Local News

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said crews would be out checking roads for washouts and other damages and do patching where needed in anticipation of more heavy rain Friday and Saturday. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said his crew would be out checking roads and repairing those that were damaged the most and putting orange cones out on roads that have some damage that are still passable that crews can’t get to knowing that more heavy rain is anticipated that could do further damage to those roads. He also said a crew had to remove a downed tree. Commissioner Gary Larson said he did not have to attend the Solid Waste Advisory Board meeting Wednesday in Jefferson City. He had nothing else to report. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the unexcused and excused absentee voting for the Municipal Election continues at the courthouse. Her office will be open this Saturday morning from 8:00 until 12:00 noon to vote absentee or update your voter registration, and the last day to vote absentee will be Monday, April 7th from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. She also said the polling locations at Green Forest R-2 and Dent-Phelps R-3 will not be open due to no elections for those school boards or issues. The polls will be open Tuesday, April 8th from 6:00 in the morning until 7:00 that evening, and bring your ID when go to vote. Curley said her office balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of March, and her office also balanced with the assessor and collector on all collections, abatements and add-ons for March. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said she has passed out 47 applications for the “Senior Real Estate Property Tax Relief Program” so far with no online applications, and 11 of those applications have been returned and submitted for approval. Applications are available at her office along with a “Frequently Asked Question” sheet. She said people who want to apply will need to have an ID which could be a driver’s license, your voter registration or passport; a copy of your deed from the recorder’s office of which there is no charge if needed for this application, or you can have the recorder list the book and page number your deed is recorded in on the application; and you will need a copy of your paid tax receipt which the collector can also provide. All applications will NOT have to be signed by a notary, but they will need to be signed in front of and witnessed by a county official.  These applications will need to be submitted by June 30th to qualify for the property tax relief this year. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse, the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is now accepting entries for its annual photo contest. Winning entries will be featured on the department’s website and social media platforms. The deadline to submit photos is September 1st. Entries can include images from anywhere in Missouri, featuring beautiful natural resources, unique state parks and historic sites, outdoor recreation, weather, wildlife and people enjoying the outdoors. Contestants can submit entries in the following categories: Natural Resources: Photographs of Missouri’s air, landscapes and waterways. Unique Places: Photographs taken within one of Missouri’s state parks and historic sites. People Enjoying Missouri’s Outdoors: Photographs of people enjoying and exploring Missouri’s great outdoors. Judges will choose first, second, third and honorable mention winners for each category. For more information or to submit photos, visit dnr.mo.gov/photo-contest. Please send questions about the photo contest to socialmedia@dnr.mo.gov.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports from March 22nd through the 27th. On March 22nd, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 4500 block of South Highway 19. During the course of the stop, a 29-year-old Salem woman was arrested on an outstanding warrant. She was transported to the Dent County Jail where she posted bond. The next day, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 5085. During the course of the stop, a 38-year-old Salem man and a 46-year-old Steelville man were both arrested on multiple charges, including narcotics offenses. Both men were taken to the Dent County Jail where they were placed on a 24-hour hold. On Monday, March 24th, deputies responded to the 5200 block of Route O for a reported stealing complaint. The victim told deputies that money had been removed from the location without permission. That investigation is ongoing. That same day, deputies responded to the 700 block of Dent County Road 3210 to assist a Missouri Department of Revenue Investigator with the recovery of a stolen vehicle. Also on Monday, the 24th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 6150. During the course of the stop, a 23-year-old Salem man and a 26-year-old Salem woman were arrested. They were both transported to the Dent County Jail. That investigation is ongoing. On Thursday, March 27th, deputies took a report of a Violation of Order of Protection. The victim, a 48-year-old Salem woman, advised deputies that she was being harassed by her estranged husband, a 48-year-old Rolla man. That investigation continues. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 573-729-3241.

