Archive for 2026

The Dent County Commissioners have closed all offices at the Dent County Courthouse, Judicial Building and Annex due to the snow, but the commissioners are going to meet at 10:00 this morning in their office at the courthouse for the 2026 county budget hearing which is open to the public. All access to the courthouse will close after the hearing is adjourned. Also, Judge Michael Randazzo has closed all courts in all the counties served by the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court.

The cold from Winter Storm “Fern” remains which has brought us single-digit temperatures and wind chills well below zero this week, causing very high electric demand across the country. If the City of Salem sets a new Peak Demand for total electric use this morning from 6:00 to 11:00, the city will pay higher electricity costs for the next 12 months. Potentially impacting electric rates for in the future. The city would appreciate your help by safely conserving electricity by lowering your thermostat a few degrees if safe, turn off lights and electronics you are not using, and delay doing laundry, dishwashers, and other large appliances to off peak hours. Everything little thing you do to hold down your electric usage helps protect our electric system and control future costs.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees met Thursday evening, January 15th at 5:00. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report for the month of December. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated there were 5 cases of COVID-19 reported, while the active lead cases were reported at 70, plus 4 communicable disease cases. There were 22 Influenza A cases, 3 animal bites were reported, and there were 19 screenings for sexually transmitted infections, resulting in 70 total tests. The December environmental report showed there where 24 total inspections or re-inspections conducted. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there were 11 car seats distributed, there was  one Show-Me Healthy Women appointment, no CPR Courses, no consultation for Childcare Health, and there were 14 Title X appointments reported. There were two Presumptive Eligibility (Temporary Medicaid), while there were 330 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 568 total appointments other than WIC, 154 total provider appointments, 206 treatment court visits, 152 lab appointments and 56 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner Service Details showed one Show-Me Healthy Women appointment, 9 family plannings, 3 well-child visit, no other well-woman exam, 5 other physicals, 10 SEMO physicals, plus 34 other visits, and 93 acute illness appointments for a total of 154 visits. Laboratory details showed 155 Lab Draws, 8 appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, 6 pregnancy tests, 6 lead tests were reported, plus 12 other urine drug screenings. Phlebotomy appointments totaled 123, while all Lab appointments totaling 152. Immunizations for December showed 19 for COVID-19 and 37 for Influenza, plus 19 other vaccines given during 56 appointments. In the Administrator’s report, Moser announced the first Gala date is set for April 24th. He said that during December a number of back payments from the state were received, but that DCHC still came in under the threshold for a Federal Single Audit. Jessica Ricks provided a detailed written report regarding the activities of the Population Health Department. Moser reported that due to the loss of the CareCab driver those services are on hold until a new driver can be hired. He said that the cases of Flu are increasing with some reporting the highest number since 2019. The financial reports for December were reviewed. Current assets at the end of November were $1,263,492.87. Total assets were $2,106,002.85, total liabilities were $362,004.21, and equity was $1,721,062.36. Revenue for December was $251,501.32; expenses were $105,590.54 for a net operating revenue of $126,213.88. After other revenue and expenses, net revenue was $123,024.60. The report from H&R Block was also reviewed. After discussion the financial report was approved. The proposed bylaw changes were reviewed and approved by the board. Resolution 2026-001 regarding Policy-Procedure Governance adoption was reviewed and approved. The new Policy Manual was reviewed, discussed, modified, and approved with changes. During new business Zach presented a Cybersecurity grant that DCHC had been approved for over a year after applying for it. The context around the grant plan had changed since the application was submitted and it was not in the budget. Motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the grant and modify the budget accordingly after Zach determines that the grant still meets DCHC operational needs. The Board entered closed session at 6:20 to discuss personnel. At 6:41 the Board returned from closed session having discussed personnel and taking no votes. Prior to adjournment the next regular meeting date was set for Thursday, February 19th, 2025, with the hearing for the Environmental Fees starting first at 5:00. The hearing was moved to February because the public was not adequately notified by the January meeting.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Dennis Cooksey who lives on Dent County Road 4055 came in to discuss that road not being graded or cared for to the degree it used to be in the past. Cooksey started the discussion with Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson who was the district two commissioner years ago, and Cooksey said the road care changed while he was commissioner. Their discussion centered around a failed arrangement to widen the road and the installation of gate on that road on the Cooksey property. Since Commissioner Larson no longer has any say over the roads, Cooksey moved his discussion to District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams and told him the gate is gone and showed him aerial photographs of where the road used to be taken care of by the county. Williams said he will check with the assessor’s office and/or recorder’s office to see if there is an easement for the road given to the county by the property owners for the area being discussed and get back to Mr. Cooksey. Dent County Deputy Canyon Goodbar reported the Local Violent Crime Prevention Grant submitted by the sheriff’s office was approved for $21,128.87 for the purchase of new radios. This is a reimbursement grant, and the commission signed the grant paperwork. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the CART receipts for the month of January. She stated the county received $88,205.91 and that is down $3,245 from the December 2025 receipts, and higher than the January 2025 receipts by $2,672. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said rock is being stockpiled in preparation for the anticipated winter storm, and the trucks and graders are being prepared with salt spreaders and blades. Green said fuel bids for 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel were taken and County Fuels had the low bid of $2.22 per gallon that beat the bids of Phil-Mart and MFA Oil. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported grading is being done on Dent County Road 4060 while other equipment is being readied for the projected storm. Williams did say crews are also replacing signs on county roads 2520 and 2530. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended a tourism tax committee meeting where two applications were partially funded and four reimbursements approved. Larson also said he had to attend an emergency meeting at the MRPC office in St. James concerning the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District as legislation has been introduced at the state level to eliminate all the solid waste management districts statewide. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley was not in attendance due to her attending the Missouri Association of Counties Board meeting, but she wanted to remind everyone Monday morning at 10:00 in the commissioner’s office will be the 2026 county budget hearing. The 2026 county budget is available at the county clerk’s office in paper form and is free to anyone who would like to have one You can also contact the office at 573-729-4144 and they can e-mail the entire budget to you. The hearing Monday morning is open to the public. The next regular meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public. 

