Local News

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received in May. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $88,525.67 which is $315.04 less than for May of 2024. Those funds year-to-date are both down $1,039.31 from last year. The Road and Bridge Fund received $44,262.67 in May and that is up $2,350.04 over May of 2024; and year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $14,506.35. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $88,940.92 in May and that is up $4,693.49 over May of 2024. Year-to-date, the jail funds are both up $29,090.16. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said the crews will be doing maintenance on the Mannis brush cutter again, and a man will be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair on the Schwartz Road. Green said the side of Dent County Road 5615 collapsed into a creek after the tree stabilizing that part of the road fell across the creek. He said crews will work on repairing that road. He also said crews will be checking county roads 4120 and 5630 for damages to crossover pipes where those culverts may need to be replaced. Green reported that Tri-State is bringing a truck to the county road shed for the county to check out. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said crews will be adding and spreading rock on county road 5260, while rock will be added to county road 3210 where a driveway pipe will be installed. Williams also said rock would be added to county road 3290 where a crew will be rebuilding the edge of the roadway. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the county received a contract from Kone Elevator Company for maintenance at the Dent County Jail elevator and he said he would reach out to Sheriff Wells for his input. He also said he would be attending a Solid Waste Management Board meeting. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said the monthly turnover for April was $142,432.26 which will be sent out to the taxing entities. She also said the county reclaimed $1,841.93 in taxes that were paid in protest. VanKirk had to wait until the end of April to see if further action had been taken and none had, so the monies and interest from the protest will also be turned over to the taxing entities this month. She wanted to remind those who have not yet paid their real estate taxes from 2022 that those taxes must be paid by June 30th or that parcel will be sold on the courthouse steps. VanKirk did report that over 200 of the SB190 Homestead Tax applications have been picked up and so far, she says that almost all of them qualify. Legends Advisors came in to talk with the commission about providing additional employee benefits that would actually save the county money on payroll taxes. The commission agreed to provide them with county payroll information to see if there are tax savings available to the county as they discussed. They will return in June with their findings. At the last meeting, Matt Lloyd with Fabick Caterpillar came in to discuss graders, trade-ins and warranties. Road supervisor Billy Shepherd was also in attendance at that meeting. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting Thursday at 5:30 in the R-80 Board Room. After the Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance the Board will approve the agenda and the consent agenda. The Board will then recognize the Salem High School Art Department and students. In the Superintendent’s Report CSIP Goals will be addressed, updates will be shared on the FEMA building, the budget, the roof repairs, and Long Range Facilities. Administration reports will be heard from William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Athletics and Activities, Special Education, Technology, and Maintenance. In new business the board will consider a number of approvals including the Turf Tank Contract, a private contract for a Vision, Orientation and Mobility Teacher, National FFA Trip next year, MSBA Policy updates, Middle School Athletic Cooperative, Chamber Singers attendance at Nationals in April of 2028, request for FFA to attend the National Convention in Indianapolis October 28th through November 1st, a bus purchase for $97,330, June Board meeting date change from the 19th to the 26th, and E-rate contract. The Board will authorize the solicitation of buds for Upper Elementary roof damage repair. The Board will address resignations, hires and transfers before adjourning and moving into Executive Session to consider personnel and student issues.

