Archive for 2026

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC) is seeking information regarding a 1985 Dent County death investigation. Criminal investigators with the DDCC are seeking the public’s assistance regarding the suspicious death of William “Bill” Sundermeyer, 68, of Rolla, MO. The death was initially investigated in 1985, and the case has remained unsolved. Sundermeyer’s family have recently offered a monetary reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for his death. Sundermeyer was last seen on June 7 or 8, 1985, in Rolla, MO. Sundermeyer’s deceased body was located June 10, 1985, in rural Dent County. Since 1985, several tips and investigative leads have been forwarded to law enforcement, and DDCC investigators have followed up on these leads. Sergeant Bradley R. Germann said that Sundermeyer was 68 years old at the time of his death; however, there is evidence and/or circumstances regarding this case which make it suspicious in nature. Germann noted that they believe there are individuals who know details about the incident and what happened to Sundermeyer. They are asking those individuals who know more about the incident to contact investigators. The Sundermeyer family deserve to know what happened to their father and grandfather. Germann also said he believes this case can be solved with the help from the community. Criminal investigators are seeking information from anyone who may have knowledge about this case. They are encouraged to contact Corporal Jonny Fariole, at 573-368-2345 extension 3950. 

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be holding its regularly scheduled meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Old City Hall Auditorium on 202 North Washington Street. After approval of the agenda and consent agenda, the board will hear any scheduled public comments. Under new and miscellaneous business, the board will consider approval of an amendment to extend the lead service line inventory project to Dec. 31st, 2026. Under bids, the board will consider approval of two new patrol cars at a total cost of $89,364 from Behlman Dodge of Troy, Missouri and new firearms at a total price of $10,680 for the Salem Police Department. The board will then hear reports of city officials. The board will move into closed session pertaining to discussion of real estate before finally adjourning. This meeting is open to the public. Anyone may watch meetings streaming live or the recorded versions on youtube.com/@CityofSalemMissouri.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Monday morning at the courthouse. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green reported that crew members will be grading and hauling rock to County Road 6040 and then submitting documentation for that road to FEMA for reimbursement. Crew members will also be grading County Road 4245, and the Mantis tractor will be undergoing service. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that crew members will be cutting brush on county roads 4030 and 4050 and replacing culvert pipes on county roads 3200 and 3330. A flat will be fixed on one of the tractors, and crew members will be stockpiling rock. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he would be attending a Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) meeting Tuesday afternoon. Larson also reported that there is a hole within the sidewalk around the courthouse which will be filled today, due to posing a danger to pedestrians. In addition, a resident of County Road 2403 B, a private road, has called and requested that commissioner Williams consider making it a county road again. Williams agreed to look into the matter. County Clerk Angie Curley reported that payroll and bills are to be approved. Absentee voting continues through Aug. 3rd. This Saturday, Aug. 1st, the County Clerk’s Office will be open for absentee voting from 8:00 in the morning to noon. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse.

The Bunker R-III School District has released that New Student Registration will be taking place on Aug. 11th from 10:00 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon at the High School Counselor’s Office. Current students may contact Mrs. Barton for any scheduling questions at the phone number 573-689-2211 ext. 107. This story previously reported by Your World Today erroneously left out a digit. We apologize for any confusion.

Pulltite Campground will be closed for paving beginning at 5:00 in the evening Aug. 2nd to 3:00 in the afternoon Aug. 7th. It will reopen to campers for the nights of Aug. 7th and Aug. 8th and then close again from 5:00 in the evening Aug. 9th to 3:00 in the afternoon Aug. 14th. During the closure, floaters may still put in and take out at the Pulltite landing, but floaters should be aware that the pull-through loop on the gravel bar will not be available and parking will be limited. No vehicles may be left in the campground or in the paved parking lots during the paving closures.  Multi-day floaters will need to park shuttle vehicles in overflow parking behind the ranger station or in other designated areas. This work is part of a park-wide project to repair and renew roadways throughout ONSR.

According to the National Weather Service out of Springfield, an Extreme Heat Warning is in effect now through 7:00 in the morning Tuesday. Afternoon heat index values are estimated to land between 100 to 115 degrees, and then high temperatures in the middle 90s to around 100 degrees. There may be minimal overnight relief with temperatures in the upper 70s to 80s. It’s advised to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day; Drink plenty of water, sports drinks, or natural fruit juices to stay hydrated; Avoid alcohol and beverages that contain caffeine as these tend to be dehydrating; and, if outdoor activity is unavoidable, take plenty of breaks in the shade, or in an air conditioned environment away from the heat. Residents are reminded that the Salem Public Library is a cooling center and is available and accessible to everyone, whether you have a library card or not. Food and drinks are not permitted within the library but a water fountain is available.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has released that the following general highway maintenance and construction work is planned for the Dent County area through Aug. 2nd. Pavement repairs are planned through July 30th on Hwy. DD, FF, and U. The bridge over Dry Creek on Hwy. B remains closed until its completion planned for sometime in August this year. On Hwy. 32, resurfacing continues through Aug. 2nd with crew members planning to work nightly from 7:00 in the evening to 6:00 in the morning within the city limits of Salem. Crew members will be returning to daytime paving east of Salem as the project continues toward Iron County. On both Hwy. 19 and 32, pedestrian facility upgrades continue within city limits of Salem.

Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick is launching a petition audit of the City of Salem that will provide a thorough review of the governmental operations. Auditors officially began field work on the performance audit on Monday, July 20. Fitzpatrick said his office takes the efforts and concerns of the Salem residents who signed the petition very seriously and will do their best to provide a detailed look at how their city government is operating while also identifying any areas that can be improved. He went on to state that his office is aware that many of the citizens of Salem have taken issue with their utility bills and these concerns will be looked at closely to make sure the city is in compliance with all relevant state laws. The goal is to make sure the city is operating in a manner that is effective, efficient, and accountable. Petitioners needed 278 signatures to trigger the audit and were able to accumulate 284 signatures that were certified by the Dent County Clerk. The City of Salem was last audited by the State Auditor’s Office in 2010. The report, which was also triggered by a citizen petition, found the city had transferred substantial amounts from the Electric Fund to the General Fund without adequate justification. The audit also found the city had not adequately documented the calculation of utility rate increases. Individuals may provide information confidentially for consideration during the audit of the City of Salem to the State Auditor’s Whistleblower Hotline at 800-347-8597, by email at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov, or by visiting www.auditor.mo.gov/hotline.

It’s that time of year again. School is getting ready to get started! Be sure to be prepared by attending the Back to School Fair at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory on Friday, Aug. 14th from 3:00 to 7:00 in the afternoon. There will be free backpacks and school supplies, games and prizes, free food, free socks and underwear, giveaways, and community resources. Call Donna at South Central Missouri Community Action Agency (SCMCAA) to preregister at 573-729-3500. The Bunker R-III School District has released that New Student Registration will be taking place on Aug. 11th from 10:00 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon at the High School Counselor’s Office. Current students may contact Mrs. Barton for any scheduling questions at the phone number 573-689-221 ext. 107.

Dent County Health Center’s community transportation service, CareCab, is here to help you get where you need to go, safely and reliably. CareCab is a local ride service for Dent County residents who need dependable transportation, designed for residents without reliable transportation; older adults and caregivers; students, job seekers, and community members; and anyone in Dent County who needs a convenient way to get around. To book a ride with CareCab, visit dentcountyhealthcenter.org/services/carecab or call 573-729-3106. Riders must be able to get in and out of the vehicle independently or with minimal assistance (such as using a cane or walker.) If you need wheelchair-accessible transportation or assistance with mobility, you are encouraged to contact SMTS for specialized services.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green reported crew members are planning to patch chip and seal roads on county roads 4110, 4120, and 6180. Crew members will be hauling rock as needed with grading planned for county roads 4210, 5530, 6660, and 6633. Cutting brush is planned for County Road 5490 and 5500. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that crew members are planning on hauling rock to county roads 3200 and 5240; grading in the Boss area around county roads 4350 and 4353; and replacing three culverts on County Road 3200. County Treasurer Denita Williams reported on the CART Tax received for the month of July. The amount received was up from last July a total of $3,850.91. This is up YTD a total of $33,859.27 or 5.8%. Under public comments, a printout of the two-year contract between the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and Flock Safety, Inc. was provided to commissioners for review by resident Katie Anne Gaither. Commissioners approved a request from Tanna Kettner of the Salem Area Arts Council for a cruise-in at the parking lot around the courthouse for the “Art Walk” event on Sept. 26th. Commissioners also approved Kevin James for a seat on the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) board. County Clerk Angie Curley reported that there will be a public testing of voting equipment Friday morning at 9:00. The public is invited to attend and learn more about the voting equipment utilized for our elections. Approximately 240 ballots have been cast so far, reported Curley. No excuse absentee voting will continue through Aug. 3rd. The County Clerk’s Office at the courthouse will be open Saturday, Aug. 1st, from 8:00 to noon for absentee voting. On Election Day, Aug. 4th, polls will open at 6:00 in the morning and close at 7:00 in the evening. As this is a primary election, voters have the choice between several ballots including Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or non-partisan. Non-partisan ballots will only feature the four amendments. Sample ballots are available upon request within the County Clerk’s Office. If voters have any questions or need to update their information, visit the office or call at 573-729-4144. After casting your ballot, voters are encouraged to post a selfie outside the courthouse with the special “I Voted” sticker celebrating America’s 250th. Voters are reminded to not post a photo of their filled out ballots anywhere, as this is considered a class four election offense within Missouri. Curley also commended a Dent County poll worker of over 55 years, Joan Gray, and shared that this will be Gray’s last election in which she will be working. Later, commissioners were visited by Project Manager Krysta Swartz of Great Rivers Engineering (GRE) and Emergency Management Director Derrick Marfitt of Dent County for an update on ongoing FLAP, TAP, and FEMA projects. The repair projects planned for County Road 5150 and 3210 have been approved by FEMA. Commissioners signed documentation for the project. Swartz estimated a bid opening date sometime in mid-September with construction estimated to take place this winter. FEMA staff have requested additional documentation for the County Road 4210 bridge, so GRE will be in contact with the US Army Corps of Engineers after receiving a signature from the commissioners for approval. Moving on, Swartz updated the commissioners on the FLAP Project in Montauk on County Road 6670. Changes to that project have been approved by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT.) Contact will be made for right-of-way acquisitions with adjacent landowners. Commissioners were assured the project is still estimated to come under the originally budgeted $800,000. As for the TAP Sidewalk Project surrounding the courthouse, rebidding is planned for Aug. 24th. Several cost-saving changes to the project were suggested, with the commissioners approving stamped concrete walls, with no paint or stain, and an option for contractors to pursue pre-cast walls rather than onsite pouring. Work at the earliest may start in October. Swartz closed with a notice that MoDOT has funding for the Bridge Engineering Assistance Program (BEAP) available, as of July 1st. BEAP is fully funded by MoDOT  to complete bridge engineering studies for local public agencies. Williams shared that Danny Brown of The Nature Conservancy will be visiting several lowwater bridges on Tuesday to review possible grant eligibility. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and is open to the public.

