Archive for 2026

The Salem Police Department has released that on Sunday, patrolmen conducted a traffic stop near North Grand Street and Rolla Road for a speeding violation. During the traffic stop, officers conducted a driver’s license check and found the driver, Bradley Land, was operating the vehicle while driving privileges were suspended. Land was subsequently placed under arrest. A records check of the passenger identified as Ginger Land revealed an active warrant in Texas County for the charges of both sodomy in the first degree and sexual contact in the course of duty. Both subjects were arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail and held, pending further proceedings. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The City of Salem has released that with the rising summer temperatures, the Salem Police Department lobby and the Old City Hall will be made available as cooling centers if extreme heat conditions occur. If the need arises, contact the Police Department at 573-729-4242 and city staff will open the Old City Hall to provide relief from the heat for anyone needing a safe, air-conditioned place to cool off. Folks can also visit the Salem Public Library for needed cooling. The library is open from 10:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; 10:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening on Thursday; and 10:00 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon on Saturday. No library card is required. The heat wave previously reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been extended to over the July 4th weekend, into Tuesday, July 7th. Heat indices of 100-110 degrees are possible. Stay safe, hydrated, and frequently check on friends, family, and neighbors.

A list of maintenance and construction work planned for Dent County this week has been released by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Highway DD, FF, and U have pavement repairs planned through today. One lane will remain open. The bridge over Dry Creek on Highway B remains closed with its project scheduled for completion in July. The resurfacing project along Highway 32 through Dent County began yesterday with work to take place during nighttime hours from 7:00 in the evening to 6:00 in the morning. That project is expected to be completed by September. Pedestrian facility upgrades continue in the city limits of Salem on Highway 19 and 32, expected to be completed in September. Most routine work zones will stop for the Independence Day holiday, but some long-term work zones and closures will remain in place. If possible, work zones will stop at noon on Thursday, July 2nd, and resume the morning of Monday, July 6th. 

Get outside and discover nature with frogging season! The season will continue through Oct. 31st after beginning just this week. Anyone with a fishing permit or small game hunting permit may go frogging for bullfrogs and green frogs. The daily limit, combined for both species of bullfrogs and green frogs, is eight. With a fishing permit, frogs may be taken by gig, trotline, throw line, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing, or pole and line. With a hunting permit, frogs may be taken by crossbow, pellet gun, or .22 or smaller caliber rim-fire rifle or pistol. With either permit frogs may be taken by hand, hand net, bow, or atlatl. Frogs may be pursued during the day or at night with an artificial light. Ponds, lakes and river banks, wetlands, and other vegetated waterways are all great places to find frogs. 

This July 4th Independence Day, which is the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there will be numerous events going on in Salem. At 7:30 in the morning, there will be a pickleball tournament at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. The Salem Community Choir will be singing at the Salem City Hall Auditorium with the first performance at 2:00 followed by a second performance at 4:00. Near 5:00, food trucks, vendors and boutiques will be opening near the pavilion, and Devon Sutterfield will begin performing. There will be a break in the music just in time to head down to the parade route and pick a spot. The parade starts at 6:00 in the evening from Grand and Franklin, traveling north on MacArthur, then east on 4th Street to the courthouse square. At the conclusion of the parade, the Salem Community Center @ The Armory will be open from 6:30 to 9:00 with free use of their three bounce houses and gymnasium for basketball and pickleball. Children must be supervised by their parents. Also at the Salem City Park, Sutterfield will resume performing and those attending can check out the vendors and food trucks while waiting for the fireworks. At 9:25, the Leathers Family will sing our National Anthem followed by the fireworks show that will begin around 9:30 at the Salem City Park. If you are unable to attend the parade, KSMO Media will stream the parade beginning around 6:15 on ksmoradio.com, KSMO Stream Facebook and the KSMO YouTube Channel.

Dent County Health Center’s community transportation service, CareCab, is here to help you get where you need to go, safely and reliably. Whether it’s a trip to the grocery store, a local event, a job interview, or a visit with a friend, CareCab makes it easier for you to stay connected and independent. CareCab is a local ride service for Dent County residents without reliable transportation. To book a ride with CareCab, visit dentcountyhealthcenter.org/services/carecab or call 573-729-3106. Riders must be able to get in and out of the vehicle independently or with minimal assistance. If you need wheelchair-accessible transportation or assistance with mobility, you are encouraged to contact SMTS for specialized services.