A convicted felon from Salem was indicted on Wednesday and accused of concealing the death of his uncle, a U.S. Army veteran with quadriplegia, for at least five years so that he could steal at least $650,000 of his disability benefits. Brian K. Ditch, 44, is now facing four felony counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of theft of government property and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that Ditch was solely responsible for his uncle’s care beginning in 2008, and kept his uncle locked in his garage and under his control so he could fraudulently obtain his government benefits. Instead of properly caring for his uncle, Ditch trapped him in the garage for over 24 hours at a time, forcing his uncle “to sit in his own urine and feces without the ability to eat or drink,” the indictment says. After his uncle’s death around 2019, Ditch concealed his death and the body so he could continue to receive the money, the indictment says. It says Ditch told relatives that he had moved his uncle into a nursing home. His uncle received $9,559 per month in Disability Compensation benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the indictment says. Ditch’s uncle also received a total of $235,210 in Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and Retirement Insurance benefits from the Social Security Administration since 2008. Ditch used the money to buy exotic reptiles, fund lavish vacations and enrich himself, the indictment says. Salem police officers found the uncle’s partially frozen body in a trash can in March, as well as three shotguns, the indictment says. As a convicted felon, Ditch is barred from possessing firearms. Ditch is expected to plead not guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Friday. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the VA OIG’s Central Field Office said that The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is committed to holding accountable anyone who exploits veterans or steals their VA benefits. He went on to note that VA’s programs and services are established to justly compensate deserving veterans and the VA OIG will bring to justice those who would defraud these programs. The Salem Police Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Outgoing Board of Directors will be meeting Wednesday evening at 6:00. After the call to order will be the roll call followed by approval of the Consent Agenda, which will include review of the minutes, financial report and approval of bills, plus the budget review. The Monthly Reimbursement Report will precede the closing of Old Business which will include a declaration of election results. Board member departing remarks will be shared followed by adjournment of outgoing Board Sine Die. The first regular meeting of the Incoming Board of Directors will be called to order by the Secretary of the Board. Election of officers will be the first order of business for Chair/President, Secretary/Treasurer, Budget Officer, and Custodian of the Records. New business will include a report on the bond money by LJ Hart and Company, depository and withdrawal authorizations CD and Banks, including signature cards. The Board will review the By-Laws, be updated by Director Stokes on a department website, review CD report and information, and review quotes for Fire Fighting equipment by Chief Floyd. The Chief will then present his report followed by closed session if necessary to discuss personnel. The date for the next meeting will be set followed by adjournment. The regular meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors is open to the public.

A drowning occurred around 1:36 in the afternoon on Thursday, May 8th in the Jacks Fork River at the Alley Spring Campground in Shannon County. According to the Missouri Water Patrol Report, a 69-year-old Eminence man fell into the water and was unable to resurface. He was swept downstream by the current where his body was later discovered. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Shannon County Deputy Coroner Alan Ford at 2:30 Thursday afternoon. He was not wearing a water safety device. The body was taken to the Yarber Funeral Home in Eminence.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a number of reports starting on Monday, April 28th. That day, Dent County deputies conducted a traffic stop on South Jackson Street. During the course of the stop, a 46-year-old Salem man was arrested for Driving Without Having A Valid License.  The man was taken to the Dent County Jail where he was later processed and issued citations. On Saturday May 3rd,  deputies took a report for stolen property from the 12000 block of West Highway 32. The items stolen include a rifle, TV, and other items. Information was provided concerning possible suspects and the investigation is ongoing. On May 8th, Dent County  deputies took a report for stolen property the 2000 block of Dent County Road 4060. The 19-year-old victim advised officers a known suspect had stolen a .410 shotgun from the location. The investigation on that report continues. Two reports of dog bites occurred on May 9th. In the first report, deputies responded to the Salem Memorial Hospital for a reported dog bite that occurred in the 2900 block of Highway 68. The owner was contacted by the officers and quarantine instructions were provided. The case was closed. In the second report, deputies again responded to Salem Memorial Hospital for a reported dog bite that occurred in the 700 block of Dent County Road 3220. The owner was contacted about the dog and quarantine instructions were provided. This case was also closed. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 573-729-3241.

