Archive for 2026

The City of Salem City Clerk Tammy Koller has reported the Utility Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday night at the City Hall Auditorium has been cancelled. No makeup date has yet been announced.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday, Oct. 13th at the firehouse for their regular monthly meeting. After previous board meeting minutes were approved, the financial reports as well as the bills, payments and statements were also reviewed. They were all approved. Chief Derek Thomas reported the AFG grant was not awarded to the department. The grant will be resubmitted by the Firehouse Grants again for next year. Chief Thomas also reported the department needs radios. After the board discussed the request, it was agreed to purchase the needed radios up to a total of $20,000. The monthly reimbursement report was reviewed. It showed the fire district responded to 19 calls in September for a total of 178 calls for the year. There were three fire calls comprised of grass fires, two structural fires, one rubbish fire, and one other outside fire. Other calls responded to were for an unconscious victim, two lift assist calls, three motor vehicle collision calls, one motor vehicle entrapped extraction call, an alarm, one unknown call, one false call and two move up calls. The board then went into closed session and voted to approve Daviv Lo to attend the Junior Firefighter Program. The meeting then adjourned. The next board meeting will be Nov. 10th at 6:00 at the Dent County Fire Protection District Firehouse. 

Scenic River Industries (SRI) will be resuming its recycling services after officially moving into its forever home at 1030 West Highway 68 in Salem. The hours of its new building are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon. The building accepts cardboard and aluminum cans for recycling; it does not accept paper or magazines. The showroom offering wooden goods for public purchase is open as of Wednesday. Visitors are asked to use the south door of the back building for access. An open house of the new facility will be scheduled for some time in the future. For more information, contact SRI at 573-729-6264 or visit its website at scenicriversind.org.

The Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition, along with local law enforcement, will collect unused, unwanted or expired medications at Walmart on Saturday, Oct. 24th from 10:00 to noon. Residents are encouraged to clean out their medicine cabinets and stop by for free, safe medication disposal. The local collection is part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a campaign led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) each April and October to help prevent prescription drug misuse. Leftover medication from a surgery, an unfinished prescription or an expired bottle can easily be forgotten. Keeping these medications in the home can allow them to fall into the wrong hands. Safe disposal helps protect families and reduces opportunities for prescription drug misuse. Residents are invited to the Drug Take Back event but are also reminded that there are two permanent medication drop boxes located at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and the Salem Police Department. These free disposal options provide a safe, convenient way to turn in unused or unwanted medications. Collected medications are handled by local law enforcement for proper disposal through incineration.

The Salem R-80 District Board of Education will conduct its regular monthly meeting today beginning at 5:30 in the evening. This meeting will take place at the Salem R-80 Administration Office and is open to the public until closed. After approval of agenda and consent agenda, Superintendent Nathan Wills will read communications received from Kim and Dee Moser. Students of Salem Upper Elementary will then be recognized by the board. Wills will make his report, which will then be followed by administration board reports. Under new business, there will be a first read of policy updates. Then, the board will consider adoption of a local compliance plan consistent with the 2025 Missouri state plan for special education. The board is to then consider a bid for the agricultural program barn, alongside a bid for the parking lot of Salem Upper Elementary. Approval of electronic payments will also be considered along with declaring itemized district property as surplus. Through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO), the board is to consider the opening of the Salem FBLA Student Opportunity Fund. A bus purchase is also to be considered for approval. Non-certified staffing changes will then be presented before the board moves into executive session for the purposes of discussing personnel and student issues.

