Archive for 2026

MoDOT has released the following road work planned for the week of today through Sunday within Dent County: On Highway 19, culvert replacement is planned from today through Thursday from Route TT to Route VV in Crawford County. On Route W, pothole patching is planned from today through Wednesday. On Route EE, pothole patching is planned Wednesday and Thursday. Route B at the bridge over Dry Creek remains closed, due to deterioration near one of the supporting structures. Keep in mind that weather conditions may postpone scheduled work. Many projects will include lane closures which could cause delays. Other moving operations such as pothole patching, brush cutting, and pavement repairs continue in various locations. Motorists should travel with care and be alert for slow-moving equipment. 

The Sleep in Heavenly Peace, or SHP, Dent County Chapter will be holding its community meeting today from 5:30 to 6:30 in the afternoon at the Salem Armory Walden Conference Room, with discussions including events, needs, and more. Updates from the local chapter can be found on its Facebook page at facebook.com/shpdentco. SHP is an international non-profit 501(C)(3) organization that builds, assembles and delivers new beds to children in need who do not have a bed. Anyone can apply for their child on the SHP website at shpbeds.org. At the top of the page, click “Apply for a Bed.” Volunteers are welcomed from all ages. Contact the Dent County SHP chapter at 1-844-432-2337 for more information.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds Missourians interested in hunting black bear and/or elk in the state this fall that they need to apply for a limited number of hunting permits for each in May. MDC will offer 2,000 permits to harvest up to a maximum of 60 black bears across three MDC black-bear management zones in the southern part of the state during the 2026 Missouri black-bear hunting season, Oct. 17th  through Oct. 30th. MDC increased the number of available permits from 600 to 2,000 and increased the harvest quota limit from 40 to 60 bears to expand hunting opportunities. Missouri has an estimated population of about 1,100 bears.  Get more information on black-bears and bear hunting in Missouri at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/bear. MDC will again also offer five permits to hunt bull elk in Missouri this fall with at least one permit designated for qualifying landowners who own property in Carter, Reynolds, or Shannon counties and the remaining permits for qualifying residents. MDC has designated the 2026 elk archery portion to run Oct. 17th through Oct. 25th, and the elk firearms portion to run Dec. 12th through Dec. 20th. Get more information on elk and elk hunting at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/elk.  

The Salem Community Garden will host a presentation on Pest Control Thursday night at 6:00 behind the Salem United Methodist at 801 East Scenic Rivers Blvd. Everyone is welcome to attend the presentation event, and you do not have to have a plot to participate. Plots are still available and your first plot is free. Accessible garden beds are also available. For more information, contact the Dent County Extension at 573-729-3196 or Thom Haines at 573-247-7952.

The Dent County Commission held its meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. With District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams absent and crew members out in observance of Good Friday and Easter weekend, road reports from District One Commissioner Keith Green were minimal. Green reported that crew members have been busy grading this week in the conservation area and installing a culvert pipe, around County Road 5150. Meanwhile, Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he attended the Meramec Regional Community Foundation meeting in St. James, in which several scholarships were disseminated to students. The foundation requested names of businesses in Salem, along with businesses across the region, and will be reaching out to see if the businesses would be willing to donate toward trade scholarships. Bills have been reviewed by commissioners and approved. Curley has balanced with Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams on all monthly accounts for the month of March. The Dent County Clerk’s office will be open on Saturday from 8:00 in the morning to noon for voting. On April 6th, Monday, the courthouse will be open for voting from 8:00  in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon. On April 7th, Tuesday, voters will have to go to their individual polling locations, and those locations will be open from 6:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening. If unsure of where your voting location is, call the Dent County Clerk’s office at 573-729-4144. When voting, please remember to bring your photo ID. Health Department Administrator Zach Moser discussed with commissioners the health fair, which will be from 7:00 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon May 1st at the Dent County Health Center. He also shared that there will be an upcoming Awards Gala April 24th, in which awards will be presented and money raised for services at the Dent County Health Center. Moser shared that currently there are three cases of Legionnaires Disease within the county. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 in the courthouse, and the meeting is open to the public.

Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley and Sheriff Bob Wells presented to Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams a check in the amount of $469.85 for the sale of firearms in the cases of State v. Michael Munson, State v. Stephen Mock, and State v. Jessica Carnell. These firearms were seized in connection with the arrest and prosecution of each criminal case. The proceeds are to be used for the benefit of Dent County. In addition to the criminal conviction, the seizure and sale of the firearms is authorized by Missouri law as a punishment and deterrent to persons that illegally own/possess/use firearms.

Several community Easter celebrations are planned for this weekend. The Grace Community Church located at 600 Water Street will be hosting a community Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday at 1:00 in the afternoon to 4:00 in the field behind the church. This event is for ages 2 through sixth grade. The First Baptist Church of Salem will be holding its community-wide Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday at 11:00 in the morning, for ages up to third grade. Custard by C-Sue located at 500 East 4th Street will also be holding a free Easter Egg Hunt at 2:00 in the afternoon this Saturday. From 2:00 to 3:00, you can get photos with the Easter Bunny courtesy of William Lynch Parents As Teachers. From 2:00 to 7:00, the custard shop will be open.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors held its regular meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library at the hospital. After approving the agenda and the previous meeting’s minutes, the board discussed bids for a new transit ambulance and box remount. Representatives from Pinnacle Emergency Vehicles and TESCO Specialty Vehicles were present at the meeting. After much deliberation, the board approved the transit ambulance bid from Pinnacle in the amount of $167,820, which includes a three-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-month lead time. The board also approved the box remount bid from TESCO in the amount of $118,681, which includes a 12-month labor-only warranty and a 90–120 day lead time. Financing for the transit ambulance will go through Pinnacle for 60 months at 4.89% interest, and the box remount will be financed through the Bank of Salem at 6% interest for 60 months. Neither option carries early payoff penalties. Medical staff privileges were approved for providers across six departments, and new privileges were granted to five new providers in Teleradiology, Psychiatry Long-Term Care, and Pathology. Policies and procedures and departmental manuals were approved for Infection Prevention, the Emergency Department, and 340B. The Quality Assurance Performance Improvement Plan for 2026 was also approved. In her report, Chief Executive Officer Brooke Bollman highlighted updates on the hospital’s recruitment efforts, strategic planning, Revenue Cycle, and the potential for service line growth, as well as upcoming hospital events in May. For the month of February, the hospital recorded 55 inpatient and four Swing-bed admissions. There were 1,027 outpatient registrations, 1,319 cardiopulmonary procedures, 564 Emergency Room visits, and 192 ambulance runs; these numbers remained consistent with the previous month. The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation department collected its first revenue in February, totaling $2,646.00. Swing bed revenue was $75,600.00, approximately $45,000 less than the revenue collected in January. Total operating revenue for February was approximately $2 million. The hospital paid $943,714.94 in salary and fringe benefits and $20,716.12 in marketing, which includes recruitment. Total operating expenses were approximately $1.9 million, for a profit of around $354,000.00. The hospital currently has 31 days of cash on hand. 340B net revenue for February totaled $47,168. Amber Hogan delivered the Chief Nursing Officer’s report, highlighting efforts to transition Long-Term Care (LTC) to an electronic medication records program and to update or replace LTC’s call light system. The hospital continues to prioritize education and training. Several employment openings remain in the Med/Surg, Emergency, EMS, and LTC departments. There were four new hires and four departures in February. During the Quality Improvement and Risk Management report, Kendra Mobray noted that the hospital’s new website is nearing completion and may be ready within a month. The meeting then entered into executive session before adjourning. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors is set for April 28th at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library and is open to the public.

Don’t forget that Healthy Dent County and the University of Missouri Extension will be hosting an Alpha-Gal Syndrome educational session tonight from 5:30 to 6:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. The cost of this course is $5.00 per person, payable at the event. This event is open to the public and designed for anyone interested in understanding and managing Alpha-Gal Syndrome, including individuals, families, and caregivers. For more information, call 573-729-8163.