An accident occurred Friday morning at 5:00 in Iron County on Route KK three miles south of Bixby. According to the Highway Patrol report a 2020 Chevrolet Blazer, driven by a 22-year-old St. James man, traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned. The man suffered moderate injuries and was taken by EMS to Phelps Health Hospital. The report stated that the man was not wearing a safety restraint. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Abney’s Wrecker Service.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports it has confirmed 243 new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Missouri deer in 35 counties. Texas County was one of the seven of that had their first CWD-positive case. The CWD-positive cases were found through sampling and testing of more than 36,000 deer during the past deer-hunting season and post-season targeted-removal efforts with most cases being from hunter-harvested deer submitted for sampling. The disease has been attributed to significant deer population declines in other states and threatens Missouri’s deer population, hunting culture, and economy. Most of the new CWD positive cases were from the more than 276,000 deer harvested during the 2024-2025 deer-hunting season. MDC confirmed an additional 70 cases of CWD found through its targeted-removal efforts of 4,768 deer after the close of the deer season in localized areas near where CWD has been found. MDC Wildlife Health Program Supervisor Deb Hudman explained that the goal of targeted removal is to remove CWD-positive deer and reduce deer density in these localized areas to slow the spread of CWD and protect Missouri’s deer herd. Targeted removal is a proven method to slow the spread of CWD and Missouri is one of several states that uses it to manage the disease. Those new cases bring the total number of CWD positives found in the state to 815 over 46 counties since the first positive CWD case was found in wild deer by MDC in early 2012. Although the number of CWD-positive counties increased, Hudman noted that CWD management efforts have kept infection rates low. Hudman said that less than 1% of samples tested positive for CWD. Learn more about CWD at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds Missourians interested in hunting black bear and/or elk in the state this fall that they need to apply for a limited number of hunting permits for each this month. MDC will offer 600 permits for the taking of a maximum of 40 black bears from three MDC black-bear management zones in the southern part of the state during the 2025 Missouri black-bear hunting season, October 18th-31st. MDC increased the number of available permits from 400 to 600 for additional hunter opportunities and lengthened the season to incorporate an additional weekend for hunting. Missouri hunters harvested 15 black bears during the 2024 season with five being females and 10 being males. MDC will again also offer five permits to hunt bull elk in Missouri this fall with at least one permit designated for qualifying landowners who own property in Carter, Reynolds, or Shannon counties and the remaining permits for qualifying residents. MDC has designated the elk archery portion to run October 18th-26th and the elk firearms portion to run December 13th-21st. Missouri hunters harvested five bull elk during the 2024 season. Get more information on elk hunting and apply at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/elk.

Agingbest wants to see every person live the best life possible. To help our community do this they are asking for volunteers. There are many volunteer opportunities here are a few: meal delivery to home-bound clients, lawn care, technology education assistance, pet care assistance, and many more. Call 800-369-5211 to volunteer in one of the 19 counties in Central Missouri.

On Sunday, May 18th from 10:30 in the morning through 1:30 in the afternoon, amateur photographers are invited to join park team members on a photo tour of the Onondaga Cave at Onondaga Cave State Park. Sponsored by the Onondaga Friends Association, these extended tours include extra time for photographs to be taken at specific locations along the tour route. Each tour begins at the visitor center located at 7556 Route H in Leasburg. The tours last between two and two and a half hours. Cave tour fees apply. Conditions in the cave include limited lighting, concrete walkways, metal handrails, a cool 57 degrees year-round and near 100% humidity. Participants should dress warmly, wear closed-toe shoes and bring their own photography equipment. The tour will be limited to a maximum of 30 participants. Advance registration is preferred and done so by calling 573-522-1860.

The Board of Adjustments will be holding a hearing today at 6:00 in the evening at 202 North Washington. After the call to order, the board will recognize anyone who wishes to speak to the request for variance from Section 405.130 of the City of Salem Code of Ordinances to allow construction of a front porch inside the front setback of the property located at 603 South Carty Street owned by Olivia Wisdom. After the hearing a public meeting will be held to approve or reject the request for variance.

The Board of Aldermen held a special meeting yesterday evening at 6:00 in the Auditorium at 202 N. Washington Street to discuss Bill No. 3653. The proposed legislation would extend the project completion deadline to June 1st and authorize the installation of a stormwater drainage trough at the pedestrian bump-out, including metal plates for pedestrian access. Following discussion, the Board unanimously approved the change order, which will add an additional $9,900.00 to City expenditures, with no matching funds from the Missouri Department of Transportation, bringing the total budget allocation from prior fiscal year funds for this project to $96,059.84.