An accident happened in Crawford County Tuesday morning at 10:25 on Route BB just north of Vance Lane. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu driven southbound by an 18-year-old man from Steelville, traveled off the right side of the roadway, then overcorrected and went off the left side of the roadway where the Malibu struck a ditch. The man suffered serious injuries and was transported by the Steelville Ambulance to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. The man was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevy was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites people to celebrate the value of Missouri trees and forests during Arbor Days in April by planting native trees and practicing proper tree care. Missouri Arbor Day for 2025 is Friday, April 4th. Missouri has been observing the state’s official Arbor Day on the first Friday in April since 1886 when the General Assembly declared that day be set aside for the appreciation and planting of trees. National Arbor Day is recognized on the last Friday of April, which is April 25. Get information on backyard tree care, including types of trees for urban and other landscapes, selecting the right tree for the right place, planting tips, watering and pruning info, at mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-care. The MDC George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife food and cover. Orders are accepted to April 15th. For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov/seedlings. Missouri forests cover about one-third of the state and provide outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and watersheds for stream and rivers. Spending time in Missouri forests can provide a natural health benefit, too. Exposure to nature contributes to physical well-being, reducing blood pressure and heart rate, relieving stress, and boosting energy levels. Get more information at mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/forest-care.

At the Dent County Commission meeting Monday morning, Beverly Irons with the 42nd Judicial Circuit Court was in attendance to see what progress the commission had made on installing a chairlift to the courthouse on the second floor. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said they have talked with Custom Home Elevators of St. Louis, and they indicated the cost would be about $6,800 per flight, but they were not sure that it would adhere to the City of Salem building codes. Larson said they are waiting for City Building Inspector Jared Brown to check out the staircase to make sure the chairlift would comply. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2480, while only grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4080 and 5610. He said other crew members were assisting District 2 by hauling rock to the Conservation Department roads. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be adding rock and grading Dent County Road 2540 which is a Conservation Department Road, as well as grading county roads 3185 and 3190. Williams also said a crew would be checking out a concern on Dent County Road 3260. Commissioner Larson said he is scheduled to attend a Solid Waste Advisory Board meeting Wednesday in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the unexcused and excused absentee voting for the Municipal Election is now available at the courthouse. Her office will be open Saturday morning from 8:00 until 12:00 noon, and the last day to vote absentee will be Monday, April 7th until 5:00 PM. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said the SB190 “Homestead Credit” application is now available in her office where you can pick one up and take it home. She said you can also find the application on Dent County Portal where you can print off the application from home. All applications will NOT have to be signed by a notary, but they will need to be signed in front of and witnessed by a county official be it the collector, county clerk, commissioner, etc. VanKirk said there is a question-and-answer section on the portal and she said she would include it with every application picked up. The application will need to be submitted by June 30th. Brian Boyce and Jeff Banderet from Great Rivers Engineering were in attendance. Boyce told the commission that if they need to get drivers CDL trained, the county can do it themselves at a cost of $200 per person rather than send someone to a commercial CDL training facility which could cost the individual or county from $3,000 to $5,000 dollars. The commission said they are in good shape now as they have had little turnover but will definitely take advantage of that training when they need a new operator or driver without a CDL. Banderet talked about the TAP grant for the new sidewalks around the courthouse and said the plan was to use the existing light poles, but the city said the poles are eroding and cannot be reused. Banderet said the county should try to use the same type of light pole the city is using with their downtown project. He will check to see how many poles would be needed but believes it should only take four. The commission said they would get with the city on this as the light poles are actually the city’s and see if they can work something out with them on cost. The commission will also find out if the city plans on burying the new electric service to the courthouse or plans on keeping them elevated and sending them to a wood pole as that may interfere with the proposed TAP sidewalk and retaining wall. Commissioner Larson did ask that the one diagonal sidewalk on the south side to the front door be added back into the TAP plan and Banderet said that could be done. 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 Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees met Thursday evening, March 20th at 5:00. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report for the month of February. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated there were no cases of COVID-19 reported, while there were 46 active lead cases, 147 Influenza A cases exceeding January’s number of 84, which both of which are the highest numbers since December of 2022, one animal bite report, and there were 8 screenings for sexually transmitted infections, resulting in 10 total tests. The February environmental report by Assistant Administrator Roma Jones showed there where 5 total inspections conducted, no recalls, no sewer complaints, and no environmental questions were fielded. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there was one car seat distributed, no CPR Courses, no consultations for Childcare Health, one Show-Me Healthy Women appointments, no Title X appointments were reported, there was one Presumptive Eligibility (Temporary Medicaid), and 334 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 358 total appointments other than WIC, 155 total provider appointments, 90 treatment court visits, 165 lab appointments and 33 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner Service Details showed was one Show-Me Healthy Women appointment, 5 family plannings, 1 well-child visit, 16 online appointments, 3 other well-woman exams, 2 other physicals, no SEMO physicals, 16 other visits, and 66 acute illness appointments. Physician Service Details showed no well-visits, no online appointments, one other physical, no SEMO Physicals, 14 other visits, and 42 acute illness visits. Laboratory details showed 138 individual patients, 34 appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, pregnancy tests were not reported, and there were 16 lead tests reported. Phlebotomy Appointments totaled 115, while all Lab Appointments totaled 165. Immunizations for February totaled 6 for COVID-19, 7 for Influenza, and 69 other vaccines given for a total of 82 total doses given during 33 total appointments. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that the Health Center would conduct a Health Fair May 2nd, plus he reported on the Community Health Assessment meeting with community leaders held March 12th. He shared the report from Jessica Ricks, MPH, Population Health Director, on the CHA visioning meeting. The draft survey questions were shared and a timeline for the rest of the project was laid out. Moser updated the Board on the audit which was moving into the “Single Audit” portion. The lease agreement with the Dent County Soil and Water Conservation District was shared, followed by the consideration of proposals from Family Trash Service and GFL for waste collection. DCHC financials for February were reviewed, discussed, and approved. Zach shared the draft of the DCHC Annual Report and the Mutual Aid Resolution 2025-01, which was adopted by the Board. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, April 17th, 2025, at 5:00.

