Archive for 2026

An accident occurred in Reynolds County Friday morning at approximately 3:10 on Highway 72 six miles east of Bunker. According to the Highway Patrol report a westbound 2009 Subaru Outback, driven by a 61-year-old woman from New Bloomfield, Missouri, crossed the center line and struck an eastbound 2016 Freightliner driven by a 56-year-old man from Bellview, Missouri. The report stated that the Freightliner continued off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. The woman suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Mercy South in St. Louis. According to the report the man suffered no injuries. The report stated that the woman was not wearing a safety restraint, while the man was. The Subaru was totaled and removed from the scene by Rowdy’s Towing. The Freightliner sustained moderate damage and was also removed by Rowdy’s Towing.

An accident occurred late Saturday afternoon around 4:40 in Dent County at the intersection of Hwy K and Hwy Z. According to the highway patrol report a 2018 GMC Acadia driven by a 38-year-old female from Illoinos was traveling northbound and failed to yield to a 2025 Toyota Tundra driven by a 46-year-old male from Jadwin that was travelling southbound. A 45-year-old female from Jadwin in the Toyota suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Salem Ambulance to Salem Hospital. She was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

The City of Salem announced it will be conducting road construction and pavement on East Hawkins Street and West Ninth Street, this coming week. They respectfully ask that all vehicles are removed from the roadway. If vehicles remain in the roadway, officers will attempt to locate the owner, but if unsuccessful, they will tow the vehicle at the owner’s expense. The city would like to thank you for assisting them in making Salem a better place to live.

Intercounty Electric Cooperative Association (IECA) will be holding its 90th Annual Meeting on Friday, June 26th at the Old City Park in Licking on Maple Avenue from 3:00 to 8:30 in the evening. The event will include hot air balloon rides from 3:30 to 5:30, weather depending, and a car cruise-in with prizes and awards, along with yard games, face painting, pony rides, a petting zoo, and even a performance from the Kimble Parker Band from 3:30 to 4:30 and another at 7:30 to 8:30 in the evening. This event is free and everyone is welcome to attend, member or not, but only members will be able to vote for board members.

As black bear sightings increase within the area, remember that intentionally feeding them puts people and property at risk and can lead to the bear’s death. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds people to be BearWise. 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. Feeding bears makes them lose their natural fear of humans, and teaches them to see humans as food providers. They will learn to go to places like homes, campsites, and neighborhoods to look for food, instead of staying in the forest. While hiking or camping, stay alert and avoid confrontation – make noise so you don’t surprise a bear by clapping, singing, or talking loudly. If you see a bear, leave it alone and do not approach. Back away slowly with your arms raised and speak in a calm, loud voice. Do not turn your back to the bear. Walk away slowly and do not run. For more information, such as tips and tricks on keeping your food secure, visit mdc.mo.gov and search “camping and hiking in black bear country.” According to the MDC, 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.

Feral hogs remain a major threat to agriculture and wildlife in southeastern Missouri, but the state is gaining ground. Jason Sumners, Missouri Conservation Department Director, told the Conservation Commission May 29th that the state and the federal USDA are making significant progress in the war against wild hogs. According to Sumners, the use of drones and helicopters continues to be an effective and efficient method of removing feral hogs from the landscape. Last year, the state and federal partnership removed over 6,100 feral hogs. More than 2,700 feral hogs were removed by aircraft. Feral hogs can be aggressive and have been known to attack people, though the greater risk is from infectious diseases carried by wild hogs. Anyone who sees one or more feral hogs is strongly advised not to shoot them, as that will cause them to scatter and make trapping them more difficult. Feral hog sightings should instead be reported to the Missouri Department of Conservation or to the USDA. Report feral hog sightings to 573-522-4115, ext. 3296, or online by visiting mdc.mo.gov and searching “feral hogs in Missouri.”