The public is invited to an open house-style public meeting for Echo Bluff and Current River state parks and the Trails of Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry on Saturday, May 10th, starting at 1:00 in the afternoon at Echo Bluff State Park. Representatives from Missouri State Parks will be on hand to provide information about these facilities and answer questions. The public is encouraged to share comments about the sites and their operations. The open house will be held in conjunction with an Echo Bluff lodge summer kickoff event. The public meeting booth will be behind the Betty Lea Lodge at Echo Bluff State Park located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence. 

Salem R80 Superintendent, Dr. Nate Wills, recently shared important economic and budgetary information relative to teachers’ salaries and future funding. According to Wills, R80 is currently facing a challenge unlike any they’ve encountered before: a potential future need to cut over one million dollars from the budget in order to fund much-needed raises for it’s dedicated teachers. Currently, the starting salary for a teacher in Salem with zero years of experience and a bachelor’s degree is $32,000. The state of Missouri currently provides grants that bridge the gap for any teacher earning below the $40,000 threshold—not just those making $32,000. For context, any teacher with a bachelor’s degree and 14 years or less of experience at R80 is earning less than $40,000. Additionally, for the 25-26 school year, teachers with a master’s degree and 10 years of experience must now be paid at least $46,000, with the state once again covering the difference. Salem R80 currently has 111 staff members on the teacher salary schedule, and 59.5% of them fall below the new required salary minimums for the 2025-2026 school year. At first glance, the solution might seem straightforward—cut unnecessary expenses, eliminate waste, and find savings. The most difficult aspect of this challenge is that cutting over one million dollars is not as simple as reducing administrative positions or eliminating discretionary programs. In reality, it would likely require cutting one to two teachers from each grade level—approximately 20 positions, or 18% of our teaching staff. These cuts would directly affect students’ educational experience and put critical support services at risk, including special education, extracurricular activities, and even basic classroom supplies. Readers might be wondering: what would it cost to move to the new salary minimums without the state grant? Currently, the district would face an additional $946,850 in salary costs and $151,023 in benefits (retirement and Medicare), totaling $1,097,873. It’s important to reiterate that Salem R80 is NOT currently facing these cuts as of yet. The state is still funding the teacher baseline salary grant. But it is just that…a grant. Which means there is little to no guarantee that this mandate continues to be a funded mandate. As work continues with the school board and other community leaders to find a sustainable solution, Dr. Wills asked for your understanding. The goal is to strike a balance that honors both the dedication of R80 teachers and the needs of our students. This means that Salem R80 Schools may face tough decisions ahead and may need creative input from our community. Every option carries trade-offs, and Wills recognizes that any decision made will impact some more than others. In the meantime, Salem R80 will continue to do the important work of guiding students to become productive members of Dent County and beyond. Dr. Wills noted that his door is open for visits at 1409 West Rolla Road or phone him at 573-729-6642 to discuss this and other educational issues.

Mayor Greg Parker has called for a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen for 6:00 this evening at the Old City Hall Auditorium at 202 North Washington. After the call to order, roll call, and approval of the agenda Bill No. 3653, an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute Change Order No. 4 with Donald Maggi, Inc., for the Salem Sidewalk Improvement Project (TAP 9901(520)) will be considered.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, the sole supplier of blood, platelets, and plasma to patients at 45 area healthcare facilities, is asking everyone to team up to help support blood needs in their community by donating during the “Bleed Red” promotion at the upcoming community blood drive in Salem on Tuesday, May 13th from 12:00 noon until 6:00 in the evening at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at 201 North MacArthur. Successful donors will receive a three-quarter sleeve Springfield Cardinals baseball T-shirt and a voucher for two free admissions to an upcoming Springfield Cardinals game, while supplies last. Community Blood Center of the Ozarks donors provide all the blood for patients at Salem Memorial District Hospital, Phelps Health, as well as other healthcare facilities. To help avoid wait times, appointments are strongly encouraged. Donors can schedule an appointment at www.cbco.org/baseball/ or by calling 417-227-5006.

