News – Friday, April 18th 2025

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson was not in attendance and District 1 Commissioner Keith Green was selected as the acting presiding commissioner for the meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received in April. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $97,415.85 which is $1,194.61 less than for April of 2024. Those funds year-to-date are both down $724.27 from last year. The Road and Bridge Fund received $48,545.37 in April and that is up $5,159.35 over April of 2024; and year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $12,156.31. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $97,474.81 in April and that is up $10,281.13 over April of 2024. Year-to-date, the jail funds are both up $24,396.67. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Green and District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said the road and bridge guys are off today due to the Good Friday being a legal holiday. Both commissioners said over the last week numerous culverts have been installed, replacing damaged culverts. Rock was added to those areas and patch grading done where needed. Commissioner Green said the fuel tank at the Road and Bridge Department was cleaned out thoroughly and is ready to be refilled and guys did some maintenance work on the equipment and at the shop. Commissioner Jimmy Williams says he has two dump truck down that will have to have service at Gahr Equipment in St. James. He also said the old John Deere brush cutter is not operational. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she attended the Missouri association of Counties board meeting where the board heard from Trent Watson who is the MAC legislative consultant. They also talked about NACO activities and head from Travis Elliott who gave legal updates. On Monday last week, Curley, Treasurer Denita Williams, Commissioner Jimmy Williams and Presiding Commissioner Larson all attended the MAC Legislative Day in Jefferson City where they visited with legislators. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The City of Salem Public Water Supply Annual Water Quality Report has been released and there were no violations that occurred for the calendar year 2024. All levels of contaminants found in the water were lower than required by government regulations. If you would like to see the City of Salem Annual Water Quality Report, a copy can be found at the City of Salem Administration Building at 4th and Iron Streets, at the Salem Water Department Office or at the KSMO Radio studios.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 4,428 birds over the past youth weekend, April 12th and 13th. Top harvest counties were Osage with 107 birds harvested, Gasconade with 105, and Texas with 94. Harvest totals in our area included Crawford with 61, Dent with 56, Iron County total was 12, Maries with 86, Phelps had 49 birds harvested and Reynolds County total was 23. Young hunters checked 3,721 birds during the 2024 spring youth weekend. This spring’s harvest of 4,428 birds is the second highest harvest since the youth season began in 2001. Get more information by county at mdc.mo.gov. The regular spring turkey season runs April 21st through May 11th.