Archive for 2025

The tornado that struck the Rolla community has been confirmed as an EF2. The storm caused significant damage, with over 750 structures affected within Rolla city limits. An additional 150+ structures are estimated to have been damaged outside Rolla within Phelps County. Utility teams are actively working across the 

area to restore services, and they have a goal of doing so within a week. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is saddened to report a weather-related fatality resulting from a generator being operated inside a residence. They urge everyone to prioritize safety by never operating generators indoors or near residences. The damage across the region is extensive, and the recovery journey will be challenging. Citizens are being asked to please remain patient as response teams work tirelessly and to continue to check on your neighbors. Volunteers are still needed to assist with cleanup efforts. If you can help, check in at the Big Lots on 1001 S Bishop in Rolla, from 9 to 5. Donated supplies can also be brought to the Big Lots parking lot. Anyone in need of cleanup assistance is encouraged to call 573-415-9878.

The City of Salem Utility Committee held their regular meeting last Tuesday evening at 6:15 in the auditorium. After approving the agenda and meeting minutes, the Committee voted on services from Hometown Grid, which includes flex pricing of $3,000 up front, $10,000 to be paid in the first year, and a total of $7,008 for the remaining four years, plus costs for tests and messages. The funds for the upfront costs for year one will be pulled from prior year reserves and the costs will be included in the budget and rate calculations for future years. The committee approved this proposal, with member Harold Hamilton abstaining. The committee then discussed the Phase 2B sewer plant improvements with an estimated cost of $5.6 million. The City was awarded about $2.75 million in grant funds, leaving approximately $2.1 million remaining to be financed. Regarding the sewer budget and rates for fiscal year 2026, the Committee voted to maintain the base rate at $12 but increase the volume rate to $11.04. These increases will leave a surplus of about $2,600 in the sewer fund. That will help to repay the bond for the sewer plant improvements. A public hearing for the rate increase will be announced at a later date. The committee received updates on billing, net metering, and the MPUA and MMMPEP meetings. During his report, Public Works Director Steve Paine stated they continue to work with FEMA and that 72 more hydrants should be serviced this year, with the remainder to be completed in the next fiscal year. The discussion about utility policy changes and updates have been tabled and a special meeting will be held on the evening of March 26th at 6:15, and will be open to the public. With no major questions or comments from those in attendance, the meeting adjourned.

The Salem Police Department has recently released their report for the month of February. The department responded to 18 accidents during the month. Officers responded to four alarms sounding and addressed 51 animal calls, investigated two assaults or fights, a burglary, performed 13 well-being checks and 15 area checks in February. Police investigated 11 domestic disputes, five verbal disturbances and one physical disturbance, conducted 24 follow-up investigations and provided 16 escorts. They investigated five harassment reports, a parking complaint calls, an intoxicated pedestrian one leaving without paying report, three trespassing calls and four property damage reports. The Salem Police wrote eight stealing reports, responded to nine traffic complaints and assisted two motorists. Officers responded to a report of a suicidal person, seven suspicious circumstance calls, five suspicious person calls, and three suspicious vehicle calls. The Salem Police in February investigated two reports of shots fired, two sex offense calls, and checked out an abandoned vehicle call. Officers attempted to serve four warrants and conducted 41 traffic stops during the month. The police responded to a total of 351 incidents in February with the average response time to calls being two minutes and three seconds. The average time spent on the scene was 32 minutes and 41 seconds. If you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation, contact the Salem Police Department by calling their non-emergency phone number at (573) 729-6550 or speak with them in person at 500 N. Jackson Street in Salem.

Reports from the Dent County Fire Protection District and Dent County Emergency Management from the wildfire Friday in northeastern Dent County around Dent County Roads 4090 and 4060 indicate that two homes were destroyed, four vehicles were burned, and two outbuildings were lost. There were no injuries or fatalities reported. It is thought the approximate size of this fire was around 750 acres. Numerous responders assisted with the fighting of the fire included members of the Dent County Fire Protection District, Lenox Rural Fire Department, Jadwin Volunteer Fire Department, Montauk Rural Fire Department, the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri Department of Conservation. Numerous citizens also volunteered their services to assist the firefighters, and according to Dent County Emergency Management Director Derrick Marfitt, they included David Gray for bringing in a skid steer to establish fire lines, Kasey Hayes and Cordell Hornbeck for bringing water and setting up a rehab area for the firefighters, Dent County Fire Protection District Board Member Jeffrey Stokes, Jr for bringing in supplies for rehab and moving trucks for the fire crews, Gary Lay for bringing out his tractor, a family of Mennonites who brought over rakes and blowers, not to mention a number of others who offered their assistance if needed. Also assisting were off duty deputies, Dispatch Supervisor Whitney Capps for providing support to the dispatchers on duty, and City of Salem Emergency Management Director Chris Shell who was monitoring the dangerous weather situation approaching the area. The fire spread quickly by the intense winds and dry conditions and was finally extinguished following the rains that came through Friday evening that was part of the intense storm system that spawned a tornado that went through and hit the City of Rolla, the St. James area and rural Phelps County. 

