Archive for 2026

An accident happened at 8:50 Tuesday night in Shannon County on Highway 106 about two miles west of Eminence that took the life of a man. According to the highway patrol report, a westbound 2016 Nissan Frontier driven by a 28-year-old man from Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was making a left-hand turn into a private drive when it was struck by an eastbound 2004 Harley Davidson driven by a 43-year-old man from Eminence. The Harley ricocheted off of the Frontier and struck a 2024 Toyota Corolla driven westbound by a 23-year-old woman from Eminence. The driver of the Harley was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:23 in the evening. The Harley driver was not wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. The drivers of the Nissan and Toyota were wearing seat restraints when the accident occurred. The Toyota sustained moderate damage and was driven from the scene. The Nissan sustained moderate damage and was towed from the scene by Sartin’s Towing. The Harley was totaled and removed from the scene by Sartin’s Towing. The body of the Harley driver was taken to the Bradford Funeral Home.

The Salem Public Library has released that Salem Publishing Company has donated photo negatives that appeared in its print editions from the 1950s through the 2000s. These negatives will now be available to the public, alongside bound editions of The Salem News and other local papers dating from the early 1900s through early 2025. Donald Dodd, his wife Felicia and Dodd’s daughter and former managing editor, Catherine Wynn, made up the board of Salem Publishing when The Salem News was sold and agreed that the library is the perfect place to house the archives so they can be used for a variety of not-for-profit purposes, including genealogy by the general public and research by local historians and others needing to know more about events and history that shaped the community. The Dodds and Wynn are also going to donate a photo negative scanner so not only the library, but those accessing the archives, can obtain digital versions. The library has had possession of the archives for a couple months and will soon roll out information on how they can be viewed, its policies for use and availability. People making requests can help library staff locate articles and images expediently by providing as much detail about the dates as possible. Currently, library staff is able to take photos of articles or images from the newspapers and email them to patrons. If patrons prefer to have the information on paper, it can be printed in black and white for 25¢ per page. In the future, staff will be able to scan negatives in order to print photos. The charge for that service has yet to be determined. For more information, contact the library at 573-729-4331 or salemmopubliclibrary@gmail.com.

On Wednesday, Sept. 16th, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order establishing safeguards on Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) technology, including Flock Safety cameras. Stated intentions of Executive Order 26-18 is to prevent the misuse of the personal location data of Missourians while preserving legitimate law enforcement uses of the technology. Kehoe commented in a press release that the executive order is the first step in creating safeguards against abuse of citizen’s data. Executive Order 26-18 directs the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) to establish statewide safeguards for state agencies and state-funded local law enforcement entities using ALPR technology. Any misuse of ALPR technology shall trigger immediate disciplinary proceedings, criminal referral, where appropriate, and a mandatory report to the Director of DPS for officer license revocation or discipline. Until the General Assembly establishes a permanent statutory framework, the executive order requires the following minimum standards: Requiring most license plate and vehicle data to be permanently deleted within 30 days; Prohibiting vendors from selling, sharing, or commercializing Missouri-generated data; Limiting the use of ALPR technology to legitimate criminal justice and lifesaving purposes; Requiring accountability measures to prevent and penalize misuse; and Prohibiting the integration of artificial intelligence facial recognition technology with ALPR systems. Local agencies are encouraged to voluntarily commit to adhering to these best practices, where possible under existing contracts and law, as stakeholders and lawmakers work towards a comprehensive statutory framework. To find the executive order, and all executive orders that have been signed in 2026, visit the Missouri Secretary of State website at sos.mo.gov and click on the “Executive Orders” tab. Visit governor.mo.gov/actions for more information on actions taken by Kehoe. 

