Archive for 2026

An accident occurred at 7:30 Wednesday morning in Phelps County at the 181.2 mile marker of Interstate 44. According to the highway patrol report, a 2011 Ford Edge driven by a 57-year-old female from Dixon had crashed when the vehicle lost control on wet pavement traveling eastbound. The driver suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Phelps Health ambulance to Phelps Health. The report states she was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford Edge suffered extensive damage and was removed from the scene by D&D Towing & Repair.

An accident occurred Wednesday morning in Phelps County near Highway V, just north of County Road 2080. According to the highway patrol report, the crash occurred when a 2018 International Truck driven by a 29-year-old male from Rolla going northbound crossed the centerline and struck head-on a 2020 Kia Rio driven by a 42-year-old female from Rolla going southbound. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries, and the driver of the Kia suffered moderate injuries. Both drivers were transported to Phelps Health. The truck suffered extensive damages and was removed from the scene by Big Boy’s Towing. The Kia suffered total damage and was removed from the scene by C&C Towing.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. Under public comments, a resident of County Road 6670 inquired about the progress of widening that road, to which First District Commissioner Keith Green clarified that progress was ongoing with timing yet to be determined for project completion. Requests for easements from property owners will be sought closer to the date of construction. City of Salem Economic Development Director Carrie Sutterfield shared that the Enhanced Enterprise Zone (EEZ) board met Thursday, Aug. 6th with no changes made to the chairman, who remains Dean Jones. Dent County Assessor Alisa Brookshire proposed an ordinance to make the county an “occupancy county,” which allows a county to assess newly constructed and occupied residential property all 12 months of the year. Without the ordinance, the county is a “non-occupancy” county, which means it can only pick up new constructions and occupied residential properties September through May. Brookshire clarified that the county is omitting the charge for permits. There will be no new taxes, and taxes will not increase as a result, she further clarified. The commissioners approved the ordinance. Under road reports, Green reported that crew members will be grading County Road 5680 and hauling rock to County Road 5490. Brush cutting is planned for county roads 6480 and 6485. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that crew members will be brush cutting on county roads 4300, 4310, 4040, and 3180. Crew members have also gone to retrieve a load of cold mix from Lebanon. Next week, crew members plan to work on County Road 2250, which includes replacing culverts and pulling ditches. In Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson’s report, he shared that he attended a Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting, in which members nominated officers and shared updates on Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) programs. Larson further reported on the Meramec Region crash fatalities within Dent County. There have only been two in 2026. He also attended the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) meeting, where a representative from Missouri S&T reported updates on the Missouri Protoplex being built near Interstate 44. Deputy County Clerk Crystal Pilkington shared that there are bills to be approved. The next regular Dent County Commission meeting will be Monday, Aug. 24th at 9:00 in the morning and is open to the public.

The Salem Community Blood Drive will be Tuesday, Sept. 1st from noon to 6:00 in the evening. The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) and Dickerson Park Zoo are Partnering throughout September and October to help boost the regional blood supply for local patients. Successful donors will receive a voucher for two free general admissions to the Dickerson Park Zoo, along with a limited-edition T-shirt while supplies last. Salem area residents will have the opportunity to donate within the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church located at 201 North MacArthur Street. Photo identification is required. Donors should eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating. Eligible donors must be at least 16 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health and have not donated blood within the past 56 days. Appointments are strongly encouraged to help reduce wait times. To schedule an appointment, visit cbco.org/zoo or call 417-227-5006.

An accident happened at 3:53 Tuesday evening in Dent County at the Cedar Grove Conservation Area a mile north of Hwy. WW. According to the highway patrol report, a 1998 Dodge Ram driven northbound by a 33-year-old female from Salem travelled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, overturned and ejected the driver. The driver suffered serious injuries and was transported by air evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. The report states she was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Dodge Ram was totaled and removed from the scene by a private party.

