Archive for 2026

A 49-year-old Salem resident was involved in an accident in Shannon County Wednesday morning at 12:30 on Highway 19 eight miles north of Eminence. According to the Highway Patrol a 2007 Honda VT1100 was northbound when a deer entered the roadway. The Honda swerved to avoid the deer and ran off the left side of the roadway. The man suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Mercy Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla. The report stated that the man was not wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. The Honda sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker Towing at the owner’s request. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Us Forest Service and the Timber Fire District.

The Dent County Fire Protection Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the fire station. The following report is based on the unapproved minutes. After the call to order and roll call a motion was made and carried to approve the consent agenda, which included the review and approval of the minutes from the previous meeting, review of the financial reports, review and approval of bills, payments, and statements, and review and approval of the budget and reconciliations. In old business, it was reported that the CTI Tower issues have been resolved, and the board is awaiting lease information. In new business, the annual election of officers was conducted. Mike Godi was elected President, Dave Wells was elected Secretary/Treasurer, Dave Wells was appointed Custodian of Records, and Jeff Stokes was appointed Budget Officer. The By Laws were reviewed and the “or owns property within” is to be struck from Article IV, Section I. The By Laws are to be revised and presented with changes at the next meeting. Chief Thomas presented the monthly reimbursement report with a total of 14 calls for the month of April and 98 total calls for the year. The date for the next meeting was set for the evening of June 9th at 6:00 at the DCFPD. The board went in to closed session at 7:09 and returned to open session at 8:30. In closed session Michael Price was interviewed and approved to become a firefighter.

The Salem Police Department recently released their report for the month of April. The department responded to six accidents during the month as well as seven alarms sounding, four abandoned vehicle reports, addressed 23 animal calls, investigated five assaults or fights, received four reports of a burglary, performed 24 well-being checks and 26 area checks in April. Police investigated 16 domestic disputes, responded to eight verbal and two physical disturbances, conducted 74 follow-up investigations and provided 18 escorts. They investigated eight harassment reports, two parking complaint calls, one intoxicated driver report, two intoxicated pedestrian calls, checked out six charges of fraud, five trespassing calls and six property damage reports. The Salem Police wrote ten stealing reports, responded to eight traffic complaints and assisted four motorists. Officers responded to three reports of a suicidal person, 19 suspicious circumstance calls, seven suspicious person calls and six suspicious vehicle calls. The Salem Police in April investigated a report of a prowler, six reports of juvenile problems, two reports of shoplifting, two reports of a prowler, two peace disturbances and 22 nuisance violations. Officers attempted to serve 12 warrants, and conducted 119 traffic stops during the month. The police responded to a total of 561 incidents in April with the average response time being one minutes and 19 seconds. The average time spent on the scene was 12 minutes and 51 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.

The Dent County Toy Drive will be holding its 6th annual Christmas in July fundraiser on Saturday, July 25th at the Dent County Commons. Vendors are wanted with outdoor spots still available. Indoor spots are full. This is a special year for the toy drive as it will be celebrating its 50th anniversary serving children in Dent County. Royal Oak Enterprises will be catering delicious pulled pork, and K-KID will be broadcasting live from 11:00 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon. Backwoods Productions DJ will be keeping the music going throughout the event. As always, attendees will be able to enjoy a free kids carnival, car show, craft show, and poker run. To learn more or apply to be a vendor, visit the Dent County Toy Drive Facebook page at facebook.com/TheDentCountyToyDrive. 

If you need financial assistance in having your pet fixed, Carol House Quick Fix-It Clinic located in Rolla at 13651 South Hwy. 63 offers two subsidized, low-income programs. Contact Carol House for eligibility details or to make your appointment at 573-465-3099 or email reception.rolla@quickfixpetclinic.com.

The City of Salem Finance and Capital Improvements Committees will hold a joint meeting at the old City Hall Auditorium tonight starting at 6:00. At the meeting, the committees will discuss the draft Capital Improvement Plan for the fiscal year 2026-27 and then discuss the draft city budget for the fiscal year 2026-27. The meeting was called by Mayor Greg Parker, and it is open to the public. 

The 141st Graduation Ceremonies of the Salem R-80 High School is scheduled to be held Friday evening at 7:00 at the Bill Schuchardt Football Stadium. After the procession of 133 graduating students, the National Anthem will be performed by the Salem High School Chamber Choir Singers. Administrator Clay Moody will present the Senior Class Citizenship Awards, while Administrator Jim Moore will present the Best Overall Excellence Awards to one girl and one boy. Senior High School Principal Jody Heavin will introduce the A-Plus students, students who are entering the military, the career and technical certified students as well as those students’ entering the workforce. Senior Class President Ave Wofford will give her speech before Senior Class-Vice President Alexis White gives her speech. Diplomas will then be awarded to the Class of 2026 students by Superintendent Dr. Nathan Wills and President of the R-80 Board of Education, Drusilla Howard, followed by the tossing of the caps. The graduation exercises will be streamed live on KSMO Media. Those wanting to stream the graduation exercises can go to the Salem R-80 website which is www.salemr80.org, go to their activities menu and you will find a link to the KSMO Stream which is our Twitch account. People can also go directly to the KSMO Radio website at ksmoradio.com and from the homepage, they can click on the stream of their choice including the KSMO Stream Facebook page, KSMO Twitch page and on KSMO’s YouTube page. There is NO charge to watch the services. Should the exercises be rained out, they will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:00.

