Archive for 2026

An accident occurred at approximately 10:00 on Saturday morning in Dent County at Hwy. 119, near County Road 6660. According to the Highway Patrol report, a southbound 2026 BMW R 1300 RS, driven by a 60-year-old male from St. Louis, struck a deer. The vehicle overturned, and the driver was ejected. The driver suffered moderate injuries and was transported by EMS to Salem Memorial Hospital. The report stated the driver was wearing a safety restraint. The BMW received extensive damage and was removed from the scene by American Automotive. The Missouri State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and Montauk Rural Fire Department. 

The Salem Police Department (SPD) has released a report regarding a recent drug seizure and multi-county pursuit over the weekend. On Saturday, officers were conducting routine patrol when a patrolman observed a traffic violation. Emergency equipment was activated, but the vehicle failed to yield, resulting in a pursuit. The vehicle traveled at a high rate of speed and drove into oncoming traffic many times, causing other motorists to swerve to prevent collision. The pursuit continued through the city limits of Licking, Mo., wherein a Licking Police Department officer deployed a tire deflation device. The vehicle continued through the device. A trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol briefly took primary in the pursuit and executed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) technique. The technique caused the vehicle to go off the roadway, and two occupants of the vehicle were finally able to be taken into custody. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a bag of suspected fentanyl capsules with a weight of 5000mg. A bag of suspected methamphetamine with an approximate weight of 36g was also found. Both the driver, Jeremy McAfee, and the passenger, Robert Bell, were arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. A probable cause affidavit was forwarded to the Dent County Prosecutor’s Office. Assistant Prosecutor Weber filed a Felony Complaint in the circuit court of Dent County. The following warrants were issued by the Honorable Judge Kelsaw: For McAfee, aggravated fleeing, trafficking drugs in the first degree, possession of a controlled substance, and driving while revoked. For Bell, trafficking drugs in the first degree and five active felony warrants with no bond. The SPD thanked its partnering agencies including the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, Texas County Sheriff’s Office, Licking Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop I & G. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

On Saturday night, the Licking R-VIII School District released a statement that the district would be closed Monday for the purposes of investigation into a bomb threat. The public was asked by both the district and Licking Police Department (LPD) to stay away from school property until further notice. On Sunday, another update was provided by the LPD. The school buildings were thoroughly searched by hand with the additional assistance of explosive detecting canines. The update reported no suspicious discoveries. All law enforcement personnel ultimately cleared the scene. The LPD thanked the 180th Military Working Dog (MWD) Detachment from Fort Leonard Wood, alongside the Texas County Sheriff’s Department for its assistance and support throughout the investigation. The investigation remains ongoing. Charges are being sought in connection with the incident. For a confidential way to report concerns about students or school safety, visit the website courage2reportmo.com. The website is operated around the clock by the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC), a division of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and serves Missouri’s public and private K–12 schools. Visitors of the website can make a report anonymously about bullying, threats, self-harm, drugs, weapons, and more. A toll-free, 24/7 staffed hotline can also be reached at 1-866-748-7047.

No excuse absentee voting continues through Nov. 2nd from 8:00 to 4:30, Monday through Friday. The courthouse will be open for no excuse absentee voting on Saturday from 8:00 to noon.

The City of Salem Electric Department will complete a planned power outage beginning at 10:00 in the evening this coming Sunday, Oct. 25th. Crews will be replacing a utility pole behind Country Mart. Country Mart and customers in the Bay Court area will be without power for up to two hours. Power should be restored by midnight if work proceeds as expected. Customers along Main Street (Hwy. 19) and east Scenic Rivers Blvd. (Hwy. 32) who are served by Feeder 1 may notice two brief power interruptions (blinks in power). The first will occur when crews disconnect the affected lines. A second brief interruption will occur when crews reconnect the lines after the pole replacement is complete. Residents may wish to charge electronic devices, save computer work and make other preparations before 10:00. Anyone who depends on electrically powered medical equipment should make appropriate backup arrangements. If your power remains off after the planned work is complete, report the outage by calling or texting 833-703-4811.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green shared that crew members would be stockpiling rock and hauling rock to County Road 6090. Grading is also planned on County Road 6090, alongside County Road 5615. A grader vehicle is down, Green stated. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams shared that crew members would be grading on county roads 5240, 2155, and 3130. Crew members plan to haul rock to County Road 2130 and cut brush on County Road 5240. Tires will be repaired on a county owned tractor, alongside blades on a grader. Williams shared that on Wednesday he attended the Scenic Rivers Industries (SRI) grand opening and toured the new building at 1030 West Hwy. 68 in Salem. He also went to Dent-Phelps R-III with Treasurer Denita Williams where they discussed their jobs as county representatives with fifth and sixth graders. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson shared that he attended a Tourism Commission meeting Monday night, in which board members approved three requests and three reimbursements. County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills are to be approved, and that she is continuing to work on the Dent County budget for FY2027. For absentee voting, approximately 250 votes have been cast so far. Absentee voting continues through Monday, Nov. 2nd. For more information on the upcoming election, search Facebook for the Dent County Elections/County Clerk-Angie Curley Facebook page, contact the county clerk’s office at 573-729-4144, or email dent@sos.mo.gov. A public notice has also been given by Curley that there will be a post testing of the automatic voting equipment on Friday, Nov. 6th at 10:00 in the morning at the county courthouse and is open to the public. Treasurer Denita Williams reported that the county has received County Aid Road Trust (CART) tax for October 2026 with a total of $92,136.89 received. This is a decrease from October 2025 in the amount of $5,373.05. This is an increase year-to-date of $36,206.21 or 4.2%. Collector Shannon VanKirk also gave notice that tax bills are being prepared and will be sent out on Nov. 3rd. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be 9:00 Monday morning at the courthouse and is open to the public.