The City of Salem Utility Committee convened for a special meeting last Wednesday evening at 6:15  in the Old City Hall Auditorium, to review proposed amendments to the utility policy. The recommended changes encompassed several key updates, including: clarifying office closure protocols to explicitly define closures approved by the Mayor and Board President, revising deposit information to align with the current details on the City of Salem’s website, and addressing minor grammatical inconsistencies. These proposed modifications are intended to enhance the clarity and precision of the Utility Policies.

An accident occurred in Dent County Thursday morning at 7:33 on Highway 72 in front of Salem Memorial Hospital. According to the Highway Patrol report a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, driven by a 26-year-old female from Cuba, Missouri, turned into the path of a 2023 Nissan Rogue, operated by a 64-year-old man from Poplar Bluff. The driver of the Chevrolet suffered minor injuries and was transported by Salem Police to Salem Memorial Hospital. A passenger in the Nissan, a 54-year-old Poplar Bluff female, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Salem Ambulance to SMH. The report stated that all occupants of the two vehicles were wearing safety restraints. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Salem Police Department and the Dent County Sheriff’s Office.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said grading will be done on Dent County Roads 4080, 5650 and 6305, and other workers will be assisting District 2 crews by bringing them rock for work on Missouri Department of Conservation roads. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said rock will be added and grading will be done on Dent County Road 2500, while only grading will be done on county roads 3180, 3200 and 4380. Williams said a blade would be changed out on Grader #40. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson stated he attended the Meramec Regional Community Foundation meeting Tuesday where the board heard about two grants being awarded by the MRCF, plus they were updated on the damages in Phelps County from the tornadoes. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported the excused and non-excused absentee voting for the Municipal Election continues through April 7th. Curley said her office will be open for absentee voting on Saturday, April 5th from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon. She also wanted to remind the public the testing of the voting equipment will be held Tuesday, April 1st at 9:00. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk was in to let the commission know the paper applications for the Homestead Tax Credit would be ready by and available in her office Tuesday, April 1st. There are still some tweaks being done to file the application online and she would update the commission Monday on that progress. VanKirk wanted to remind the public that only those who are 62-years of age and older as of January 1st can apply for the Homestead Tax Credit. The applications are free and if you have any questions, please contact Collector Shannon VanKirk at 573-729-3911. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

