Archive for 2026

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced a Crawford County man to 170 months in prison for grooming and engaging in illegal sexual contact with a minor last Wednesday. Nathaniel Rod Gibson, age 34, gave the victim a phone and sent her more than 18,996 text messages from March 10th, 2023, to Sept. 6th, 2023, while grooming her with romantic and flirtatious statements. Gibson also told the victim to delete the messages, so that her mother would not find them. In June of 2023, Gibson drove the then 13-year-old victim from Missouri to a campground in Arkansas, where he engaged in an illegal sex act with her. He also did so at his home in Crawford County. Gibson pleaded guilty in January in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Diamond City (Arkansas) Police Department, and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. 

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen has called for a special meeting tonight at 6:00 which will go immediately into closed session following the call to order, roll call, and agenda approval. The closed session will be held pertaining to legal actions, causes of action or litigation involving a public governmental body and any confidential or privileged communication between a public governmental body or its representatives and its attorneys. After the closed session, the meeting will adjourn. 

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held its monthly meeting Tuesday, April 14th at the firehouse. After the call to order and approval of consent agenda and previous meeting minutes, the board also approved the financial reports, bills, payments, and statements, along with the budget and reconciliations. The board was reminded that its By-Laws will be reviewed for its meeting in May. In old business, the board reviewed the Fidelity Tower. During a formal inquiry into technical malfunctions, Assistant Chief Derrick Marfitt investigated persistent issues regarding the department communications repeater, revealing there had been a change in ownership to Symphony Towers. The communication led to formal documentation of the malfunction and the launch of a corrective investigation. The investigation continues working to resolve the equipment failures. In new business, two bids were received for lawn care for the district: Larry Lundy bid $100 and Blue Line Outdoor bid $80. The board approved Blue Line Outdoor. Fire Chief Derek Thomas presented the monthly reimbursement report, which showed the fire district responded to 23 calls in March and a total of 84 calls for the year. Thomas presented a quote from Sentinel for Propak Angled Coupling for a total cost of $1,186.08. This was the only bid received. After discussion, the bid from Sentinel was accepted. Quotes from fencing companies were reviewed, for both commercial and residential fencing, to be placed around the Roof Vent Training area: Mid Missouri Fence  Company for $29,000; Holiday Welding and Fence for $23,427; and Missouri Fence and Lot Clearing for $21,254.63. After discussion, the board accepted the bid from Missouri Fence Company and Lot Clearing for $21,254.63. Sleep In Heavenly Peace requested the use of the firehouse parking lot for a community bed build, which the board approved. The next board meeting was then set for May 12th at 6:00 in the evening at the Dent County Fire Protection District firehouse. The meeting then adjourned.

An in-person public meeting is planned to provide information and answer questions from the community about planned corridor improvements on I-44 in Laclede, Phelps and Pulaski counties. In Phelps County, planned improvements include rebuilding pavement and interchange improvements at Route V (Exit 189) in Rolla and at Missouri Route 68 (Exit 195) in St. James. These pavement and interchange improvements will enhance safety, improve pavement conditions, and support future traffic needs. The Rolla Forward 44 Public Meeting will be held in the evening of April 25th from 5:00 to 7:00 at Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street. There will be no formal presentation, so members of the public can come and go as they please during the meeting time. By participating and commenting, the public can help MoDOT determine what best serves the needs of the motorists who use the interstate on an average day, while being responsible stewards of available funding.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. In road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green stated crew members are maintaining and preparing the dura patcher. Diesel fuel bids for the Road Department came in with MFA at $3.72; Phil-Mart at $3.99; and County Fuels at $4.09. The bid went to MFA. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that crew members are planning on putting rock under the low-water crossing on County Road 6150. Crew members are also planning on picking up tires which the Dent County Sheriff’s Office informed them of. Several culverts are planned for replacement, as well. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported the commissioners and County Clerk Angie Curley attended MAC Legislative Days in Jefferson City, where there was a low turnout for representatives. Curley reported bills are to be approved, and that she attended the MAC board meeting Tuesday where she heard from Trent Watson, the MAC board lobbyist, on ongoing legislative issues. They also heard from Attorney Travis Elliot on issues pertaining to Senate Bill 3 and Senate Bill 190. Collector Shannon VanKirk reminded those that are 62 and over and own their own home to pick up an application for SB190 from the collector’s office. Applications are available until June 30th. Office hours for the collector are Monday through Friday from 8:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. Contact her office at 573-729-3911 if you have any questions. Meanwhile, commissioners were visited by Great River Engineering’s Jeff Banderet for updates on ongoing projects. Banderet shared that currently there has only been one bid received for the TAP Sidewalk Project surrounding the courthouse and advised the commissioners to reach out to contractors and encourage them to bid. If more bidders have not been received by the time bids are closed, an extension may be requested. Regarding the FLAP Project for County Road 6670 in Montauk, the Ozark Preservation Office has determined that realigning the curve is not possible. That project will need to be revised with a different alignment. Once the alignment is cleared, the commissioners will need to  proceed with right of way acquisitions from the three land owners. The project is still within the originally budgeted $800,000, confirmed Banderet, though prices may fluctuate somewhat in the coming months. It is expected that the project will be bid out in late winter, with estimations for it to be an early spring construction project next year. Banderet also presented preliminary plans for three different crossings, with exact reimbursement percentages from FEMA/SEMA unknown at this time. The three projects are a low-water crossing repair on County Road 5150 over Dry Valley Creek for approximately $26,000; a bridge repair over Spring Creek on County Road 3210 for approximately $67,000; and a proposed bridge on County Road 4210 over Dry Valley Creek for approximately $1.1 million. Derrick Marfitt, Dent County Emergency Management Director, will be updated on the project details to be forwarded to FEMA and SEMA during Monday’s Dent County Commission meeting. Dent County Health Center’s Administrator and Salem Memorial Hospital board member Zach Moser came in on behalf of the hospital and Healthy Dent County, which are forming a committee which plans on applying for a grant to cover a new ambulance and radios. They would like a commissioner to be on the committee to help represent the county. Further, the commission is seeking bids for grader blades and culverts, with grader blade bids due at 10:00 in the morning on June 1st and culvert bids due at 10:30 in the morning on June 1st. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 in the courthouse, and the meeting is open to the public.

