Archive for 2026

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.

An accident occurred in Dent County Saturday morning at 8:00 on B Highway two miles west of Highway 72. According to the Highway Patrol report a 2016 Jeep Cherokee, driven by a 35-year-old Salem female, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. The female suffered minor injuries and was transported by Salem Ambulance to Salem Memorial Hospital. The report stated that the woman was not wearing a safety restraint. The Jeep was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday, January 13th at the firehouse for their regular monthly meeting. In the absence of the president of the board due to a funeral, a motion was made and seconded to have a Jeff Stokes act as chairman pro tem to chair the meeting. After the financial reports were reviewed, the bills, payments and statements were also reviewed and the board approved them all. The board discussed with Joe Weber the junior firefighter policy. A motion made to move forward but the motion died to a lack of a second. The board went on to discuss the CTI tower lease. A committee was formed to explore the possibilities of finding alternative ways to acquire radio tower communications. In new business, the board discussed the “Firefighter 1&2 Fire in Texas” training program and the board approved two firefighters to attend the training at a total cost of $8,000. The chief asked for four people to go to winter fire school with a limit of $2,500.00 for the firefighting instruction. The board discussed a spending limit for the chief, but that was tabled until the next meeting. The board then heard and approved the quotes from Outlaw Fabrication of Salem for handrails and stairs for safety reasons for $8,000; vent props for roof venting training for $23,878.00; and $20,000 for gear racks. In the monthly reimbursement report, Chief Thomas reported there were a total of 15 calls for the month and the year. There were eight fire calls comprised of three grass fires, three structural fires, one room and contents fire and another outside fire. The fire department responded to two motor vehicle collisions with one having injuries, a possible hazmat investigation, a medical call, a citizen assist call, a special incident call and a call that was dispatched and canceled en route. The chief informed the board the 100-Acre Wood Rally will be March 13th and 14th, and the chief will be sending two people to instructor training which is a free course. In closed session, the board voted to accept Blake Hargis as a new probationary firefighter for the district. The next board meeting was then set for February 10th at 6:00 PM AT Dent County Fire Protection District firehouse.

A 34-year-old man from Crawford County, last Wednesday, admitted grooming and engaging in illegal sexual contact with a minor. Nathaniel Rod Gibson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. He admitted giving the victim a phone and grooming her via more than 18,996 text messages from March 10th, 2023, to September 6th, 2023. Gibson told the victim to delete the flirtatious and inappropriate messages so that her mother would not find them. In June of 2023, Gibson drove the victim from Missouri to a campground in Arkansas, where he engaged in an illegal sex act with her. He also did so at his home in Crawford County. Gibson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15th. The travel with the intent charge carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison. The coercion and enticement of a minor carries a maximum penalty of 20 years. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Diamond City (Arkansas) Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. 

Salem Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Dancing with the Salem Stars is coming up Saturday, January 24th with showtime at 7:00 at the Salem High School Gym. Dancers have been announced and the couples are Shannon Wright and Bella Mutz, Tom and Sally Haines, Seth Maples and Rosalie Wright, Carlos Lopez and April Greener, Ryan McCoy and Lane McCoy Schafer, Luke and Hannah Heithold, Bub Partin and Lisa Godi, and Jessica and Marcelo Ricks. Information and cost of sponsor tables, table seats, and bleacher seats can be obtained by contacting Hannah Harris at 573-729-6626 extension 3410 or Jaimie Jones at 573-247-0420. Information is also available by contacting Hannah at hharris@smdh.net or Jaimie at foreverdance@live.com.

Congratulations to Salem R80 Middle School band students that placed in the SCA Honor Band! There was a great turnout of auditioning students this year, and we are so proud of everyone that auditioned on Tuesday! Wesley Bieker- 10th Chair Flute, Macie Graham- 16th Chair Clarinet, Gabriel Miller- 10th Chair Clarinet, and Bellah Wilber- 3rd Chair Tuba. These students will be performing at Ava’s Performing Arts Center on Saturday February 7th!