Local News

An accident occurred Friday afternoon around 12:45 in Phelps County on Hwy J just north of Hwy P. According to the highway patrol report a 2005 Chevrolet 1500 driven by a 29-year-old male from Licking was travelling northbound and travelled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. The man suffered serious injuries and was transported by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman Towing. The report goes on to state that the male was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident.

The 62nd Annual Rose Holland Trout Derby was held this past weekend at Montauk State Park with incredible weather! The Derby raised $16,300 exceeding the goal of $15,000 for the tournament with the proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association. The money came from the silent auction, trout tag sales and the country store. A total of 54 tagged fish were caught during the derby. The Men’s Heaviest Trout caught was by Caden Steinhorn of Hazelwood, Missouri, which also won him the Slippery Liz II Award for the heaviest fish, and it was six pounds and one ounce; and the Women’s Heaviest Trout was caught by Megan Fuhr of Augusta, Missouri and it was three pounds and ten ounces. No Brown Trout were caught during the tournament. Taking First Place in the Kids Heaviest Stringer was Bently Rawson of Bonneteville, Missouri whose stringer total was five pounds and thirteen ounces. The Second-Place winner in the Kids Heaviest Stringer was Bentley Foster of Imperial, Missouri with a total catch that weighed in at five pounds and six ounces. The 3rd place award went to Justin Fleener of Salem with a stringer that weighed in at four pounds and twelve ounces, while Emmett Stafford of Salem took 4th place with a stringer of four pounds seven ounces. The Slippery Liz I trophy, which is the first tag drawn at the derby, went to Sara Foster. Sixteen attendance prizes were also given away. New this year was the Corn Hole Tournament that was a big success with 20 teams participating. The Pony Rides for kids stayed busy for two hours, plus kids lined up to honk the horn on the Fire Truck and play on the Bounce House Slide. The Derby is held in honor of Rose Holland who was the trout hatchery manager at Montauk for 24 years who passed away in 1963 from heart disease. Co-Coordinator of the derby, Darlene Griffith, wanted to thank all those who attended this year’s derby and all the volunteers who helped make it a great success!

At the Dent County Commission meeting Monday morning, Deloris Gray Wood from the Dent County Historical Society reported on the 155th Birthday Celebration of the Dent County Courthouse and that the event went very well. She thanked Commissioner Gary Larson for being at the event and turning the lights on around the courthouse. She also wanted to thank all those who participated in making the event special with a special thank you to KSMO Radio/Your World Today and Townscreen for the banner, programs and news about the event, and to The Salem News for their feature article about the celebration. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said two men were going to Springfield to get oil for the Durapatcher. He said brush would be cut on county road 6520 and crews will be replacing pipes on Dent County Roads 2400 and 6500 as well as other roads if time permits. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers will be installing a new crossover pipe, adding rock and grading Dent County Road 3160 while only grading would be done on county roads 3300 and 4260. Williams indicated brush would be cut on county road 2030 and rock will be added to county road 3305. He went on to report a crew would be repairing a flat tire on tractor #6. Presiding Commissioner Larson said the Solid Waste Executive Board meeting was not held last Friday as there was typographical error in the notice, so it will be held today in St. James. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the courthouse would be closed on October 13th for Columbus Day. She also said she received the 2026 County Budget Packet to begin preparing the county budget for the next fiscal year. At the last meeting, Zach Moser from the Dent County Health Center gave his monthly update to the commissioners before they went into closed session to discuss personnel. After coming back into open session, the commission approved CERF contributions will remain the same for employees. They also voted unanimously that all elected officials and employees pay their own County Employment Retirement percentage. 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.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said work crews would be finishing up their grading work in the Montauk area as asphalt patch work is being done on Dent County 4110. Green said brush cutting is being done on county road 5520. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers will be adding rock and grading Dent County Road 3300 and 4280, while only grading would be done on county roads 3310 and 4270. Williams indicated that his crew will be finishing up their chip and seal patching by early next week. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson stated he did not attend the Solid Waste Advisory Board meeting Wednesday as another officer filled in for him. He will be attending the Solid Waste Executive Committee Board meeting in St. James. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she would be doing a voter registration drive at the Salem High School Cafeteria Foyer on Tuesday, October 21st from 11:00 in the morning until 1:30 in the afternoon. She then reported that she received permission from the Salem R-80 Art Department to hold another “I Voted” sticker contest that allows students to design a new sticker that will be used in the county clerk’s office and at all voting locations in Dent County for the 2026 and 2027 elections. This is a contest between students that began Wednesday and will continue through December 1st. All submissions by the students will be due on December 1st and the five finalists will be determined by December 5th. Their artwork will then be posted in the courthouse on the walls from December 8th through the 19th for registered voters to come and view, then cast their vote on their favorite design. The winner and runners-up will be notified on December 20th. This contest was done back in 2022 and the winner of that “I Voted” sticker contest was Olivia Wisdom. The commissioners agreed to list on Purple Wave two dump trucks and a groomer to be sold. At the last meeting, Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk and Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported on the Sale of Surplus Property funds in the amount of $15,125.19 which is for Betty Brown’s property. The funds needed to be turned over to the Department of Social Services, Missouri Healthnet Division to release the lien placed on the property. The commission approved turning over the funds. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00. The meeting is open to the public. 

