News – Tuesday, January 20th 2026
An accident occurred in Dent County Saturday morning at 8:00 on B Highway two miles west of Highway 72. According to the Highway Patrol report a 2016 Jeep Cherokee, driven by a 35-year-old Salem female, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. The female suffered minor injuries and was transported by Salem Ambulance to Salem Memorial Hospital. The report stated that the woman was not wearing a safety restraint. The Jeep was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.
The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday, January 13th at the firehouse for their regular monthly meeting. In the absence of the president of the board due to a funeral, a motion was made and seconded to have a Jeff Stokes act as chairman pro tem to chair the meeting. After the financial reports were reviewed, the bills, payments and statements were also reviewed and the board approved them all. The board discussed with Joe Weber the junior firefighter policy. A motion made to move forward but the motion died to a lack of a second. The board went on to discuss the CTI tower lease. A committee was formed to explore the possibilities of finding alternative ways to acquire radio tower communications. In new business, the board discussed the “Firefighter 1&2 Fire in Texas” training program and the board approved two firefighters to attend the training at a total cost of $8,000. The chief asked for four people to go to winter fire school with a limit of $2,500.00 for the firefighting instruction. The board discussed a spending limit for the chief, but that was tabled until the next meeting. The board then heard and approved the quotes from Outlaw Fabrication of Salem for handrails and stairs for safety reasons for $8,000; vent props for roof venting training for $23,878.00; and $20,000 for gear racks. In the monthly reimbursement report, Chief Thomas reported there were a total of 15 calls for the month and the year. There were eight fire calls comprised of three grass fires, three structural fires, one room and contents fire and another outside fire. The fire department responded to two motor vehicle collisions with one having injuries, a possible hazmat investigation, a medical call, a citizen assist call, a special incident call and a call that was dispatched and canceled en route. The chief informed the board the 100-Acre Wood Rally will be March 13th and 14th, and the chief will be sending two people to instructor training which is a free course. In closed session, the board voted to accept Blake Hargis as a new probationary firefighter for the district. The next board meeting was then set for February 10th at 6:00 PM AT Dent County Fire Protection District firehouse.
A 34-year-old man from Crawford County, last Wednesday, admitted grooming and engaging in illegal sexual contact with a minor. Nathaniel Rod Gibson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. He admitted giving the victim a phone and grooming her via more than 18,996 text messages from March 10th, 2023, to September 6th, 2023. Gibson told the victim to delete the flirtatious and inappropriate messages so that her mother would not find them. In June of 2023, Gibson drove the victim from Missouri to a campground in Arkansas, where he engaged in an illegal sex act with her. He also did so at his home in Crawford County. Gibson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15th. The travel with the intent charge carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison. The coercion and enticement of a minor carries a maximum penalty of 20 years. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Diamond City (Arkansas) Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
Salem Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Dancing with the Salem Stars is coming up Saturday, January 24th with showtime at 7:00 at the Salem High School Gym. Dancers have been announced and the couples are Shannon Wright and Bella Mutz, Tom and Sally Haines, Seth Maples and Rosalie Wright, Carlos Lopez and April Greener, Ryan McCoy and Lane McCoy Schafer, Luke and Hannah Heithold, Bub Partin and Lisa Godi, and Jessica and Marcelo Ricks. Information and cost of sponsor tables, table seats, and bleacher seats can be obtained by contacting Hannah Harris at 573-729-6626 extension 3410 or Jaimie Jones at 573-247-0420. Information is also available by contacting Hannah at hharris@smdh.net or Jaimie at foreverdance@live.com.
Congratulations to Salem R80 Middle School band students that placed in the SCA Honor Band! There was a great turnout of auditioning students this year, and we are so proud of everyone that auditioned on Tuesday! Wesley Bieker- 10th Chair Flute, Macie Graham- 16th Chair Clarinet, Gabriel Miller- 10th Chair Clarinet, and Bellah Wilber- 3rd Chair Tuba. These students will be performing at Ava’s Performing Arts Center on Saturday February 7th!