With accumulating snows expected, remember there are certain streets within the city limits of Salem that have been designated as emergency “Snow Routes.” These streets shall have priority over other streets for the clearing of snow, ice or other debris. The streets are marked with “Snow Route” signs. A list of the snow routes is available only at salemmo.com. Remember to remove your vehicle from these routes when an accumulation of ice and snow is expected so that the route can be cleared. Your car or truck could be towed at your expense, or you could be sited for a parking violation. If you have any questions, call the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.

Wednesday in front of Judge Michael Randazzo in the 42nd Circuit Court in Dent County, Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley recommended the termination of Anthony Nicholls of Rolla from alternative treatment court. A probation revocation hearing was then held where arguments were heard to continue probation for Nicholls, but the judge revoked his probation and sentenced him to serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as requested by Prosecutor Curley. Also on Wednesday, Judge Randazzo ruled on the previous probation for the possession of a controlled substance and tampering with a motor vehicle by Christopher Black from Salem. The probation was confessed and revoked, and Black was sentenced to serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as requested by the prosecutor.

As the bulk of credit card bills start rolling in from your December Christmas purchases or travels, make sure that you review your statements carefully to make sure the charges are accurate and have the correct amount. Many people who use their credit devices extensively over the holidays for shopping and other everyday uses open the door for scammers to be able to target innocent people like you. If you find fraudulent charges, contact your credit card company immediately or if you have online access, question the charge on your statement. You have 30 days to stop payment on that charge. If you use a debit device and discover unwarranted charges against your account, contact your bank immediately as you do not have a 30-day grace period like you do with a credit card to dispute the charge. With a debit device, the money has already been removed from your account. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if you report the charge within two business days, while waiting up to 60 days can make you liable for up to $500. If you don’t report it by then, you may be liable for the full amount. Report the fraudulent charge to your bank right away via phone and/or in writing, and report any unauthorized charges on your statement within 60 days to avoid losing more money. Also, trending scams show that scammers are now capable of taking a personal device and authorizing payments from people’s phones. Make sure your apps have multi-factor authentication like biometrics and one-time-passcodes required to access and transact. Protect yourself and stay vigilant to protect your accounts and make 2026 a great year!