The team of Brandon Semenuk and Keaton Williams took 1st place at the 2025 100-acre Rally in the Woods in their Subaru WRX ARA25 with a time of 1:29:19, beating the team of Conner Martell and Alessandro Gelsomino in their 2015 Subaru WRX Sti who finished with a time of 1:31:04 falling short by about 1.9 seconds. Finishing in 3rd place was the team of Ryan Booth and Nick Dobbs in their 2024 Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2 as they finished with a time of 1:39:43. The ARA wants to thank everyone the Park Expose and those at the spectator points for attending, as well as all the volunteers and officials that worked had to make sure this was a successful event.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5380, 5580 and 6580, while repairs are still being made to the Mantis brush cutter. Green said grading would also be done on county road 6590. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be adding rock and removing a tree from county road 5305, and adding riprap rock around a bridge on county road 5300. Williams said brush would be cut on county roads 4280, while rock will be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3300 and 3310. Grading will also be done on county roads 2330, 2340 and 5225; while additional rock will be added to county roads 5300, 5305 and 2240. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended the MRPC board meeting Thursday night and will be attending the South Central County Commissioner meeting this morning in Houston. Larson recommended and the other commissioners agreed to appoint Ray Walden to the Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation as a representative of Dent County. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the first day to vote absentee with no excuse will be March 25th, and the last day to mail out a ballot for the Municipal Election will be March 26th. Excused absentee voting continues at the courthouse until April 7th. At the last meeting, the commission appointed Troy Bemis to the Tourism Tax Committee. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00.

This year’s 100-Acre in the Wood Rally will start off today in Washington County and continue tomorrow in Dent County only. There were 61 entries as of Tuesday morning that will compete this year in one of the most popular venues on the road rally tour. The City of Potosi will kick off the event Friday at 12:00 with their Parc Expose followed by two spectator points at Stage 3 around 2:25, and Stage 7 around 6:15. On Saturday, the Rally moves to Dent County where the Parc Expose on 4th Street in Salem around the courthouse square will start at 9:30 giving fans another opportunity to see their favorite teams up close before the Rally begins. Saturday also provides spectators several opportunities to see the cars on course at full speed starting at Stage 10 at 11:30 in the morning as well as afternoon locations starting at Stage 12 at 1:28 which this year has an admission charge, stage 13 A&B at 2:14, Stage 15 at 5:03, and Stage 17 A&B at 7:34. Maps on the locations of the spectator points are available at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce in the Crossroads Shopping Center or you can also access the maps on the American Rally Association website: www.americanrallyassociation.org/100aw. There is no charge for the maps. The 100AW organizers would like to remind all rally participants and spectators that Missouri’s “No Trespassing” Laws and “Purple Paint” Statute are still in effect during the rally and are asking everyone to watch for those signs and purple paint on trees, etc. Please respect all property owners by avoiding private property and if a landowner does not want you to spectate on their land, please move to a new location.

