Archive for 2026

A Salem woman was involved in an accident in Reynolds County Sunday afternoon at approximately 3:30. According to the Highway Patrol report the accident occurred on Highway 21 four miles south of Ellington when a 2014 Jeep Renegade traveled off of the left side of the roadway, overturned and struck a tree. The report stated that the 75-year-old female suffered serious injuries and was transported by aircraft to Mercy South in St. Louis. The report went on to indicate that the woman was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Jeep sustained moderate damage and was towed from the scene by Assie’s towing at trooper’s request.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will hold their regular meeting tonight at 7:00 in the hospital’s library. After the call to order, roll call and approval of the agenda, the board will discuss approval of policies and procedures from Infectious Diseases, including the Healthcare Worker Immunization Policy. Any registered public comments or presentations will be heard before the operational reports from Chief Executive Officer Brooke Bollman, Chief Nursing Officer, Amber Hogan, and Quality Improvement Director Kendra Mobray. There is no unfinished business on this meeting’s agenda. Under New Business, the board will discuss the 340B Mock Audit, the hospital’s strategic plan through fiscal year 2031, and the Childcare Allowance Benefit/Grant. The meeting will then adjourn to executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters, before adjourning. Except for the executive session, the meeting of the Salem Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public. Anyone that would like to attend by telephone or electronic means should contact the SMH Administration office at 573-729-6626 Extension 4005.

Dent County Assessor Alisa Brookshire wants to remind everyone your annual assessment forms that list your personal and business property for 2025 are due March 1st. You may drop off your assessment list at the assessor’s office at the courthouse. They are open from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. There is also a drop box on the front lawn of the courthouse for your convenience if you can’t make it by until after hours. You can also mail in your assessment list forms but make sure you have a postal clerk postmark your envelope by taking it to the desk inside at the post office. You can also e-file your assessment list form online until April 30th. Just follow the instructions on the assessment form you received in the mail. The penalty for not getting in your assessment form on time is determined at $10 per every $1,000 of assessed valuation with a maximum penalty of $100 if you have assessed valuation of $10,000 or more. If you have any questions or need assistance with the online form, call Dent County Assessor Alisa Brookshire at the Dent County Courthouse at 573-729-6010 or stop by during regular business hours.

On Saturday February 14th, Patrolmen from the Salem Police Department initiated an investigation into the whereabouts of a wanted fugitive who had been evading authorities for a Phelps County warrant, for approximately four years. Officers responded to the 100 block of South Jackson Street after receiving information that the subject was inside a residence. Officers issued verbal commands for the individual to exit the residence; however, the subject initially refused to comply. Additional assistance was requested from the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, and a perimeter was established. The subject, identified as Thomas Weaver, was subsequently taken into custody without incident. Weaver was transported to the Dent County Jail, where he is being held on the following charge: Failure to Appear for driving while revoked. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s Revolving Loan Fund has over $700,000 to loan to businesses in any of the eight counties served by the Meramec Regional Planning Commission which includes Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski, and Washington counties.  Any individual business can apply for up to $200,000 in a revolving fund loan. Benefits of this loan program include fixed rate financing for the borrower, improving a locality’s quality of life, a lower down payment for the eligible passive concern, and longer maturities to repay the debt for the borrower. For any business needing assistance, call the MRPC office today at 573-265-2993.

Ameren Missouri is reminding residential customers across the state that a wide range of resources remain available to support qualifying households with their energy bills in 2026. In addition to programs funded by the company, Ameren partners with the Energy Assistance Foundation and hundreds of Community Action Agencies to ensure customers can apply for funds, including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). In Dent and Phelps counties, Ameren Missouri provides natural gas services. Ameren also invites customers who are able to give back to their communities to partner with the company by making a one-time or recurring contribution to the “Dollar More” program. The “Dollar More” program provides eligible households up to $600 per calendar year. Also, qualifications for the program have increased up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Throughout 2025, Ameren Missouri partnered with hundreds of Community Action Agencies to make more than $140 million in energy assistance and LIHEAP support available to customers across Missouri as well as in Illinois. For more information on all available resources, visit Ameren.com/Assistance.