The Dent County Toy Drive will be holding its 6th annual Christmas in July fundraiser on Saturday at The Commons from 9:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. This is a special year for the toy drive as it will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. There will be plenty to enjoy at the event, including pulled pork sandwiches, music throughout the day, and a free kids carnival. Attendees can also look forward to the car show, craft show, and poker run. The event will be held rain or shine. Attendees are asked to bring a toy to fill the truck, although not required to attend.

No excuse absentee voting is officially underway and will continue through Aug. 3. The courthouse will be open for absentee voting on Saturday, Aug. 1 from 8:00 in the morning to noon. 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.

Salem R-80 High School has given notice that online registration is now open for the 2026-26 school year. Find online registration directions on the district website under the “District” tab at salemr80.org/page/onlineregistration. New families do not have a Parent Portal account, so please use the link located under “Brand New Families to the District” to begin the registration process. Returning families (including those that did Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Freshmen pre-registration), visit your Campus Parent Portal and click “Menu” and then “More” to find your online registration. If you do not have the Campus Parent app, you can find the link on the Salem R-80 website at salemr80.org under the “Parents” tab. If you have a new student to add, you can do so during your registration process. If you have forgotten your username or password, the Campus Parent Portal homepage has the option to send the information to your security email. If you need to change your Campus security email, you may contact kara.constance@salemr80.org.

Join Salem Public Library this evening from 6:00 to 8:00 for an engaging presentation from Mike Snyder of WildWise Botanicals on edible wild mushrooms of the region. Snyder has been hunting and studying Missouri’s fungi for 15 years and is the author of the forthcoming Foraging Mushrooms of the Ozarks. Presenting a slideshow of original photography, Snyder will walk attendees through some mushroom basics and cover how to find delicious mushrooms in our region, along with tips on their utilization in the kitchen. Several of the most common toxic species will be covered as well. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn about the fascinating fungi that grow right outside our doorsteps. There is no cost or library card required to attend, and the event will take place in the Shirley Seay Hospitality Room.

The Dent County Toy Drive will be holding its 6th annual Christmas in July fundraiser this Saturday at the Dent County Commons from 9:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. This is a special year for the toy drive as it will be celebrating its 50th anniversary serving children in Dent County. There will be plenty to enjoy at the event, including pulled pork sandwiches, music throughout the day, and a free kids carnival. Attendees can also look forward to the car show, craft show, and poker run. Of course, there will also be Santa on the beach visiting from 10:00 to noon. The event will be held rain or shine. Attendees are asked to bring a toy to fill the truck, although not required to attend. For updates, visit the Dent County Toy Drive at its page at facebook.com/TheDentCountyToyDrive.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) has released that it has received a 2026 Excellence in Transportation Planning award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO.) The award recognized 22 projects nationwide. The award received by MRPC recognized the Active Transportation Plans completed for the City of Salem. Executive Director Bonnie Prigge and Planning Manager Anne Freand attended the 2026 National Regional Transportation Conference in Atlanta and participated in the awards reception Monday evening where the project was shared with fellow planners. Thanks was given by MRPC to Freand along with Orin Pogue, MRPC community development specialist, for their work on the project, and the City of Salem stakeholders and leadership. Thanks was also given to the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services for funding the project. To learn more about the project, visit the City of Salem website at salemmo.com and search “Active Transportation Plan.”

The Dragonfly Wings Foundation’s Flemings Variety on 4th will be holding a holiday event from Nov. 6th through the 8th. There will be pies, cheeseballs, cookies, and candy homemade, frozen, and ready to take home for holiday treats, alongside handmade and retail items to peruse. Raffles for quilts and auction items will also be available. Every penny spent supports teachers and educational programs all throughout Dent County. To learn more about the Dragonfly Wings Foundation, visit their website at dflyw.org. To stay up to date on their upcoming events, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/dragonflywingsfoundation.