Archive for 2026

An accident occurred in Phelps County Thursday night at approximately 11:37 on County Road 7220 near Highway W. According to the Highway Patrol report an eastbound 1999 BMW 323I, driven by a 20-year-old Rolla man, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. The driver suffered minor injuries. Another Rolla man, a 19-year-old, suffered moderate injuries, while a third occupant, an 18-year-old Newburg man, suffered minor injuries. All three men were transported by Phelps Health Ambulances to Phelps Health. The report stated that both Rolla men were wearing safety restraints, while the Newburg man was not. The BMW was totaled and removed from the scene by D and D Towing.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green shared that with the recent rain crew members have a long list to grade, including county roads 5610, 5140, 4230, 4235, 4247, and 6505. Rock will be hauled, with the assistance of district two crew members, to County Road 5610 and 6280. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported crew members would be grading County Road 2510 and 4290. Cutting brush will also be done on County Road 4290. Green further reported that bids have been received for fuel, with MFA bidding $3.73 and County Fuel bidding $3.98 per gallon of gas. The bid from MFA was chosen. On Monday, Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he attended a Tourism Commission meeting with one application tabled, two applications approved, and two reimbursements approved. On Wednesday, Larson attended a meeting with the Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation (MCEC) where board members discussed finances. Larson also shared that the courthouse is looking for applicants for a full-time custodian position. Those applications can be picked up from the Dent County Clerk’s office. For the FEMA crossing on county roads 3210 and 5150, the bid was awarded to the lowest bidder of Build Tec Construction, LLC. at $66,950. Commissioners signed off on the award letter which will then be returned to Great Rivers Engineering. County Clerk Angie Curley reported that the last day to register to vote for the Nov. 3rd General Election is Oct. 7th. Excused absentee voting has begun and no excuse, in-person absentee voting will begin Oct. 20th. Absentee voting will continue through Nov. 2nd. The deadline to return ballots to the election authority will be no later than 7:00 in the evening Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. Reach out with any questions to the Dent County Clerk’s Office by phone at 573-729-4144 or email at dent@sos.mo.gov. Under public comments, a representative of VFW Post 6280 of Salem stated that the organization has been commissioned by the State Commander to build a little free library. The organization has discussed possible locations and requested permission to construct one at the Dent County Courthouse before April 2027. The commission recommended seeking elsewhere, such as the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, Craig Plaza, or Forum Plaza, due to the ongoing courthouse sidewalk project and the complications it could cause. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday, Sept. 28th at 9:00 in the morning at the courthouse and is open to the public.

Friday night before the Salem Tiger Football game, senior Abby Terrill was crowned the 2026 Salem Tiger Football Homecoming Queen by the 2025 Homecoming Queen, Maggie Hogan. Her court was comprised of freshman Ella Bass, sophomore Alayah Norris, junior Emma Schlag, and seniors Emma Purcell, Morgan Hollis and Trista Dooley. Congratulations Abby!

Four Texas County Juveniles were involved in an accident late Wednesday afternoon at approximately 5:30 on Reed Road three miles south of Licking. According to the Highway Patrol report a southbound 2024 Polaris Ranger 1000 was being driven by a 15-year-old Duke female when she lost control and the Polaris overturned. The driver suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston. A 15-year-old male from Licking suffered minor injuries and was transported by private vehicle to TCMH. A 16-year-old female of Licking and a 16-year-old male of Edgar Springs also suffered minor injuries, but they both refused medical treatment at the scene. The Polaris sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by the owner.

The State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors revoked the entity licenses of James & Gahr Mortuary, located in Rolla and St. James, and Dent County Memorial Chapel, located in Salem, according to a press release provided by the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance. The revocation of the entity licenses includes both the funeral establishment licenses and preneed licenses. The individual funeral profession licenses held by Donn and Connie James have also been revoked. This includes the funeral director, embalmer and preneed agent license for Donn James and the funeral director and preneed agent license for Connie James. This action was taken due to violations of Missouri laws related to the management of preneed contracts and funds, failure to maintain a business registration with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office, and failure to adhere to the terms of a probationary agreement with the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. The board’s discipline order requires James & Gahr Mortuary to transfer existing preneed funeral contracts and funds to another Missouri-licensed preneed seller within 30 days of the order. The revocation of these licenses means James & Gahr Mortuary, Dent County Memorial Chapel, Donn James and Connie James may no longer operate a funeral establishment, sell preneed contracts, including holding preneed funds, or represent themselves as licensed funeral professionals in Missouri. The State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors is the state agency that regulates the funeral profession in Missouri. In addition, the board issues individual and entity licenses within the funeral profession, sets policy regarding the practice within the profession, investigates complaints concerning individuals and entities, and takes disciplinary action against funeral profession licensees when appropriate.