The Dent County Historical Society will be holding a ceremony honoring the last US Postmistress of Akers, Mo., Prazida Loreen Purcell Maggard. The last Akers post office closed in 1965 and mail has since been routed to Salem. This ceremony will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24th from 1:00 to 3:00 in the afternoon, located at the Akers NPS Ozark Ranger Station, at the end of Hwy. K. Everyone is invited to bring their family, friends, camp chairs, insect repellent, snacks, and water for an afternoon of meeting old friends, listening to history, and plenty of music. Speakers are to include Mark Van Patten of the National Park Service; Josh Akers, the family whose name Akers, Mo. is named; Judy Maggard Stewart, the daughter of the late Prazida; and many others. For more information, contact Deloris Gray Wood at 573-729-2545. 

The Dent County Opioid Settlement Committee will hold a meeting this evening at 6:00 in the Dent County Associate Courtroom. After reading and approving the minutes from the previous meeting, the board will discuss and approve priorities for funding as well as the amount of funding that is available. The committee will set the meeting dates for the 2027 year and also discuss adding a new member to the committee before adjourning. The Dent County Opioid Settlement Committee meeting Thursday is open to the public.

The Dent County area school districts of Salem R-80, Oak Hill R-I, Green Forest R-II, Dent-Phelps R-III, and North Wood R-IV, have collectively released a letter encouraging community members to advocate for the full funding of public education from state legislators and Gov. Mike Kehoe. The letter specifies that during the 2025 Missouri legislative session, a total of $190 million was withheld from public school funding for 2026. During the September Missouri State Board of Education meeting, the full amount of approximately $300 million required to fully fund the Foundation Formula was ultimately not requested from the state legislature. The letter continues to warn that without full funding, area school districts will face significant financial losses. Superintendent of Salem R-80, Nathan Wills, stated continued losses could result in the loss of staff, extracurriculars, CIPs, cutting bus routes, or freezing salaries. For Salem R-80, $365,725 is projected to be lost; For Oak Hill R-I, $65,278; For Green Forest R-II, $71,446; For Dent-Phelps R-III, $113,070; and for North Wood R-IV, $75,602. These projections are calculated for each district should the Student Adequacy Target (SAT) be paid at $6,830 rather than the fully funded $7,145. If residents would like more information, contact your district’s superintendent and see how these funding decisions may impact your district. 

The Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition, along with local law enforcement, will collect unused, unwanted or expired medications at Walmart on Saturday, Oct. 24th from 10:00 to noon. Residents are encouraged to clean out their medicine cabinets and stop by for free, safe medication disposal. The local collection is part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a campaign led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) each April and October to help prevent prescription drug misuse. Leftover medication from a surgery, an unfinished prescription or an expired bottle can easily be forgotten. Keeping these medications in the home can allow them to fall into the wrong hands. Safe disposal helps protect families and reduces opportunities for prescription drug misuse. Residents are invited to the Drug Take Back event but are also reminded that there are two permanent medication drop boxes located at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and the Salem Police Department. These free disposal options provide a safe, convenient way to turn in unused or unwanted medications. Collected medications are handled by local law enforcement for proper disposal through incineration.

The Bunker R-III School District invites all area veterans to join students and staff for a Veteran’s Day Assembly in the New Gym on Friday, Nov. 13th at 12:30 in the afternoon. Your service will be honored with guest speakers, gifts, music, and refreshments. The district thanks you for your service!

Staff of Montauk State Park invites all to attend a Campground Costume Showdown on Saturday, Oct. 24th from 6:00 to 7:00 in the evening at Site 201. Join the campground hosts for a spooky time by dressing up, voting for your favorite hosts’ costume, and enjoying some Halloween treats.

Seventy high school marching bands from across the region will perform at The Dome at America’s Center this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23rd and 24th, as part of the “Bands of America” St. Louis Super Regional Championship, presented by Yamaha and Sweetwater. Bands of America Championships are the nation’s premier marching band events, showcasing outstanding student musicians and visual performances. About 181,000 students will perform at Bands of America Championships this fall. One of the schools participating will be the Rolla High School, and they will be performing Friday afternoon at 2:15. Gates will open for preliminary competition at 8:45 Friday morning and 6:45 Saturday morning, and 6:00 Saturday night for the finals. The full schedule of performing bands can be found at marching.musicforall.org/st-louis-super-regional. Performances will be evaluated by a panel of nationally recognized music educators and marching band experts. The 14 highest-scoring bands will advance to the Saturday evening finals with the top-scoring band named champion at the end of the night.