News – Monday, September 29th 2025

An accident occurred early Sunday morning around 2:37 in Dent County on Hwy U at county Road 3180. According to the highway patrol report a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado driven by an 18-year-old male from Salem was travelling westbound and failed to slow at an intersection. The Chevrolet travelled across County Road 3180 from Hwy U and struck a tree. The driver suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Springfield. The occupant a 16-year-old male juvenile from Salem suffered minor injuries and was checked on the scene by Salem Ambulance and he will seek own treatment later. The report goes on to say that neither party was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sherriff’s Office and the Salem Police Department.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released the results of court cases Wednesday in Dent County in the 42nd Judicial Court in front of Judge Michael Randazzo. Curley reports that in the first case, Clayton Korman of Rolla was on probation for resisting arrest and for a felony charge of driving while having his license revoked. Korman had previously pled guilty to 10-years under the Missouri Revised State Statutes Section 559.115 as a persistent felony offender. Korman had previously admitted to violating the terms of his probation by using methamphetamine. At the sentencing hearing, the defendant requested the continuation of his probation with treatment, while Prosecutor Curley requested the probation be revoked and the sentence executed. Judge Randazzo agreed with Curley and sentenced Korman to the Department of Corrections. In the case of Britta Terrill-Botkin of Salem, she pled guilty to the felony possession of fentanyl in the amount .05 grams which is in an amount sufficient for charges of trafficking in the 2nd degree. Terrill-Botkin was sentenced to serve seven-years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Judge Randazzo as requested by the prosecutor. In the next case heard in court, Grace Landers of Salem was on probation for the felony possession of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence. Landers admitted to violating her probation by failing to report to her probation officer. She was sentenced to serve four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as requested by the state as well as the defendant. In the Michael S. Smith of Salem case Wednesday, he pled guilty to failing to register as a sex offender He was sentenced to serve four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections at the request of the prosecutor. Another case heard in Dent County Wednesday was that of Dustin Benson of Niangua who was on probation for the felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. His probation was revoked and Judge Randazzo sentenced him to serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Also heard Wednesday in the 42nd Judicial Court was the probation hearing for Sara Lynn Cunningham of Salem. Judge Randazzo revoked her probation and sentenced to serve 10-years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The Dent County Health Center is excited to invite the community to the Fall 2025 Flu Vaccine Drive-Through Clinic on October 2nd, from 1:00 in the afternoon until 6:00 in the evening at the Dent County Fire Protection District Fire Department at 2 North Main St. This is a free event dedicated to promoting health, wellness, and preventive care for all residents of Dent County. The event is open to all ages, and no appointment is required. Residents are encouraged to bring their friends, family, and neighbors to take part in this community-wide celebration of health. For more information, visit www.dentcohealth.org.