Local News

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave the report on the CART taxes received by the county. She said the county received $74,778.75 this month and that is up $3,990.86 from march of 2024, and year-to-date, the CART taxes are up $21,468.74 which is an increase of 9.5%. Williams also said she was accepted to serve on the Missouri Association of Counties Trust Board which oversees workman’s comp. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said rock will be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 6495 and 6505, while only grading will be done on county roads 6240, 6245 and 6370. Green said brush will be cut on county road 6500 and the county Mantis brush cutter will be taken to get welded. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said rock will be added and grading will be done on Dent County Road 3180 and on the hill of county road 4060. Williams said rock will also be added to county roads 2245 and 2250 where new driveway pipes are being installed. He went on to say brush would be cut on county roads 4270 and 4280, patching will be done on chip and seal county road 3260, and maintenance will be done on some of the equipment. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson stated he attended the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board meeting Tuesday where new members had to be appointed. He said it appears he will again be the president of the board as he was the only one nominated for the position, but the vote has not yet been taken. He did say that an electronics waste recycling collection and tire disposal would be held at Brewer Science in Rolla on June 14th. He also said he attended the Tourism Tax Committee meeting where five reimbursements were requested and approved. Larson said he has the new pulley for the flagpole, but with the heavy winds expected to continue, the county will not be putting up flags until the part is replaced. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley indicated the excused absentee voting for the Municipal Election continues through April 7th, and non-excused absentee voting will begin on Tuesday, March 25th. The last day to have a ballot mailed out will be Wednesday, March 26th, and her office will be open for absentee voting on Saturday, April 5th from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon. She also said the voters at Oak Hill R-1 will still cast their vote at the school gymnasium on April 8th for the Dent County Fire Protection District Bond Issue. With no school board election, she said there are 242 possible voters registered that will vote at R-1. Curley stated she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of February. She went on to say that the Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has reported the local election authorities have removed 18,637 deceased persons from the voter rolls in the first 60 days of his term. Curley said a canvassing will be held in the summer to update the rolls from those who have moved, changed their name, or who have not voted in the last two federal elections. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said the issue with an altered check with Marsha Geninatti that was brought to the attention of the county commission Monday, was resolved after Geninatti met with VanKirk and the issue was investigated. It was asked if the applications for the Homestead Tax Credit would be ready by April 1st and VanKirk said they would be available in her office by Tuesday, April 1st. 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 Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Salem R-80 Superintendent Nathan Wills reported on an incident that occurred at William Lynch Elementary Wednesday morning at 9:45. Staff detected a suspicious smoke smell and as a precautionary measure, and the fire department was contacted immediately. Firefighters responded promptly, assessed the situation, and determined that there was no active fire or danger to students and staff. There was a blower unit within the ceiling that went out. The building was thoroughly checked, and normal school activities resumed once it was deemed safe. The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority, and we appreciate the quick response from our fire department. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Salem R-80 Central office at 573-729-6642.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting today at 5:30 in the R-80 Board Room. After the Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance the Board will approve the agenda and the consent agenda. The Board will hear thank you from the Sue Tucker Family and DESE regarding emergency relocation of the Ozark Hills State School, followed by recognition of William Lynch Elementary students.  In the Superintendent’s Report CSIP Goals will be addressed, there will be an update on the FEMA building, teacher dress code will be addressed, and Senior Citizens passes are to be considered. Also, the Licking VFW will be thanked for their $1,000 donation to the Salem HS robotics team, the Construction Trades Block Development Grant is to be closed out, and Dr. Blau is to represent Salem R80 to Dent County 8th graders and their families for orientation. Administration reports will be heard from William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Athletics and Activities, Special Education, Technology, and Maintenance. In new business the board will approve the Opaa contract, approve an out of state trip for 2 Construction Trades students to Skills USA, approve gate prices for non-conference 2025-2026 activities, approve Mickes/DeBeer Litigation Group as attorneys, and discuss Fireworks display location. The Board will address hires and transfers before adjourning and moving into Executive Session to hear personnel issues.