There will be a “Sign N’ Wine” class on creating Spring Front Porch Welcome Signs with Danielle Norris will be held on Friday, May 9th from 6:00 until 9:00 in the evening. What better way to welcome spring than with a customized sign for your front porch! Stencils and all the supplies are provided. You can bring a board or purchase one from us. The Arts Center boards will be 8 inches wide by 34 inches long. or 15 by 15 square You bring your ideas, and we will supply you with the instructions and one on one help to make your perfect piece! Feel free to bring your own vinyl for patterns or any extra things you may want on your sign. The cost of the class is is $35 if we supply a board, or $20 if you supply your own At least six people must attend the class and it will be limited to 16.  To sign up, go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center.

The spring season brings blooms, sunny skies, warmer temperatures, and a variety of newborn animals. Young wildlife can pull on our heartstrings as they look to be abandoned, but that’s rarely the case. The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds the public that the best place for wildlife is in the wild. A common newborn species we may encounter in the spring is young birds. When you see newborns alone, that means the parents are likely out searching for food and will return. If you see a chick with feathers hopping on the ground, leave it alone because it’s a fledgling and its parents are nearby keeping watch. Fledglings can spend up to 10 days on the ground learning to fly. If you find one that has no feathers, it likely fell out of its nest, and you can return it to the nesting area if possible. Another animal you shouldn’t interfere with is young rabbits. Rabbits seldom survive in captivity and can actually die of fright from being handled. A common myth is that human scent does will cause wild mothers to reject their young but that’s not true. It takes a lot of knowledge to care for and rehabilitate wild animals and it requires special training, permits, and facilities. Not to mention, it’s illegal to possess many wild animals without a valid state or federal permit. Wildlife can become dangerous as they mature, and can carry disease, parasites, and cause property damage. People have good intentions, and it can be tempting to take these cute, young animals in our homes, but the best thing we can do for wild animals is to leave them in the wild.

The Missouri Department of Revenue is warning Missourians of ongoing nationwide text scams. The department has received a large increase in calls reporting these phishing texts. These texts are often threatening, claiming to be from the Missouri Department of Revenue or Department of Motor Vehicles and may include a warning regarding unpaid traffic violations, outstanding toll charges, or fines owed. These texts are NOT from the Missouri Department of Revenue and are NOT LEGITIMATE. The department will not send requests for payment or request personal information via text message. If you receive one of these phishing texts do NOT click on any links in the text, do NOT respond to the text, and be sure to delete the text. The department is working with law enforcement agencies to mitigate these illegal messages.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2430, 4220 and 5630, while brush will be cut on county road 5380. He also said culvert work was going to be done in various locations. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said his crew would be adding rock and grading Dent County Roads 3190, 3200 and 4390; while only grading would be done on county road 4380. Williams said crew members would be picking up county truck #126 from Knapheide in Jefferson City. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said MODOT has announced 16.5 million dollars are available for TAP grants for hiking and biking trails, sidewalks, or other alternative methods. Contact Kelly Sink at the MRPC if interested at 573-265-2993. Larson also said MRPC will be holding an informational meeting to discuss disaster relief grants from the tornado damage on May 7th, but he wasn’t sure if that was for those counties that were listed for state and federal assistance. Dent County Collector Angie Curley said her office balanced with the collector and assessor for the month of April on all collections, add-ons and abatements. She also said her office balanced with the treasurer on all monthly accounts for April. Curley also said people should start receiving their voter registration cards in the mail, and if they don’t receive one by May 15th, call the county clerk’s office at 573-729-4144. Dent County Emergency Management Director Derrick Marfitt came in to give the commission an update on the FEMA reimbursements and claims. He said May 15th will be the last day the county can submit a loss or damages that needs to be included in the county FEMA road and bridge claims. Marfitt said he and FEMA officials inspected every road in Dent County as part of the FEMA quality control program. Marfitt said he has everything ready to go and will submit it provided there are no more damage claims, but when the commissioners asked about reimbursement, that will not happen until FEMA considers each claim as a “finished project.” City of Salem City Administrator Sally Burbridge was in attendance and the commissioners were asking about the light poles and fixtures that city was using for their TAP grant to improve the sidewalks. Burbridge said she didn’t have the exact costs with her but said it ran about $25,000 per half block for the poles and fixtures which did NOT include installation. She also said the city had two sizes of poles: 20-foot poles at the 4th Street and Highway 19 intersections, and 14-foot poles on the streets that also featured flag and banner holders. The commissioners said they wanted to match what the city was doing on their TAP grant for new sidewalks around the courthouse and that included the light poles but wanted to know who was responsible for the new poles: the city or the county. The old specs by Great Rivers Engineering had the old poles being removed and reinstalled for $1,000 each for the eight poles, but they later said that couldn’t be done because of the construction of the poles. Burbridge suggested a possible cost share between the city and county, but told the commission to have Great Rivers Engineering get with her and she could also provide them with actual pricing of the poles. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk told the commission she mailed out 102 parcels for delinquent tax payments and that those parcels will be going to the tax sale. VanKirk said people will have until no later than June 30th to have those tax parcels paid up. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday, May 12th at 9:00 as the courthouse will be closed Thursday for Truman’s Birthday.