You’re invited to attend the next Salem and Dent County meeting of “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” Monday afternoon, October 6th, starting at 5:30 and lasting until 6:30 in the evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory in the Rotary Room! Upcoming events, needs, and more will be discussed. The Dent County Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a 501c3 non-profit that provides a new, free bed to children in need in our community who do not have a bed between the ages of 3 and 17. Mark your calendars and please join them, and new volunteers are welcome!! If you are not able to help physically, donations of new bedding are always welcome to help provide a good night’s sleep to the area children. Monetary donations are also accepted. Please make checks payable to Sleep in Heavenly Peace and designate the MO-DENT County Chapter. If you have questions, please contact Patti McKeown at 703-964-6495 or e-mail her at patti.mckeown@shpbeds.org.

A beginners stained glass workshop will be held at the Creative Arts Saturday starting tomorrow and be held every Tuesday through October 28th from 4:00 in the afternoon until 7:00 in the evening. Jennifer Curry will be the instructor. You will learn the fundamentals of the stained glass foiling technique during this workshop. In this class you will create your very own glass project using the foiling technique, while learning to score, break, grind, foil, and solder. You will be introduced to the vocabulary, materials, and the tools used, while creating a beautifully designed piece for your very own. You will select a pattern from one provided, upon arrival during your first workshop. The only thing you need to bring is the desire and enthusiasm to learn the beautiful craft of creating art with glass. At least two people need to sign up for the class to be held and walk-ins are welcome up until the end of the first session on Tuesday night. The class will be limited to five people. The cost is $130 for the four week workshop which includes all the supplies and safety equipment are included. To sign up, go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center. For more information, e-mail salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com.

Maggie Hogan was crowned the 2025 Football Homecoming Queen by the 2024 Homecoming Queen, Kenzie Owens. The other senior Queen Candidates were Addison Fulton and Lizabeth Hendrix. The other members of the Homecoming Court were Freshman Brinkley Tripp, Sophomore Aubree Grauf and Junior Rylee Parker.

The 62nd Annual Rose Holland Trout Derby will be held today through Sunday at Montauk State Park. Derby fishing hours on both Saturday and Sunday will begin at 7:30 in the morning. Fishing will end at 6:30 Saturday evening and at 11:30 Sunday morning. Several activities will take place in conjunction with the derby including a cruise-in car show Friday from 3:00 until 7:00 at the Searcy Building Parking Lot across the Dorman L. Steelman Lodge sponsored by the Current River Car Cruisers. On Saturday, there will be a Health Screening by the Texas County Memorial Hospital from 9:00 in the morning until noon. Make sure you fast for 10 to 12 hours for the best results. From 11:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon, families can enjoy face painting, pony rides, bounce houses, games and walks throughout the grounds. A Corn-hole Tournament will begin at 1:00 with prizes awarded, and there will also be live entertainment starting at 5:00 in the afternoon and lasting until about 8:30 Saturday evening featuring James Van Kirk from Licking and others. On Sunday, prizes will be awarded in front of the lodge starting at noon including attendance prizes, the kids’ heaviest stringer, heaviest brown trout as well as any tagged fish that were caught and registered. All the proceeds raised from the derby will benefit the American Heart Association. For more information about the derby, call 573-548-2434.

Missouri has entered the fall harvest season and it’s important that drivers and farmers pay attention and share the road. In 2024, there were 194 Missouri traffic crashes involving farm equipment or implements. In those crashes, two people were killed and 65 were injured. Whether you are driving a vehicle or operating farm machinery, these crashes can be prevented by paying attention to the full-time job of driving and obeying all traffic laws. For farmers, make sure your farm equipment is properly marked with lights and a “slow-moving vehicle” emblem when you travel on the roadway. Be sure the lights and reflective materials are clean and free of debris to be visible. Utilize escort vehicles to warn motorists when moving equipment that is wider than the lane of travel. This is especially important on roadways that are narrow or have hills/curves that limit sight distance. If traffic accumulates behind you on the road where it is difficult to make a safe pass, pull off onto the side of the road in a level area, so vehicles can pass. Always drive as far to the right as possible and avoid traveling at dawn or dusk. Often, all-terrain vehicles are used for agricultural purposes. ATVs being used for farming can only travel on highways during daylight hours and must be equipped with lights, a bicycle flag, and a “slow-moving vehicle” emblem. The law requires anyone under the age of 18 to wear a safety helmet when operating an ATV. If you are driving, stay alert for slow moving farm equipment especially on hilly rural roads. When you drive behind a tractor or other farm machinery, please slow down and be patient. Wait to pass until you have a clear view of the road ahead and there is no oncoming traffic. Never pass on a bridge or when sight distance is limited by a hill or curve. Collisions commonly occur when a motorist tries to pass a left-turning farm vehicle. A tractor that appears to be pulling to the right side of the road to let motorists pass, may actually be preparing to make a wide left turn. Watch the farmer’s hand and light signals closely. Special attention must be paid when traveling at dawn or dusk when the sun makes can make it difficult to see. Traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility. It’s that simple.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors held its regular meeting Tuesday evening in the hospital’s Doctor’s Library. After approving the agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting, CEO Brooke Bollman presented her report. She highlighted ongoing efforts to prioritize education advocacy, including participation in several conferences such as the National Rural Health Association Conference. She also discussed exploring new technologies and tools to improve efficiency and patient satisfaction, evaluating capital improvement priorities, considering AI solutions for provider documentation and dictation, pursuing two grant applications in support of the EMS department, and preparing for upcoming community events. In August, the hospital recorded 45 inpatient admissions, 1,113 outpatient registrations, 629 emergency room visits, and 248 ambulance runs. Total operating revenue for the month was approximately $1.5 million, while expenditures totaled about $2.1 million, resulting in a net loss of $551,772.07. The 340B program generated net revenue of $39,106. Bollman also presented the fiscal year 2026 operating budget, projecting approximately $29.7 million in revenue and $29.5 million in expenditures, with an anticipated surplus of $219,360.90. The board approved both the financials and the FY2026 budget. Chief Nursing Officer Amber Hogan reported on staffing updates, upcoming nursing education opportunities, and ongoing efforts to reorganize and update the Nursing Policies and Procedures. In August, the hospital welcomed five new hires and experienced four resignations. Bollman stated that she anticipates the nursing department will be fully staffed by the end of the month. During the Risk Management Report, Kendra Mobray noted that August saw the lowest number of medical documentation errors on record. The board also approved new privileges for six physicians and adopted updated policies and procedures across five departments before adjourning to executive session to discuss legal matters.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met in a special meeting called Tuesday afternoon. After the meeting was called to order by Board President Dru Howard, the board moved into closed session to discuss personnel issues. The board then unanimously rejected the resignation of Band Director Gannon Craig from teaching and his extra duty contracts. The board also updated the substitute list before going back into open session and adjourning the meeting.

The Doe Run Company and the Viburnum community are celebrating the rich mining history of southeast Missouri at the 39th Annual Old Miners’ Days festival. The community event runs Friday through Sunday, October 3rd through the 5th, and features entertainment for all ages including free tours of Doe Run’s Buick Mine on Saturday. Community activities get underway Friday afternoon at 5:00 with the annual Tiny Tot Contest and Miss Viburnum Scholarship Pageant at the Elmer P. Beard Gymnasium in Viburnum. Saturday events begin at 9:00 in the morning in the outdoor Viburnum Center. Visitors who are 12 years-of-age or older may sign up for a free underground tour of a working Doe Run mine. Tours begin at 9:00 AM and conclude at 4:00 PM. Guests will travel through the shaft more than 1,000 feet underground and see the company’s Buick Mine, including heavy mobile equipment, the maintenance shop, and rock pillars full of valuable ore. Free bus transportation will be provided to shuttle guests the short distance from the Viburnum Shopping Center to the Buick Mine and back. Throughout Saturday, guests will enjoy live music, kids’ games, food trucks and booths, craft vendors, a community parade, and much more. This year, a Fall Rocks attraction located in the old Dollar General building, will run from 11:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon on Saturday offering indoor interactive activities, including “gold” panning, a mineral trivia game, dress like a miner, and much more. In the evening, Christian the Magician will provide comedy magic for the whole family with his show beginning at 6:30 in the Elmer P. Beard Gymnasium. Doors to the gym will open at 6:00. Sunday activities include a morning community church service hosted by local area churches at 11:00 in the Viburnum Center and a car show that runs from noon to 2:00. Learn more about Old Miners’ Days, including a full schedule of events, at https://www.oldminersdays.com/.