A “Junk Journals” class will be held on Thursday evening, February 19th from 5:00 to 8:00 with Gail Phelan at the Creative Arts Center. Attendees will make a booklet out of mailers, envelopes, and scraps of packing paper. Use pretty much anything you would normally toss in the bin to make a journal. The class will learn the ‘3-hole pamphlet stitch’ to bind your book together. The class is for those who are 6-years and up with adult. The cost of the class is $20 All materials and supplies will be provided. At least four people must sign up for the class, and it will be limited to 13.  To sign up for this class or future classes like Chunky Knit Blankets, Oil Painting, and Clay Sculpting, go to the SACBA website, click on the “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen have called a special meeting today in the Old City Hall Auditorium at 5:00. Following roll call and approval of the agenda, the board will discuss the MPUA invoice approval, before adjourning. This meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds Missouri hunters and anglers that related annual permits expire at the end of February, including 2025 permits for small game, fishing, trout fishing, and combination hunting and fishing. You can buy Missouri hunting and fishing permits from one of many vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through MDC’s free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO Fishing, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices. Save time by buying hunting and fishing permits for multiple people in a single transaction. Select the “Additional Customer” option during the permit purchase. Avoid having to manually renew permits each year by using MDC’s Permit Auto-Renewal Service. It allows customers to enroll eligible permits in a service that will automatically renew their permits prior to the start of the next season or permit year. The process was designed to ensure customers never have expired permits when they need them most. Learn more about this service at mdc.mo.gov/permits/permit-auto-renewal. Commercial and lifetime permits can be purchased only through the MDC Permit Services Unit by calling 573-522-0107. Contact them for an application. 

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has released its 2025 Progress Update for the Missouri Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. The update highlights the state’s significant progress in reducing nutrient pollution, improving water quality and strengthening statewide conservation efforts. The Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is Missouri’s long-term, adaptive approach to reducing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to help protect local waterways and downstream ecosystems. The update outlines progress Missouri has made through collaboration with state agencies, conservation districts, agricultural partners and local communities. Chris Wieberg, deputy director of MoDNR’s Missouri Geological Survey said that Missouri’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy reflects the state’s commitment to balancing agricultural productivity, economic growth and environmental stewardship. Key highlights from the 2025 Progress Update include: More than $168 million invested in conservation practices through the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax from 2022 to 2025. Prevention of more than 5.2 million tons of soil and associated nutrients from entering Missouri waterways. Expansion of cover crop adoption, with more than 168,000 acres served in 2025. And implementation of more than 50 active 4R Nutrient Stewardship contracts covering over 4,300 acres by MoDNR’s Soil and Water Conservation Program. The report also highlights Missouri’s participation in national efforts to address Gulf Hypoxia, the development of nutrient trading programs and ongoing research through edge-of-field monitoring and innovative other conservation practices. In addition to documenting progress, the update outlines priorities for 2026 and 2027. These include expanding nutrient trading, increasing watershed modeling, strengthening partnerships with USDA-NRCS and advancing research on emerging conservation technologies.

Applications for the 54th Cadet Patrol Academy are now being accepted. The joint program between the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the American Legion is looking for young men and women ages from 16 to 18 to join the 54th Cadet Patrol Academy class. This week-long class begins June 7th and gives students an opportunity to gain hands on experience and an understanding of law enforcement. Additionally, students can explore different career paths within the Patrol. The Cadets will spend the week mirroring the work recruits do during the Patrol academy. A graduation ceremony will be held for participants on Friday, June 12th. Students who apply must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher, be of good moral character, have a valid driver’s license or permit, turn 16 prior to April 1st, and have an interest in pursuing a career in the Criminal Justice System. Those interested may obtain an application from their local American Legion Post. Questions regarding the Cadet Patrol Academy can be directed to Corporal Michael Halim at 573-522-7650.