The Planning and Zoning Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing and meeting tonight at 6:00 at 202 Washington Street in the Old City Hall Auditorium. The hearing will be to recognize anyone that wishes to speak on the following rezoning requests. A request by Jacqueline Flaherty for conditional use for vacation rental located at 304 E. Center St. A request by Southwest Baptist University to rezone property located at 501 S. Grand St. from R1 to Commercial. A request from Southwest Baptist University for conditional use for Compass Health to provide counseling service in Residential Zone located at 501 S. Grand. Following the close of the hearing the Commissioners will hold a meeting to consider the acceptance or rejection of each request listed followed by adjournment. The public hearing and meeting are open to the public.

The Dent County Chapter of “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” will be holding their next meeting this evening from 5:30 to 6:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory’s Rotary Room. All volunteers are welcome and there are many ways to get involved. For more information about “Sleep in Heavenly Peace,” contact Patti at 703-964-6495. You can also e-mail Patti at patti.mckeown@shpbeds.org.

A one-vehicle accident occurred Sunday evening at 8:45 on Phelps County Road 2060, east of County Road 2090. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Pontiac being driven by a 46-year-old female from Rolla was traveling eastbound when it traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. The driver, who was not wearing a safety device, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Phelps EMS to Phelps Health. The Pontiac was totaled and towed from the scene by Tunes Towing.

The following general highway maintenance and construction work is planned in our are starting today and going through the 11th. Weather conditions may postpone scheduled work. Many projects will include lane closures which could cause delays.  All counties will have moving operations such as pothole patching, brush cutting, and pavement repairs continuing in various locations. Motorists should travel with care and be alert for slow-moving equipment. In Crawford County on Missouri Route 19 roadside work is planned from Missouri Route 49 to Edgar Road. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone. In Dent County Route 19 roadside work continues at Standing Rock Creek, south of Route N, as part of a bridge replacement project. Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures for the duration of the work, which is expected to be complete in May 2025. Missouri Route H resurfacing continues from Missouri Route 72 to Route M in Phelps County. One lane will remain open, and flaggers with a pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone. The project is scheduled for completion in May 2025. Route TT is CLOSED due to flood damage at Crooked Creek. Motorist must use an alternate route until further notice. In Phelps County Route H resurfacing continues from Route M to Route 72 in Dent County. One lane will remain open, and flaggers with a pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone. The project is scheduled for completion in May 2025. All work is weather permitting, and schedules are subject to change. MoDOT asks all motorists to buckle up, put your phones down, obey all traffic signs, slow down, and move over in work zones.  For more information about MoDOT projects, traffic updates, or other transportation related matters, please visit MoDot’s Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org or call their 24–hour Customer Service Center at 1–888–ASK–MoDOT (888 275–6636). While at modot.org, sign up for work zone updates sent directly to your inbox. Information is also available 24/7 by connecting with MoDot on social media including Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

