Archive for 2026

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the Fire Station at #2 South Main. After the call to order and roll call will be the approval of the consent agenda, which includes review of previous meeting minutes, the financial report and approval of bills, plus the budget review. In old business, the board will address the Fidelity (CTI) Tower Lease. In new business, the board will discuss lawn care. Chief Thomas will give his report, which will include the monthly reimbursement report, followed by the setting of the date for the next meeting and closed session, if necessary, before adjournment. The regular meeting of the DCFPD Board of Directors is open to the public.

The Salem Public Library Board of Trustees held their meeting at 5:00 in the library’s conference room April 9th. After approving the previous meeting’s minutes, Library Director, Kate McBride presented the librarians report. During her report, she noted that items received and provided to Missouri Evergreen were down from the same time last year, but the circulation of books, ebooks, audio books, and periodicals were up. Paperback trade numbers were also up. After approving the financial report, the board discussed book reviews and correspondences. In Old Business, the board discussed plans for the South Basement repairs, and in New Business the board voted on and approved the placement of a Naloxone Box to be provided by the Dent County Health Center, more details about that installation will be provided at a later time. The meeting then adjourned. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Salem Public Library Board of Trustees is scheduled for May 14th at 5:00 in the library’s conference room, and is open to the public. 

The Salem R-80 High School participated in its annual Service Project Day on April 8th. Students started working with the sunrise, and their projects ranged from cleaning rocks from local park ball fields, repainting William Lynch Elementary’s playground games, organizing food and cleaning the local food pantry at the Shepherds Nook, stream clean up at Bonebrake, cleaning flower beds, spreading mulch and trimming trees at Salem Upper Elementary, walking the 34 acres of Cedar Grove Cemetery picking up trash, fallen flowers and limbs, organizing at the Salem Public Library, installing metal on the gables of Salem R-80’s administrative building and building insulated walls for the Salem’s Creative Arts Center. Heather Johnson organized these events with herself, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Tinker, Ms. Blair, Mrs. Terrill, and Mrs. Kettner supervising all activities.

A group of Salem High School students traveled to West Plains to participate in the Interscholastic Contest at Missouri State University West Plains. For the second year in a row, the students earned first place overall for Division I, which consists of six schools. Overall, there were twenty-four schools total. Not only are the students bringing home the trophy, but several students are bringing home some medals of their own. Division I medalists include: Ivan Brooks, August Scheel, Anna Belle Seye, Quin Dahms, Tabitha Deller, Addison Fulton, Maggie Hogan, Isabella Black, Harlie Click, Zoey Elliott, Abbi Terrill, Marshall White, and Haiden Shaw. Overall scoring medalists (for all divisions) include: Ave Wofford, Isabella Black, Tabitha Deller, Zoey Elliot, Carter Foster, and Marshall White. Congratulations to these students!

The Dent County Commission met for its meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. District One Commissioner Keith Green reported that crew members are planning to grade county roads 5400 and 6350. A pipe is being installed on County Road 5150. Green encouraged the public to exercise patience with crew members, as they work to improve the roads for longevity. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that crew members are planning to grade in the Boss area, along with county roads 5300, 5305, 5280, 4340, 4030, and 2540. Four dump trucks are hauling rock to County Road 2540 – one road which participates in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s CART program, and that the county will cost share on gravel. This is an annual program covering the conservation area, and the deadline has been moved up to the end of May. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he will be attending several meetings at MRPC tonight, including a TAC meeting, MRPC meeting, and Housing Advisory meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that she has balanced with the collector and assessor on all monthly collections, abatements, and add-ons for the month of March. Curley thanked the voters who came out and voted in the April Municipal Election. Voter turnout was low, with some elections being decided by just a handful of voters. Dent County 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. In addition, $201,297.36 has been turned over for the month in collections. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported on sales tax receipts received for April, stating that General Revenue and Law Enforcement received $85,007.59, a 1.5% increase year-to-date. The Road and Bridge Fund received $42,503.96, a 5.3% increase year-to-date. Both Jail Funds received $18,912.96, and year-to-date those funds increased by 5.3%. In addition, Crime Victim Advocate Cynthia Nash and Prosecutor Andrew Curley emphasized the importance of Cynthia’s position, stating that from 2020-2025 there have been 2,474 victims. The position of  Crime Victim Advocate is paid on a VOCA Grant reimbursement program, funded by the federal government of which has become a shortfall. The shortfall of $4,824.16 will need to be navigated between April 1st and Sept. 30th. After Oct. 1st, it is unknown what will happen with the grant. Finally, the commission approved the Burlington Northern Railroad Right a Way Quit Claim Deed between Dent County and Carty Brothers. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 in the courthouse, and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened Monday afternoon just after 3:00 in Washington County on Route P near the Pigeon Roost Road that left a woman from Viburnum with moderate injuries. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Kia Sorento, driven southbound by a 62-year-old Viburnum woman, traveled off the right side of the roadway. The woman was transported by the Washington County Ambulance District to Mercy Hospital South. The woman was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Kia was totaled and removed from the scene by Elliott’s Towing.

