News – Monday, August 31st, 2026

An accident involving a Salem R-80 school bus occurred Thursday afternoon at approximately 4:13 at 5649 Hwy. 32, east of Salem. According to the Highway Patrol report, an eastbound 2018 Thomas School Bus, operated by a 63-year-old Salem woman, was stopped to allow children to exit the vehicle. The report went on to state that a 16-year-old juvenile female driver of an eastbound 2015 Dodge Ram was inattentive and using a cellular device, and the Dodge struck the rear of the school bus. The 16-year-old suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Creve Coeur. The report stated that the drivers of the Dodge and the school bus were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Dodge sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by American Automotive. The school bus sustained minor damage and was towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. There was no report of any injuries to any students on the bus or to the driver.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Commissioner Keith Green was appointed as Acting Presiding Commissioner for the meeting. Grant Wilson, representative for Congressman Jason Smith, updated the commissioners on Smith’s recent congressional district tour: Smith was able to get to 25 of his 28 counties. Wilson reported Congress will be back in session today. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Green stated rock is being added and parts of Dent County Road 6280 are being rebuilt. Crew members will pull ditches on county roads 5150 and 5650, as it is too dry to grade. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams stated ditches will be pulled and culverts replaced on county roads 2270 and 2613 – the back slope of County Road 2613 will also be worked on. Culverts are being replaced and rock added to county roads 2010, 2150 and 2350. At Gahr Equipment in St. James, a county truck is being delivered for repair, and another truck is being picked up. Chip and seal work for both districts will begin the second week of September. Jeff Benderet of Great Rivers Engineering (GRE) phoned in to update commissioners on the FLAP Project in Montauk on County Road 6670. All studies have been completed with no issues reported. Changes to that project have been approved by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), with MoDOT providing an additional $20,000 for engineering costs. Right-of-way acquisitions with two adjacent landowners needs to be completed before work can begin. Acquisitions can take three to six months to complete, estimated Banderet. Commissioners approved allowing  GRE to negotiate acquisitions on behalf of the county at a cost of $5,000. Bids for the courthouse sidewalk Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant project will be opened at 10:00 in the morning Sept. 19th. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission is at 9:00 in the morning at the courthouse today, and the meeting is open to the public.

This is the last day to provide input on the Dent County bridge rehabilitation project south of Salem over Spring Creek. Provide comments to MoDOT through the MoDOT Central Missouri District email at CDCR@modot.mo.gov; mailing to address 1511 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO 65109; or visit the MoDOT website at modot.org and search “Missouri Route 19 Bridge Rehabilitation over Spring Creek in Dent County.”