The Dent County Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is in need of more volunteers to assist with bed deliveries on the outskirts of Dent County, including Bunker and Sligo. If you are someone willing and able to lend a hand, join SHP, an international non-profit that builds, assembles, and delivers new beds to children in need to ensure no child sleeps on the floor of our town. Contact Patti McKeown at patti.mckeown@shpbeds.org or call the chapter at 1-844-432-2337 for more information.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green reported that both district one and district two crew members are off for the holiday of Juneteenth. Over the course of the week, district one crew members have been working on hauling and stockpiling rock, as well as preparing County Road 4110 for overlay. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that district two crew members have been working on grading roads in the Sligo area and preparing chipseal roads for overlay. Crew members will be continuing preparation for overlay into next week. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported that at the Solid Waste Committee meeting in St. James, a nomination of officers was held with Larson remaining as chairman. Financials were also approved at that meeting. Larson attended a Missouri Association of Counties (MAC) “Data Center Summit” meeting held in Jefferson City. The meeting was educational, but Larson ultimately reiterated the commissioners are against data centers and for safeguarding the county. Commissioners will be seeking legal counsel on possible preventative actions the county may take. Larson also attended a Tourism Commission meeting, in which the board approved four reimbursements. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills are to be approved, and that excused absentee voting will begin on June 23rd. A representative of the Salem Chambers Singers, Jackson Harris, requested the use of the courthouse front lawn to sell snowcones on July 4th. The commissioners approved the request. Meanwhile, under public comments, resident Katie Ann Gaither advocated against Flock camera technology, citing concerns of it violating constitutional rights of residents. Gaither encouraged commissioners to take actions to remove the devices from the county. Commissioners informed Gaither that the devices were outside of their control, and that she should contact the Sheriff’s Office for more information on how the cameras are utilized to protect the county. County Collector Shannon VanKirk and County Assessor Alisa Brookshire came in to suggest Dent County become an occupancy county and to have legal counsel draft the ordinance or order, if approved. If approved, it would begin in 2026. No decision was made, as the commissioners will gather more information on the issue. The Dent County Courthouse will be closed June 19th in observance of Juneteenth. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be on Monday, June 22nd at 9:00 in the morning in the courthouse. These meetings are open to the public.

A representative of Mercy Clinic Family Medicine has confirmed with Your World Today that the clinic in Salem and Steelville will be shutting down. The Salem primary care clinic will be closing June 29th, and the Steelville Clinic will be closing July 9th, after 32 years of service. According to a statement provided by Mercy, the decision comes as rural healthcare providers face significant cuts to federal healthcare funding. Mercy is currently working with patients to transition their care to nearby clinics in Rolla and Saint James. If you have any questions regarding the Salem Clinic you’re encouraged to call (573) 729-6225 or visit their office at 404 West Rolla Road in Salem.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the upcoming Independence Day parade on Saturday, July 4th at 6:00 in the evening. Line  up for entrants begins at 5:00 on Grand Street, in front of Southwest Baptist University. The parade will depart east on Franklin, North on MacArthur, East on Fourth Street, and end at the Dent County Courthouse. The theme of this year’s parade will be America’s 250th: Celebrating Our Past, Present and Future. To sign up or for more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 573-729-6900. If you can’t make it to the parade, KSMO Media will be streaming the parade LIVE on the KSMO Stream Facebook page, the KSMO YouTube channel and on ksmoradio.com which is our Twitch channel. All three of the streams are free and will be available at the KSMO website home page (ksmoradio.com). The parade will probably begin streaming around 6:15. If you can’t watch it live, it will be archived for playback at a later time. After the parade, visit the City of Salem Park for a fireworks show put on by the Firework Committee.

Missouri S&T will be hosting a Community Job Fair located at the Innovation Lab on 650 Tim Bradley Way in Rolla this Saturday, beginning at 10:00 in the morning and ending at 2:00 in the afternoon. Attendees will have a chance to connect face-to-face with a variety of local employers and campus departments all in one place. This is an opportunity to learn about current and future job openings, ask questions, and make meaningful connections. There will be free career workshops, including some on resume writing tips, interview skills and confidence, and military transition support. No registration is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resume.

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon in Iron County around 12:18 on Route KK about three miles south of Bixby. According to the highway patrol report, a 65-year old Bunker man, driving a 2004 Peterbilt southbound, ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned. The man suffered moderate injuries and was taken from the scene by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis. The man was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The vehicle was removed from the scene by Buckley’s Towing.

The North Wood R-IV Board of Education met for its monthly meeting Tuesday evening. After the approval of the agenda and consent agenda, the board went into closed session during which the board approved allowing Katie Sapp to withdraw her letter of resignation. Back in open session, the board approved the hiring of Brandy Lariomore and Katelyn Shipman for the 2026-27 school year. The board approved reassigning the duties of homeless coordinator, ELL coordinator, and foster care coordinator to Katie Sapp. The strategic plan was discussed and the stipend schedule for the 2026-27 school year was presented and approved. The budget for the 2025-26 school year was amended to actual numbers, and the board approved using the current budget until the new one is presented in August. Several bids were also approved, including a bid for food service from US Foodservice; a bid for propane from Ferrell Gas; a bid for trash service from GFL Environmental; a bid for pest control from Integrity Pest; and a bid for milk from Hiland Dairy. Bus routes were approved as presented. The board was presented with and approved a copy of the AMI plan for the 2026-27 school year. Updates were approved for several board policies and regulations. Finally, the board adjourned. The next meeting of the North-Wood R-IV Board of Education will be on Aug. 21st from 8:30 to 11:30 in the evening.