Come draw or paint our beloved Dent County Courthouse during the 155th anniversary of the Courthouse from 11:00 Saturday morning until 3:00 in the afternoon at the Courthouse downtown Salem.  Bring your chosen drawing/painting supplies. Some supplies will be provided by the Salem Area Arts Council if needed, so come and enjoy a relaxing time of making art!  All ages are invited and photos of the building will be furnished for those wishing to work from a photo reference. Finished artwork may be displayed at the Salem City Library upon completion.

In a press release sent by Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley, he reports that Jacob Stotler of Salem pled guilty to three counts of possession of child pornography. A sentencing hearing was held on September 24th in front of Judge Michael Randazzo. The counsel for Stotler sought a suspended imposition of sentence due to defendant’s lack of criminal history and previous acts of philanthropy throughout the region. Prosecutor Curley sought a conviction involving a suspended execution of sentence for a term of seven years for each count, due to the nature of the material seized from the Stotler’s computer. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Randazzo sentenced the defendant to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections with a suspended execution of that sentence for each count, placing the defendant on five years’ probation that imposed a litany of probation conditions.

The Dent County Historical Society is hosting the 155th Birthday of the Dent County Courthouse in downtown Salem on Saturday, October 4th from 11:00 in the morning until about 4:00 in the afternoon. Prepare to be entertained with a variety of performances and activities. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket, and maybe a picnic basket, to relax and enjoy the local concerts, featuring a diverse range of groups and vocalists for an enjoyable early afternoon concert. This event is not just a celebration, it’s a community gathering. It’s free and open to everyone, ensuring that all can join in the festivities. To start the festivities at 11:00, there will be a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of “God Bless America” in front of the Dent County Courthouse. Musical entertainment will be provided by Southern Sound, the Current River Bluegrass Band, and a group from Walking Faith Ministries. At noon, Country Mart will deliver 155 mini cupcakes for the singing of “Happy Birthday” to the courthouse. At about 12:45, Rick Mansfield will portray one of his characters, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, to tell the story of Schoolcraft when he enters Dent County in 1818, before Missouri becomes a state. The final ceremony will begin at 3:00 in the afternoon with Deloris Gray Wood, President of the Dent County Historical Society, acting as the Master of Ceremonies. Cindy Ard, the elected Dent County Recorder of Deeds, will share her perspective on the Dent County Courthouse, and Liz Seay Condray will speak about the Seay family and its connections to the Dent County Courthouse. Items of interest that the public can view that are scheduled to be downtown will be the Glass Carriage from the James & Gahr Funeral Home, an Air Evac Helicopter is set to be available for a two-hour window, three of the Dent County Fire Protection District newest Fire Trucks will be parked between the City of Salem Administrative Office and the Dent County Courthouse on Iron Street, plus the Current River Cruisers will be showcasing their antique cars, along with other vintage vehicles, including some of Glen Sapaugh’s antique cars, as well as a 2023 Chevy Corvette. The Salem Public Library, which is celebrating its 10th year at its location, will be where Kent Nichols’ Movie: “Civil War in the Ozarks: Battle for Dent County” will be shown in the downstairs library meeting room. The Dent County Museum will also be open near the top of East Salem Hill from 1:00-4:00 Saturday afternoon, October 4th. The Bank of Salem is providing the Dent County Historical Society with headquarters in its Courtesy Room. In case of rain or an unexpected event, the City of Salem City Hall Auditorium will be available for the live event. For more information, contact Deloris Gray Wood, Society President at 573 729-1496.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and Rolla Parks and Recreation Department will host an Outdoor Skills: Primitive Fire-Starting and Campfire Cooking program October 4 from 10:00 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon at Eugene North Community Hall, 400 W. 4th Street in Rolla. MDC Conservation Educator Dwight Warnke will teach participants how to start fires without matches using char cloth and flint-and-steel devices. Char cloth is partially charred material that catches sparks easily when flint and steel are struck together, creating embers that can start fires for recreational or emergency purposes. The program will also include campfire cooking recipes and food preparation techniques. Warnke noted that primitive fire-starting skills can enhance camping experiences and provide valuable emergency preparedness knowledge. The free program is limited to 50 participants and requires registration. All materials will be provided. Registration can be found on the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/events. For more information, email Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is looking to fill open full-time maintenance positions and hire emergency maintenance equipment operators to supplement the department’s winter weather response efforts in the upcoming months. MoDOT employs 2,400 maintenance employees across the state to maintain more than 33,000 miles of state routes, but more help is needed, especially in the winter months to treat and plow ahead of, throughout and after winter weather events. To help recruit for the effort, MoDOT is offering greater flexibility for emergency and volunteer help in the form of two shifts, an eight-hour shift and/or a 12-hour shift. The minimum starting salary is $19.91 per hour, depending on level of experience, with an additional $3 or $6 per hour based on area of operation. For the full-time maintenance worker positions, salaries vary based on experience. Applicants need to be at least 18 years old and successfully complete a criminal background check (a misdemeanor or felony conviction is not an automatic restriction to employment). It’s preferrable for applicants to have a CDL permit for full-time help, but emergency worker applicants must already possess a CDL.  To learn more about these career opportunities, visit modot.org/opportunities-maintenance. For more information, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org. 

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will hold their regular meeting tonight at 7:00 in the hospital library. After the call to order, roll call and approval of the agenda, public comments or presentations that are limited to 3 minutes will be heard, before the operational reports. No old business is on the agenda, however new business to be conducted includes approving the policies and procedures from the Pharmacy, Social Services, Rehab, HIM, and Revenue Cycle departments, discussion of Capital Improvement Needs, and credentialing new privileges. The board will go into executive session to discuss legal issues. Except for the executive session the meeting of the Salem Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public. Anyone that would like to attend by telephone or electronic means should contact the SMH Administration office at 573-729-6626 Extension 4005.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5070, plus rock will be added where needed. Green said grading will also be done on Dent County Road 6470. He indicated a new employee would be getting trained on the brush cutting Mannis machine on county road 6250. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported workers will be adding rock and grading on Dent County Roads 4380 and 4060, while only grading will be done on county roads 4390 and 4070. Williams said the grader blade will be changed out on grader #37, and chip and seal Duro-patching will continue on county roads 2240 and 2250. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson attended an opioid committee meeting last week, but there were no proposals approved as the committee agreed the meeting was not advertised well enough and will reschedule the meeting. Larson also said he will need to be at a Solid Waste Management Advisory Board meeting Wednesday morning in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she would like to have the high school art students design a new “I Voted” sticker for the 2026 elections. She did this three years ago and had quite a bit of participation. 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.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees met, September 18th. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report for the month of August. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated there were no cases of COVID-19 reported, however the sewer shed testing has confirmed that the virus is present, while the active lead cases were reported at 34, plus 10 Communicable Disease cases. Moser noted that he questioned the August report of 74 Lead cases due to new personnel handling the reporting. There was one Influenza A case, 4 animal bites were report, and there were 13 screenings for sexually transmitted infections, resulting in 36 total tests. The August environmental report showed there where 16 total inspections conducted. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there were no car seats distributed, and one Show-Me Healthy Women appointment, there were 2 CPR Courses, two consultations for Childcare Health, and 18 Title X appointments were reported. There were no Presumptive Eligibility, while there were 373 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 619 total appointments other than WIC, 130 total provider appointments, 182 treatment court visits, 161 lab appointments and 147 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner Service Details showed 2 Show-Me Healthy Women appointment, 15 family plannings, 4 well-child visits, 3 other well-woman exams, 21 other physicals, plus 40 other visits, and 45 acute illness appointments for a total of 115 visits. Laboratory details showed 199 Lab Draws, 8 appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, 2 pregnancy tests, 14 lead tests were reported, plus 28 other urine drug screenings. Phlebotomy Appointments totaled 137, while all Lab Appointments totaling 161. Immunizations for August showed none for COVID-19 or for Influenza, and 293 other vaccines given during 147 appointments. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported on the success of the Back-to-School Drive. Moser said the CareCab transportation program has been launched and is providing local needs. He discussed the financial delays from the state of Missouri due to their process changes after their new Fiscal year, plus he noted that the DCHC has opportunities to contract with other LPHA’s for nutritionist support. Zach discussed the Community Healthy Assessment report results and invited the Board to participate in the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) process going forward. Financials were reviewed and discussed, during which Moser explained that the interest rates and investment plan approved at the last meeting could not be honored by the bank. He presented a new list of rates from the Bank of Salem, Town and Country Bank, Progressive Ozark Bank, and MOSIP. Discussion was had on the appropriate amount to hold in checking versus the MOSIP money market versus CDs. Motion was made, seconded and passed to purchase a 1-year CD with MOSIP at 4.14%. A motion was also made, seconded and passed to invest the bulk of funds from the Riverways Federal Credit Union money market and checking accounts into the MOSIP account, while leaving enough in the accounts to keep them open. The Board entered closed session at 6:50. The next meeting date is Thursday, October 16th, at 5:00.

An accident occurred early Sunday morning around 2:37 in Dent County on Hwy U at county Road 3180. According to the highway patrol report a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado driven by an 18-year-old male from Salem was travelling westbound and failed to slow at an intersection. The Chevrolet travelled across County Road 3180 from Hwy U and struck a tree. The driver suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Springfield. The occupant a 16-year-old male juvenile from Salem suffered minor injuries and was checked on the scene by Salem Ambulance and he will seek own treatment later. The report goes on to say that neither party was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sherriff’s Office and the Salem Police Department.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released the results of court cases Wednesday in Dent County in the 42nd Judicial Court in front of Judge Michael Randazzo. Curley reports that in the first case, Clayton Korman of Rolla was on probation for resisting arrest and for a felony charge of driving while having his license revoked. Korman had previously pled guilty to 10-years under the Missouri Revised State Statutes Section 559.115 as a persistent felony offender. Korman had previously admitted to violating the terms of his probation by using methamphetamine. At the sentencing hearing, the defendant requested the continuation of his probation with treatment, while Prosecutor Curley requested the probation be revoked and the sentence executed. Judge Randazzo agreed with Curley and sentenced Korman to the Department of Corrections. In the case of Britta Terrill-Botkin of Salem, she pled guilty to the felony possession of fentanyl in the amount .05 grams which is in an amount sufficient for charges of trafficking in the 2nd degree. Terrill-Botkin was sentenced to serve seven-years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Judge Randazzo as requested by the prosecutor. In the next case heard in court, Grace Landers of Salem was on probation for the felony possession of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence. Landers admitted to violating her probation by failing to report to her probation officer. She was sentenced to serve four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as requested by the state as well as the defendant. In the Michael S. Smith of Salem case Wednesday, he pled guilty to failing to register as a sex offender He was sentenced to serve four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections at the request of the prosecutor. Another case heard in Dent County Wednesday was that of Dustin Benson of Niangua who was on probation for the felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. His probation was revoked and Judge Randazzo sentenced him to serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Also heard Wednesday in the 42nd Judicial Court was the probation hearing for Sara Lynn Cunningham of Salem. Judge Randazzo revoked her probation and sentenced to serve 10-years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The Dent County Health Center is excited to invite the community to the Fall 2025 Flu Vaccine Drive-Through Clinic on October 2nd, from 1:00 in the afternoon until 6:00 in the evening at the Dent County Fire Protection District Fire Department at 2 North Main St. This is a free event dedicated to promoting health, wellness, and preventive care for all residents of Dent County. The event is open to all ages, and no appointment is required. Residents are encouraged to bring their friends, family, and neighbors to take part in this community-wide celebration of health. For more information, visit www.dentcohealth.org.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the CART tax money received in September. She said the county received $97,487.00 which is up from September of 2024 by $7,020.54. Year-to-date, the CART tax is up $57,568.23 over 2024. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green stated crews will be working on a loader and doing maintenance on the Mannis brush cutter. Other crew members would be out checking chip and seal roads for asphalt repair, and if time allows, grading would be done on Dent County Road 5220. Green said next week the crew looks to pull ditches and grade a number of roads if the weather holds. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be grading Dent County Roads 4060, 5225 and 5240, while brush will be cut on county roads 2315 and 2390. His crew will also be patching chip and seal road 2240 with the Durapatcher. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson stated he attended the Tourism Tax Committee meeting last week where they approved a request for $500, down from the $1,000 originally asked for before approving two reimbursements. On Wednesday, he participated in a Zoom meeting with the Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation where they reviewed the financial statements. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported she received notification from the state auditor that the county is due for an audit for the year 2025. She said she would be holding a voter registration on October 21st at the Salem High School even though there will be no November elections this year in Dent County. The commission then approved renewing their annual membership with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission for $6,063 which is up from the $5,000 they paid last year. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public. 

The Salem Community Center at the Armory will be the setting for the Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s (MRPC) Annual Dinner and Awards Program on Thursday Oct. 23rd. The city of Salem and Dent County will serve as hosts. Each year, MRPC requests proposals from cities and counties in the Meramec Region to host the annual dinner event, where volunteers from across the region are honored for their contributions to their communities and the region. The MRPC board evaluates proposals and selects the location based on various criteria.  Residents may purchase tickets at a cost of $40 to attend the dinner and awards ceremony. Vintage Apron will be catering, and dinner will include creamy Italian chicken breast and roast beef as the entrees. A reception starting at 5:30 will be sponsored by Archer-Elgin Engineering, Surveying and Architecture and will include a silent auction and live music performed by Lake of the Ozarks Council of Government Executive Director Mitch Shields. To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at meramecregion.org

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held its regular meeting Tuesday evening in the Auditorium at 202 N. Washington Street. Following approval of the agenda and consent agenda, the board appointed S. N. Ball IV to the Library Board of Trustees. Under new business, the board approved $5,000 allocations to four organizations: Sleep in Heavenly Peace, for its continued efforts to provide beds, mattresses, and bedding to children in the community; the Fireworks Committee, for the Independence Day celebration on July 4; the University of Missouri Dent County Extension, for youth programs including 4-H; and SACBA, for their continued efforts of city beautification. These appropriations will be funded from the Non-Departmental Community Support line item, which currently has a balance of $20,000. The board also approved the purchase of eight new HP Mini 800 desktop computers for the police department at a cost of $7,744, along with eight refurbished laptops totaling $8,795. These expenditures will be funded through the Capital Improvement Projects budget, which currently has a balance of $21,725. In addition, the annual Laserfiche Cloud software contract with SumnerOne was approved at a cost of $6,077, to be paid from the Computer Software budget line, though the current balance of that fund was not specified. The annual contract with Trumpia for the city’s text-blast service was also renewed at a cost of $6,000, with funding distributed as follows: $500 from Parks and Recreation, $1,500 each from the water, electric, and sewer funds, and $1,000 from the General Non-Departmental fund. The board heard first readings of three bills: Bill No. 3689, an ordinance establishing fees for dusk-to-dawn lighting services provided by the City of Salem; Bill No. 3690, an ordinance setting criteria for utility service disconnections during extreme weather conditions; and Bill No. 3691, an ordinance amending utility deposit requirements. During reports from city officials, Public Works Director Steve Paine discussed last Saturday’s scheduled outage and the outage that occurred yesterday at approximately 5:00, noting the latter was caused by a fault in a line operated by Show Me Electric that supplies power to the city’s substation. He added that further investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause. Finance Director Stacy Houston presented the financial report, while Parks and Recreation Director Melissa DuBois provided updates on the flag football program and the upcoming hot air balloon festival. Mayor Greg Parker reminded citizens of the community yard sale scheduled for October 4 and the citywide cleanup taking place October 6–10. The meeting adjourned into executive session to discuss personnel matters. The next regular meeting of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, at 6:00 in the Auditorium, and is open to the public.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has charged Salem residents Michael Sean Moore and his wife Brittany Kiona Moore with a felony charge of Arson in the 2nd degree for a house fire that occurred on July 6th at their property at 712 North Hickory Street. According to the probable cause statement, the investigation into the fire by the State Fire Marshall’s office revealed the only reasonable cause of the fire was the application of an open flame or heat source to available combustible material on or near the southwest corner of the bed by a human hand. With this discovery, the fire was classified as incendiary. Other alleged discoveries that led to this charge included a 2:28 minute phone call when Brittany Moore contacted Michael Moore at 8:24 in the evening after which Michael Moore did not call the fire department but contacted an on-duty law enforcement supervisor. Thus, the fire department was not summoned until 8:31 that evening, arriving at the scene at 8:44 PM. The state investigator also was able to retrieve a number of photographs taken documenting the stages of the fire. One of the body cam videos supposedly shows Michael Moore purposefully throwing an object through a second-floor window introducing oxygen to the fire at 8:28 PM. According to the investigator, the introduction of oxygen changed the situation from a fire in a room to a room on fire, causing greater damage to the home, destroying evidence of the fire’s origin and the increased danger to responding fire personnel. The Moore’s will appear in the Dent County Courthouse on October 6th at 9:00 in front of Judge Patrick J. Horsefield. Charges set forth in an indictment are mere accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.