The City of Salem’s Utility Committee will be holding a meeting tonight at 6:15 in the evening at the Old City Hall Auditorium. This meeting is open to the public. After approval of the agenda, any public comments will be heard. Previous meeting minutes will then be approved before a report is given by Utility Committee Chair Alderman Nathan Kinsey. The committee will then discuss utility meter testing and then receive reports including financial updates, billing updates, MMMPEP & MPUA meeting notes, and work reports from utility crew members. Current utility CIP information will also be discussed. The committee will then adjourn.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held its regular meeting Tuesday night. After approval of the agenda and consent agenda, the board approved a bid from Scenic Rivers Vehicle Outfitters at $18,887.78 for patrol vehicle upfits, to include equipment, labor, pickup and delivery of two patrol vehicles. The board also voted to reject the sole bid received for cold mix asphalt from Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. at $165 a ton. Public Works Director Paine explained the bid was nearly twice the average cost of cold mix, and the company operates out of St. Louis, making the transfer of the material costly, as well. The board approved a bid from Cogent for soft start for Well No. 6 at $7,000. A proposal from Virginia Lamb regarding a little free library at Craig Plaza was tabled in order to request more information. Community support applications were then considered, with the total requested from all organizations at $27,500; the budgeted amount is $20,000. The organizations of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Salem Mo. Fireworks, and Salem Area Community Betterment Association (SACBA) each requested $5,000, while the Dent Co. Extension requested $12,500. The board approved providing each organization the amount of $5,000. The board then discussed the selection process and service needs required of the next city attorney, as City Attorney James Weber will be moving on beginning next year. City Administrator Sally Burbridge asked the board to consider what qualifications are sought in the next city attorney. A Request For Qualifications will be advertised soon for the position. After candidates apply, it will be a mayoral appointment with board approval. Under reports of city officials, Burbridge reminded the board to submit any changes or additions to the list of the city’s legislative priorities. Public Works Director Steve Paine reminded residents not to blow leaves or yard waste into the streets, as this can impact the stormwater system. Alderwoman Catherine Dent reported that the DCAWS building has been given to Ozark Pet Rescue. Plans to reopen the building are in the works and will be announced at a later time. The board then adjourned. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be 6:00 in the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 27th. To watch a livestream of Tuesday’s meeting, or future city meetings, visit the City of Salem YouTube page at youtube.com/@CityofSalemMissouri.

The Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center (ONCRC) will be holding a “Stitched and Stuffed” Scarecrow Contest this year through Friday, Nov. 6th. Your scarecrow won’t have to be afraid of wind or rain – it will be safe and sound inside and on-display within the ONCRC building at 202 South Main Street. Build and design your scarecrow and share it with the entire community for a chance to win a prize. Your creation can be attached to a wall grid or sat in a chair. In addition, there will be a drawing and coloring contest for students through 4th grade who can submit up to three pictures or drawings. The student’s name and a phone number should be on the back of their work and left with an ONCRC volunteer. For more information, contact 573-729-0029 or email oncrc@salemcommunitybetterment.com.

The Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition, along with local law enforcement, will collect unused, unwanted or expired medications at Walmart on Saturday, Oct. 24th from 10:00 to noon. Residents are encouraged to clean out their medicine cabinets and stop by for free, safe medication disposal. The local collection is part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a campaign led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) each April and October to help prevent prescription drug misuse. Leftover medication from a surgery, an unfinished prescription or an expired bottle can easily be forgotten. Keeping these medications in the home can allow them to fall into the wrong hands. Safe disposal helps protect families and reduces opportunities for prescription drug misuse. Residents are invited to the Drug Take Back event but are also reminded that there are two permanent medication drop boxes located at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and the Salem Police Department. These free disposal options provide a safe, convenient way to turn in unused or unwanted medications. Collected medications are handled by local law enforcement for proper disposal through incineration.

The Salem Public Library has a book club that meets once a month and is open to everyone, whether you have a library card or not. The program is intended for adults. Join the book club on Wednesday, Oct. 21st at 1:00 in the afternoon in the conference room to discuss either “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson or “The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James. For more information on how to participate, ask a librarian at the circulation desk or call 573-729-4331.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission will be presenting 16 individual awards and two organizational awards at its Annual Dinner on October 29th at the Bear River Ranch in Phelps County. Each year, the MRPC honors residents and organizations of the Meramec Region who volunteer their time and talents and give support to their communities. Two individuals being recognized by the MRPC for their Outstanding Contributions to a Community in the immediate area are Ed Carmack of Salem, nominated by Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson; and Stevie Kearse of Rolla, nominated by MRPC Board Member Aimee Campbell. Two organizations are also being recognized for Outstanding Contributions to the community, and they are the Dent County Historical Society, nominated by MRPC Board Member John Smith; and the “Love Thy Neighbor” program in Dent County, nominated by MRPC Board Member Shawn Bolerjack. The public is invited to attend the event in Phelps County. The deadline for reservations is October 16th. Reservations are $40 per person and can be made by contacting Linda Carroll at 573-265-2993. A reception, featuring a silent auction, will begin at 5:30 the evening on October 29th. Dinner, catered by Bear River Ranch, will start at 6:30 with a program and awards presentation following. For more information, contact MRPC at 573-265-2993.