The federal REAL ID enforcement deadline is this Wednesday. The Missouri Department of Revenue encourages Missouri residents to verify their driver license or identification card is REAL ID compliant before the enforcement date. A Missouri-issued REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card will have a star, as shown below, in the upper right-hand corner. A driver license or ID card that is noncompliant with REAL ID will have “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” in the upper right-hand corner. Applying for a REAL ID is not mandatory. However, individuals will soon be required to present a REAL ID-compliant document for official purposes including, but not limited to, entering nuclear power plants, accessing federal facilities, and boarding federally regulated domestic flights. Learn more at dor.mo.gov/driver-license/issuance/real-id/.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Jimmy Martin from Dent County Road 5323 was in to discuss washouts at his driveway and District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said he will be out later to check it out. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said crews would be out checking for washouts and clogged culverts after the intense rain on Wednesday. He also said glass will be installed in the backhoe if it comes in. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said his crew would be stockpiling six and eight-inch rock at the road and bridge department, plus another crew would be adding rock to county roads 4050 and 4055. Williams said some posts and signs will be put out on county roads 2500 and 2510. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson had nothing to report while Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the voter registration canvassing begins today. Her office will mail out about 10,000 postcards, which is required by the Revised Statutes of Missouri Section 115.179. This is done to assure the accuracy and integrity of the voter records in the jurisdiction. When you receive the voter registration card, if you have had a address change or have legally changed your name, update the card on the back and return it to the Dent County Clerk’s office by mail or in person. If the information is correct, no action is needed, and you can keep the cards for your records. The commissioners discussed selling the gazebo on the front lawn of the courthouse as it could be in the way when work on the courthouse sidewalks TAP grant begins, plus there needs to be some maintenance work done to it that was not budgeted. The commission agreed to accept bids on the gazebo until 10:00 in the morning on June 2nd. The commission has the right to accept or reject any and all bids. The commissioner also approved the memorandum of understanding from the Dent County Health Department submitted by Zach Moser for employee drug screening services for Dent County at $16 per test. Moser was in attendance in case they had any questions. The Dent County Commission will NOT be meeting on Thursday, May 8th due to it being Truman’s Birthday. At the last meeting, Healthy Dent County Executive Director Sherry Lea visited with the commissioners about the MRPC Annual Banquet proposal and what their thoughts were about some of the questions she had so that her proposal to the MRPC could be finished and sent to them. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) invite young anglers to learn about fishing and to fish for trout for free at Montauk State Park’s Kids’ Fishing Day tomorrow from 6:30 in the morning until 5:00 in the evening. Kids aged 15 and under will not be required to purchase a daily trout tag and can get a free trout tag for the day at the park registration booth from 2:00 to 5:00 on May 2nd or on the day of the event. The spring branch will be reserved for young anglers and stocked with trout throughout the day. Volunteers will be on hand to assist. Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Parents are welcome to help the kids, but only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. Adults are not allowed to fish by themselves. Fishing isn’t the only attraction of Montauk State Park Kids’ Fishing Day. Attendees can get free tree seedlings, watch fly-tying demonstrations, visit a mobile aquarium, and try archery on an archery range. There will also be drawings for door prizes throughout the day. Individuals must be present to win. Free hotdogs and soda will be served from 11:00 to 1:00. Volunteers are needed to help with this event. Individuals wishing to volunteer do not need to be experienced anglers. To volunteer or donate to Kids Fishing Day, or for more information about the event, contact the Montauk Hatchery at 573-548-2585 or Hatchery Manager Kyle Case at Kyle.Case@mdc.mo.gov. Montauk State Park is located at the headwaters of the Current River southwest of Salem. For more information or for directions, visit mostateparks.com.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board will be holding a special board meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 at the hospital library. After public comments are heard, the board will go into Executive Session.