The Salem Area Arts Council, alongside the Salem Area Community Betterment Association (SACBA), will be holding its annual “Art in the Parking Lot” event within downtown Salem this Saturday from 10:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. This event, now called “Art Walk,” will be set up along 4th Street, offering local music, performances, and plenty of vendors with locally made arts and crafts, alongside free kids activities and demonstrations. Those with classic cars are also invited to cruise in and park at the courthouse square to help support the event. For more information or updates, visit the Facebook page at Facebook.com/artsinSalemMO.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is an international non-profit 501(C)(3) organization that builds, assembles and delivers beds to children who do not have a bed. The Dent County chapter will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 28th, beginning at 5:30 in the evening. This meeting will take place at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory in the Walden Conference Room. 

The Scenic Rivers Industries, also refereed to as SRI, is in the process of moving to their new permanent location. To give their staff time to complete the move they will not be picking up cardboard or accepting any recycling from Sunday, Sept. 27th through Oct. 4th. SRI wants to extend a thank you to everyone who has supported them as they look forward to serving the community from their new home.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met for its regular meeting Tuesday night at the Old City Hall Auditorium. Under public comments, residents Dave Davison and Lana Grove came forward for a reply to comments made during the Sept. 8th meeting. Aldermen Rick Letchworth and Mayor Greg Parker informed Grove and Davison that replies from the board may be heard via email. Moving forward, the board approved a bid from Stella Jones for electric poles in the amount of $18,461.37. Next, the board approved a bid from Ed Morse Automotive Group for a 2026 Ford truck at $62,474 for the electric department. The board then discussed bids for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, a platform that integrates several city business functions, such as financial management, budgeting, utility billing, and other administrative processes. The current software is Incode 9, utilized since approximately 2010. After reviewing each proposed software, city staff recommended OpenGov, which was approved by the board alongside the contract later in the meeting. The full cost of OpenGov is $205,111.77, which required a budget adjustment of $49,874.77 for FY 2026-27. Ongoing costs associated with the software includes a 5-year contract with an annual cost of $53,573.32 with a 5% year-over-year increase. A bid from Felkerson Overhead Door Company in the amount of $8,775 for three garage doors and openers was approved for the electric department. For conditional use approvals, the board approved all presented and recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission during its Sept. 9th meeting. This included several short-term vacation rentals and one for aesthetician’s services. The board approved an infrastructure grant agreement, as well as a state block grant agreement, between the city and Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for improvements at Salem Memorial Airport, including the construction of a new box hangar and taxilanes. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Grant Agreement represents 95% of eligible project costs for a total of $122,455, leaving the city’s match at $6,445. The Non-Primary Entitlement (NPE) State Block Grant Agreement represents $63,116 at 90% of eligible project costs and $450,000 at 95% of eligible projects costs for a total of $513,166, leaving the city’s match at $30,698. Both grants have the same project completion deadline of Dec. 31st, 2029. The board also approved a subdivision of Lot 4 of the Westwood North Subdivision to Lot 5. The board approved vacating a 40’ wide strip of an undeveloped street, as requested by the Salem Housing Authority and a project developer. This is in anticipation of a proposed multifamily 40-unit housing project development at 301 E. Tenth St. Additionally, the board approved the rezoning of 301 E. Tenth St. from single family residential (R1) to multifamily residential (R3) and, after discussion and review, approved the Spring Creek Ridge subdivision plat, as presented. Finance Director Stacey Houston shared a financial update through August 2026, stating that the total sales tax revenues collected year-to-date for FY 2026-27 are $833,904, including the general fund, parks and recreation fund, and capital improvement fund. This is down approximately 1% from the prior year. The ending total of all funds for FY 2026-27 through August is $17,798,795. The city has brought in 19% of the budgeted amount and expended 18% of the budgeted amount. City Administrator Sally Burbridge shared with the board the list of state and federal legislative concerns that was compiled last year concerning the City of Salem. Burbridge encouraged board members to review the items and consider what needs added to or subtracted from the list. Public Works Director Steve Paine shared that the Wastewater Treatment Plant is healthy and ready for a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) inspection. The water department has hired David Hill as water lead. Construction crew members have replaced curb on N. Main Street, and Paine commended staff for their work on the Healthy Dent County parking lot. After, the board took a vote to enter closed session pertaining to litigation. The next meeting of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be Oct. 13th at 6:00 in the evening at the Old City Hall Auditorium.