A resurfacing project is scheduled to begin this week in Phelps and Dent counties. A contract was awarded to Willard Asphalt Paving Inc. to resurface on Route H from U.S. Route 63 in Phelps County to Missouri Route 72 in Dent County. During this ongoing construction, the routes will be narrowed to a single lane with flaggers and a pilot car to direct traffic through the work zone. All work is projected to be complete by the end of May 2025. A total of 30.5 miles will be resurfaced. MoDOT is asking all motorists to work with them by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones. Motorists are advised to use extra caution through work zones, obey all traffic signs, and avoid any distractions. For traffic updates or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit our Traveler Information Map. Information is also available 24/7 via social media.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen convened for their regular meeting on Tuesday at 6:00 PM in the Old City Hall Auditorium, located at 202 N. Washington Street. Following the call to order, the Board approved the meeting agenda after removing the airport gate bid approval item. Tim Dotson, representing the Sonlight Riders Local Chapter, presented a request to close 4th Street between Highway 19th and Iron Street for their annual bike show. The Board approved the street closure request; the event is scheduled for August 23rd from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Board also approved Resolution No. 10-2025, authorizing a bid for playground tile repair from All Inclusive Rec, LLC. The total project cost is $305,488.22, to be paid from the prior year’s fund balance, which currently stands at $591,143.00. At this time, the potential for FEMA reimbursement remains uncertain. Public Works Director Steve Paine presented Resolution No. 11-2025 for the procurement of Wastewater Treatment Plant Aerator Power Panels from Aesthetik Electric, at a total cost of $53,655.00. The panels are essential for maintaining appropriate oxygen levels in the overflow catch basin. The City of Salem intends to pursue FEMA reimbursement for this expenditure. Additionally, he also presented a bid addressing the procurement of aircraft fuel for the Salem Municipal Airport. The City received a sole bid from Naegler Oil of Springfield for 2,900 gallons of fuel at $3.99 per gallon, resulting in a total cost of $11,583.47. The Board subsequently approved the resolution and accompanying request. Resolution No. 9-2025 authorizing the City of Salem to enter into a service agreement with Hometown Grid, through the Missouri Electric Commission for software and outage reporting services was approved. The agreement involves an initial investment of approximately $10,000 for the first year, with additional costs of $7,008 projected over the subsequent four years. The City will draw the upfront costs from prior years’ reserves. Future expenses will be strategically incorporated into the city’s budget and rate calculations. The Board unanimously passed Ordinance Bill Numbers 3649, 3650, and 3651, which will amend the Clean Air Sections within the City of Salem’s Code of Ordinances, and Bill Number 3652, which authorizes a time extension change order for the ongoing Salem Sidewalk Improvements Project with Donald Maggi, Inc. After the reports of city officials, the meeting adjourned to executive session to discuss personnel. 

Healthy Dent County would like to invite everyone out to the fun community event, the “Non-Newlywed Game.” You won’t want to miss this event. It is couple vs. couple in this hilarious version of the classic game show where you will discover just how much our couples know (or don’t know) about their spouse! This fundraising event will be held on Friday evening, April 4th at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory beginning at 6:30. Four local married couples have been selected to play the game including Austin and Julia Wulff; Cameron and April Greener; Zach and Mary Moser, and Dylan and Kala Sisco. These couples have graciously volunteered their time to play this fun game and entertain the audience. VIP sponsored tables can be reserved with a $300 donation. The VIP Tables include reserved seating, and light refreshments. A limited number of individual tickets will be sold for $25 per ticket. The individual tickets will not have reserved seating. Last year this event sold out with tickets not being available at the door. A concession stand and cash bar will be open during the evening. Get your tickets now by calling 573-729-8163 or dropping by the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Healthy Dent County is a local non-profit that is dedicated to providing opportunities to improve health and quality of life by partnering with our community.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has lifted the suspension of poultry and waterfowl auctions, shows and swap meets in Missouri effective March 24, 2025. The Department suspended waterfowl activity in January in counties impacted by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to help prevent the spread of the virus. HPAI is known to be deadly for domesticated poultry. Missouri State Veterinarian Steve Strubberg Avian Influenza continues to be a risk, especially with spring wild bird migration across the Midwest. He strongly encourage producers to continue a high level of biosecurity protocols to help protect their flock. Specifically, keep your birds from commingling with wild waterfowl. Missouri saw a significant increase in confirmed avian influenza cases over the winter, especially in southwest Missouri. Since the outbreak began in 2022, there have been 60 confirmed cases in Missouri flocks. Poultry producers should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or an unusual increase in death loss to their local veterinarian or the state veterinarian’s office at (573) 751-3377. For more information about avian influenza in Missouri, visit Agriculture.Mo.Gov/avian-influenza.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library. After approving the meeting agenda and minutes, CEO Brooke Bollman provided her report, in which she highlighted the hospital’s financial progress. She  noted that this was the first time since 2019 that they were ahead financially, and would now be focusing their efforts on improving patient connections, as well as education and training for clinical staff. There will also be more focus placed on recruitment and retention by introducing referral bonuses for hard to recruit positions like nursing and radiology, employee service discounts, and retirement match programs. Financial performance for the month of February showed gross patient revenue at $5.2 million, with total operating revenue at $2.3 million. Management is addressing some accounting and accrual issues and expects to have these corrected by the end of March. The 340B revenue program generated $64,548 in profit for the month. The hospital is actively developing its emergency preparedness capabilities and working on becoming a training entity for emergency medical services, with plans to potentially start on an EMT-B program in June or July. They are also exploring county-wide emergency preparedness drills and expanding their emergency response capabilities. Additionally, they are working on a patient experience project to streamline registration processes and improve overall customer service. Quality and patient satisfaction are key focus areas. The hospital received a five-star rating on Medicare.gov for its long-term care facility, being the only five-star rated facility within 25 miles. They are tracking patient surveys and plan to highlight positive feedback through social media and internal communications. Before adjourning to executive session, the Board voted to move the April meeting from the 29th to the 22nd at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library.

The sheriff’s office released these reports for March, on Tuesday March 11th deputies arrested a 30-year-old Salem man on an outstanding warrant. Subject was transported to the Dent County Jail. The next day Wednesday March 12th deputies conducted a traffic stop on S. Henderson St. During the course of the stop, the operator was found to have a suspended driving privilege. A 25-year-old Salem man was cited for the offense. Later the same day deputies assisted the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office with the execution of a search warrant in the 45000 block of Highway 72 in Dent County. A 66-year-old Salem man was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold pending formal charges. Then on Friday March 14th deputies assisted in the investigation of reckless burning on County Road 4090. A fire had spread and caused damage to multiple dwellings & property. The investigation is ongoing. The following week on March 17th deputies conducted a traffic stop on County Road 2530. During the course of the stop, the operator was found to have a suspended driving privilege and outstanding arrest warrants. A 23-year-old Licking man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. Then on Wednesday March 19th deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 4400 block of N. Highway 19. During the course of the stop, the operator was found to have a revoked driving privilege. A 30-year-old Salem man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. If you have any information on an ongoing investigation, call the Dent County Sherriff’s office at 573-729-3241.