Three cases were heard in front of Judge Michael Randazzo on April 23rd in the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court. In the first case, Michael Scott of Salem pled guilty to a felony charge of driving while having his license revoked and not having insurance. Scott was sentenced to serve 15 days in jail as recommended by Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley. In the next case heard, McKayla Black of Salem who was on probation for two felony possession of controlled substance charges, had absconded from drug court. A probation hearing was held where Prosecutor Curley sought a seven-year sentence pursuant to Section 559.115 of the Revised Missouri State Statutes as requested by the Missouri Department of Corrections. Black sought continued probation. Over the objection of the state, Black was granted continued probation with an added condition to complete the New Sanctuary Beginnings Program. Also on Wednesday at the conclusion of an Alford hearing, Albert Terrill of Salem was found guilty of felony stealing and for driving while having his license revoked. Terrill was sentenced to serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as recommended by Prosecutor Curley. 

The Dent County Health Center will be holding their Spring 2025 Health Fair and Vaccine Clinic Friday, May 2nd, from 7:00 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon. No appointments are necessary. Dent County residents can get free basic screenings of blood pressure, height and weight, and BMI calculation. Rapid Heart Health Screenings are available for Lipid (Cholesterol) and A1C for $34.50. Expanded services will be available for blood chemistry for $3.80, a Vitamin D test for $13.75, Basic Thyroid test at $3.50 and Blood Counts for $3.00. Other services available include Free Rapid Blood Lead Screening, Free household item lead testing, plus free Narcan and free STD Testing. Updated COVID-19 vaccines will also be available. Information and scheduling for additional services will be available. No orders are needed for the screenings as the Dent County Health Center has a standing order for health screenings. In order to speed up the process, no insurance will be accepted. The DCHC is located at 1010 East Scenic Rivers Boulevard, across from Town and Country Bank. To answer other questions about the Health Center Spring Health Fair and Vaccine Clinic feel free to call 573-729-3106.

Saturday, May 3rd will be the Community Wide Yard Sale in Salem as yard sales will be occurring all over town and out in the county. Maps for the location of local yard sales will be available at the Salem Chamber of Commerce in the Crossroads. A central sale location will be held at the city administration parking lot on Saturday. You can still reserve a space on the city parking lot at 4th and Iron Street for $8.00 for two parking spaces by calling 729-4117 or stopping by the administrative offices. Those spaces are reserved on a first come, first serve basis. Don’t forget that the following two weeks in the City of Salem is the semi-annual GFL Residential Spring Clean-Up Weeks. This is for Salem residents only and is done on your normal trash day from May 5th through the 9th and again May 12th through the 16th. Remember, tires, appliances, yard waste, car batteries, oil, chemicals, solvents and paint as well as non-compactable items like concrete, tree stumps, steel, etc. cannot be picked up. If anyone has questions about what can be or cannot be picked up, they are welcome to contact GFL at 1-800-926-3953 of 1-417-741-7714.

MoDot has ongoing plans for road work in Dent County on the following routes; Roadside work continues on Route 19 at Standing Rock Creek, south of Route N, as part of a bridge replacement project. Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures for the duration of the work, which is expected to be complete in May 2025. Resurfacing continues on Route H from Missouri Route 72 to Route M in Phelps County. One lane will remain open, and flaggers with a pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone. The project is scheduled for completion in May 2025. Route TT is CLOSED due to flood damage at Crooked Creek. Motorist must use an alternate route until further notice. In Crawford County Roadside work planned on Route 19 from Missouri Route 49 to Edgar Road. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone.