Local News

An accident occurred Tuesday afternoon around 2:01 in Phelps County on County Road 1000 and County Road 1010. According to the highway patrol a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by a 17-year-old male juvenile of St. James was traveling eastbound and failed to negotiate a curve. The Cobalt travelled off the left side of the roadway and became airborne; it came to rest facing southbound. The driver suffered serious injuries and was flown to University of Columbia by Phelps Air. The report goes on to say he wasn’t wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Cobalt was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted by the St. James Fire Department and Phelps Air.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors convened their regular meeting on Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library at the hospital. The minutes from both the previous regular meeting and a special meeting were approved, with revisions made to the special meeting minutes. During the Chief Executive Officer’s report, Brooke Bollman noted that the hospital continues to engage in affiliation negotiations, with a strong focus on quality improvement and staff recruitment. She also reported that a lightning strike during the April 5th storm caused significant damage to computers, cameras, servers, and other hardware. The hospital plans to file an insurance claim to cover the losses.During the summary of operations, there has been a decrease in inpatient admissions and an increase in outpatient registrations while emergency room visits have remained consistent. For the month of March, the hospital reported approximately $1.9 million in net patient revenue, $2.2 million in total operating revenue, and $2.1 million in total operating expenses, resulting in a net profit of about $266,000. Additionally, gross 340B revenue totaled approximately $165,000, with a profit of around $87,000. The hospital currently maintains 32 days of cash on hand. The financial report was unanimously approved by the Board. Bollman also presented the Chief Nursing Officer’s report, stating that several nursing positions remain unfilled, including one full-time floating nurse role. In March, there were two new hires and three resignations. The Board approved departmental policies, contingent on departments resolving any interdepartmental discrepancies. The meeting concluded with the Board entering an executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The next meeting of the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors is scheduled for May 27 at 7:00. in the Doctor’s Library at the hospital.

These reports were released by the Dent County Sheriff’s office for April. On Sunday April 13th deputies responded to Seville Care Center for a reported assault. During the course of the investigation, a 53-year-old Salem man was arrested on an active arrest warrant. Subject was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Later that same day deputies responded to Salem Memorial Hospital for a reported assault. It was reported that several parties were involved in an incident in the parking lot. The investigation is ongoing. Then on Wednesday April 16th deputies responded to the 5200 block of Highway O for a reported burglary. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that an unknown suspect(s) entered a business and stole money from the location. The investigation is ongoing. Later in the week on Friday April 18th deputies responded to Green Forest R-2 school for a reported property damage. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that an unknown suspect(s) damaged the parking lot of the location. The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information about an ongoing investigation please call #573-729-3241.

Alderman Nathan Kinsey, Chair of the City of Salem’s Utility Committee, has called a meeting of the committee for this evening at 6:15 at the Old City Hall Auditorium, 202 North Washington. After the welcome, roll call and approval of the agenda the committee will review the draft budget for water in the city. That will be followed by a review of the water rate, followed by adjournment. The meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has recently released their report for the month of March. The department responded to eight accidents during the month. Officers responded to three alarms sounding, addressed 52 animal calls and responded to one call for an animal bite. The police investigated four assaults or fights, three burglaries, performed 10 well-being checks and 16 area checks in March. Officers investigated 11 domestic disputes, 13 verbal disturbances, conducted 33 follow-up investigations and provided 24 escorts. They investigated five harassment reports, three parking complaint calls, an intoxicated driver call, four problems with juvenile reports, seven trespassing calls and four property damage reports. The Salem Police wrote nine stealing reports, had four shoplifter complaints, responded to four traffic complaints, assisted two motorists and addressed a panhandling complaint. Officers responded to two reports of a suicidal person, 16 suspicious circumstance calls, three suspicious person calls, and had four found property reports. The Salem Police in March investigated two nuisance violations, had a report of a missing person, and checked out an abandoned vehicle call. Officers attempted to serve nine warrants and conducted 41 traffic stops during the month. The police responded to a total of 415 incidents in March with the average response time to calls being two minutes and six seconds. The average time spent on the scene was 34 minutes and 30 seconds. If you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation, contact the Salem Police Department by calling their non-emergency phone number at (573) 729-4242 or speak with them in person at 500 N. Jackson Street in Salem.