A Salem resident was involved in an accident in Reynolds County Monday evening at approximately 7:45. The accident occurred at Highway KK and Highway J fourteen miles north of Bunker. According to the Highway Patrol report a westbound 2007 Ford F150, operated by a Steelville juvenile, crossed the highway and impacted a ditch due to mechanical failure. A passenger, a 31-year-old Salem female, suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Iron County Medical Center. The report stated that the Salem woman was not wearing a safety restraint and neither was the juvenile driver. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Rowdy’s Towing at the county’s request.

The Agricultural Education program at Salem High School of the Salem R-80 School District has been awarded a Horizon and Rising Sun grant from the Missouri FFA Foundation in the amount of $50,000. This award is part of a grant program created to help address critical gaps in agricultural education across Missouri. A Horizon Grant supports expansion or upgrades to existing ag education programs, while a Rising Sun Grant helps launch new programs and certificate offerings. The grant will be utilized to build and equip a 40×80 Animal Science Facility, providing students with hands-on opportunities to learn animal science, livestock production, animal health, nutrition, handling, breeding, and management. Offering a Vet Tech, Pet Grooming, Artificial Insemination and Animal Quality Assurance certification is another goal of the facility. The agriculture education program teachers of SHS, Heather Johnson and Dalton Sanders, shared that the facility would allow students to work with animals, gain real-world skills, explore careers, earn valuable certifications, and see possibilities beyond the classroom. The Missouri FFA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which secures strategic partnerships and the financial resources to enhance, strengthen, and support the educational and leadership opportunities that promote premier leadership, personal growth, and career success for Missourians in agricultural education.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17th. Under student recognitions, William Lynch Elementary Principal Dr. Herman Blau recognized students John White, Mobel Preston, Lillian Light, and Sammie Enloe as September Students of the Month. The students led the board meeting in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. The board then approved the agenda and consent agenda before moving on to Superintendent Nathan Will’s report. Wills updated board members on payment options for cafeteria a la carte items, stating that debit cards are now accepted and there are hopes to expand the privilege to other items like parking fees, Chromebook insurance, etc. The High School men’s lobby restroom project is now complete. Staff are working on the Request For Proposals (RFP) for the Upper Elementary parking lot for concrete rather than asphalt. In addition, staff are working on a RFP for the Animal Science Facility for the ag. department. The district may be keeping the suburban for the remainder of the year, so the district has two SUVs on-hand. Wills also shared an update on the bus accident, stating that the district is awaiting a final check from insurance and staff is looking for another bus to replace it. Wills discussed with the board the Missouri A-F school and district grading framework, approved Tuesday, Sept. 15th by the Missouri State Board of Education. The board was also updated that the district will be going out for bid on food service. Enrollment for the district was shared at 1,273, a slight decrease due to kindergarten enrollment. A presentation was provided by Assistant Superintendent Dan Copeland on MAP and EOC scores. Reports were then provided by administrators. Under new business, the board approved the bus routes for the 2026-27 school year; the SCMCAA Headstart MOU and Transition Plan Agreement; and the MOU with Texas County Technical College for nursing students. Under personnel changes, Leah Parker was hired as William Lynch custodian and several resignations and retirements were heard, including Cole Mackley, maintenance; Katlyn Steelman, custodian; and Kim Warden, para. The board then approved moving into executive session for the purpose of personnel issues. After returning to open session, the board adjourned. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education will be Oct. 15th at 5:30. 

Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams has reported on the County Aid Road Trust (CART) funds received by the county for the month of September 2026. The county has received $96,335.95.