The following cases were heard March 18th by Judge Michael Randazzo. Beverly Woods was previously granted probation, over the state’s objection, in June of 2022 for felony possession of methamphetamine as a prior felony offender. A probation revocation hearing was held on January 22nd, 2025, where Prosecutor Curley sought to revoke the defendant’s probation for failing to abide by multiple terms of probation. Judge Randazzo delayed sentencing, over the objection of the state, and passed the matter to March 18th for the defendant to complete in-patient treatment. Defendant did not complete the treatment program and was sentenced to serve 7 years in department of corrections, as recommended by Prosecutor Curley. Daniel Manes was previously placed on probation, over the state’s objection, in May of 2024, for felony resisting arrest and 2 counts of felony possession of methamphetamine as a persistent felony offender. A probation revocation hearing was held for defendant using controlled substances and committing a new felony offense of forgery. At the conclusion of the hearing, the defendant’s probation was revoked, and he was sentenced to a total of 10 years in the department of corrections, as recommended by Prosecutor Curley. Sara Cunningham was previously placed on probation, over the state’s objection, in April of 2024, to multiple counts of felony tampering, kidnapping, resisting arrest and property damage. On March 18th a probation violation hearing was conducted where the defendant acknowledge she had failed to repay victim restitution, report to her probation officer, failed to report a residency change and failed to complete her treatment program. Prosecutor Curley recommended to the Court to revoke defendant’s probation and sentence her to the department of corrections, as previously recommended in 2024. Counsel for defendant sought continued probation in another treatment program. Over the objection of the state, defendant’s probation was not revoked, and the sentencing was delayed for Defendant’s placement into a designated treatment program. Joshua Skaggs was previously placed on probation for felony driving without a valid operating license, as a persistent felony offender. A probation hearing was conducted where the defendant admitted to multiple violations of his probation. Prosecutor Curley sought a 5-year sentence in the department of corrections, to be served. Counsel for defendant requested continued probation. Judge Randazzo order the defendant to serve a 7-year sentence pursuant to RSMo 559.115 (120-day shock incarceration program) and scheduled the case for review on June 25th, 2025, for consideration of release from the 120-day program.

Route 72 in Dent and Reynolds counties will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews wash bridges along the route. This section of roadway is located from Route A in Dent County to Route 32 in Reynolds County. Route 32 in Dent and Iron counties will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews wash bridges along the route. This section of roadway is located from Route 72 in Dent County to Route KK in Iron County. Weather permitting, work will take place through Thursday, March 27 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/southeast.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said grading will occur on Dent County Roads 4150, 4155, 6245 and 6500, while rock will be added to the roads where needed. He did say brush would be cut on county road 6240. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said a crew would be installing a driveway pipe on county road 2245 and rock would also be added to that road. Williams indicated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2370, 2700, 3120, 4350 and 4353; while rock will also be added to county road 6500. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said Ameren Missouri will be holding public hearings in April to increase the price of natural gas rates. All the public hearings will be at 6:00 and they will be in Cape Girardeau on April 14th, Wentzville on April 16th, and in Jefferson City on April 21st. A virtual public hearing will also be held on April 24th at noon or at 6:00. For all the details, go to the Missouri Public Service Commission website and in the search bar, look for Public Hearings.  Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the no excuse absentee voting for the Municipal Election begins today and the last day to have an absentee ballot mailed out will be Wednesday. Her office will be open for absentee voting on Saturday, April 5th from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon. Curley also said the voting equipment public test will be April 1st at 9:00 in the morning. Curley also said the Secretary of State’s office will be sending out RFQ for a new centralized Missouri voter registration computer system and she was asked and accepted being one of the ten county clerks on the committee. At the last meeting, the Commission agreed 3-0 and signed the Order & Ordinance of the Dent County Commission 3/20/25 adopting the procedures to carry out the purposes and intent of the referendum held on November 5, 2024, in the General Election authorizing a property tax credit pursuant to Senate Bill 190 and 756, known as a “homestead credit.” The Commission also agreed 3-0 to sign Resolution 3/20/25 in support of state funding to assist the SB40 board with the rebuilding of the sheltered workshop in Salem. Jay Stabler with Custom Home Elevators of St Louis came in to visit. He talked about a stair lift, but the Commission will have to get with the Fire Chief to see if that is going to work and not a fire hazard. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting will be open to the public.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will meet this evening at 7:00 in the Hospital Library. The call to order and roll call will be followed by the approval of the agenda. Public comments and presentation will be heard, and speakers must sign in and are limited to 3-minute time limit. The minutes of the February 25th meeting will be approved followed by the CEO Report. The Hospital Report including the summary of operation, which will include the approval of the monthly financial, the Chief Nursing Report, the Human Services Report, and the Quality Improvement/Risk Management Report. The Chief of Staff Report will be followed by Old and New Business. The Board will go into Executive Session for discussion with legal counsel and personnel, followed by adjournment. Any person who would like to attend by telephone or electronic means should contact SMH Administration Office at 573-729-6626, extension 4005, to obtain access information. The regular session of the SMH Board of Directors this evening is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 School district held their regular meeting Thursday evening at 5:30 in the administration building. After approving the agenda and consent agenda, Superintendent Dr. Nathan Wills shared communication from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Tammy Schmidt family, the Sue Tucker family and the Licking VFW. Dr. Wills delivered a comprehensive Superintendent’s Report covering numerous topics, including updates on FEMA building construction, the upcoming teacher and staff dress code, and the successful school bus inspection results from March 20th, 2025. He expressed gratitude to the Licking VFW for their generous $1,000 donation to the Salem High School Robotics team and acknowledged the contributions of the Agriculture Department and building staff. Dr. Wills also reported on current teacher openings and the closeout of the Construction Trades Block Development Grant, while announcing Dr. Blau’s appointment as the district’s representative for eighth-grade transition. During new business, the Board unanimously approved the 2025-2026 OPAA contract agreement, an out-of-state trip for Construction Trades/Skills USA, revised gate prices for non-conference activities, and the engagement of Mickes/DeBeer Litigation Group for legal services. The board also held a discussion regarding a Fireworks Display location request. Additionally, the board acknowledged personnel changes including the transfer of Amy Major to an Interventionist position and the retirements of Kim Cooper and Stacey Hall, as well as the resignation of Brianna Corkell. After concluding the public portion of the meeting, the Board moved into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters, before adjourning.