Join the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District April 18th from 9:00 in the morning to noon at the Tiger Typhoon Aquatic Center in St. Robert for a special collection event, accepting electronics, appliances, and tires. There are fees for tires, certain electronics, and Freon appliances. For a full list of fees and unacceptable items, visit the website located at ozarkrivers.org, mouse over “Programs & Services”, and click “Special Collections.” This event is open to any household within the Ozark Rivers District, including Salem. Residential items only — items generated by businesses will not be accepted. Place all recycling in your trunk or trailer and staff will unload all items.

The City of Salem will have two fire hydrant service and repair crews out, beginning near the City Administrative Building and moving east. Residents may notice brief water turbidity.

City of Salem Administrator Sally Burbridge reports the Electric Department will complete important maintenance work this Friday, with a planned power outage scheduled to take place from 7:30 to 9:30 in the morning. The outage is needed so crews can safely replace an electrical pole at the corner of Main Street and 8th Street. This pole cannot remain energized during the work. The outage is expected to last about two hours and will affect North Main Street, East 10th Street, East 11th Street and nearby connecting streets. Customers in these areas should plan ahead for the temporary loss of power. To prepare for this outage, those affected can turn off or unplug sensitive electronics such as computers and TVs, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, and be prepared for brief service interruption. The city appreciates your assistance and patience as the electric department completes this work to keep the city electric system safe and reliable.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be holding a reorganization meeting prior to the start of its regular board meeting tonight at 5:30 in the afternoon, located in the board room at the Administrative Office on J Highway. After the call to order and certification of election results, there will be a swearing in of newly elected members by the secretary of the board. Superintendent Nate Wills will act as temporary chairman for the election of the new board president and vice-president. The new board president will then preside over the election of the secretary and treasurer. The board will elect the MSBA delegate and alternate, followed by adjournment of the reorganization meeting. The regular board meeting will then be called to order followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the approval of the agenda and consent agenda. The board will hear communications from Lisa Mast and Daniel Jennings. The Salem Upper Elementary will be recognized, followed by the superintendent’s report. CSIP goals will be addressed in all reports. Administration reports will be heard from William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School administration. Athletics and Activities, Special Education, Technology, Maintenance, and Transportation reports will be received by the board in writing. Under new business, the board will be: approving insurance renewal, a vision specialist contract, a CTS contract for virtual SLP, SLP-A, and PT services, and a lawn mower purchase of $11,315 from Dent County Farm Supply. A hire of Sydney Dothage (ECSE P/T aide) is considered for consideration, along with the resignation of Sarah Montoya, Upper Elementary aide. The board will enter closed session to discuss personnel and student issues, followed by adjournment after returning to open session. The reorganization meeting and the regular meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education will be open to the public.

MoDOT has released a list of general highway maintenance and construction work planned in the mid–Missouri area from now through April 19th. Weather conditions may postpone scheduled work. Many projects will include lane closures, which could cause delays. Within all counties, in addition to the work listed, other moving operations such as pothole patching, brush cutting, striping, and pavement repairs continue in various locations. Motorists should travel with care and be alert for slow-moving equipment. In Dent County, pedestrian facility upgrades continue in the city limits of Salem on Route 19. Minimal traffic impacts are expected during the project, which is expected to be completed by September 2026. On Route B, the bridge over Dry Creek remains closed. Motorists may use Missouri Routes 19, 32 and 72 as detour routes around the closure. A project to replace the bridge is scheduled to be completed this year. In Phelps County, pedestrian facility upgrades continue in Rolla on Highway 72, with project completion expected in April 2026. The bridge rehabilitation project over I-44 continues with one eastbound lane to remain open on Business Loop 44/Route 72/Kingshighway. The bridge is closed to all westbound traffic, and a signed detour is in place. The project is expected to be completed in July 2026.

On Friday evening at the Creative Arts Center, you can create a “Think Spring” Front Porch Welcome Sign from 6:00 to 8:30 with Danielle Norris. Create a one of a kind front porch sign with your favorite idea and display it at home or work, or give it as a gift. The cost is $20 if you are painting the back of a sign you already have, or $30 for a new one. Stencils will be provided as well as all supplies. At least six people need to sign up to hold the class. To register, go online to the SACBA website, click on the “Programs” category and then go the Salem Creative Arts Council link. For questions, please e-mail salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com.