There will be a collection box at the Salem Public Library for old, damaged, or soiled American flags. Anyone may leave a flag between now and Friday, June 12th. The library will deliver flags in need of retirement to American Legion Post 99. The Legion will properly dispose of them in accordance with the United States Flag Code.

Dent County Assessor Alisa Brookshire has announced the 2026 Dent County Plat Books will be available for purchase in her office starting Monday, May 18th. For purchase information, contact the Dent County Assessor’s Office at 573-729-6010.

The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages motorists to brake if turtles are seen crossing the road. Spring rains and warmer weather encourage turtles, like three-toed box turtles, ornate box turtles, and common snapping turtles, to cross the roads in search of food, new territory, nesting sites, or mates. This can put turtles at risk of being struck by motor vehicles. MDC encourages motorists to slow down when they see a turtle in the road and check to be sure they can safely steer around it. If helping a turtle cross a road, keep human safety as the number-one concern. Check for traffic and move the turtle across the road in the direction it is traveling. Leave wild turtles wild. Keeping a wild turtle as a pet usually ends in a slow death for the captive turtle.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met last night for its meeting within the City Hall Auditorium located at 202 North Washington Street. After the call to order, Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call, the board approved the agenda and consent agenda, which included disposal of records and the April Salem Police Department monthly report. Under new and miscellaneous business, the board approved the disposal of the Electric Department’s 2007 Ford F-150. The board approved four maintenance contracts between the city and Viking Painting, LLC. for the maintenance, inspection, and rehabilitation of its water towers. The board also approved two ordinances annexing adjacent territory into the city. An ordinance authorizing subcommittees under the Community Involvement Committee failed due to a lack of a motion. Meanwhile, the board heard a first reading of two amendments to city codes to reflect Water Department operations, stating the city does not install, inspect, or test backflow devices, and has not for several years. Two ordinances authorizing a task order with Toth and Associates, Inc. for professional land surveying services had first and second readings, one related to the Westwood Drive lift station property for $5,500 and the other with the Ninth Street Right-of-way dedication for $8,500. Both task orders were approved. There were then reports from city officials. Mayor Greg Parker reported that spring clean-up has been successful so far with approximately 116 tons transported. Public Works Director Steve Paine reported construction crew members have finished a stormwater issue on Coffman Street, resolving an issue where a home was taking on water. Crew members have also begun replacement of a stretch of sidewalk on Coffman and Pershing reported as a tripping hazard. Street department crew members are hauling riprap from the quarry to the city park for a ditch remediation project funded partially by FEMA. City mechanic interviews have been conducted and the hiring process has begun. Paine reminded the public that if there are any public works issues to call the Administration Office at 573-729-4811 during daytime hours. If after hours, call the Salem Police Department at 573-729-4242. Meanwhile, Aldermen Rick Letchworth reported that after receiving notice from several residents, he reached out to a property owner off of Center Street regarding the current state of their property, to which the owner assured Letchworth it was temporary and will be cleaned up within 60 days. The board then adjourned. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Aldermen will be May 26th and will be open to the public.

Montauk State Park has released that contractors are to begin repairing the damaged section of asphalt parking lot at the White Oak Hole, along with two sections of main road through the campground. These sections were damaged by flooding in November 2024 and repairs are being funded by FEMA. Visitors will still be able to use the campground road, but traffic will be limited to one lane during repairs.

Heather Johnson of the Salem R-80 School District was recently awarded the Celebrate Rural Schools grant of $5,000 through the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Foundation, a partnership between Community Foundation of the Ozarks and The Commerce Trust Company. The Celebrate Rural Schools grant program helps support projects that celebrate, strengthen, and elevate the unique identity of rural schools and the communities they serve. The program encourages districts to amplify local voices, showcase student success, and strengthen community connections. This grant will support the 2027 High School Service Project Day, allowing students to continue making a positive impact through community service projects throughout the City of Salem. Congratulations to Mrs. Heather Johnson!

In celebration of Get Caught Reading Month, the Salem Public Library will be hosting a competition now through May 26th. To participate, residents are encouraged to send a picture of themselves or someone they know getting caught reading in an unusual place, anywhere you wouldn’t expect someone to be reading. Pictures can be sent through Facebook messenger on the Salem Public Library Facebook page or handed to a librarian at the circulation desk. Be sure to include your name, age, and phone number. Those who submit a photo will have their names entered in a drawing. Winners will be selected randomly. This competition is for fun and to encourage literacy as summer vacation begins. This program is appropriate for all ages, and there is no fee or library card required to participate.