Archive for 2026

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be holding its monthly meeting Tuesday night at 6:00 at 2 South Main Street. After the call to order and roll call, the board will consider the approval of the consent agenda, to contain the previous meeting’s minutes, financial report, bills, and budget review. Under old business, the board will discuss the CTI Tower Lease and revised bylaws. Under new business, the board will discuss insurance as proposed by representative Mary Martin of American Midwest Insurance. The board will then be presented the monthly reimbursement reports by Fire Chief Derek Thomas. The next meeting date will then be set, and the board will enter a closed session if necessary before adjournment. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has released a list of general highway maintenance and construction work planned the week of June 8th to June 14th. Motorists should travel with care and be alert for slow-moving equipment. For Dent County, the bridge over Dry Creek at Hwy. B remains closed with project completion scheduled for the end of July. Pedestrian facility upgrades continue in the city limits of Salem on Hwy. 19 and Hwy. 32. The project is expected to be completed in September. A resurfacing project spanning from Hwy. 63 in Texas County to Hwy. KK in Iron County is scheduled to begin today. Work will begin with signal work in the city of Salem with resurfacing scheduled to begin June 15. Paving work in Licking and Salem will take place at night, with all other work scheduled during daytime hours. A 10-foot width restriction is in place around-the-clock for the duration of the project, which is expected to be completed by mid-September. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zones.

MRPC and the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee are holding an abbreviated friends and family CPR class this Saturday at the MRPC office, #4 Industrial Drive, St. James. This class provides hands-on CPR training, practice with AEDs, an introduction to first aid and is meant to be an informative and relaxed environment for basic understanding of life-saving measures. The course does not offer certification and is approximately 60-90 minutes long. While registration is required, the class is offered free of charge. Samantha Sherman, senior community development specialist with MRPC, said that this is the perfect opportunity for individuals who may be watching children over the summer or community members who have a desire to assist when needed to get basic hands-on knowledge without going through a lengthy certification course. The hope is that this course provides enough knowledge to be beneficial to participants who find themselves in emergency situations that require immediate action. The course is being taught by Scott Proffitt, a certified instructor with Rolla Fire and Rescue. To register for the class, email or call Samatha Sherman with MRPC at ssherman@meramecregion.org or 573-265-2993, ext. 101. This training opportunity is funded through a grant provided by Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) has released that it has completed its 2026 annual school bus inspection. Over 11,000 school buses were successfully inspected in accordance to Missouri revised state statues. A total of 287 Missouri school districts earned the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence Award for 2026. Missouri’s 2026 school bus inspection results are as follows: School buses rated as “approved” upon initial inspection were 10,239; buses rated as “defective” were 849; and buses rated as “out-of-service” were 283. Buses with identified defective components require repair within 10 days. Buses placed out-of-service require correction of the component(s), reinspection, and a return to service by Patrol personnel prior to further usage in transporting passengers. According to the individual school district results for 2026, the Salem R-80 School District’s fleet of 10 buses received 90% approval from Highway Patrol Troop I, with only one bus receiving a defective rating; Oak-Hill R-I received a rating of 60% on their fleet of five buses; Green Forest R-II received a rating of 75% on their fleet of eight buses; Dent-Phelps R-III received an approval rating of 100% on their fleet of nine buses; and North Wood R-IV received an approval rating of 57.1% of their fleet of seven buses.

The Dent County Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is in need of more volunteers to assist with bed deliveries on the outskirts of Dent County. If you are someone willing and able to lend a hand, join SHP, an international non-profit that builds, assembles, and delivers new beds to children in need to ensure no child sleeps on the floor of our town. No experience is needed and training is provided. Just recently, over 40 people from Oak Grove Baptist Church, Gladden Baptist Church, and New Home Baptist Church joined together to build beds for children in need. For more information, contact Patti McKeown at patti.mckeown@shpbeds.org or call the Dent County chapter at 1-844-432-2337. Updates can also be found at facebook.com/shpdentco. 