The Dent County Prosecutor’s Office has issued a notice to all deer and turkey hunters for this season. Whether using a traditional paper permit or the MO hunting app, hunters must notch their permit immediately after harvesting a deer or turkey and then tele-check their harvest. To notch a paper permit, hunters should tear a small notch in the month and day of harvest on the permit. To notch a permit using the MO Hunting app, hunters should select the permit they wish to use from the list in the app and follow the short prompts on the screen. Once the permit is notched, hunters may transport their deer or turkey within Missouri. Carcass movement regulations apply in CWD management Zone counties. As long as hunters stay with their harvested game, they don’t need to tag it, but if they leave their deer or turkey, they must attach a tag. Hunters with paper permits can simply attach their notched permit to the deer or turkey. It is recommended to seal the permit in a zip-top bag and attach the bag with a string, wire, or tape. Hunters using the MO Hunting app must attach a label with their full name, address, permit number, and date of harvest to the deer or turkey. All deer or turkey must be Telechec by 10:00 pm on the day of harvest, before processing the game, or before leaving the state, whichever comes first. After the deer or turkey has been telechecked, it may be processed, stored, or transported by anyone as long as it is labeled with the hunter’s full name, address, date taken, and Telecheck confirmation number.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board meeting will be held this evening at 7:00 at the hospital library. At the meeting after public comments are heard, the board will hear a report from Chief Executive Officer Brooke Bollman before hearing the summary of operations for the month of March as well as reviewing and approving the monthly financials. The board will hear the Chief of Nursing and Human Resources reports before discussing old business which included a policy review. In new business, the board will get an update on the Pyxis Profiling system before the election of board officers is conducted. The board may then go into executive session to discuss legal issues and personnel. The Salem Memorial Hospital Board meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will meet at 6:00 Tuesday evening at 202 North Washington at the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the call to order, pledge of allegiance, prayer, and roll call will be the approval of the agenda. The Consent Agenda including the minutes of the April 15th meeting will be approved followed by public comments, Sho Me Smokefree Presentation by Youth Advocates, plus Board and Committee Appointments. Bids for park fencing will be reviewed. New and miscellaneous business will include a letter to legislators and community support request for funding. City officials will then report followed by closed session if necessary. The meeting of the City of Salem Board of Alderman is open to the public.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the CART receipts received by the county. She stated the county received $75,330.30 which is $3,795.85 more than last year, and year-to-date, the CART funds are up $25,264.59 over 2024. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green and District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams both said crews would be out checking road conditions after the storm this weekend as well as cleaning out culverts. Williams also said the County Dump Truck #126 had to go Knapheide in Jefferson City for hydraulics and the other dump truck needs a new turbo. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson had nothing to report, and Clerk Angie Curley said bills were to be paid. The commissioners will not be meeting Thursday, and their next meeting will be Monday, April 29th at the courthouse.

The Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday is going on now giving Missourian’s the opportunity to save money on select purchases while stimulating economic activity in the state. According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, all of Missouri is participating in the appliance sales tax holiday. According to Missouri statute, from April 19th through April 25th, state sales tax is waived on qualifying ENERGY STAR® certified appliances. This certification indicates that a product has been independently verified to meet strict standards – which can mean superior performance and long-term energy savings. Many items with the Energy Star certification are exempt from state sales tax on the first $1,500 of each appliance purchased. For more information on the sales tax holiday, a list of qualifying items, and frequently asked questions, visit dor.mo.gov and type in “sales tax holiday” in the search bar.

