Archive for 2026

The Salem Police Department has released these reports for the middle of March. On Saturday, March 14th, Patrolmen #114 and #115 located a vehicle in the 1100 block of East Scenic Rivers Boulevard after multiple reports of an erratic driver. Officers found the vehicle to be occupied by the driver and two children. An investigation was conducted and the driver, Deseray Deshurley was arrested for DWI, with a person less than 17 in the vehicle. On Wednesday, March 18th, Patrolman #114, Sergeant #105, and Lieutenant #103 conducted an investigation into the whereabouts of a wanted fugitive. Officers responded to the 400 block of West Ninth. The subject was located concealed in a shed on the property. Deseray Fish was taken into custody. Another male subject was arrested for hindering prosecution and resisting arrest and was later released pending formal charges. Thursday, March 19th, Patrolman #113, #106, #104, and #103 responded to the area of the Ranch Motel for a domestic in progress. Officers conducted an investigation and observed injuries on a victim and her property to be damaged. As a result, Logan Walker, was arrested for domestic assault4th and property damage. From March 13th to March 20th, officers of the Salem Police Department responded to 187 calls for service, completed six additional city ordinance arrests and took 23 reports for various offenses.

The Dent County Sheriff’s office released that on Tuesday, March 17th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 13,000 block of South Highway 19 for several equipment violations. K9 Mid was called to the scene and alerted to the scent of narcotics coming from the inside of the vehicle. A vehicle search was conducted and a substantial amount of methamphetamine, as well as items of paraphernalia were located. Logan Walker, age 21, of Salem was arrested. Walker was booked into the Dent County Jail on a 24-hour hold. Honorable Judge Kelsaw issued a warrant for Walker’s arrest, charging him with trafficking drugs in the second degree, along with several other traffic offenses. Walker’s bond was set at $25,000 cash or professional surety. The methamphetamine seized totaled 87.31 grams, or 3.08 ounces. The Sheriff’s Office is committed to eradicating these poisonous substances from Dent County. The above listed charges are merely accusations and do not constitute evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Also according to a press release from the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, on March 21st, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the Salem City Limits for a traffic violation. K9 Mid was deployed and alerted to the scent of illegal substances from inside the vehicle. A vehicle search was conducted. Deputies located approximately 1.46 grams of suspected methamphetamine along with a loaded firearm, which had been reported stolen. Arrested was Terry Hutchison, age 60, of Edgar Springs. Hutchison was booked into the Dent County Jail on a 24-hour hold. Honorable Judge Kelsaw issued a warrant for Hutchison’s arrest, charging him with possession of a controlled substance, felony stealing, and unlawful use of a possessed weapon, and felony controlled substance. Hutchison’s bond was set at $25,000 cash or professional surety. At the time of this post, Hutchison remains incarcerated. The above listed charges are merely accusations and do not constitute evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work planned in the Dent County area now through March 29th, according to a press release from MoDOT. On Route 19, culvert replacement is planned now through March 26th from Route TT to Route VV. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone. On Routes EE, FF, and W, pothole patching is planned from March 25th through March 26th. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone. On Route B, the bridge over Dry Creek remains closed, due to inspectors finding a sinkhole developing near one of the supporting structures. Motorists may use Missouri Routes 19, 32 and 72 as detoured routes around the closure. A project to replace the bridge is scheduled to be completed this year. Weather conditions may postpone scheduled work. Many projects will include lane closures which could cause delays. In addition to the work listed, other moving operations such as pothole patching, brush cutting, and pavement repairs continue.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. In road reports, First District Commissioner Keith Green reported crew members would be grading county roads 5220, 5130, 6575, and 6460. Crew members would also be hauling rock to County Road 6575. Second District Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported crew members would be grading county roads 3160, 3050, 3020, 3060, 3070, and 3080. They would also be hauling rock to county roads 3020, 3050, and 3090, and cutting brush on County Road 2510. A resident requested maintenance on County Road 4340, with Williams affirming crew members would be out to take care of it. Williams also reported commissioners will be putting bids out for a lease and purchase agreement for two dump trucks. Those bids are planned to be opened April 6th at 10:00 in the morning. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson shared the Tourism Commission heard one request and approved three reimbursements Tuesday. At the Ozarks Solid Waste Management District, members went over finances and approved a grant request. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills have been approved. For the April municipal election, March 25th is the last day to mail out absentee ballots. No excuse absentee voting begins March 24th through April 6th. From 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon Saturday, April 4th, the courthouse will be open for absentee voting in the county clerk’s office. On April 7th, voting will be open from 6:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening. Sargent Lenny Pabin with the Sheriff’s Office requested approval in applying for a DSSSF grant, which would allot approximately $2,000 a year per deputy. With 13 deputies, this would be $26,000. The commissioners approved submitting the application for the grant. Meanwhile, under public comments, Missouri State Representative of the 124th District, Don Mayhew, stopped by to discuss legislative issues, including how the state owed counties roughly $43 million in jail per diem. Mayhew, along with three other representatives, were put on a subcommittee to seek solutions to the issue. According to Mayhew, approximately 62% of the $43 million lies in pre-trial confinement. In 2025 alone, 856 people had spent more than a year in county jails, with 82 spending more than three years, with many being arrested on a charge that wouldn’t have drawn a three year sentence, Mayhew shared with the commissioners. With that being the case, the cost is mainly tied to waiting on mental-health evaluations or treatment for mental health conditions. Mayhew proposed to legislators utilizing a state prison located in Cameron, Missouri as a dedicated mental-health facility, which would allow for the transportation of detainees with mental illness there, rather than holding the detainees indefinitely in county jails. Despite support expressed from county sheriffs and commissioners for the idea, Mayhew shared that a study must be done first, which requires funding. In addition, Mayhew is working on a bill which would mandate consent from inmates for mental health treatment, modeled after bills within Texas and Florida. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 in the courthouse, and the meeting is open to the public.

