Archive for 2026

Salem Memorial District Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Brooke Bollman will be stepping down from her role effective May 31st, 2026, the hospital announced yesterday. Named as Interim CEO by the Board of Directors was Chief Nursing Officer and Nurse Practitioner Amber Hogan, effective June 1st, 2026. Bollman has served as the CEO since her appointment in July 2024 and throughout her tenure provided leadership to strengthen operations and improve the hospital’s overall financial position. In statements shared within the press release, Bollman and Chair of the Board of Directors Dr. Leigh Ann Price emphasized that the hospital remains well-positioned for continued success, with multiple strategic initiatives and growth opportunities in progress, along with a strong leadership team. The hospital will continue to serve patients and the community without interruption. Updates regarding leadership transition will be shared as they become available, concluded the press release.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson was absent. First District Commissioner Keith Green was designated Acting Presiding Commissioner. Derrick Marfitt, Dent County Emergency Management Director, attended to discuss the estimates on the projects from Great River Engineering’s preliminary plans for three different crossings. It is still unknown at this time how much will be covered by FEMA/SEMA, due to funding approval for the organizations still pending from Congress. A discussion on payroll for the position of Dent County Emergency Management Director was held. In road reports, Green reported that crew members will be hauling rock to county roads 5130 and 2460. Grading will be done on those same roads, along with County Road 5500. Crew members will also be working on maintenance for the durapatcher. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported crew members would be hauling rock to county roads 4300, 2540, 2240, and 4290. Grading will be done on 4300, 2270, and 2240. Crew members will also be cutting brush on County Road 2540 and will be installing a crossover pipe on County Road 2240. Andrew Wynn, Vice President and Lending Officer of Salem’s Town & Country Bank, attended the meeting regarding the lease purchase agreement for two 2026 Mach Trucks for the road department, which the commissioners signed. Meanwhile, Dent County Clerk Angie Curley shared that bills and payroll have been approved. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday at 9:00 at the courthouse, and the meeting is open to the public.

Dent County Health Center (DCHC) provided an update regarding the investigation of a confirmed case of Legionnaires’ disease, suspected of being associated with Seville Care Center. Environmental health testing conducted at Seville Care Center found no Legionella bacteria throughout the facility. At this time, the investigation has been completed. DCHC worked closely with Seville Care Center and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services throughout the investigation process. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which is typically spread through inhalation of contaminated mist or water vapor. It is not normally spread person to person. 

The Ozark Heritage Artisans’ Springfest will be held Saturday from 9:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. The free event will be held at the Salem Creative Arts Center at 202 South Main. You will find arts, crafts, baked goods, demonstrations and fun!

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met for both its reorganization meeting and monthly board meeting on Thursday, April 16th. Newly elected board members Dru Howard, Andrew Wynn, Luke Heithold, and Brady Adams were sworn in by Assistant Superintendent and Recording Secretary Dan Copeland. The board also elected its officers, with Dru Howard retaining the position of president, Sammi Parker retaining vice-president, Andrew Wynn retaining secretary, and Jason Green retaining treasurer. Luke Heithold was chosen as the MSBA delegate, and Brady Adams was chosen as the alternate delegate. Moving on to its regular meeting, the board approved its agenda and consent agenda, after which Superintendent Nate Wills shared communication from Lisa Mast and Daniel Jennings. The board then recognized the cast of the Lion King Jr., including Rowan McGrail, Sadie Wynn, Rose McCoy, and Adrian Miller, introduced by Shannon Phelps. In the superintendent report, Wills documented CSIP goals and updated board members that the last day of school will be May 15th; Senior’s Last Day will be May 8th; and a special board meeting, for appeals, will be held May 7th at 5:00 in the afternoon. Wills also updated board members regarding MSHSAA changes, the status of school and state finances, the annual school bus inspection results, the district health insurance premium increase, the Upper Elementary roof project, the state proposed A-F Report Card, and the district track access to the public. Wills thanked the Junior class and Stuco for donating $8,000 toward a new gym floor covering. The board was also updated on the partnership with the Salem Police Department for FEMA building access during tornado warnings after hours, along with the status of the FEMA building and rekeying/key fob installation. The board then received updates and reports from district administrators. Under new business, the board approved the Shroepfer Insurance health insurance renewal with a vote of 5-0-2. A vision specialist contract was also approved, with a vote of 5-0-2. A contract with CTS for virtual SLP, SLP-A, and PT services was approved with a vote of 5-0-2. A lawn mower purchase of $11,315 from Dent County Farm Supply was also approved, with a vote of 4-0-3. A first reading of MSBA policy updates was heard by the board. Personnel changes were noted, including the hire of Sydney Dothage (ECSE P/T Aide), and the resignation of Sarah Montoya as a Upper Elementary aide. The board then moved into a closed executive session to address student and personnel matters. The next meeting of the Salem R-80 School Board of Education is scheduled for May 21st in the Administration Building and will be open to the public.

Montauk was formally established as a state park in 1926, 100 years ago. To celebrate, the park will be hosting special events throughout the 2026 on-season, to begin with Old Mill Days on May 8th and May 9th from 9:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon, both days. This annual event features guided and self-guided history tours, as well as games and other activities. Demonstrations of historical skills such as blacksmithing, archery, Dutch oven cooking, weaving, rope making, wood carving, beekeeping and more will be available. See an arts and craft fair showcasing all the products local artisans have to offer. All activities will take place around the old Montauk Mill. Admission is free and open to the public, and there is no need to register. Stop by to learn a new skill, immerse yourself in local history, and support small businesses. For more information, call the park office at 573-548-2201 or visit the Montauk State Park Facebook page at facebook.com/montaukstateparkofficial.

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.