The Salem R-80 School District held its regular meeting on Thursday evening at 5:30 in the Administration Building. Before the start of the meeting, newly elected members, Sammi Parker and Phillip Mercer, were sworn in. The Board also elected its officers, with Dru Howard retaining the presidency, Parker becoming vice-president, Andrew Wynn appointed secretary, Jason Green selected as treasurer, and Marjorie Pyatt named as MSBA Delegate with Mercer chosen as alternate delegate. After approving the amended agenda, and consent agenda, Shannon Phelps introduced the Salem Upper Elementary Musical cast members: Aubrey Jones, Peter Culp, Isaac Hinderliter, and Joshua Culp and invited board members to the upcoming shows. Superintendent Dr. Nathan Wills delivered a comprehensive report addressing various CSIP Goals and updated the board on several operational matters including FEMA building construction, insurance, budget concerns, roof repairs, HVAC status in the Construction Trades Building, bus fleet management, student surveys, and a tornado warning debrief. During the new business portion, the board heard the first reading of the MSBA Board Policy Updates and approved several motions unanimously, including: declaring Bus #12 and old choir attire as surplus property, the 2025-2026 Career Ladder Plan, contracting with Alcorn Therapy and Consulting for Occupational/Physical Therapy Services, and renewing health insurance with no increase. The Board also approved the I-Ready agreement through Curriculum Associates. Personnel changes were also noted, including Tammy Herpich’s transfer and Madison King’s resignation from a custodial position. The Board then moved into a closed executive session to address student and personnel matters.

The City of Salem’s Parks and Recreation board convened its regular meeting on Thursday evening at 5:00 in the Community Center at the Armory. After approving the amended agenda, and consent agenda, the Board deliberated and approved bids for fence repairs at City Park and Al Brown Fields. J&M Construction & Fencing LLC was awarded $3,500.00 to replace the bent cross brace and repair existing fence and tension wire on the Red and Green ball fields The same contractor received approval for $14,500.00 to repair and replace damaged fencing and posts at the Al Brown Sports Complex. These expenditures will be funded from the prior year’s balance, which currently stands at approximately $439,000.00, with potential FEMA reimbursement eligibility. Additionally, the Board authorized use of City Park for July 4th Fireworks viewing, stipulating that no parking will be permitted on park grounds, though vendors and activities will be available for spectators. The Board also approved rate adjustments for the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Swimming Pool, increasing daily admission to $6.00 for all patrons and family passes from $200 to $220 for families of four, with each additional member costing $45. Fees for parties, individual passes, aerobics classes, and swimming lessons will remain unchanged. Finally, the Board voted to amend its bylaws to update the designated meeting location from the Community Center at the Armory to the Old City Hall Auditorium.

The 10th Annual Veteran Affairs Day jointly hosted by American Legion Post 99 and All-American VFW Post 6280 on Friday, from 10:00 to 2:00. The event will be located at 2522 Hwy 32 West in Salem. 