The City of Salem Administration and Utility Office will be closing at 2:00 in the afternoon this Friday for the budget year close out. For utility bill payments, remote payment options are available. Use automated phone pay 24/7 at the number 1-888-443-4087. If you have your account number, you can also find out how much you owe. For web payment options, you may use credit, debit, or e-check 24/7 at the salemmo.com/city website by scrolling down and clicking on “Online Utility Payments.”

Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams has reported on the County Aid Road Trust (CART) funds received by the county for the month of August 2026. The CART Tax funds received are utilized within the county for the construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repairs of roads, bridges and highways, as directed by the county commission. For the month of August, the county has received $94,532.44. This is up year to date $42,730.31 or a percentage increase of 6.3%.

The North Wood R-IV Board of Education held its regular meeting the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 18th. After approval of the agenda, the Tax Rate Hearing was held with much discussion from the board. Superintendent Jeff Dodson presented tax rate information with concerns expressed for the district. The board approved setting the tax rate at $3.4584 for the 2026-27 school year. Regular business resumed. An update on facilities was shared, and a discussion of the strategic plan was held. The board approved the following: the ASBR; the local compliance plan; emergency drill schedule; and the professional development plan for the 2026-27 school year. Dodson informed the board there was a small amendment to the stipend schedule for volleyball coaches. The board then went into closed session before adjourning. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the North Wood R-IV Board of Education will be Sept. 15th at 6:00 in the evening and is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has released that projects within Phelps County to rehabilitate six bridges over Interstate 44 is in the home stretch with three bridges complete, two to begin rehabilitation now, and the final bridge on schedule. Crews continue working toward reopening Phelps County Hwy. J over I-44 (Exit 169). While crews previously hoped to open the bridge Friday, Aug.14th, contractors working with MoDOT are now targeting this Friday to open the bridge to all traffic. Hwy. 72 (Kingshighway) over I-44 in Rolla (Exit 184) remains under construction. Crews rehabilitating the bridge deck uncovered more extensive deterioration than expected, adding additional time to the first phase of work. Crews have now moved to the next and final phase. As with the previous phase, westbound Kingshighway will remain closed during the second half of the project, while the bridge remains open to eastbound traffic. If no further deterioration is found, the contractor plans to reopen the roadway to westbound traffic in mid-October, weather permitting. Work on the final bridge in this project is the Phelps County Hwy. E bridge in Rolla at Exit 185. Crews plan to begin removing the sidewalk adjacent to the northbound lanes the week of Aug. 24th. Nighttime single-lane closures on Route E can be expected through early October. Flaggers will direct traffic nightly through the work zone.

The Intercounty Electric Cooperative (IECA) has released that it has contracted with Apex Right of Way LLC. to control the brush growing within the cooperative right-of-ways. Beginning around the first of September, Apex will be selectively applying a low-volume herbicide to the leaves of woody stemmed vegetation. All products used are registered with the EPA, have no grazing restrictions for animals and will not be applied in maintained yard areas. If you have any questions, please contact Apex at 870-448-2183. If you like to learn more about the cooperative’s right-of-way maintenance program, visit its website at ieca.coop and search “right-of-way maintenance.” To see a map of the areas Apex will be working within, visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/IntercountyElectric.

The MU Extension will be offering a free four-week virtual program designed for adults with diabetes or pre-diabetes. This program will take place on Wednesdays from noon to 2:00 beginning Oct. 14th and continuing through Nov. 4th. The program will take place over Zoom. Participants will learn about meal planning, label reading, physical activity, self-monitoring, goal-setting, and more. The program will also include recipe demonstrations, resources, and opportunities to connect with other participants and the instructor. Funding for this course has been received through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services diabetes program. For questions or to register for the course, contact 573-266-2701.