An accident occurred Sunday afternoon around 2:40 in Phelps County in the 21000 Block of Highway J. According to the Highway Patrol report a southbound 2005 Toyota Camry, driven by a 21-year-old male of Rolla, travelled off of the right side of the roadway, overcorrected, then travelled off of the left side of the roadway, overcorrected, and travelled off the right side of the roadway, where it struck a fence and a tree. A 29-year-old female passenger from Rolla was pronounced deceased at the scene at 2:40 by Phelps County Coroner Ernie Coverdell. The driver suffered serious injuries and was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital. The report stated that neither occupant was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the scene by D&D Towing.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Monday morning at the courthouse. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green reported that crew members plan to haul rock to County Road 6580 and where needed; grade on county roads 6410, 6435, and 6580; and cut brush on County Road 6580. Patching is planned for the Bunker area, where a few washouts occurred with heavy rains over the weekend. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that crew members plan to haul rock to county roads 3305, 3390, and where needed; grade county roads 5330, 5333, 3110, 3305, 3295, 3253, and 3255; and cut brush along chip-and-seal roads on 3260, 3265, 3270, 3273, and 3275. Resident Katie Ann Gaither asked commissioners for their goals for this year. Commissioners answered their goals are maintaining and repairing infrastructure, which includes tackling the challenge of utilizing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds for eligible projects affected by the flooding of November 2024. Meanwhile, Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson cautioned that he may be absent in upcoming meetings due to his wife’s health. County Clerk Angie Curley reminds voters and residents that the voter registration deadline for the Aug. 4th Primary Election is July 8th. Excused absentee voting continues through Aug. 3rd, with 20 votes cast so far. No excuse absentee voting begins July 21st. She further notified that the County Clerk’s Office will be open for absentee voting in the morning of Saturday, Aug. 1st from 8:00 to noon. Payroll and bills are to be approved. Curley reminds businesses within Dent County that liquor licenses are due by June 30th. The county commission will also be conducting a closed session this afternoon at 1:00. The next regularly scheduled open session meeting of the Dent County Commission is Thursday, July 2nd at 9:00 in the morning at the courthouse and is open to the public.

The Bunker R-III Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday. After the call to order and approval of the agenda and previous meeting minutes, the board approved both May and June expenditures with one abstention from board member Allen Ritter. Budget amendments for the 2025-26 school year, to reflect actual receipts, expenditures, and transfers, were approved. Several bids for the 2026-27 school year were also approved, including from Holloway Distributing for bread; Hiland Dairy for milk; Ferrall Gas for propane; and Mike Ragsdale Construction for asphalt. Other items approved by the board included: a Pepsi Contract for the 2026-27 school year; a weight equipment bid from Big Time Results, LLC.; calendar changes for the 2026-27 school year; an early check to Santander; and the AMI Plan for the 2026-27 school year. Finally, the board approved the 2026-27 school year budget and salary schedule, as presented. The board then went into closed session and approved several hires, including Andrea Cromer as Special Education Aide, pending substitute certificate and background check; Eva Hodges as a substitute teacher, cook, and full-time bus driver; and Mike Plank as the bus lease coordinator for the 2026-27 school year. The board also approved resending DJ Goodwin’s bus lease coordinator contract. The board then adjourned. The next meeting of the Bunker R-III Board of Education will be 6:00 in the evening on Thursday, July 16th at Bunker R-III and is open to the public.

This week is supposed to be incredibly hot and incredibly humid, to boot. A heat advisory for the area has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) through Friday this week, with a daily heat index ranging between 100 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat can strain vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Plan accordingly and limit prolonged heat exposure, and keep an eye on friends, family, and neighbors. The Salem Public Library is a cooling center and is open from 10:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; 10:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening on Thursday; and 10:00 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon on Saturday. No library card is required.

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 Tuesday, July 7th, from 5:30 to 6:30 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.

A fatal accident occurred early Saturday morning around 1:18 in Lacade County on Highway B near Creek Road. According to the highway patrol report a 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 driven by a 17-year-old male juvenile was traveling southbound and travelled off the right side of the roadway. The driver overcorrected, then travelled off the left side of the roadway, and overturned. The juvenile was pronounced deceased at the scene by Mercy Paramedic Tatiana Bashant at 2:30 in the morning. The report goes on to say the driver was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Dodge was totaled and removed from the scene by C&S Towing.