According to court records, 44-year-old Brian Ditch of Salem has been charged with the stealing of $25,000 or more, three counts of the unlawful possession of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence, and abandonment of a corpse. According to the Salem Police Department report from March 21st around 8:00 in the morning, Salem Police officers and Dent County Sheriff’s Department deputies conducted a search warrant in the 1200 block of North Main Street in Salem. Police say the search warrant was an extension of an investigation into a missing persons and fraud case. Authorities found a body at the property, and the Dent County Coroner Ben Pursifull ruled the person deceased. The body was wrapped in several trash bags and placed in a trash can which was then wrapped in more trash bags and placed inside a bigger trash can. An autopsy for the cause of death is underway. Another man is in custody on a 24-hour hold pending the application of the warrants. According to court documents, Ditch apparently was stealing from his uncle, who was a quadriplegic and who not been seen by other relatives since 2019. The court documents also reveal that the uncle was receiving Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits that came to $554,853 over the years. Those funds were being wire transferred to Ditch’s account as he had access to the money as the caretaker.

The Dent County Fire Protection District will host a town hall meeting tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Representatives from Dent County Fire Protection District board, along representatives with the bonding company LJ Hart as well as the Dent County Collector’s Office will be present to answer any and all questions about Proposition Fire. The town hall meeting is open to anyone who wants more information on the proposition.

Last Wednesday afternoon and evening, dry conditions and high winds sparked several wildfires in the southern part of the state on private land, conservation areas, and National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service lands. Even though most of the fires were contained by Thursday morning, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) urges caution as higher-than-normal fire-danger conditions exist across most of southern Missouri. Specially trained MDC firefighting teams from the region worked with the U.S. Forest Service and local fire departments to contain and suppress the wildfires. MDC is also mobilizing staff and equipment from other regions around the state to relieve staff that have been actively fighting fire for several days, including ones burning in and around the Caney Mountain Conservation Area in Ozark County and part of the Current River Conservation Area in Reynolds County.

Christopher Olds, Salem District Ranger for the Mark Twain National Forest, will be the featured speaker at the Dent County Historical Society Speaker’s Series tomorrow at 6:00 in the afternoon. The event will be held at the James and Gahr Family Center in Salem. A community question-and-answer session with Ranger Olds will begin at 5:00, providing an opportunity to meet Olds and interact with members of the Dent County Historical Society Board. Olds, who joined the Salem Ranger District in 2023, brings extensive experience in fisheries and wildlife management. Olds manages areas of the Mark Twain National Forest intersected by the Trail of Tears and actively works with the Cherokee Nation to preserve and educate the public about this historic route. For additional details, contact Dent County Historical Society’s President Deloris Gray Wood at 573-729-2545.