News – Wednesday, December 31st 2025

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green and District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said crews would be out checking roads for downed limbs and trees from the high winds Sunday night and Monday. Williams also said a crew would be putting rock in a ditch on Dent County Road 2240 that had previously washed out while other crews would be doing shop maintenance and cutting up trees for the wood furnace at the shop. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson had nothing to report and Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said work continues on the budget, and the deadline to file for an elected position on a school board, hospital board, positions for the cities of Salem and Bunker for the April 7th Municipal Election ends today. Contact the local tax entities you are interested in serving to find out more about the requirements to file for an open position. At the last meeting, Dent County Emergency Management Director Derrick Marfitt discussed with the commission about him becoming an LLC to perform emergency management services for the county. The commission agreed to draft a contract and run it by Missouri Association of Counties attorney Travis Elliott for his opinion. The courthouse will be closed Thursday for New Year’s Day. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk wants to remind everyone her office will have extended hours for those wanting to pay their tax bills in person from 8:00 this morning until 5:30. Payments mailed in must be postmarked NO LATER than December 31st. She recommends if you mail your payment to take your payment envelope inside the post office at the window to have the date hand stamped on your envelope. There is also a drop box in the front of the courthouse at the southwest corner of the courthouse square where you can leave your payments through midnight tonight. Payments can also be made online by following the instructions on your real estate and personal property tax bills. Payments received after December 31st or that are postmarked after December 31st will be assessed penalties and late fees. If you have questions, please call the Dent County Collector’s office at 573-729-3911.

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to make good decisions regarding their New Year’s celebration. No one wants to start 2026 with a traffic crash or DWI arrest. During the 2024-2025 New Year’s period, one person was killed and 118 injured in 264 traffic crashes in Missouri. The 2026 New Year’s holiday counting period begins at 6:00 Wednesday night, December 31st, 2025, and ends at 11:59 Sunday night, January 4th, 2026. If your plans to welcome the new year include alcohol, please designate a sober driver or utilize a ride share service or taxi to ensure you arrive home safely. The roadway is no place for a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you plan to travel this New Year’s, remember to buckle up and make sure all your passengers do the same. Remember that Missouri is now a hands-free state. Pay attention, obey all traffic laws, and when in doubt, yield the right-of-way. Due to ongoing road construction throughout the state, the Patrol suggests that travelers use the MoDOT Traveler Information Map to plan their travel days. The map provides up-to-date information such as road closures, delays, construction zones, and alternative routes. You can download the app for free to your smart device or access it here. Missouri law states if you’re using your windshield wipers, your headlights must be turned on. You are encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Assistance Number 800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone if you witness criminal activity or experience an emergency.

The next edition of Your World Today will be distributed on Friday, January 2, 2026.