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson was not in attendance and District 1 Commissioner Keith Green was selected as the acting presiding commissioner for the meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received in April. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $97,415.85 which is $1,194.61 less than for April of 2024. Those funds year-to-date are both down $724.27 from last year. The Road and Bridge Fund received $48,545.37 in April and that is up $5,159.35 over April of 2024; and year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $12,156.31. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $97,474.81 in April and that is up $10,281.13 over April of 2024. Year-to-date, the jail funds are both up $24,396.67. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Green and District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said the road and bridge guys are off today due to the Good Friday being a legal holiday. Both commissioners said over the last week numerous culverts have been installed, replacing damaged culverts. Rock was added to those areas and patch grading done where needed. Commissioner Green said the fuel tank at the Road and Bridge Department was cleaned out thoroughly and is ready to be refilled and guys did some maintenance work on the equipment and at the shop. Commissioner Jimmy Williams says he has two dump truck down that will have to have service at Gahr Equipment in St. James. He also said the old John Deere brush cutter is not operational. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she attended the Missouri association of Counties board meeting where the board heard from Trent Watson who is the MAC legislative consultant. They also talked about NACO activities and head from Travis Elliott who gave legal updates. On Monday last week, Curley, Treasurer Denita Williams, Commissioner Jimmy Williams and Presiding Commissioner Larson all attended the MAC Legislative Day in Jefferson City where they visited with legislators. 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 City of Salem Public Water Supply Annual Water Quality Report has been released and there were no violations that occurred for the calendar year 2024. All levels of contaminants found in the water were lower than required by government regulations. If you would like to see the City of Salem Annual Water Quality Report, a copy can be found at the City of Salem Administration Building at 4th and Iron Streets, at the Salem Water Department Office or at the KSMO Radio studios.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 4,428 birds over the past youth weekend, April 12th and 13th. Top harvest counties were Osage with 107 birds harvested, Gasconade with 105, and Texas with 94. Harvest totals in our area included Crawford with 61, Dent with 56, Iron County total was 12, Maries with 86, Phelps had 49 birds harvested and Reynolds County total was 23. Young hunters checked 3,721 birds during the 2024 spring youth weekend. This spring’s harvest of 4,428 birds is the second highest harvest since the youth season began in 2001. Get more information by county at mdc.mo.gov. The regular spring turkey season runs April 21st through May 11th.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen convened for their regular session on Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the Old City Hall Auditorium, located at 202 N. Washington Street. Following roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance, and invocation, the Board approved the agenda with the removal of Resolution 7-2025. Mayor Greg Parker presented former East Ward Alderman Shawn Bolerjack with a recognition award for his distinguished service. After certification of election results, three officials were sworn in: Alderman Nathan Kinsey (East Ward, Unexpired Term), Alderman John Whelan (West Ward, two-year term), and Alderman Rick Letchworth (East Ward, two-year term). The Board subsequently elected Alderman Letchworth as president. Mayor Parker’s reappointments to various municipal bodies, including the Planning and Zoning Board, Utility Committee, Parks and Recreation, and Airport Board, were approved with Alderwoman Cathy Dent casting the sole dissenting vote. The Board unanimously approved the High School Senior Parade road closure request, maintaining the traditional route; J&M Construction and Fencing’s $40,650.00 bid for fence and gate replacement at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, to be funded from the sewer reserve fund which currently has a balance of $125,000.00, with potential FEMA reimbursement; Sunbelt Solomon’s $11,055 proposal for eleven transformers at $1,005 each, with $7,500 to be transferred from the equipment maintenance fund into the transformer fund to facilitate the purchase. The Board discussed and approved several resolutions, including: Resolution No. 13-2025, authorizing the Mayor to sign the Quit-Claim Deed transferring ownership of 306 E. Second Street to Sherri Harweger; Resolution No. 14-2025, approving the three-year Tower Lease Agreement with Wave Internet, which renews a longstanding arrangement that will generate $1,200 annually for the Water Department’s Rents and Royalties line item; and Resolution No. 16-2025, declaring support for the preservation of the Federal Tax Exemption of Municipal Bonds. During City Officials’ reports, Mayor Parker announced that the Carry the Cross event would take place at the Crossroads Friday morning from 7:00 to 11:00 today. City Clerk Tammy Kohler reminded citizens to remove all decorations from cemetery graves to facilitate staff cleanup and preparations for Memorial Day. City Administrator Sally Burbridge presented the Public Works report, while Parks and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois explained that playground repairs cannot commence until temperatures consistently remain above 40 degrees for a two-week period. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports for April 9th and 10th. On Wednesday Deputies arrested a 61-year-old Salem woman on an active felony warrant. The woman was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Also, on Wednesday Deputies arrested a 56 year old Edgar Springs woman on an active felony warrant. She was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. One more arrest occurred on the 9th when Deputies conducted a traffic stop on South Maple Street. During the course of the stop, a 26 year old Salem man was arrested for a drug offense and transported to the Dent County Jail. Then on Thursday the 10th, Deputies took a Property Damage report. The victim, a 36 year old Salem man, advised the window was broken out of his truck. The incident was determined to be weather-related. Also, on the Thursday Deputies arrested a 36 year old Salem man on an active felony arrest warrant. The man was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. If you have any information on an investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.

The Salem R80 Board of Education will hold it’s Reorganization Meeting tomorrow at 5:30 at the Salem Upper Elementary Library. After the call to order the Board will certify the election results with no election necessary pursuant to RSMo 115.124. Newly elected members will be sworn in by the Secretary of the Board. Superintendent, Dr. Nate Wills, will act as Temporary Chairman for the election of the New Board President and Vice-President. The new Board President will then preside over the election of the Secretary and Treasurer. The Board will elect the MSBA Delegate and Alternate, followed by adjournment of the Re-organizational Meeting. The regular Board meeting will then be called to order followed by the pledge of allegiance and the approval of the agenda and consent agenda. The Salem Upper Elementary Musical will be recognized followed by the Superintendent’s Report by Dr. Wills. CSIP Goals will be addressed in all reports, followed by updates on the FEMA Building, Insurance, Budget, Building Roofs, Construction Trades HVAC, and Buses. Student surveys will be reviewed, plus there will be a Tornado Warning Debriefing. Administrative reports will be presented for William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Athletics/Activities, Special Education, Technology, and Maintenance. New business will include approval of the Career Ladder Plan, declaring Bus #12 as surplus property for the end of the school year, declaring old choir attire as surplus property, approval of Alcorn Therapy and Consulting for OT/PT Services, and approval of insurance renewal. Hires, resignations and transfers will be considered before adjourning and moving in to Executive Session to consider personnel and student issues. The Reorganization Meeting and the regular meeting of the Salem R80 Board of Education will be open to the public.

The Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday returns this spring giving Missourian’s the opportunity to save money on select purchases while stimulating economic activity in the state. According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, all Missouri cities, counties, and districts participate in the appliance sales tax holiday. According to Missouri statute, from April 19th through April 25th, state sales tax will be waived on qualifying ENERGY STAR® certified appliances. This certification indicates that a product has been independently verified to meet strict standards – which can mean superior performance and long-term energy savings. Clothes washers, dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, and refrigerators with the “Energy Star” certification are just some of the items that are exempt from state sales tax on the first $1,500 of each appliance purchased. For more information on the sales tax holiday, a list of qualifying items, and frequently asked questions, visit dor.mo.gov.

On Thursday, April 10th, the Salem Board of Aldermen met in closed session to discuss matters pertaining to an applicant for employment. In attendance were Mayor Parker, Alderman Bolerjack, Alderman Letchworth, Alderman Whelan, City Administrator Burbridge, City Attorney Weber, and Carrie Sutterfield (via Zoom). Alderwoman Dent was absent. Following a roll call vote the board authorized the Mayor to extend an offer to Ms. Sutterfield for the position of Economic Development Director for the City of Salem. Mayor Parker subsequently recommended the appointment of Ms. Sutterfield to the position. The Board of Aldermen then approved the appointment. Ms. Sutterfield will assume the position effective July 1, 2025.

The Salem Memorial Hospital is excited to announce its partnership with the Family Support Division of Missouri and Healthy Dent County to launch the MO Kiosk Project, an initiative within the Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) Program. This collaboration will improve access to essential services for Dent County residents. The MO Kiosk Project introduces two self-service kiosks that are now available at the SMH Family Medicine Clinic and at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. These kiosks will allow residents to conveniently access a range of services provided by the Family Support Division, including applying for benefits, uploading documents, reporting changes, checking case status, and accessing the Family Support Division benefit portal. Additionally, the kiosks will provide information on how to request new EBT or Medicaid cards and include general program and contact details. According to Salem Hospital CEO Brooke Bollman, the hospital is thrilled to collaborate with the Family Support Division and Healthy Dent County on the MO Kiosk Project, as this initiative supports the ToRCH Program’s mission to transform healthcare and service access in rural communities. By providing these convenient, easy-to-use kiosks, the hospital is helping ensure that community members can efficiently access the services they need. The kiosks are designed to be user-friendly, providing an accessible solution for individuals who may not have regular internet access or face transportation challenges. The locations were selected to ensure that all residents in Dent County can easily access these essential services.

Intercounty Electric Cooperative recently announced their annual Washington, DC Youth Tour winners and Jefferson City CYCLE Tour particpants following their interviews. The Youth Tour is an all-expenses paid trip to our nation’s capitol and selected this year from Licking was Karson Walker; Makena Faulkner was chosen from Salem, Valery Liang was selected from Rolla, and Ariella Tarvin was chosen from St. James. Congratulations to these winners! The students not selected for the Washington, DC Youth Tour are eligible to go on an all-expenses paid trip to participate in the Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience (CYCLE) in Jefferson City, Missouri. These students include Riley Remster and Knox Smith from Salem; Noah Umfleet and Sadie Hutsell from Licking; Katie Carpenter from St. James; and Maria Polizzi and Lukas Barnes from Rolla. Congratulations to all of these students as well as the Youth Tour winners and CYCLE winners in Mountain Grove, Houston, Plato, Summersville, and Cabool. If you’d like to learn more about the Youth Essay Contest held each February which is for high school juniors only, you can contact Intercounty Electric at 866-621-3679.

The Doe Run Company’s Maroon mine rescue team took home multiple awards, including the coveted Grand Champion award, at the 2025 Tennessee Southeast Regional mine rescue contest last month in Sevierville, Tenn. Doe Run congratulates the Maroon team members Jarred Tackett, Mike Snyder, Luke Davis, Andrew Hampton, Jake Piatt, Ben Moore, and Brandon Roderman for taking home first place on the first day and second place on the second day of the field problem competition. The team also took first place overall in the grand champion category, which includes results for field, tech, bench, and first aid, combined. The Maroon team members Jake Piatt and Ben Moore also competed against coal and metal/non-metal mine rescue teams to earn first place overall in the team technician’s competition. Hosted by the Tennessee Mine Rescue Association, the Southeast Regional competition is a three-day event with 23 teams participating, including five metal/nonmetal and 18 coal teams. The first two days of the competition consisted of separate mine rescue field problems that simulate underground emergency situations. The third day included a first-aid competition involving CPR and a first-responder scenario. Each event also included a written test to assess the team’s knowledge. Doe Run’s mine rescue teams train on a voluntary basis and compete in mine rescue competitions annually. The teams consistently place near or at the top at regional and national mine rescue competitions. Doe Run’s focus on safety is evident beyond mine rescue. Across the company, Doe Run employees annually complete approximately 35,000 hours of environmental, health, and safety training.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk was in with the March monthly report for add-on, collections and abatement. She also said since the Dent County Fire Protection District Bond Issue passed, there will be an increase in the amounts for those applying for the Senior Tax Credit as bond indebtedness cannot be forgiven as it is NOT an assessment against the property. She also said she is working out the kinks in the online application for the Senior Tax Credits as it continues to be a “work-in-progress.” VanKirk says 170 applications have been picked up to date with about 60 of them being completed and submitted. Grant Wilson from Representative Jason Smith’s office was in attendance and said Smith and other congressional leaders sent a letter to President Trump asking him to declare disaster assistance for the areas affected by the March tornadoes. He said the Ways and Means Committee heard from Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative, who said trade policies that went in effect are to help and protect American workers. The goal is to have equal trade with other nations and thus the higher tariffs, and now over 70 countries have come to the table to negotiate new tariffs and trade agreements. Wilson used the example of the old Briggs and Stratton plant in Rolla that closed, and those local jobs were sent to Mexico and China meaning 450 people lost their jobs due to those nations having favorable trade with the US. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2490, while grading will also be done on county roads 4220 and 5680. He said brush would be cut on county road 5390 and a crew will be taking out the backhoe to clean out culverts and remove debris from bridges moving toward the Bunker area. Green also said a mirror would be replaced on one of the graders. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said his crew would be adding rock and grading Dent County Roads 2390, 6120 and 6123; while another crew would be doing bridge repair and cutting ditches on Dent County Road 3260. He said a crew would be installing a driveway culvert on Dent County Road 3210 and adding rock to that road as well. Williams said repairs will be made to county road 2500 that suffered washout damage in the last storm, and they will also be installing a “Children at Play” sign on county road 3233. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson attended the MRPC meeting Thursday night as well as the TAC, External Relations Committee and the Phelps County Public Housing Authority meetings. He also wanted to remind everyone that on June 14th, there will be an electronics recycling and tire collection at Brewer Science in Rolla from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to thank everyone involved with the election on Tuesday as it went very smooth with a little over 15% of the eligible registered voters participating. She said some people were confused on the fire district bond issue as they thought they could vote on the issue since it said the “Dent County Fire Protection District”, but they didn’t live in the actual district boundaries and were not eligible to vote. Curley said the “Election Harassment Bill” in the Missouri House of Representatives passed and is being sent to the Missouri Senate. Dent County Health Department Administrator Zach Moser gave the commissioners an update on the Measles outbreak in Texas, and also told the commission they could do drug testing of the Road and Bridge Department employees starting at 7:00 in the morning. Commissioner Larson said each month two employees are chosen at random to be tested. Moser said the Health Department cost would be $16.00 per employee. The commission voted to cancel the drug testing services with TOMO and begin using the Dent County Health Department immediately. The Commission also signed the service agreement between GIS National LLC and the county regarding customers desire to engage the company to perform certain administrative services for medical plans. There is no cost to the county and this agreement falls under the MAGIC Consortium Health Insurance Group. Due to the commissioners, clerk and treasurer attending the MAC legislative conference at the Capital, there will be no commissioner meeting today. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The City of Salem Administrative Building and Utility Office will delay opening until Monday afternoon at 1:00 to accommodate necessary system maintenance. During this time, the offices will be unable to process payments or conduct transactions, and staff will have limited access to internet services. However, residents may continue to make utility payments using the following methods: online payment portal by going to www.salemmo.com/city, automated phone system by calling 1-888-443-4087, or the drop box located in the drive thru. We appreciate the community’s patience as we work to ensure the continued security and reliability of our systems. For questions, please contact the Utility Office at (573) 729-4117.

Missouri State Fair Director Jason Moore announced that 62 youth, selected from Missouri 4-H and FFA State Fair exhibitors, will be awarded scholarships by the Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture committee. These students are seeking higher education at a university or college of their choice and will be recognized on April 24th during the annual State FFA Convention in Columbia. Scholarship applicants were evaluated in a variety of areas including Missouri State Fair participation, grade point average, community involvement and leadership roles. Since 1992, the Youth in Agriculture committee has now awarded 941 scholarships totaling $1,190,250. The scholarships are funded through the generosity of Youth in Agriculture sponsors and buyers of the livestock sold during the annual Sale of Champions; and the sponsors and buyers list is available online. A portion of each animal’s total sale value is allocated to the scholarship program. Chosen to receive a $1,750 scholarship, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture supporters, is Raymond Cunningham of Salem. The Youth in Agriculture committee is comprised of volunteers from across the state who work throughout the year to raise funds for the annual Sale of Champions auction and scholarships. 

The Dent County Prosecutor’s Office has issued a notice to all deer and turkey hunters for this season. Whether using a traditional paper permit or the MO hunting app, hunters must notch their permit immediately after harvesting a deer or turkey and then tele-check their harvest. To notch a paper permit, hunters should tear a small notch in the month and day of harvest on the permit. To notch a permit using the MO Hunting app, hunters should select the permit they wish  to use from the list in the app and follow the short prompts on the screen. Once the permit is notched, hunters may transport their deer or turkey within Missouri. Carcass movement regulations apply in CWD management Zone counties. As long as hunters stay with their harvested game, they don’t need to tag it, but if they leave their deer or turkey, they must attach a tag. Hunters with paper permits can simply attach their notched permit to the deer or turkey. It is recommended to seal the permit in a zip-top bag and attach the bag with a string, wire, or tape. Hunters using the MO Hunting app must attach a label with their full name, address, permit number, and date of harvest to the deer or turkey. All deer or turkey must be telechecked by 10:00 pm on the day of harvest, before processing the game, or before leaving the state, whichever comes first. After the deer or turkey has been telechecked, it may be processed, stored, or transported by anyone as long as it is labeled with the hunter’s full name, address, date taken, and Telecheck confirmation number.