An accident happened in Reynolds County in Bunker on Highway 72 Wednesday evening at 5:10. According to the highway patrol report, a 2014 Dodge Ram driven eastbound by a 74-year-old man from Bunker, failed to yield to a 2005 Ford Escape driven eastbound by a 17-year-old girl from Bunker resulting in a collision. The 17-year-old woman was transported by the Iron County EMS to Salem Memorial District Hospital with moderate injuries. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Department, Reynolds County Fire Department, the Reynolds County First Responders and the Iron County EMS. Both vehicles sustained moderate damages and were removed from the scene by Rowdy’s Towing at the request of the vehicle owners. The girl was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident while the 74-year-old man was not.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 at 202 N. Washington in the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the call to order, the agenda was approved after removing Resolution 7-2025, an ordinance authorizing the execution of license agreement for the installation, maintenance and operation of a fiber optic cable from Sho-Me Technologies, LLC to the Salem Police Department for the Next Gen-911 system. During public comments, a citizen stated she submitted a bid to purchase the lot next to her home, and that was approved but has been waiting several months for the City Attorney to contact her. The request from Jay Beck from The Local was removed, and the board appointed former Alderwoman Kala Sisco to serve on the Parks and Recreation Board. The Board voted to approve Resolution #8-2025 supporting state funding for the rebuilding of the Scenic Rivers Industries Sheltered Workshop in Salem, with Alderman Shawn Bolerjack abstaining. Additionally, they approved Bill #3646, which amends Urban Development Code definitions to replace references to “city hall” with “city administration offices” as the city’s operations hub, Bill #3647 to correct a clerical error in commercial electric customer demand meter rates, and Bill #3648 to clarify responsibilities and define “owner” for water and sewer meters used to determine actual sewage usage. In the first reading of bills, the board discussed Bill #3649 which would approve amendments to the Clean Air (Non-Smoking) ordinances to allow appropriate smoking locations for employees, plus discussed Bill #3650 and Bill #3651 that also dealt with the other definitions in the Clean Air (Non-Smoking) ordinances specifically in city parks and other public places. During city officials’ reports, City Administrator Sally Burbridge announced a mapping workshop scheduled for April 28 at City Hall, which will be led by an MPUA representative. Burbridge also noted that due to the April 8 election, the Board of Aldermen meeting that week would be rescheduled to April 15. Mayor Greg Parker recognized DNR members for their assistance at Montauk following the floods and their ongoing community support efforts. Public Works Director Steve Paine provided a brief utility crews update, while Water Department Superintendent Chris McGuirt reported on the Missouri Rural Water Conference in Branson, where the City of Salem’s tap water was recognized as one of five state finalists for best drinking water. The meeting then went into closed session to discuss contracts and litigation.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. Roll call was taken followed by the approval of the consent agenda and minutes of the April meeting. The financial report was reviewed and showed an ending balance of $383,614.53. Bills, payments, and statements were reviewed and approved, followed by the budget review and approval. The monthly reimbursement report was presented showing a total of 16 calls for the month and 56 calls year-to-date. Eight of the calls were for various fires, while other calls included medical assist and accidents. In old business the bond progress report was given by Leigh Ann Price. Information has been distributed to TownScreen and Salem Publishing, KSMO will be doing on-air interviews. Plans are to have a town hall meeting with the public on March 24th.  In new business board of directors’ terms were discussed. Captain Earl Jarvis asked to acquire some of the fire equipment that was budgeted. In the chief’s report brush fire trucks pumps are causing problems by working sometimes and not working sometimes. A pump from Leonx has been borrowed till something can be replaced. The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. Roll call was taken followed by the approval of the consent agenda and minutes of the April meeting. The financial report was reviewed and showed an ending balance of $383,614.53. Bills, payments, and statements were reviewed and approved, followed by the budget review and approval. The monthly reimbursement report was presented showing a total of 16 calls for the month and 56 calls year-to-date. Eight of the calls were for various fires, while other calls included medical assist and accidents. In old business the bond progress report was given by Leigh Ann Price. Information has been distributed to TownScreen and Salem Publishing, KSMO will be doing on-air interviews. Plans are to have a town hall meeting with the public on March 24th.  In new business board of directors’ terms were discussed. Captain Earl Jarvis asked to acquire some of the fire equipment that was budgeted. In the chief’s report brush fire trucks pumps are causing problems by working sometimes and not working sometimes. A pump from Leonx has been borrowed till something can be replaced. The date for the next meeting was set for April 8th at 6:00 in the library basement. Motion was carried to go into closed session where no motions or decisions were made.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters, trappers, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts they can get free copies of its updated booklets on 2025 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information and Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations at MDC regional offices, MDC nature centers, and other places where permits are sold. MDC’s 2025 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations booklet will be available at vendors and MDC offices beginning in April. View booklet information online at mdc.mo.gov using the search tool on the homepage. The handy booklets have information on related permits, seasons, species, regulations, limits, conservation areas, and more. Learn more about hunting and trapping in Missouri at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping and more about fishing at mdc.mo.gov/fishing.