Archive for 2026

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon in Iron County around 12:18 on Route KK about three miles south of Bixby. According to the highway patrol report, a 65-year old Bunker man, driving a 2004 Peterbilt southbound, ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned. The man suffered moderate injuries and was taken from the scene by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis. The man was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The vehicle was removed from the scene by Buckley’s Towing.

The North Wood R-IV Board of Education met for its monthly meeting Tuesday evening. After the approval of the agenda and consent agenda, the board went into closed session during which the board approved allowing Katie Sapp to withdraw her letter of resignation. Back in open session, the board approved the hiring of Brandy Lariomore and Katelyn Shipman for the 2026-27 school year. The board approved reassigning the duties of homeless coordinator, ELL coordinator, and foster care coordinator to Katie Sapp. The strategic plan was discussed and the stipend schedule for the 2026-27 school year was presented and approved. The budget for the 2025-26 school year was amended to actual numbers, and the board approved using the current budget until the new one is presented in August. Several bids were also approved, including a bid for food service from US Foodservice; a bid for propane from Ferrell Gas; a bid for trash service from GFL Environmental; a bid for pest control from Integrity Pest; and a bid for milk from Hiland Dairy. Bus routes were approved as presented. The board was presented with and approved a copy of the AMI plan for the 2026-27 school year. Updates were approved for several board policies and regulations. Finally, the board adjourned. The next meeting of the North-Wood R-IV Board of Education will be on Aug. 21st from 8:30 to 11:30 in the evening.

The Dent-Phelps R-III Board of Education met for its monthly meeting May 21st in the conference room. After the approval of the agenda and consent agenda, which contained bills, previous meeting minutes, and the May financial report, the board approved the bid from Brown Heating & Cooling for the HVAC preventative maintenance schedule for the 2026-27 school year. The board also approved soliciting bids for milk and propane for the 2026-27 school year. The Dent-Phelps R-III Literacy Plan Revision and Comprehensive Needs Assessment was approved as presented. The board approved going into closed session and then returned to open session before adjourning. No votes were made during the closed session. The next meeting for the Dent-Phelps R-III Board of Education will be on Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:00 in the evening.

Everyone is being asked to rally around Zach Moser and his family this Friday night. “We’ve Got Your Back, Zach” will be held Friday evening from 5:00 to 9:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The event will include an auction, dessert auction, concessions, T-shirts, and community support for a family facing an incredibly difficult battle with Stage 4 Sarcoma. All monetary donations will be accepted as no donation is too small. If you would like to donate or help support this fundraiser, please contact Susie Cahill at susie@salemcommunitycenter.org. In addition to auctions, organizers will also be holding a pickleball tournament on Saturday morning beginning at 10:30. Registration will be $25 per player. A competitive 3v3 basketball tournament will also be held Saturday, June 27th, with registration at $60 per team. All proceeds from the fundraisers will help Zach and his family with treatment expenses, travel, and daily living costs as he continues his fight against cancer. For more information on how to donate, please call 573-739-1127 or email Susie@SalemCommunityCenter.org.

The City of Salem Animal Shelter is located at 1401 Mullnack Drive and is open for adoptions. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon. To contact the Salem Animal Shelter for more information, contact 573-247-4057. Community members interested in volunteering can reach out through the Friends of Salem Animal Shelter Facebook page found by searching “Friends of Salem Animal Shelter” on Facebook. The Friends of Salem Animal Shelter Facebook page also features a showcase of adoptable dogs. 

The Salem Public Library will be hosting a “Hamilton” trivia night on Thursday, June 25th from 6:30 to 8:30. Adults 18 and over are invited to test their knowledge of the “Hamilton” Broadway musical about pivotal figures in American history. Be in the room where it happens! Costumes are optional. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees will be holding its monthly board meeting at 5:00 in the evening Thursday at the Dent County Health Center Annex Building at 1014 E. Scenic Rivers Boulevard in the Conference Room. The tentative agenda includes the approval of the previous meeting minutes. Under old business, the board will be presented the operations reports, administrator’s report, and will consider the approval of the financial reports. Under new business, the board will be presented a continuity planning proposal. The board will then vote to close part of this meeting. Then, the board will adjourn. Until closed, the meeting is open to the public.

The North Wood R-IV School District has released that it has been selected as this year’s district award recipient for the Dr. Mary Miller Richter Award. In honor of Mary Richter, Ph.D., Missouri’s founding Director of the Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support (SW-PBS) initiative, one school and one school district is honored annually that exemplifies the ideals, principles, and practices of positive behavior support. The award recipients demonstrate a firm commitment to improving the lives of students, the educators who teach them, and the community in which the school resides through innovation, creativity, and/or a firm commitment in staying the course despite barriers. Congratulations to the dedicated staff at North Wood R-IV for their much deserved recognition for their commitment to building a positive culture for students!

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repair. LIHEAP can help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer through programs that reduce the risk of health and safety problems that arise from unsafe heating and cooling situations and practices. This summer, LIHEAP might be able to help you by helping to pay your cooling bills; providing assistance to service, repair, or replace an air conditioner; helping with the purchase of an air conditioner; distributing or loaning air conditioning units or air source heat pumps; or establishing or providing transportation to a cooling center. If you or someone you know needs help with cooling bills, LIHEAP may be able to help. For more information, visit energyhelp.us, email energyassistance@ncat.org, or call 866-674-6327, weekdays from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the evening.

