Archive for 2025

The sheriff’s office released these reports for March, on Tuesday March 11th deputies arrested a 30-year-old Salem man on an outstanding warrant. Subject was transported to the Dent County Jail. The next day Wednesday March 12th deputies conducted a traffic stop on S. Henderson St. During the course of the stop, the operator was found to have a suspended driving privilege. A 25-year-old Salem man was cited for the offense. Later the same day deputies assisted the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office with the execution of a search warrant in the 45000 block of Highway 72 in Dent County. A 66-year-old Salem man was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold pending formal charges. Then on Friday March 14th deputies assisted in the investigation of reckless burning on County Road 4090. A fire had spread and caused damage to multiple dwellings & property. The investigation is ongoing. The following week on March 17th deputies conducted a traffic stop on County Road 2530. During the course of the stop, the operator was found to have a suspended driving privilege and outstanding arrest warrants. A 23-year-old Licking man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. Then on Wednesday March 19th deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 4400 block of N. Highway 19. During the course of the stop, the operator was found to have a revoked driving privilege. A 30-year-old Salem man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. If you have any information on an ongoing investigation, call the Dent County Sherriff’s office at 573-729-3241.

The following cases were heard March 18th by Judge Michael Randazzo. Beverly Woods was previously granted probation, over the state’s objection, in June of 2022 for felony possession of methamphetamine as a prior felony offender. A probation revocation hearing was held on January 22nd, 2025, where Prosecutor Curley sought to revoke the defendant’s probation for failing to abide by multiple terms of probation. Judge Randazzo delayed sentencing, over the objection of the state, and passed the matter to March 18th for the defendant to complete in-patient treatment. Defendant did not complete the treatment program and was sentenced to serve 7 years in department of corrections, as recommended by Prosecutor Curley. Daniel Manes was previously placed on probation, over the state’s objection, in May of 2024, for felony resisting arrest and 2 counts of felony possession of methamphetamine as a persistent felony offender. A probation revocation hearing was held for defendant using controlled substances and committing a new felony offense of forgery. At the conclusion of the hearing, the defendant’s probation was revoked, and he was sentenced to a total of 10 years in the department of corrections, as recommended by Prosecutor Curley. Sara Cunningham was previously placed on probation, over the state’s objection, in April of 2024, to multiple counts of felony tampering, kidnapping, resisting arrest and property damage. On March 18th a probation violation hearing was conducted where the defendant acknowledge she had failed to repay victim restitution, report to her probation officer, failed to report a residency change and failed to complete her treatment program. Prosecutor Curley recommended to the Court to revoke defendant’s probation and sentence her to the department of corrections, as previously recommended in 2024. Counsel for defendant sought continued probation in another treatment program. Over the objection of the state, defendant’s probation was not revoked, and the sentencing was delayed for Defendant’s placement into a designated treatment program. Joshua Skaggs was previously placed on probation for felony driving without a valid operating license, as a persistent felony offender. A probation hearing was conducted where the defendant admitted to multiple violations of his probation. Prosecutor Curley sought a 5-year sentence in the department of corrections, to be served. Counsel for defendant requested continued probation. Judge Randazzo order the defendant to serve a 7-year sentence pursuant to RSMo 559.115 (120-day shock incarceration program) and scheduled the case for review on June 25th, 2025, for consideration of release from the 120-day program.

Route 72 in Dent and Reynolds counties will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews wash bridges along the route. This section of roadway is located from Route A in Dent County to Route 32 in Reynolds County. Route 32 in Dent and Iron counties will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews wash bridges along the route. This section of roadway is located from Route 72 in Dent County to Route KK in Iron County. Weather permitting, work will take place through Thursday, March 27 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/southeast.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said grading will occur on Dent County Roads 4150, 4155, 6245 and 6500, while rock will be added to the roads where needed. He did say brush would be cut on county road 6240. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said a crew would be installing a driveway pipe on county road 2245 and rock would also be added to that road. Williams indicated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2370, 2700, 3120, 4350 and 4353; while rock will also be added to county road 6500. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said Ameren Missouri will be holding public hearings in April to increase the price of natural gas rates. All the public hearings will be at 6:00 and they will be in Cape Girardeau on April 14th, Wentzville on April 16th, and in Jefferson City on April 21st. A virtual public hearing will also be held on April 24th at noon or at 6:00. For all the details, go to the Missouri Public Service Commission website and in the search bar, look for Public Hearings.  Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the no excuse absentee voting for the Municipal Election begins today and the last day to have an absentee ballot mailed out will be Wednesday. Her office will be open for absentee voting on Saturday, April 5th from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon. Curley also said the voting equipment public test will be April 1st at 9:00 in the morning. Curley also said the Secretary of State’s office will be sending out RFQ for a new centralized Missouri voter registration computer system and she was asked and accepted being one of the ten county clerks on the committee. At the last meeting, the Commission agreed 3-0 and signed the Order & Ordinance of the Dent County Commission 3/20/25 adopting the procedures to carry out the purposes and intent of the referendum held on November 5, 2024, in the General Election authorizing a property tax credit pursuant to Senate Bill 190 and 756, known as a “homestead credit.” The Commission also agreed 3-0 to sign Resolution 3/20/25 in support of state funding to assist the SB40 board with the rebuilding of the sheltered workshop in Salem. Jay Stabler with Custom Home Elevators of St Louis came in to visit. He talked about a stair lift, but the Commission will have to get with the Fire Chief to see if that is going to work and not a fire hazard. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting will be open to the public.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will meet this evening at 7:00 in the Hospital Library. The call to order and roll call will be followed by the approval of the agenda. Public comments and presentation will be heard, and speakers must sign in and are limited to 3-minute time limit. The minutes of the February 25th meeting will be approved followed by the CEO Report. The Hospital Report including the summary of operation, which will include the approval of the monthly financial, the Chief Nursing Report, the Human Services Report, and the Quality Improvement/Risk Management Report. The Chief of Staff Report will be followed by Old and New Business. The Board will go into Executive Session for discussion with legal counsel and personnel, followed by adjournment. Any person who would like to attend by telephone or electronic means should contact SMH Administration Office at 573-729-6626, extension 4005, to obtain access information. The regular session of the SMH Board of Directors this evening is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 School district held their regular meeting Thursday evening at 5:30 in the administration building. After approving the agenda and consent agenda, Superintendent Dr. Nathan Wills shared communication from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Tammy Schmidt family, the Sue Tucker family and the Licking VFW. Dr. Wills delivered a comprehensive Superintendent’s Report covering numerous topics, including updates on FEMA building construction, the upcoming teacher and staff dress code, and the successful school bus inspection results from March 20th, 2025. He expressed gratitude to the Licking VFW for their generous $1,000 donation to the Salem High School Robotics team and acknowledged the contributions of the Agriculture Department and building staff. Dr. Wills also reported on current teacher openings and the closeout of the Construction Trades Block Development Grant, while announcing Dr. Blau’s appointment as the district’s representative for eighth-grade transition. During new business, the Board unanimously approved the 2025-2026 OPAA contract agreement, an out-of-state trip for Construction Trades/Skills USA, revised gate prices for non-conference activities, and the engagement of Mickes/DeBeer Litigation Group for legal services. The board also held a discussion regarding a Fireworks Display location request. Additionally, the board acknowledged personnel changes including the transfer of Amy Major to an Interventionist position and the retirements of Kim Cooper and Stacey Hall, as well as the resignation of Brianna Corkell. After concluding the public portion of the meeting, the Board moved into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters, before adjourning.

According to court records, 44-year-old Brian Ditch of Salem has been charged with the stealing of $25,000 or more, three counts of the unlawful possession of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence, and abandonment of a corpse. According to the Salem Police Department report from March 21st around 8:00 in the morning, Salem Police officers and Dent County Sheriff’s Department deputies conducted a search warrant in the 1200 block of North Main Street in Salem. Police say the search warrant was an extension of an investigation into a missing persons and fraud case. Authorities found a body at the property, and the Dent County Coroner Ben Pursifull ruled the person deceased. The body was wrapped in several trash bags and placed in a trash can which was then wrapped in more trash bags and placed inside a bigger trash can. An autopsy for the cause of death is underway. Another man is in custody on a 24-hour hold pending the application of the warrants. According to court documents, Ditch apparently was stealing from his uncle, who was a quadriplegic and who not been seen by other relatives since 2019. The court documents also reveal that the uncle was receiving Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits that came to $554,853 over the years. Those funds were being wire transferred to Ditch’s account as he had access to the money as the caretaker.

The Dent County Fire Protection District will host a town hall meeting tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Representatives from Dent County Fire Protection District board, along representatives with the bonding company LJ Hart as well as the Dent County Collector’s Office will be present to answer any and all questions about Proposition Fire. The town hall meeting is open to anyone who wants more information on the proposition.

Last Wednesday afternoon and evening, dry conditions and high winds sparked several wildfires in the southern part of the state on private land, conservation areas, and National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service lands. Even though most of the fires were contained by Thursday morning, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) urges caution as higher-than-normal fire-danger conditions exist across most of southern Missouri. Specially trained MDC firefighting teams from the region worked with the U.S. Forest Service and local fire departments to contain and suppress the wildfires. MDC is also mobilizing staff and equipment from other regions around the state to relieve staff that have been actively fighting fire for several days, including ones burning in and around the Caney Mountain Conservation Area in Ozark County and part of the Current River Conservation Area in Reynolds County.

Christopher Olds, Salem District Ranger for the Mark Twain National Forest, will be the featured speaker at the Dent County Historical Society Speaker’s Series tomorrow at 6:00 in the afternoon. The event will be held at the James and Gahr Family Center in Salem. A community question-and-answer session with Ranger Olds will begin at 5:00, providing an opportunity to meet Olds and interact with members of the Dent County Historical Society Board. Olds, who joined the Salem Ranger District in 2023, brings extensive experience in fisheries and wildlife management. Olds manages areas of the Mark Twain National Forest intersected by the Trail of Tears and actively works with the Cherokee Nation to preserve and educate the public about this historic route. For additional details, contact Dent County Historical Society’s President Deloris Gray Wood at 573-729-2545.