The Salem Memorial Hospital has released that it has been officially awarded approximately $1.7 million through Missouri’s ToRCH Care Strategic Strategic Minor Renovations (Horizon 1) initiative, funded through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). SMH received its fully executed contract on Sept. 9th following final approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Missouri Department of Social Services. The award will allow SMH to address critical facility needs that support the safety, reliability, and continued delivery of healthcare services to the communities throughout the hospital’s district. The funded project, titled the Critical Infrastructure Stabilization and Safety Preservation Initiative, includes improvements to several essential areas of the hospital campus. Planned work includes replacement of the hospital’s aging roofing system, HVAC equipment, nurse call systems, and a portion of the hospital’s oldest exterior windows and doors. The project also includes repairs to existing parking areas and improvements to drainage and access at the Emergency Department and ambulance entrance. The award requires SMH to provide a 10% match toward the project. The SMH Foundation has committed funding equal to 5% of the required match, providing significant support toward the hospital’s obligation. SMH expressed appreciation to the SMH Foundation, its members, leadership, and supporters for their continued investment in the hospital. The Foundation’s contribution toward the required match will help SMH maximize the funding opportunity and move these critical improvements forward. SMH also extended its appreciation to State Representative John Hewkin, Four Rivers Community Health Center, Compass Health, and the Dent County Health Center, each of whom provided letters of support for the hospital’s application. The executed contract establishes a project period of Sept. 9th, 2026, through Oct. 30th, 2027. With the award now finalized, SMH can begin moving forward with the approved projects and coordinating the work necessary to complete these critical improvements within the award period.

Join the Salem Public Library this Thursday night from 6:00 to 7:00 for the opening night of the Salem Chess Club! Have you been interested in chess but have no one to play with? Or do you wish to learn how to play but don’t know where to start? Here is a fun opportunity to play and learn the rules of chess with members of the local community. This chess club is beginner friendly and appropriate for all ages. It will take place in the north basement meeting room. There is no library card or fee required to participate. Non-alcoholic drinks and food are allowed.

The 40th annual Old Miners’ Days, a festival that celebrates the rich mining history of southeast Missouri, will be celebrated in Viburnum Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2nd through Oct. 4th. The free event features entertainment for all ages, including live music, mine tours, kids’ games, food trucks and booths, craft vendors, a community parade, and much more. Friday will see a Tiny Tot Contest and Miss Viburnum Scholarship Pageant. Saturday will see an evening concert with American Idol 2026 Winner Hannah Harper. On Sunday, there will be a community church service and a car show along St. Joseph Street. For more information about Old Miners’ Days, including a full schedule of events, visit oldminersdays.com.

The Ozark Riverways Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and its preservation and promotion of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers. Join the foundation for the National Public Lands Day Jacks Fork River Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 26th from 8:00 to 7:00 in the evening. Attendees may choose one of three float routes for the cleanup: Bay Creek to Alley Spring; Alley Spring to Eminence; or Eminence to Two Rivers. Bay Creek to Alley Spring and Alley Spring to Eminence will be put into the water at 10:00 in the morning, while Eminence to Two Rivers will be put into the water at 9:00 in the morning. Make sure to arrive in time to complete sign-in forms and for a river safety briefing. All floats are estimated to end between 2:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon. Join the group for music, food, and prizes at 5:00 on the Rock Bar and Grill pavilion, where there will be a drawing for a free kayak, paddle, and Personal Flotation Device. Find more information by visiting ozarkriverwaysfoundation.org. 

The 2nd Annual Benefit for Project Win with a Current River Cruisers Car Club Cruise In will be this Saturday, Sept. 19th. The event will be located around the Dent County Courthouse square from 10:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. Performances will be heard from Southern Sound at 11:00 and Kevin & Kim Abney at Noon. There will also be special Jiu-Jitsu Outlet entertainment. Food and drink will be available on-site, alongside a bake sale. Registration is $25 with the first 25 cars registered to get a Dash Plaque. All proceeds will go to Project Win Cancer Group, which supports Dent County residents. For more information, contact 573-261-0856.

An event put on in partnership between Parsons Chiropractic and the City of Salem Parks and Recreation, the Salem Mo. Spectacular Balloon Glow, is returning to brighten the dark autumn skies of Salem once more. This annual event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24th at the Al Brown Complex, beginning at 11:00 in the morning and going into the night. The evening will be full of hot air balloons, food, crafts, and musical entertainment provided by the Greer Company. Stay tuned on what’s coming up by following the official Facebook page: Find it by searching Facebook for “Salem, MO Spectacular Balloon Glow Event.”