Dent County Health Center is currently investigating a confirmed case of Legionnaires’ Disease that could be associated with Seville Care Center. Dent County Health Center has been working closely with Seville Care Center and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to ensure appropriate public health measures are in place. Legionnaires’ Disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The bacteria are typically spread through inhalation of contaminated mist or water vapor. Legionnaires’ Disease is not normally spread person to person. The investigation is ongoing. Public health officials and facility leadership are collaborating to review potential sources of exposure, evaluate environmental conditions, and determine whether any additional actions are needed to protect residents, staff, and visitors. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available. To view more information on Legionnaires’ Disease, visit cdc.gov/legionella. 

The Salem Community Garden will host a presentation on Pest Control tonight at 6:00 behind the Salem United Methodist at 801 East Scenic Rivers Blvd. Everyone is welcome to attend the presentation, and you do not have to have a plot to participate. Plots are still available and your first plot is free. Accessible garden beds are also available. For more information, contact the Dent County Extension at 573-729-3196 or Thom Haines at 573-247-7952.

The City of Salem Parks & Recreation registration for ball season, including baseball, t-ball, and softball, is open today for $35. Late registration begins tomorrow through April 16th at $45. Practice is to start at the beginning of May with coaches to contact with more information. For more information on how to sign up, contact Parks Director Melissa DuBois by calling 573-729-6290 or emailing salemparks@salemmo.com.

Salem Upper Elementary will be presenting The Lion King Jr. today, Friday, and Saturday at the Salem Civic Theater located at 200 North Washington Street. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Today and Friday, shows will take place in the evening at 6:30. On Saturday, there will be one showing in the early afternoon at 2:00 and another in the evening at 6:30. Come out and support the show!

Warmer weather usually means an increase in outside projects that may require digging or excavation work. Remember that if you are building a deck, planting a tree, or completing a large project, Missouri law requires anyone digging underground to notify Missouri 811. Always remember to place your locate requests at least three working days before you dig. Call 811 or place a locate request online at missouri-811.org before any excavation begins. Requests can be made at no cost, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The call will be taken by the Missouri 811 Call Center, which then notifies all relevant utilities in the project area. Once Missouri 811 is notified, utility companies will mark the approximate location of their underground lines, request additional information or advise you that they do not have facilities at the excavation site. Wait three days until a professional locator comes out to mark natural gas, electric, water, sewer, telephone and cable lines. The approximate location of buried utilities will be marked with paint or flags so you can avoid them. Each utility type corresponds to a specific color of paint or flag, and all must be marked before you can dig. Once the site has been clearly marked, proceed with caution. Avoid digging within 18 to 24 inches of each utility mark, if possible. Hitting an underground line can cause serious injury and could disrupt service to you and other customers. It could potentially result in fines and repair costs. According to Ameren, an increase in damage to its underground natural gas and electric facilities has been experienced. A significant driver of these incidents are customers hammering stakes into the ground without having their utility lines located. Even after the facilities are marked, always dig by hand within the tolerance zone of the marked facilities, 24 inches on either side of the line. Contact Missouri 811 at 811 or go online at missouri-811.org to place a locate request.