Each January, EPA seeks to raise awareness of radon exposure during National Radon Action Month, encouraging residents to protect themselves and their families by having their homes tested for the presence of radon. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. If left untreated, radon can build up indoors, leading to adverse health effects. After smoking, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., taking the lives of approximately 21,000 Americans every year. Radon exposure is a preventable health risk, and testing for radon can help prevent prolonged exposure. It is estimated that on the average, one in three homes in Missouri have dangerously high level as of radon. You can check the EPA’s website to view a map of Radon Zones for Missouri. The EPA recommends taking action to fix your home if you discover radon levels above 4 picocuries per liter. If your home does have elevated levels of radon, a qualified professional can install a system to lower your indoor radon levels. For more guidance on how to address radon risks, see the EPA’s radon website.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters they can now use artificial light and other methods for an extended period during the coyote hunting season. Regulations changes approved by the Conservation Commission in fall 2025 allow the use of artificial light, night vision, and thermal imagery equipment from January 1st through September 30th, excluding the prescribed spring turkey hunting season. The changes took effect Jan. 1, 2026. During this extended period, coyotes may not be chased, pursued, or taken during the daylight hours from April 1st through the day prior to the beginning of the spring turkey hunting season. Coyotes, except as otherwise provided in the Wildlife Code of Missouri, may be taken by hunting, and pelts and carcasses may be possessed, transported, and sold in any numbers throughout the year. Special method restrictions apply during spring turkey season, elk season and deer season. See Allowed & Prohibited methods at mdc.mo.gov. Any questions about conservation area regulations and the Wildlife Code can be directed to local MDC staff. Find local MDC staff by county at mdc.mo.gov. Find a complete list of Missouri’s hunting seasons at mdc.mo.gov.

The Shannon County Sheriff’s office reports that three people have died in a house fire near Eminence. Firefighters responded to the scene Monday morning, but investigators have not yet determined what caused the blaze. The Missouri State Fire Marshal is now handling the investigation, and authorities have not released the identities of the victims. The Shannon County Sheriff expressed gratitude to the numerous agencies that assisted with the response, including the Eminence Area Volunteer Fire Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Fire Marshal’s Office, American Red Cross, Emergency Management, the Coroner’s Office, and Mercy EMS. The sheriff acknowledged the emotional toll such incidents take on first responders and emphasized the importance of community support during difficult times, stating that the strength of Shannon County has always been found in its people.

Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) will be awarding two community grants of up to $1,000 each. Preference will be given to projects that focuses on community or economic development and projects that will assist at-risk children and/or low-income families. Any nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, schools, faith-based organizations and governmental entities looking to address these needs are encouraged to apply. Organizations and governmental entities must be based or provide service in the Meramec Region to qualify. The MRCF has awarded grants to further local projects through its community grant program and in the 13 years since the program was initiated, $24,400 in grant funds have been awarded to 68 community projects throughout the region. The grants are made possible through the Meramec Regional Community Foundation Community Grant-making Fund, which was created by a $30,000 donation from Meramec Regional Planning Commission. A portion of the fund’s earnings are distributed each year through grants.  Applications for the 2026 grant round will be accepted online only until 5:00 in the afternoon on February 2, 2026. For more information on this grant opportunity, contact Bonnie Prigge at bprigge@meramecregion.org or 573-265-2993.

Missouri’s 2025-2026 deer hunting season ended January 15 with a preliminary total harvest of 301,954 deer, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. The harvest included 145,222 antlered bucks, 25,129 button bucks and 131,603 does. Top harvest counties for the overall deer season were Franklin with 6,770, Howell with 5,490 and Callaway with 5,346. Hunters harvested 275,656 deer during the 2024-2025 deer season. Deer hunting ended with the close of archery season. Hunters checked 62,203 deer during the 2025-2026 archery deer season. Top archery counties were Jefferson with 1,571, Franklin with 1,272 and St. Louis with 1,076. Last year’s archery deer harvest total was 56,516. MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said Missouri hunters enjoyed a successful season. He noted the harvest rebounded from last year’s lower total, especially across much of southern Missouri. The 2025-2026 harvest total was slightly above the five-year average and marks the sixth time the harvest total has exceeded 300,000 deer. MDC reported four non-fatal, self-inflicted firearms-related hunting incidents during the season, with one involving deer hunting and others involving other game. More information on 2025-2026 deer harvest totals by season, county and type of deer is available on MDC’s website. Past year harvest information is also available on MDC’s website.

The Missouri Department of Transportation postponed road closures for core sampling on Phelps County Route HH over Spring Creek. Originally scheduled to begin January 19, crews will now begin taking core samples at the bridge site just south of Road 29 on February 9. These dates could change. For traffic updates, call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT or visit MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map.