Archive for 2026

The Missouri Department of Transportation has released a resurfacing project spanning across Dent County along Hwy. 32, originating from Hwy. 63 in Texas County and ending at Hwy. KK in Iron County, is scheduled to start. Resurfacing work is scheduled to begin today. 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.

The Salem Public Library Board of Trustees held its regular meeting Thursday evening at 5:00 in the library’s conference room. After approving the minutes from the previous meeting, Library Director Kate McBride presented the Librarian’s Report, noting that the library’s e-book and audiobook circulation, as well as its children’s, adult, and passive programming, had increased over the same period last year. Following the treasurer’s report, the board discussed book reviews. Under Old Business, McBride updated the board on ongoing renovations to the library’s south basement, and the board voted to approve an insurance quote from State Farm of approximately $12,000, pending clarification on coverage details. Under New Business, the board approved the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. After an update on upcoming library events, the meeting adjourned. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Salem Public Library Board of Trustees will be held July 9 at 5:00 in the conference room and is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is investigating the presence of dead fish within the tributary of the West Fork of the Black River located in Reynolds County. Following an alert from a concerned citizen, the department immediately notified the Missouri Department of Conservation and began an investigation into the cause. On the evening of June 6th, the Doe Run Company notified the department of a potential release from the company’s wastewater treatment facility. The released wastewater was suspected of exceeding permitted effluent limits of pH contributing to the fish kill. The department collected water quality samples upstream and downstream of the West Fork of the Black River, including sampling points for several miles downstream on the river. The water quality monitoring results were within acceptable levels for pH and dissolved oxygen, and are protective for whole-body contact for human health and aquatic species. This event is no longer an environmental emergency, and the department continues to investigate. Any violations discovered during this investigation will be referred for enforcement action.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the upcoming Independence Day parade on Saturday, July 4th at 6:00 in the evening. Line up for entrants begins at 5:00 on Grand Street, in front of Southwest Baptist University. The  parade will depart east on Franklin, North on MacArthur, East on Fourth Street, and end at the Dent County Courthouse. The theme of this year’s parade will be America’s 250th: Celebrating Our Past, Present and Future. To sign up or for more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 573-729-6900. If you can’t make it to the parade, KSMO Media will be streaming the parade LIVE on the KSMO Stream Facebook page, the KSMO YouTube channel and on ksmoradio.com which is our Twitch channel. All three of the streams are free and will be available at the KSMO website home page (ksmoradio.com). The parade will probably begin streaming around 6:15. If you can’t watch it live, it will be archived for playback at a later time. After the parade, visit the City of Salem Park for a fireworks show put on by the Firework Committee.

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

The Missouri State Highway Patrol will be holding its 2026 Youth Academy Program in Piedmont at Eagle Sky at 1 Eagle Sky Drive from Aug. 3rd through Aug. 7th, with a deadline to apply by this Friday. There is no cost to attend the program. This program is for those interested in a career in law enforcement and must be high school students or recent graduates between the ages of 16 to 18. Cadets must be in good physical condition, capable of enduring aerobic and endurance activities requiring a reasonable fitness level. Cadets must reside at the camp facility for the duration of the program. For more information or to receive an application, contact Cpl. Logan Bolton at 314-348-4428 or email logan.bolton@mshp.dps.mo.gov. 

Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk reminds those that are age 62 or over and own their own home to pick up an SB190 application from the collector’s office. Applications are available until June 30th. For questions, call 573-729-3911.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. Under road reports, First District Commissioner Keith Green reported that crew members would be hauling rock where needed and stockpiling; in addition, crew members are planning to grade county roads 5600, 6040, and 6200. Cutting brush is planned for County Road 6200. Commissioners also approved a bid for diesel from MFA at $3.523 a gallon. Second District Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that crew members are planning to haul rock to County Road 3260 and grade county roads 4030, 4370, 2020, and 2025. Brush cutting is planned for county roads 2245, 3210, 3200, 2640, 2630, and 2620. With the county being enrolled with the CART program with the Missouri Department of Conservation, rock used on roads around the White River Trace, alongside other conservation roads, has been reimbursed for $27,500. Roads are still being prepared for resurfacing. Dent County Collector Shannon Vankirk reported that monthly collections have been turned over for May and were $94,001.09. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills are to be approved, and that excused absentee voting is to begin on June 23rd. Curley also thanked Representative of District 120 John Hewkin, who was in attendance at the meeting, for his support in getting House Bill 1871 passed, which modifies various provisions relating to elections. Hewkin credited Representative of District 7 Peggy McGaugh for her work on the bill. In Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson’s reports, he stated commissioners are not in support of data centers; furthermore, commissioners do not support planning and zoning laws in the county. Currently, there has been no contact made by representatives of data centers to the commissioners. Larson stated he plans to attend a meeting in Jefferson City on June 17th, which will provide elected officials with education and more information on data centers. On the topic of Flock cameras, Larson stated the cameras were an administrative decision made by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and commissioners support the sheriff’s decisions. Meanwhile, under public comments, commissioners heard from a resident advocating for ordinances restricting data centers; more specifically, the resident suggested commissioners put preventative parameters in place, such as businesses requiring more than 50kw would need their own power or water source. Commissioners expressed concerns on infringing on county resident property rights but ultimately shared they will continue consulting with legal experts to pursue more options. Rep. Hewkin stated that the conversations on data centers are continuing within Jefferson City. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will take place Monday morning at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse. These meetings are open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has released a resurfacing project spanning across Dent County along Hwy. 32, originating from Hwy. 63 in Texas County and ending at Hwy. KK in Iron County, is scheduled to begin soon. Work will begin with signal work in the city of Salem with resurfacing scheduled to begin Monday, June 15th. 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. 