A fatality accident occurred Monday evening at 6:13 in Maries County on Highway 63 approximately one quarter of a mile south of Highway 68. According to the Highway Patrol report a southbound 2013 Dodge Ram 3500, operated by a 35-year-old Rolla man, crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2000 Ford F-150 head on, which was driven by a 69-year-old Vichy man. An occupant of the Ford, a 63-year-old Vichy woman, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Maries County Deputy Coroner Amanda Sanbothe at 6:59. The body was transported by the Deputy Coroner to the Maries County Coroner’s Office. The male driver of the Ford F-150 suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Maries Osage Ambulance District to University Hospital in Columbia. Both occupants of the Ford were wearing safety restraints, while it is unknown whether the driver of the Dodge Ram was. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Fast Lane Towing.

The Salem Parks and Recreation Board will be meeting today at 5:00 at the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the call to order, roll call and approval of the agenda will be the consideration and approval of the June 12th, 2025, minutes. The Parks and Recreation Director will report, followed by LWCH Grant Discussion, and Budget Update. The meeting called by Parks and Recreation Board President Carlos Lopez will then adjourn.

MDC invites deer hunters, landowners and managers, wildlife watchers, and others interested in Missouri’s white-tailed deer to an MDC Wild Webcast on Deer Management on Monday evening, September 29th, from 6:00 – 7:00. The Wild Webcast will include information about new deer regulations for the coming season, MDC’s deer management plan for the next decade, and MDC’s efforts to keep Missouri deer healthy. The webcast will also include new information on chronic wasting disease (CWD), epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), and how MDC is working with hunters, landowners, and other partners to keep Missouri deer healthy. Register in advance for the MDC Wild Webcast on Deer Management. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov.
The Creative Arts Center will be holding an art in the parking lot fundraiser event on Saturday September 27th from 10:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon at the Salem ONCRC, Creative Arts Center, and Farmers Market parking lot located at 202 South Main in Salem. Admission is free, bring your friends and family for an afternoon of fun! There will be vendors, food & drink trucks, the Ozark Heritage Student Art show and art sale inside the Creative Arts center, the Riverways exhibit inside the ONCRC, a car show outside Regine’s Common Kitchen, live entertainment and seating under the Farmers Market pavilion, various art demonstrations and free activities for kids, giveaways, silent auction items, and MORE!!! Designated parking will be available at the Fire Station and in the parking lot of the Brick House on the S-curve. For additional information, or if you would like to volunteer your time helping at the event, please email salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com.

Salem Memorial District Hospital is proud to announce that its Clinical Laboratory has received excellent results from its most recent Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) inspection. Surveyors praised the lab team’s performance, noting only four minor items—areas they said are often cited only when no significant issues are present. Brooke Bollman, SMDH CEO, noted that this outcome is a testament to the skill, dedication, and professionalism of the laboratory staff. Every test performed in the lab plays a vital role in patient care, and the community can be confident that those results are held to the highest standards of quality and accuracy. CLIA inspections are rigorous reviews conducted by federal regulators to ensure laboratories meet strict standards for safety, accuracy, and reliability in testing. The overwhelmingly positive report reflects the hospital’s ongoing commitment to patient safety and continuous improvement. Bollman shared that this success is about more than just passing an inspection—it represents the culture of excellence they are building at Salem Memorial District Hospital. She said that patients, families, and the community deserve the very best. The hospital extended gratitude to its laboratory professionals for their hard work and to the entire clinical team for supporting high-quality patient care across all departments. For more information about Salem Memorial District Hospital and its services, visit https://www.smdh.net/.

The Salem High School Track remains closed to the public through this Friday for cleaning, repairs, and resurfacing. The Tiger Trail is open to the public at the Salem Upper Elementary School at 1601 Doss Road as well as the Frisco Trailhead on 3rd and Grand Street and the Lake Ziske Trailhead located at the Shawnee Mac Conservation Area.