There are still some VIP tables and individual tickets available for the “Non-Newlywed Game” this Friday evening at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory beginning at 6:30 with doors opening at 5:30. A limited number of individual tickets will be sold for $25 per ticket. Get your tickets now by calling 573-729-8163 or dropping by the Salem Community Center @ the Armory.

An accident occurred in Dent County Monday afternoon at approximately 5:00 on Highway 19 at Dent County Road 4060. According to the Highway Patrol report, an eastbound 2005 Ford F150, driven by a 69-year-old Salem man, ran off the right side of the roadway. The driver overcorrected, and the Ford ran off the left side of the roadway where it overturned. The man suffered serious injuries and was transported by Salem Ambulance and then Air Evac. The report stated that the man was not wearing a safety restraint. The F150 was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing of Salem. 

An accident occurred in Dent County Monday evening at approximately 7:00 on Highway H near Dent County Road 2380. According to the Highway Patrol report a westbound 2000 Dodge Ram 1500, driven by a 34-year-old Edgar Springs man, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. The man suffered minor injuries and was transported by Salem Ambulance to Salem Memorial Hospital. The report stated that the man was not wearing a safety restraint. The Dodge Ram was totaled and removed from the scene by the owner. 

This guide provided by Dent County Clerk Angie Curley provides essential information for residents for the general municipal election: The final day to vote no-excuse absentee in-person is next Monday, April 6th. Election Day will be next Tuesday, April 7th, and polls will be open from 6:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening. You must present a valid government-issued photo ID at your polling location. If your polling location is the Green Forest R-II School Gym, it will not be an active polling site for this election. If unsure of where your polling location is, contact the Dent County Clerk’s office at 573-729-4144. You can obtain a sample ballot also by contacting the Dent County Clerk’s office. Remember that there is no electioneering allowed within or near the polls on Election Day within 25 feet. This includes asking someone for their vote, distributing campaign literature, wearing campaign shirts, hats, pins, etc. Make sure all of your voting information is up to date, such as your address or name. 

According to a press release Salem R-80 District Superintendent Nate Wills provided this afternoon, the Salem High School was one of just 37 high schools, out of nearly 1,000 total statewide, to voluntarily participate in an initiative launched in 2025 to test wastewater for illicit drugs of concern. These schools support their communities and the state by helping to identify potential drug trends affecting students and the surrounding community. Participation demonstrates the district’s proactive commitment to prevention, awareness, and early identification of substance use trends. Wills clarified that the wastewater sample connected to the district was not collected from a dedicated sewer line serving only the high school and middle school. Instead, it intersects with the broader municipal system, meaning it reflects wastewater from the city at large, not exclusively from the school facilities. Sampling occurred between 8:00 in the morning and 3:30 in the afternoon over a 10-week period. During that time, a substance identified as a nitazene, a highly potent synthetic opioid, was detected in one week of the sampling. Because the sample was not exclusive to school facilities, this result cannot be necessarily attributed to the Salem R-80 students, staff, or campuses specifically. However, it reinforces the importance of continued awareness, education, and prevention efforts both in our schools and throughout the community. Earlier this week, district leadership met with Jamie Myers, Director of Prevention Consultants of Missouri; David Chirban, Coordinator of Drug Free Communities; Sherry L. Lea, Executive Director of Healthy Dent County; Carlos Lopez, Healthy Dent County Youth Prevention Coordinator; and Jessica Ricks, Population Health Director at the Dent County Health Center to review the findings and determine next steps on prevention and education. In addition to these partnerships, the district continues to actively implement prevention-focused programming for students. These efforts include Teens On Prevention, a student-led coalition that promotes healthy choices and leadership among peers; Teens Teach Prevention, a peer-to-peer model that empowers students to educate and support one another; and Too Good For Drugs, a research-based curriculum provided to students in grades 4–9 that focuses on building decision-making skills, resilience, and resistance to substance use. Data like this is critically important as communities and the State of Missouri work together to counteract dangerous drugs, protect lives, prevent addiction, and reduce the serious health, safety, and social consequences associated with substance use. Wills concluded that if the community has questions or would like more information about resources available to families, please contact any of the Salem R-80 building offices. The district will continue to partner with local organizations and keep the community informed on the issue.