An accident occurred early Saturday morning around 2:25 in Pulaski County on Highway AB north of Southbend. According to the highway patrol report a 2021 Toyota Tacoma driven by a 31-year-old female was traveling northbound when she failed to negotiate a curve. The Toyota travelled off the right side of the roadway, striking a culvert, and going airborne before overturning. The female suffered serious injuries and was transported by Pulaski County Ambulance District to Lake Regional Hospital. The report states she was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the scene by J&S Towing.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors held its regular meeting on Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library. Following the call to order,  there were no public comments. During the operational reports, both the Chief Executive Officer Report and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Report were presented by Amber Hogan, CNO. Hogan highlighted several hospital updates, including applications for Transformation of Rural Health funding and the Safe Streets Grant, ongoing Show-Me High Value Network Committee meetings, the cancellation of the contract with Cardinal Health, ongoing National Rural Health Day meetings, budget updates and revisions to the hospital’s charge-master for Medical Imaging and Physical Therapy. Hogan also recognized nurse Chantel Garrison, who is transitioning into the role of Infection Prevention Director, and announced the upcoming Summer Family Picnic and Pool Party on July 18th, as well as Cost Report Training with Stoudwater scheduled for today at noon. Hannah Harris presented the Statistical Summary of Operations. She noted that in May, inpatient admissions was 54, with 134 swing-bed census days. Outpatient registrations totaled 1,042, while cardiopulmonary procedures numbered 1,470 and clinic visits totaled 812. The hospital recorded 654 emergency room visits, 38 transfers, 41 admissions, and 200 ambulance runs. Total operating revenue for May was approximately $2.1 million. Total operating expenses were also approximately $2.1 million, resulting in a net profit over expenses of $195,469.26. The board approved the financial reports as presented. Harris also presented a report on the hospital’s aging accounts receivable, ranging from current to over 120 days. The hospital carries approximately $11.7 million in bad debt, which it will begin working with Equalize RCM to collect in the coming year. The hospital currently has 26 days of cash on hand. Net 340B revenue for May was $97,560. There were six new hires and three departures in May. A CEO offer was accepted by Brent Peirick, who will join the team beginning August 24th. The hospital currently has open positions in several departments. Under new business, the board approved the removal of Kayla Chambers from the bank signatory list, retaining Karen Brown and Dr. Leigh Ann Price as authorized signatories. The board also voted to authorize Amber Hogan to execute leases for one or both ambulance loans when needed. The proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year was discussed and approved. Proposed total operating revenue is approximately $27.9 million, proposed operating expenses are approximately $28.6 million, and proposed non-operating revenue is $1.14 million, for a proposed excess of revenue over expenses of $402,401.70. Harris noted that this budget does not include the salary for the incoming CEO. Will Mahurin was approved as a new candidate for the Board of Directors and will be sworn in at the next regular meeting in July. Following the approval of two contracts, the meeting adjourned to executive session to discuss personnel matters. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will be held on July 28th at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library and is open to the public.

A resurfacing project on Hwy. 32 spanning 46 miles is set to begin today. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) plan to resurface Hwy. 32 through Dent County beginning at Hwy. 63 in Texas County and ending at Hwy. KK in Iron County. Work is expected daily, Monday through Friday, beginning in Texas County and working east through early September. Work within the city limits of Licking and Salem will occur at night. One lane is expected to remain open. No work is scheduled to take place between noon on Thursday, July 2nd, and 6:00 in the morning Monday, July 6th, to minimize impacts to holiday travel.

An accident occurred in Dent County Wednesday evening at approximately 6:25 on Dent County Road 2500 west of county road 2540. According to the Highway Patrol report an eastbound 2001 Harley Davidson Heritage, which was driven by a 60-year-old male from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi who lost control causing the Harley to overturn ejecting the man. He suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac 13 to University Hospital in Columbia. The report stated that the driver was not wearing any safety equipment. The Harley Davidson was removed from the scene by American Muffler.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning for its regularly scheduled meeting. After corrections, commissioners approved the previous meeting minutes. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green reported that crew members would be patching chipseal on county roads 4110, 4180, and 4120. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported crew members would be grading and hauling rock on county roads 4060, 3310, and 4437. Crew members will also be cutting brush on county roads 3235, 3280, 3233, and 3260. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported the commissioners will be conducting a closed session Monday afternoon with Travis Elliot, legal counsel with the Missouri Association of Counties. Commissioners will be meeting with Jeff Chronister, an insurance representative of Ollis, Akers, and Arney, who will be offering updates on insurance for the county and its claims. County Collector Denita Williams reported on Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds received. PILT is federal funds provided to local governments from the Department of Interior to offset property tax losses due to nontaxable federal lands within the county. These funds are received annually in June and can be utilized for any governmental purposes, including emergency response, public schools, and roads, among others. The amount received this year is $227,766, which is an increase from last year of $41,634 or approximately 22%. County Clerk Angie Curley reported that July 8th is the deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 4th Primary Election. Excused absentee voting will continue until Aug. 3rd. No excuse absentee voting will begin on July 21st. The next regular meeting of the County Commission will be 9:00 in the morning on Monday at the Dent County Courthouse. These meetings are open to the public.

A competitive 3v3 basketball tournament, part of the “We’ve got your Back, Zack” fundraiser, will be held this Saturday at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory with the men’s bracket starting at 10:00 in the morning and the women’s tournament beginning at 2:00 in the afternoon. The cost is $60 per team. Registration forms are available at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory or call Henry at 573-247-1301 or 573-729-8163. You can also e-mail henry@salemcommunitycenter.org. All proceeds raised will help Zach Moser and his family with treatment expenses, travel and daily living costs. Your help with this community effort is greatly appreciated.