An accident occurred in Dent County Saturday evening at 6:35 on County Road 5015 north of County Road 5070, which left a Dent County Juvenile with minor injuries. According to the Highway Patrol report a southbound 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, driven by a 16-year-old male, lost control of the vehicle. The driver then overcorrected and the Cobalt traveled off the right side of the roadway before overturning. The report stated that the Juvenile was wearing a safety restraint and he suffered minor injuries. He was transported by Salem Memorial Ambulance District to Salem Memorial Hospital. The Chevrolet sustained extensive damage and was removed for the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Monday morning at the courthouse. Under public comments, citizen Cindy Jones presented commissioners with an article printout discussing the implementation of AI monitoring with Flock technology, and its potential benefits. Assessor Alisa Brookshire reported that reassessment surveys are to begin next week with staff members to be out within the county conducting surveys. For road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green shared that crew members will be installing a driveway pipe on County Road 4220 and ditch work will be completed on County Road 4280. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that crew members will be attempting to grade County Road 6160 and completing a project on County Road 2613. The chip and seal crew are within the county and beginning work on County Road 6150. Both Williams and Green stated they were aware that county roads are in desperate need of grading, but that the current weather has been too dry to do so. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson shared that he attended several meetings Thursday night in St. James with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC.) One such meeting was with the Phelps County Housing Advisory Board (PHA), in which the board reviewed financials for the year. The Housing Choice Voucher program was also discussed which has a total of 630 recipients and 653 current applicants; meanwhile, 168 voucher recipients await placement, with Larson sharing that often voucher recipients may wait four to six months for placement. The MRPC meeting also discussed the upcoming annual dinner and Missouri legislature updates. Commissioners held a closed session at 10:00 in the morning to discuss legal actions. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be 9:00 in the morning Thursday at the courthouse and is open to the public. 

Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams has reported on the sales tax received for the month of August. For the General Revenue fund, the county has received $104,831.93, an increase of $22,835.17 or 2.7% year-to-date. The Road and Bridge fund has received $52,415.69, an increase of $18,182.47 or 4.3% year-to-date. The Jail funds have received $105,252.77, an increase of $35,589.30 or 4.2% year-to-date.

The Fall Community Wide Yardsale is coming up soon on the first Saturday of October, Oct. 3rd. Parking spaces will be available at the Administrative Office parking lot for $8. For questions on availability, contact the Administrative Office at 573-729-4811. The yard sale will be followed by the Fall Community Cleanup for City of Salem residents the week of Oct. 5th through Oct. 9th. Have all items for pickup sitting curbside the night before your regularly scheduled trash day. As a reminder, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) law does not allow collection for the following materials: yard waste, batteries, tires, motor oil, chemicals or solvents, paint, appliances or non-compactable items such as concrete, tree stumps, steel, construction debris, etc. All mattresses must be wrapped in plastic and loose items must be bagged to be picked up. For any questions, contact 1-800-926-3953 or 1-417-741-7714. 

The Dent County Clerk’s Office has given notice that a public test of the automatic absentee voting equipment is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21st at 2:00 in the afternoon at the Dent County Courthouse. Then, another public test of the automatic voting equipment is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 7th at 10:00 in the morning. These tests are open for public viewing.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is an international non-profit 501(C)(3) organization that builds, assembles and delivers beds to children who do not have a bed. If interested in lending a hand or learning more, the SHP Dent County chapter will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 28th, beginning at 5:30 in the evening. This meeting will take place at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory in the Walden Conference Room. There will be discussions on upcoming events, needs, and more. More updates from the chapter can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/shpdentco or visit shpbeds.org/chapter/mo-dent-co. 

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees will meet in a special called meeting tonight at 5:00 at the Health Center Annex at 1010 East Scenic Rivers Blvd. After the call to order, the board will consider the re-authorization of the current Conflict of Interest Policy followed by other business, if necessary. The board may vote to go into closed session for the discussion of personnel. Except for the possible closed session, the meeting will be open to the public.

The North Wood R-IV Board of Education met for its regular meeting Thursday, Sept. 10th. After approval of the agenda, the board approved the consent agenda with additions. After discussions of the strategic plan, business after hours dinner, and stakeholder involvement, Davy Gray provided the board with updates on kitchen renovations. A quote from Mertz Music was presented to update the intercom system in the gymnasium, which was approved. The board also approved a quote from Rommell for an upgrade to the fire alarm system. Policy updates were tabled for the October board meeting. MAP data was presented to the board for the 2025-26 school year, and Superintendent Jeff Dodson informed the board that enrollment was at 10 for Pre-Kindergarten and 169 for Kindergarten through 8th Grade. Attendance was at 98%. The board discussed the MARE conference in October and the MSBA conference. Board refresher training was also discussed. Mileage reimbursement was approved to be increased to $0.66 per mile. The board then went into closed session. After returning to open session, the board then adjourned. The next regular board meeting of North Wood R-IV Board of Education will be Thursday, Oct. 15th at 6:00 and is open to the public.