The Dent-Phelps R-III Board of Education met for its monthly meeting May 21st in the conference room. After the approval of the agenda and consent agenda, which contained bills, previous meeting minutes, and the May financial report, the board approved the bid from Brown Heating & Cooling for the HVAC preventative maintenance schedule for the 2026-27 school year. The board also approved soliciting bids for milk and propane for the 2026-27 school year. The Dent-Phelps R-III Literacy Plan Revision and Comprehensive Needs Assessment was approved as presented. The board approved going into closed session and then returned to open session before adjourning. No votes were made during the closed session. The next meeting for the Dent-Phelps R-III Board of Education will be on Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:00 in the evening.

Everyone is being asked to rally around Zach Moser and his family this Friday night. “We’ve Got Your Back, Zach” will be held Friday evening from 5:00 to 9:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The event will include an auction, dessert auction, concessions, T-shirts, and community support for a family facing an incredibly difficult battle with Stage 4 Sarcoma. All monetary donations will be accepted as no donation is too small. If you would like to donate or help support this fundraiser, please contact Susie Cahill at susie@salemcommunitycenter.org. In addition to auctions, organizers will also be holding a pickleball tournament on Saturday morning beginning at 10:30. Registration will be $25 per player. A competitive 3v3 basketball tournament will also be held Saturday, June 27th, with registration at $60 per team. All proceeds from the fundraisers will help Zach and his family with treatment expenses, travel, and daily living costs as he continues his fight against cancer. For more information on how to donate, please call 573-739-1127 or email Susie@SalemCommunityCenter.org.

The City of Salem Animal Shelter is located at 1401 Mullnack Drive and is open for adoptions. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon. To contact the Salem Animal Shelter for more information, contact 573-247-4057. Community members interested in volunteering can reach out through the Friends of Salem Animal Shelter Facebook page found by searching “Friends of Salem Animal Shelter” on Facebook. The Friends of Salem Animal Shelter Facebook page also features a showcase of adoptable dogs. 

The Salem Public Library will be hosting a “Hamilton” trivia night on Thursday, June 25th from 6:30 to 8:30. Adults 18 and over are invited to test their knowledge of the “Hamilton” Broadway musical about pivotal figures in American history. Be in the room where it happens! Costumes are optional. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees will be holding its monthly board meeting at 5:00 in the evening Thursday at the Dent County Health Center Annex Building at 1014 E. Scenic Rivers Boulevard in the Conference Room. The tentative agenda includes the approval of the previous meeting minutes. Under old business, the board will be presented the operations reports, administrator’s report, and will consider the approval of the financial reports. Under new business, the board will be presented a continuity planning proposal. The board will then vote to close part of this meeting. Then, the board will adjourn. Until closed, the meeting is open to the public.

The North Wood R-IV School District has released that it has been selected as this year’s district award recipient for the Dr. Mary Miller Richter Award. In honor of Mary Richter, Ph.D., Missouri’s founding Director of the Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support (SW-PBS) initiative, one school and one school district is honored annually that exemplifies the ideals, principles, and practices of positive behavior support. The award recipients demonstrate a firm commitment to improving the lives of students, the educators who teach them, and the community in which the school resides through innovation, creativity, and/or a firm commitment in staying the course despite barriers. Congratulations to the dedicated staff at North Wood R-IV for their much deserved recognition for their commitment to building a positive culture for students!

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repair. LIHEAP can help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer through programs that reduce the risk of health and safety problems that arise from unsafe heating and cooling situations and practices. This summer, LIHEAP might be able to help you by helping to pay your cooling bills; providing assistance to service, repair, or replace an air conditioner; helping with the purchase of an air conditioner; distributing or loaning air conditioning units or air source heat pumps; or establishing or providing transportation to a cooling center. If you or someone you know needs help with cooling bills, LIHEAP may be able to help. For more information, visit energyhelp.us, email energyassistance@ncat.org, or call 866-674-6327, weekdays from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the evening.

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 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.

Four constitutional amendments will be seen on the August 4th Primary Election ballot. Amendment 1 – If approved by the voters, continues for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites. Amendment 2 – if approved by voters, requires that all charter counties, including Jackson County, elect a county assessor and that such assessors comply with training requirements established by state law. Amendment 4 – if approved by voters, modifies current requirements that a simple statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution, requires a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution, and makes available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot. Amendment 5 – if approved by voters, requires the phase out and elimination of the individual income tax based on revenue growth, requires the reduction of property taxes and other local taxes to offset any local sales tax revenue increases, while preserving local funding for public schools. The last day to register to vote for the Primary Election is July 8th. Excused absentee voting at the Dent County Clerk’s Office will begin June 23rd and continue through August 3rd. No excuse absentee voting will begin July 21st. To stay up to date on upcoming deadlines and voting information, be sure to follow the Dent County Elections Facebook page by searching Facebook for “Dent County Elections/County Clerk-Angie Curley.” For more information, visit the Missouri Secretary of State website at sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri.