News – Tuesday, January 6th 2026

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said materials would be added where needed and grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4150, 4155, 4157, 5400, and 5490. He also indicated brush would be cut on county road 5615. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported workers will be adding rock and grading on Dent County Road 2110, while only grading will be done on county roads 2025, 2115 and 4350. Williams said crews will be installing signs on county roads 2240 and 2250. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson had nothing to report. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported her office and the treasurer’s office balanced on all accounts for the month of December. She reported that all political subdivisions will need to get their election certification submitted to her office by 5:00 on January 27th whether they are having an election or not. Curley went on to say that her office and the commissioners will continue to work on the 2026 county budget after hearing budget requests last week from Sheriff Bob Wells, Circuit Clerk Kristi Craig and Assessor Alisa Brookshire. The commission then set the 2026 county budget hearing for 10:00 Monday, January 26th in the commissioner’s office at the courthouse with the 2026 tentative budget being available to the public after 10:00 the morning of January 15th in the county clerk’s office. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

Salem R-80 Superintendent Dr. Nathan Wills has earned a national certification recognizing excellence in school finance and operations. The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) announced that Dr. Wills has received the Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations, also known as the SFO certification. The designation recognizes school leaders who demonstrate advanced knowledge and expertise in managing school district finances and operations. The SFO certification is an internationally recognized credential that sets a high standard for fiscal responsibility in education. ASBO International Executive Director James Rowan says professionals who earn the certification are highly sought after for their ability to responsibly allocate resources and plan for both current and future district needs. To earn the SFO designation, candidates must meet strict requirements, including education and work experience, passing a comprehensive exam, and adhering to a professional code of conduct. Those who earn the certification must also complete ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years. ASBO International is a nonprofit organization founded in 1910 and represents approximately 30,000 school business professionals worldwide.

The Department of Public Safety has notified the first 48 volunteer fire departments of their approval for up to $15,000 in state equipment grants. In October, the department announced the first-ever Missouri Volunteer Fire Department Grant was available for small departments that had annual operating budgets of $50,000 or less for the purchase of firefighting equipment. There is a 5% local cash match, which means for equipment costing $15,789.47, the local match share would be $789.47 and the state share of 95% would be $15,000. For the initial grant recipients, the top requested equipment includes radios, hoses and nozzles, firefighter turnout gear, extrication equipment, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Two of the local rural fire department are recipients of the grant and they are the Montauk Rural Fire Department and the Timber Community Fire Protection District.