News – Wednesday, August 27th 2025

An accident occurred in Dent County Monday afternoon at approximately 1:11 on Highway 32 eleven miles east of Salem. According to the Highway Patrol report an eastbound 2005 Dodge Neon, driven by a 23-year-old St. James man, traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. The man suffered minor injuries and was transported by private conveyance to Salem Memorial Hospital. The Dodge was totaled and removed from the scene by American Automotive. The report stated that the driver was not wearing a safety restraint.

The Dent County Fire Protection District has announced the arrival of three new fire apparatus, fulfilling a key commitment made possible by the passage of the Proposition Fire bond initiative. These new vehicles represent a significant upgrade, enhancing the district’s firefighting capabilities and strengthening service to the community. The new additions to the fleet includes a 2025 E-One Fire Engine priced at $889,202; a 2025 Fire Master Pumper Tanker with a 3,000-gallon water capacity for $414,031; and a 2024 E-One Pumper Tanker with a 2,000-gallon water capacity for $467,007. These modern apparatus replace aging vehicles that have served the district for decades, including a 1995 fire engine, a 1992 tanker, and a 2001 tanker. The transition from standard tankers to pumper tankers provides the district with significant advantages, especially in rural areas with limited water supplies. Unlike traditional tankers that only transport water, these pumper tankers can both haul and pump water, giving crews more flexibility and power in fire suppression efforts. The district emphasized that these investments would not have been possible without the public’s support. Fire Chief Dennis Floyd gives the Dent County voters the credit as their support for Proposition Fire made these critical upgrades possible. Floyd says with this new equipment, the department can respond more safely and effectively, especially in our rural areas where water access is a challenge. The Dent County Fire Protection District extends its deepest gratitude to the community for making these purchases possible. The new apparatus represents not just an equipment upgrade, but a lasting commitment to the safety and well-being of all Dent County, the fire district, and neighboring communities with the help of mutual aid. To ensure accountability and transparency, all Proposition Fire expenditures are publicly accessible online at: https://www.dentcountyfire.org/proposition-fire.

The Salem Senior Citizen Passes are now available for all Dent County senior citizens aged 62 years of age and older! Get your pass today at the Salem High School’s Main office located at 1400 Tiger Pride Drive. Bring a photo ID to verify your age and claim your pass. These passes allow the authorized card holder free entry to Salem Tiger Sports home games during the 2025-2026 regular season. These passes cannot be used at away games or post-season games regulated by the Missouri State High School Activities Association. If you have any questions or for more information, contact the High School office at 573-729-6641. 

The Conservation Federation of Missouri is celebrating another great year for its “Share the Harvest” program, thanks to significant contributions from the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and MFA Incorporated. These generous donations expanded the program’s capacity, enabling hunters to donate more venison than ever before to families in need throughout Missouri. Share the Harvest connects hunters with local food banks by facilitating venison donations through approved meat processors. This year, the program saw a remarkable increase in participation, with hundreds of additional deer harvested and processed. The result was thousands of pounds of high-quality venison distributed to food-insecure Missourians. The program also helped mitigate crop damage caused by deer in some of the state’s top row-crop regions, benefiting both agriculture and local communities. Donating venison through “Share the Harvest” is simple. Hunters can bring their deer to any participating processor and choose how much meat to donate. With this year’s expanded capacity, the program provided more venison than ever before, delivering critical resources to food-insecure communities and addressing agricultural challenges in rural areas. Since its inception in 1992, Share the Harvest has provided nearly 5 million pounds of venison to families in need. The Conservation Federation of Missouri, the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, MFA, countless hunters, and other partners such as Feeding Missouri and the Missouri Department of Conservation have also played a critical role in the program’s success over the years. Share the Harvest exemplifies the power of partnerships to make a meaningful impact across Missouri. For more information about Share the Harvest and how you can get involved, visit confedmo.org/share-the-harvest or go to mdc.mo.gov.