The Salem Heritage Sign has officially returned to its original placement after being removed for restoration work from both the City of Salem Electric Department and Construction Department. Department crew members have worked hard to restore the sign’s lighting, concrete slab, and painted lettering. The sign was originally placed in the City of Salem Roadside Park in 1957 by the State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission, telling a brief history of Salem.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse for its regular meeting. Not in attendance was Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley appointed Second District Commissioner Jimmy Williams as Acting Presiding Commissioner. Under road reports, First District Commissioner Keith Green reported that crew members are hauling rock to and grading county roads 6220 and 6240. Ditchwork is being completed on county roads 4110 and 4120 to prepare for chipseal resurfacing. Pothole patching is also to be done today. In the second district, Williams reported that crew members are spreading asphalt and patching chipseal roads to prepare for resurfacing, including county roads 2250, 3233, 3230, 3220, and 3290. Hauling and spreading rock will be done on county roads 5260 and 5325. A tree will be removed from County Road 3355. Meanwhile, Curley reported that she has balanced with the collector and assessor on all monthly collections, abatements, and add-ons for the month of May. Bills are to be approved. Businesses are reminded that if they have a liquor license, those are due by June 30th. The first day to start absentee voting is June 23rd for the Aug. 4th Primary Election. Under public comments, commissioners heard from several residents advocating against Flock cameras and its Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems currently in use by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. Resident Denver Ellis provided commissioners a proposal for a privacy and surveillance ordinance, modeled off an ordinance adopted by Camden County Commission, alongside a proposal for a ballot question to discontinue the county’s participation in the ALPR system. Sargent Lenny Pabbin with the Sheriff’s Office discussed the system with the residents, clarifying that the cameras document passing vehicles but lose the information after 30 days; the cameras do not track speed; and it does not have facial recognition software. Pabbin further clarified the system has only been in use for three weeks. Residents disagreed with the continued use of the system, citing privacy concerns. Ellis also asked commissioners if the proposed ordinance against data centers has been considered, to which commissioners claimed it cannot be enforced if put in place due to a lack of zoning laws. A resident asked regarding the progress being made on the slab crossing on County Road 4210. This is a FEMA bridge awaiting engineering plans. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will take place at 9:00 in the morning Monday, June 8th at the courthouse and is open to the public.

For free fun for the family, Missouri Department of Conservation has Free Fishing Days coming up statewide the weekend of June 6th and June 7th. During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in Missouri without having to buy a fishing permit, trout permit, or trout park daily tag. This is an annual event which takes place statewide during the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June. Other fishing regulations remain in effect, such as limits on size and number of fish an angler may keep. If you’re new to fishing or don’t have fishing gear, consider taking advantage of the Salem Public Library’s Rod & Reel Loaner Program. Through the Rod & Reel Loaner Program, individuals of all ages may check out fishing poles and tackle boxes for free using their library cards. The fishing poles are equipped with standard spin-cast reels. The tackle boxes are supplied with hooks, sinkers, and bobbers for basic fishing opportunities. Individuals need to provide their own live bait or desired lures to bait the hook. Equipment checks out for three days. It’s important to note that fishing rods and tackle boxes need to be returned to the circulation desk, not the book depository, and that items may not be renewed and are subject to overdue fines. For more information on the Rod & Reel Loaner program, contact the Salem Public Library at 573-729-4331.

Join Salem Public Library this Saturday from 10:30 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon for a meet the author and book signing event with local author Sarah Mason of “Riding the Line,” “Hell of a Ride,” and “Caught in the Crossfire.” This program is intended for adults. No fee or library card is required to attend.

The Salem Community Center @ the Armory will be hosting the Dueling Pianos on Aug. 7th. Dueling Pianos is a musical showdown where two pianists take audience requests and turn them into a live performance. These musicians are based out of areas all across the United States, including New York, Kansas City, St. Louis, and more. Doors will be opening early evening at 5:30 with the performance to begin at 6:30 and going until 9:30. Concessions and a cash bar will be available. Individual tickets will be $25 and a VIP table of six will be $250. Tickets are available @ the Armory. Visit flyingivories.com or facebook.com/flyingivories to learn more about the performers. For questions on the event, please contact 573-729-8163 or Jackie@SalemCommunityCenter.org.

The Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or “STIP,” lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies and reflects the transportation needs of communities across the state, from high-volume interstate construction projects to low-volume routes in rural areas. The draft FY 2027-2031 STIP was presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) at an open meeting, allowing for a 30-day public review and comment period on the proposal. This draft STIP makes available $13 billion of federal and state revenues for all modes of transportation over the next five years and details $9.3 billion in road and bridge construction contractor awards, averaging approximately $1.9 billion per year. In Dent County specifically, proposed highway and bridge construction projects include bridge rehabilitation over Spring Creek; repair slide 0.3 mile south of County Road 4050; bridge replacement over Huzzah Creek; bridge improvement over Dry Creek; scour repair and bridge painting at Dry Branch; bridge improvement over Crooked Creek; bridge improvements over Dry Fork Creek and Barnitz Prong Dry Creek and on Hwy. 32 over Dry Fork Creek and Pigeon Creek. There are also a few pavement resurfacing projects proposed, including from Hwy. 72 to Hwy. 32. Scoping for bridge improvements over Dry Fork of Meramec River is also among the proposed projects for Dent County. You can review the proposed STIP in full and comment at the website modot.org/DRAFTSTIP. Those interested in seeing the program or offering comments can also contact MoDOT by email at STIPcomments@modot.mo.gov; by calling customer service at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636); or by mailing Transportation Planning, Program Comments, P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102. The formal comment period ends tomorrow, June 5th. A summary of comments will then be presented to MHTC. After review, the proposal will be considered for approval at the July 1st MHTC meeting. 

If you are planning a holiday weekend of cleaning out the basement or garage, be sure to designate items for the annual special waste collection event in Rolla coming up on June 13th. The annual collection will be from 8:00 in the morning to noon at the Brewer Science, Inc. parking lot located at 2401 Brewer Drive, Rolla. The collection is for residential items only – no materials from businesses will be accepted. Stoves, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, and other appliances will be collected free of charge. Free electronics also include computer components, laptop computers, keyboards, VCR/DVD players, cell phones, hair dryers, power tools or anything that runs on a cord or battery. Please note the following items will NOT be accepted: transformers, capacitors or ballasts not clearly marked “No PCBs”; smoke detectors; thermostats; medical waste; gas containers such as propane, oxygen, nitrous oxide; anything leaking oil or acid, such as batteries; broken ink or toner cartridges; alkaline batteries; broken CRT TVs or monitors. Fees on certain items will be collected including $25 for CRT TVs over 27 inches and wood console TVs; $20 for CRT TVs under 26 inches; $15 for flat screen TVs; $10 for all computer monitors and refrigerated appliances with Freon; and $5 for printers, scanners or copiers. Fees for tires are $3 each for passenger tires; $7.50 each for semi-truck tires; and $35 each for tractor tires. For more information on items accepted or the fee structure, please contact Jill Hollowell at MRPC at 573-265-2993 Ext. 109 or at jhollowell@meramecregion.org. 

Interested in learning how to safely preserve your favorite food at home? Join a hands-on Water Bath Canning Workshop on Thursday, June 18th from 6:00 to 9:00 in the evening at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Whether you’re brand new to canning or want a refresher on safe water bath canning techniques, this workshop will guide you step-by-step through the process. The cost is $25 per participant, and registration is required. Feel empowered and prepared as you learn techniques for safely canning high-acid foods, using equipment correctly, and following tested recipes. Build skills that protect your health, reduce food waste, and help you preserve nutritious foods for your family year-round. To register, visit MU Extension’s website at extension.missouri.edu and search “Water Bath Canning Workshop.” A registration link will be available at the first result.