The Nurses Honor Guard was first established in 2003 by the Kansas State Nurses Association. There are now more than 250 professional local chapters nationwide, including the South-Central Missouri Nurse Honor Guard LLC., a volunteer organization of active and retired nurses who come together to honor their nursing colleagues that have passed away. The organization currently has 12 members and cover services held in five counties including Phelps, Dent, Crawford, Texas, and Pulaski County. The 5-10 minute tribute during the funeral or memorial service recognizes the lifelong commitment of the nurse who dedicated their life to caring for others. The volunteers wear traditional white uniforms, white caps, and nursing capes. The honor guard provides this service free of charge to families and includes a special reading of the Nightingale Pledge, a personal tribute to the deceased, and a final call to duty. A white rose is then placed on the casket or with the urn, and a Nightingale lamp is given to the family. Families or funeral directors can request a ceremony by contacting Bev Martin at 573-626-4699 or Carol Lacy at 573-453-4977. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at the Community Center at the Salem Armory at 4:00 in the afternoon. Nurses interested in joining the South-Central Missouri Nurse Honor Guard may also contact Bev or Carol. Any individual, family, or business interested in helping cover the cost of the lamps, brochures, and other items needed for ceremonies can donate by mailing a check payable to the South-Central Missouri Nurse Honor Guard c/o Carol Lacy, 1108 South Louise Street, Salem, Missouri 65560.

Travis Pastrana along with co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino in their Subaru won the 2026 ARA 100-Acre Wood Rally this past weekend with a time of 1:27:35.5 with an average speed of 74.48 MPH, easily beating the team of Patrick Gruszka and Florian Barral in their Hyundai who won the battle for second place coming in just 4/10ths of a second in front of the team of Tom Williams and Ross Whitlock who captured third place driving a 2024 Skoda Fabia. Finishing in fourth place just three seconds behind the team of Williams and Whitlock was the team of Lia Block and Alessandro Gelsomino who were driving a 2023 Hyundai. The 100 Acre Wood Rally is the second round of the 2026 ARA National Championship and comes on the heals of the Sno Drift Rally. As the season’s first gravel rally, it traditionally rewards those who are fearless in their commitment to driving fast relying on their lightning-fast reflexes to navigate some of the quickest roads in North American rallying. This year’s rally did not disappoint and was well attended at both Parc Exposes in Potosi and Salem as well as the spectator locations.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC) announced formal charges against Jerry S. Barnett, age 38, of Norwood, Missouri, Justin L. Emery, age 42, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and Jared D. Mings, age 44, of Mountain Grove, Missouri. The three men were arrested following an investigation conducted by the Rural Crimes Investigation Unit (RCIU) of the patrol. Investigators were made aware of a possible livestock theft in rural Texas County in September. The owner of the cattle resided out of state and reported the cattle were stolen. Three suspects were identified and the patrol followed up on additional leads and obtained evidence connecting Barnett to the theft of the livestock. Investigators later discovered Barnett obtained assistance from Emery and Mings, who sold the cattle under their respective names. The above charges are a mere accusation and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. DDCC is committed to serving those in its rural communities and encourages anyone with information regarding livestock theft to report it to the Missouri Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force at 888-484-8477.

The City of Salem will resume tree trimming and clearing around electric distribution lines beginning this week through the next several months. This work is part of the city’s ongoing effort to maintain a safe and reliable electric system and is required by Missouri state statute. Trimming and clearing will take place in the area roughly south of 2nd Street and east of Hickory Street and north of Scenic Rivers Boulevard. Aproject map outlining the specific locations is available on the city’s website by searching “city projects,” or you may ask for a printout at the City Administration Office located at 400 North Iron Street. Crews will work as quickly and safely as possible to limit any inconvenience to residents. Note that the crew may drop limbs and branches on your property. Crew members will return to clean up the limbs within 2-3 days. Please give the crew this grace period before calling to ask for a cleanup to occur. For more information, contact the City of Salem Utility Office at 573-729-4811.

The Dent County Health Center will be holding its first annual charity gala and awards dinner dedicated to celebrating community members and organizations who embody the mission of public health, while raising funds to support disease prevention and community wellness initiatives across Dent County. Scheduled for April 24th at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory, the gala will bring together local leaders, businesses, healthcare partners, and residents for an evening focused on connection, recognition, and impact. Proceeds from the gala will directly support Dent County Health Center programs. Based on community input, a final list of nominees has been compiled for the awards, representing the very best in healthcare, public health and community service. To vote, visit dentcountyhealthcenter.org and search “final voting.” Winners will be honored and announced at the gala and awards banquet April 24th.

With warming weather and the many wonders of nature awakening in spring, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds people to be BearWise. Missouri’s estimated 1,000+ black bears are waking up and are focused on fattening up after a long winter’s sleep. Unsecured food sources around homes and outbuildings could attract the attention of a hungry bear. It is important that people remove or secure bear attractants from their property, such as bird feeders, trash, barbeque grills, pet food, and food waste. Intentionally feeding bears can be dangerous because it makes them comfortable around people and can lead bears to cause significant damage to property while searching for food. Most Missouri bears live just south of Interstate 44, but as the population continues to grow, bears have started to inhabit new areas of the state. For more information on how to be BearWise and to report a bear sighting, visit mdc.mo.gov/bearwise.