. Maps for the location of local yard sales will be available at the Salem Chamber of Commerce in the Crossroads. A central sale location will be held at the city administration parking lot on Saturday. You can still reserve a space on the city parking lot at 4th and Iron Street for $8.00 for two parking spaces by calling 729-4117 or stopping by the administrative offices. Those spaces are reserved on a first come, first serve basis. Don’t forget that the following two weeks in the City of Salem is the semi-annual GFL Residential Spring Clean-Up Weeks. This is for Salem residents only and is done on your normal trash day from May 5th through the 9th and again May 12th through the 16th. Remember, tires, appliances, yard waste, car batteries, oil, chemicals, solvents and paint as well as non-compactable items like concrete, tree stumps, steel, etc. cannot be picked up. If anyone has questions about what can be or cannot be picked up, they are welcome to contact GFL at 1-800-926-3953 of 1-417-741-7714.

MoDot has ongoing plans for road work in Dent County on the following routes; Roadside work continues on Route 19 at Standing Rock Creek, south of Route N, as part of a bridge replacement project. Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures for the duration of the work, which is expected to be complete in May 2025. Resurfacing continues on Route H from Missouri Route 72 to Route M in Phelps County. One lane will remain open, and flaggers with a pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone. The project is scheduled for completion in May 2025. Route TT is CLOSED due to flood damage at Crooked Creek. Motorist must use an alternate route until further notice. In Crawford County Roadside work planned on Route 19 from Missouri Route 49 to Edgar Road. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has provided the following press release. From January 1, 2025 through April 24, 2025 the Dent County Prosecutor’s Office, working alongside the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and Salem Police Department, have apprehended and detained 2 alleged illegal immigrants. Both individuals are the subject of Homeland Security immigration detainers. These detainers are issued by Homeland Security in connection with immigration removal proceedings. Defendants John Sanchez Merino and Josuel Morales-Valencia were each apprehended on separate criminal charges involving stealing and subsequently held in the Dent County Jail. Both were quickly transferred to Federal Custody for conclusion of their immigration proceedings. Prosecutor Curley went on to state that Homeland Security is taking the most aggressive action he has seen in his career, which is a direct result of the Laken Riley Act and President Trump’s Administration. The recently enacted legislation requires Homeland Security to detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. In addition, the Dent County Jail has been approved to act as an Enforcement and Removal hub for immigration detainees for Dent County and the surrounding area. On behalf of local law enforcement, Prosecutor Curley indicated, “We have zero tolerance for immigrants that have entered the country unlawfully, especially those committing crimes and/or creating victims in our community. We will continue to assist Homeland Security in their effort to stop illegal immigration. Illegal Immigration is a slap in the face to all immigrants that have entered this country legally.”

Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host its annual Junior Ranger Day at Alley Spring on Thursday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Area students and youth organizations are invited to participate in a day of environmental education, featuring interactive learning opportunities and live presentations. The event’s highlight will be a raptor program presented by the World Bird Sanctuary. Additional sessions will cover topics such as bats, snakes, large mammals, fish, wildfires, river safety, hellbenders, and owls. Activities are geared toward fourth- and fifth-grade students but are open to all ages. Schools and education groups planning to attend should RSVP by contacting Josh Chilton at 573-226-3945 or email josh_chilton@nps.gov. Participants should bring a picnic lunch and dress appropriately for outdoor activities. During the lunch break, attendees will be sworn in as official Junior Rangers. Alley Spring is located five miles west of Eminence on State Route 106. For more information, call 573-226-3945, or visit the park’s website; nps.gov/ozar/.

Warmer weather usually means an increase in outside projects that may require digging or excavation work. If you are building a deck, planting a tree, or completing a large project, Missouri law requires anyone digging underground to notify Missouri-811 by calling 8-1-1 or placing a locate request online at www.missouri-811.org before any excavation begins. The call will be taken by the Missouri 811 Call Center, which then notifies all relevant utilities in the project area. Once Missouri 811 is notified, utility companies will mark the approximate location of their underground lines, request additional information or advise you that they do not have facilities at the excavation site. Hitting an underground line can cause serious injury, it could disrupt service to you and other customers, and it could potentially result in heavy fines and repair costs. Don’t forget it is very important to contact Missouri-811 by dialing 8-1-1; or go online at www.missouri-811.org to place a locate request before starting to dig so underground utility lines can be marked. By doing so, citizens will help protect yourself, your family and property. Call before you dig. It’s free and it’s the law. For more information, visit the website missouri-811.org.