This Saturday, two events held by the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) will be held in Phelps County. An abbreviated friends and family CPR class at the MRPC Office located at #4 Industrial Drive, St. James will be held at 10:00 in the morning. 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. To register, email or call Samantha 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. In addition, MRPC will be holding an annual special waste collection event in Rolla on Saturday 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. Stoves, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, and other appliances will be collected free of charge. Free electronics also include computer components, laptop computers, keyboards, DVD players, cell phones or anything that runs on a cord or battery. 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. 

Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk reminds those that are 62 and over and own their own home to pick up an application for SB190 from the collector’s office. Applications are available until June 30th. Office hours for the collector are Monday through Friday from 8:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. Contact her office at 573-729-3911 if you have any questions.

The Dent County Fire Protection District (DCFPD) board of directors held its monthly meeting Tuesday night. After the roll call, the consent agenda was approved, which included previous meeting minutes, financial reports, bills, payments, statements, budget and reconciliations. Under old business, the board tabled the CTI Tower Lease discussion due to a need for a legal update. Revised bylaws were presented and accepted. Under new business, Mary Martin of American Midwest Insurance discussed the insurance with the board, stating that the insurance increased $33 for the renewal. The coverage and premiums were discussed, with no action taken. In chief reports, Fire Chief Derek Thomas presented the monthly reimbursement report with 17 calls for the month and 115 total calls for the year. Thomas also reported the Ladder Truck was still in the shop for repair. Compressor bids were given from three companies; after discussion, the board moved to receive more quoted information to make an accurate assessment of the compressors being bid. The next meeting of the DCFPD board of directors was set for July 14th at 6:00 in the evening. The board then adjourned. 

The City of Salem Board of Adjustments will be meeting tonight at 5:30 for a public hearing, as well as its regular public meeting to follow directly after. After the call to order, the board will recognize anyone that wishes to speak. The board will then hear a request for a variance from Section 405.130 of the City of Salem Code of Ordinances, to allow construction of a single-family residential structure inside the front setback of Lot 5 Shady Oaks Estates, owned by Bee Fork Development LLC. During its regular meeting, the board will consider the approval or rejection of the variance. The board will then adjourn. This meeting is open to the public and will be held in the Old City Hall Auditorium at 202 North Washington. 

Not only is being a poll worker an excellent way to participate in our democracy, but it’s also a paid position. Poll workers are paid for their service on Election Day and often for attending training sessions prior to Election Day. Your local election authority determines how much you will be paid, but in Missouri the daily pay ranges from $64 to $100 for the day. Poll workers and election judges staff polling places on Election Day and help ensure the voting process goes smoothly. Poll workers check in registered voters, answer questions and make sure everyone who is eligible is given the opportunity to vote. You will need to attend at least one training session conducted by your local election authority prior to Election Day. These training sessions usually take place about four to six weeks prior to Election Day and provide you with everything you need to know about the voting equipment used in your jurisdiction, legal processes and procedures, along with information for answering voter questions. The amount of time required for training will vary based on your election jurisdiction, but usually lasts from two to eight hours. Poll workers must open the polls at 6:00 in the morning on Election Day and keep them open until 7:00 in the evening.  Any voter who is in line at 7:00 in the evening is allowed to vote. Qualifications sought in a potential poll worker include being a registered voter; being able to speak, read, and write English; not appearing on the current ballot or have a close relative appear on the current ballot; and not holding an elective office at the time of service as a poll worker. Exceptions to the elective office provision include: political party committee, township office, or board or commission member of a political subdivision or special district (unless an issue or candidate relevant to that entity is on the ballot where you are working.) If you’re interested in signing up to be a poll worker, visit the Secretary of State website at sos.mo.gov/pollworker for more information, such as frequently asked questions and to sign-up. If more information is desired, contact Dent County Clerk Angie Curley’s office at 573-729-4144 or email dent@sos.mo.gov. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon.

As temperatures rise this summer in our county, remember to safeguard yourself, friends, and family against heat-related illnesses. Keep your body cool and hydrated by using light, loose-fitting clothing. Drink water regularly, with a recommendation of 1 cup of water per hour and at least 2-3 litres per day. Regularly check in with vulnerable people in your circle, especially people over 65 years old and those with heart, lung or kidney conditions, or living alone. Regularly apply SPF 30+ sunscreen in order to protect your skin and take breaks in shaded areas or air-conditioned spaces when possible. Heatstroke is a potentially fatal medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention: if you or others feel faint, dizzy or nauseous, stop sweating, or lose consciousness seek care as soon as possible. It’s crucial to take heatstroke seriously and act quickly, as delays can lead to severe complications or even death. Use any available means to cool the person down while waiting for medical help. Remove any unnecessary clothing to help the person cool down. Move the person to a shady or air-conditioned location immediately and apply cold, wet cloths to their body. Use ice packs and fans if available.

Join MU Extension and Healthy Dent County for a walk at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. As a part of the 100 Miles, 100 Days challenge, this free event is a fun way to move and stay motivated. All ages and abilities welcome – whether you join the full challenge or just want to go on a quick walk! Interested participants are asked to bring a water bottle, comfortable attire, and outdoor protection like sunscreen. The challenge will take place on Tuesday, June 16th to begin at noon at the front of the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The event will run through Thursday, Sept. 24th. For more information or to register, visit MU Extension’s website at extension.missouri.edu and search “2026 100 miles, 100 days.”