According to the Highway Patrol’s Online Arrest Report, the following charges have been filed against 18-year-old Kaiden D. Birdsong of Salem: Felony DWI resulting in serious physical injury and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway, resulting in a crash. The report went on to state that Birdsong has been released. The charges are mere accusations and not 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 Dent County Collector’s Office has released that the 2026 Delinquent Tax Sale will be on Monday, Aug. 24th at 10:00 in the morning. Registration has begun for bidding. To sign up, visit the collector’s office at the Dent County Courthouse from 8:00 in the morning through 4:30 in the afternoon. For any questions or more information, contact the collector’s office at 573-729-3911. 

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be holding a Tax Rate Hearing this Thursday evening at 5:30 to be immediately followed by its regularly scheduled board meeting at the Salem R-80 Administration Office. After approval of the consent agenda, containing previous board minutes, bills, food service report, program evaluations, and sub list, the board will hear a report from Superintendent Nathan Wills on facilities and CSIP goals. Administration reports are to follow. Under new business, the board will consider approval of MSBA 2026 policy updates and the preliminary 2025-26 Annual Secretary of the Board Report (ASBR.) Non-certified staffing changes will then be approved before the board moves into executive session for the purposes of discussing personnel. Until closed, this meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Area Arts Council “The Creative Arts Center” will be holding its monthly meeting in the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 25th from 6:00 to 7:15. Everyone is invited to help plan classes and activities for the arts center. Instructors are expected to attend as much as possible. The arts council strives to celebrate the arts in the community and wants to involve the public, display and recognize local art and artists, and help bring art related activities to the community. The public is invited to attend this meeting!

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released that seal coating on Hwy. F will take place next week beginning on Monday. Blevins Asphalt will be completing the work over two days and will be out from 7:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the evening. Striping on the road will take place approximately seven days after the chip sealing is finished.

Montauk State Park invites the public to a townhall-style meeting for the park with representatives from Missouri State Parks on hand to provide information and answer questions. This will take place at the park’s campground amphitheater and will begin at 5:00 in the evening Wednesday, Sept. 16th. For more information, contact the park at 573-548-2201. The public is encouraged to attend and share comments or questions about the park and its operations. These public meetings, which are being held for all state parks and historic sites, help create two-way communication with the public. The meetings give representatives the opportunity to let people know the current statuses and future plans for the parks and sites, and they offer visitors the opportunity to comment.

Alley Spring Campground will be closed for paving from Tuesday, Sept. 8th through Monday, Sept. 21st. This closure will include the river access and the “Bluff Hole” swimming area. Floaters putting in or taking out at Alley Spring will need to use the Burr Oak river access on the other side of the river. All pre-existing reservations during the closure have been cancelled or altered and refunds issued. For questions during the process, call the Alley Spring Ranger Station at 573-226-3945 or the Big Spring Entrance Station at 573-323-4236. Repaving at the Alley Spring Campground is part of a park-wide project to repair and renew roadways throughout the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) invites the central district to discuss the updated draft of the High-Priority Unfunded Needs list. Participants can view information about unfunded transportation needs in the region and provide feedback in-person at a meeting at MoDOT’s Central District Office, located at 1511 Missouri Boulevard in Jefferson City. Can’t attend the meeting in person? The draft HPUN document and comment forms will be available online through Thursday, Sept. 10th at modot.org/unfundedneeds. Dent County is on the unfunded multimodal needs list, with a project description of needing sidewalk added from Center Street to Hwy. 32 within Salem. Estimated funding needed for that project is $620,000.

Watch for bid opportunities from the City of Salem. For purchases over $12,000, the city formally advertises Requests for Bids (RFBs) in the local newspaper, as required by state statute, and it also posts them online. Visit the city’s website at salemmo.com and search “City of Salem Bids” for a list of opportunities. Want to know when a new bid is posted? You can sign up for city notifications right from the city’s website. Scroll to the bottom of the page to “#KeepCurrent – Sign Up for Notifications” and enter your email address. You may be asked to enter it a couple of times as you complete the setup, then you can choose email or text notifications for the pages you want to follow. Select the Bids/RFB page, and you’ll be notified whenever the city posts a new opportunity.