The Dent County Toy Drive will be holding its 6th annual Christmas in July fundraiser on Saturday, July 25th at the Dent County Commons. Vendors are wanted with outdoor spots still available. Indoor spots are full. This is a special year for the toy drive as it will be celebrating its 50th anniversary serving children in Dent County. Royal Oak Enterprises will be catering delicious pulled pork, and Backwoods Productions DJ will be keeping the music going throughout the event. As always, attendees will be able to enjoy a free kids carnival, car show, craft show, and poker run. To learn more or apply to be a vendor, visit the Dent County Toy Drive Facebook page at facebook.com/TheDentCountyToyDrive.

Four constitutional amendments will be seen on the August 4th Primary Election ballot. Amendment 1 – If approved by the voters, continues for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites. Amendment 2 – if approved by voters, requires that all charter counties, including Jackson County, elect a county assessor and that such assessors comply with training requirements established by state law. Amendment 4 – if approved by voters, modifies current requirements that a simple statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution, requires a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution, and makes available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot. Amendment 5 – if approved by voters, requires the phase out and elimination of the individual income tax based on revenue growth, requires the reduction of property taxes and other local taxes to offset any local sales tax revenue increases, while preserving local funding for public schools. The last day to register to vote for the Primary Election is July 8th. Excused absentee voting at the Dent County Clerk’s Office will begin June 23rd and continue through August 3rd. No excuse absentee voting will begin July 21st. 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.

The City of Salem’s Airport Board will be holding a meeting tonight at 6:00 in the evening in the Old City Hall Auditorium at 202 North Washington. After the call to order and approval of agenda and minutes, the board will receive updates regarding the airport and its new hangar. Public comments will be heard, if any. The board will then adjourn. This meeting is open to the public.

The City of Salem Police Department has released that on June 10th, three officers responded to the 100 block of East Tenth Street regarding reports of an intoxicated female subject causing a disturbance in the neighborhood by yelling profanities and disrupting residents. During contact with officers, the suspect, identified as Joyce LoBaido, continued to yell profanities and behave in a disorderly manner before ultimately fleeing on foot when officers attempted to take her into custody. Officers pursued her and a taser was deployed during the course of the pursuit. LoBaido was successfully restrained and placed in handcuffs. After obtaining medical clearance for confinement, LoBaido was transported to the Dent County Jail, where she was charged with peace disturbance and resisting arrest. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse for its regular meeting. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green reported that crew members will be picking up cold-mix asphalt in Lebanon and then plan to spend the week patching County Road 4110, to prepare for overlay. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported crew members plan on hauling rock to County Road 3370 and then grading county roads 3336, 3370, 4400, 4403, and 4370. A crew member will be sent to Springfield to pick up oil for chipseal roads. Williams thanked crew members within both districts for removing a large tree that had downed over the weekend and required two pieces of equipment to remove. In Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson’s report, this week he plans on attending a Tourism Commission meeting, a Solid Waste Committee meeting in St. James, and then a meeting in Jefferson City which will provide more information on data centers. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that payroll and bills are to be approved. Excused absentee voting is to begin on June 23rd. Sample ballots will be available after June 23rd. Sample ballots will also be published online on the Dent County Election’s Facebook page, found by searching “Dent County Elections/County Clerk-Angie Curley” on Facebook. Further, she reminds residents that, should they need to update their voter registration or have any questions on the upcoming election, to contact her office at 573-729-4144. Residents are also able to come into the office in-person from Monday through Friday from 8:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. Under public comments, the commissioners heard from a resident on the topic of data centers and Flock cameras. The resident advised commissioners against data centers coming into Dent County, warning of resource depletion which could affect the stability of the Ozark Aquifer. Additionally, the resident warned against Flock cameras, citing privacy concerns. The resident also advised the commissioners to be wary of signing any non-disclosure agreements. Larson reiterated that the commissioners are against data centers and will be attending the meeting in Jefferson City for more information on how to protect the county. In addition, Larson stated the county does not have the infrastructure to support a data center. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will take place Thursday morning at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse. These meetings are open to the public.

The Dent County Fire Protection District (DCFPD) Assistant Fire Chief Derrick Marfitt has released that Junior Firefighters Connor Montoya and Colleen Montoya successfully completed the Sullivan Fire Department Junior Firefighter Academy. The academy was an intensive, week-long course which both Connor and Colleen dedicated time, energy, and determination. Participants were exposed to a variety of hands-on training opportunities designed to prepare the next generation of firefighters. Connor and Colleen embraced every challenge, gaining valuable experience that will help them better protect and serve their community in the future. David Eigenberg, known to millions as firefighter “Christopher Herrmann” from the television series Chicago Fire, took time to personally instruct academy participants, sharing his experiences and working alongside the junior firefighters throughout training evolutions. His presence provided a unique and memorable learning opportunity, inspiring these young men and women as they continue their journey in the fire service. The Dent County Fire Protection District is extremely proud of Connor and Colleen for their accomplishment and for their dedication to becoming better firefighters. Their willingness to invest an entire week into training reflects their commitment to excellence and their passion for serving others. Congratulations to Connor and Colleen!

Interested in learning how to safely preserve your favorite food at home? Join a Water Bath Canning Workshop on Thursday, 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.