Missouri Department of Conservation staff, partner federal agencies, and partnering fire departments fought more than 224 wildfires covering more than 15,500 Missouri acres between March 10th through the 16th. Dry conditions and high winds sparked hundreds of wildfires around Missouri last week, primarily on March 13th and 14th before severe thunderstorms and tornados swept into the state and quenched many of the blazes. While more than 20 homes and numerous vehicles and outbuildings were lost to the flames, there were no reported injuries or deaths. More than 90 specially trained Department of Conservation staff responded to 83 of the wildfires around the state, covering nearly 9,000 acres. According to the department, the Camdenton area in central Missouri had 42 fires with a total of 6,086 acres burned, including 761 acres on Granny’s Acres Conservation Area in Benton County. More than 30 MDC staff responded. Department of Conservation staff fought 19 fires in the Ozark region of the state covering nearly 1,500 acres, including nearly 300 acres of conservation lands. They reported that extreme weather conditions had one of its teams fighting a fire one minute and then taking shelter in a Dent County homeowner’s basement for a tornado warning the next. Department staff in the St. Louis region assisted with six separate fires covering nearly 300 acres, including in Davisville, on Highway 47 near Potosi, on 178 acres at River ‘Round Conservation Area in Franklin County, and on nearly 80 acres on the Glassberg Family Conservation Area in Jefferson County. Staff also assisted local fire departments in containing a 12-acre fire on private land in Reynolds County north of Current River Conservation Area. While these fires have been contained and extinguished, the National Weather Service still has Red Flag Warnings for parts of Missouri. A red flag warning is issued to inform the public, firefighters, and land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildfire ignition and rapid spread. Some wildfires are set by vandals. Help stop arson by calling Operation Forest Arson at 800-392-1111. Callers will remain anonymous and rewards are possible. 

Campground and access point repairs are continuing at Ozark National Scenic Riverways following a record-setting flood in November 2024. Tentative plans for summer operations have been set. Some areas may look different than in the past, with altered landscapes and amenities. Areas that were heavily damaged may remain closed in 2025. Starting with developed campgrounds and group sites, major repairs are still needed at Akers, Round Spring and Pulltite. Akers and Round Spring are expected to reopen their group sites by Memorial Day, while Pulltite is expected to partially reopen around the same time. Updates on reservations for these locations will be posted on Recreation.gov, Facebook and the park website. During the flood, Pulltite sustained the most damage of any park location. The front half of the campground was scoured by floodwaters, and multiple amenities were destroyed or made inoperable. However, the two restroom buildings farther back are in good condition. As a result, a partial reopening is planned by Memorial Day weekend. As expected, the number of sites at Pulltite will be temporarily reduced. All three group sites are expected to reopen, but only about 35 family sites will reopen. Approximately 20 sites will likely remain closed pending major repairs to the landscape, roadways and restroom/shower house. Restrooms will be available at Group Site 1, Group Site 3 and the amphitheater. Showers will be available at the Group Site 1 restroom building. Reservations for all available campsites should be made on Recreation.gov. Pulltite landing is a high priority for the maintenance division as they work to ensure smooth operation for the summer season. Pavement and parking repairs are key challenges. Visitors should be mindful of construction zones and closures during the work. Backcountry campgrounds are expected to open in time for the summer season unless unforeseen delays or additional flooding occur. Sinking Creek, Cedar Grove, Jerktail and Broadfoot all require further work. The park will post updates as these campgrounds open. The exception is the Dee Murray Campground and it will remain closed due to heavy flood damage, but the day-use area is expected to open alongside other backcountry sites. The reopening of some campgrounds may occur earlier or later than Memorial Day. We appreciate your patience as crews complete repairs. For questions and updates, call (573) 323-4236. To reserve developed campsites, go to Recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777. For more information on developed, backcountry or primitive camping options, visit the park’s camping page at go.nps.gov/OZARcamping.

According to the Salem Police Department, the City of Salem will be testing the Storm Sirens this morning at 10:00.  If there is any inclement weather the test will be postponed to Wednesday, the 26th.

At the Dent County Commission meeting Monday morning, Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson as well as District 1 and 2 Commissioners, Keith Green and Jimmy Williams, wanted to thank all the first responders, Intercounty Electric and all the fire departments for their assistance in controlling and putting out the fire in northeastern Dent County. Marsha Geninatti was in attendance about an altered check from the Collector’s office and was told by the Missouri Attorney General’s office to take her concern to the commissioners. The commission told her she would need to talk with the collector directly about the issue as they have no control over the operations of her office except when it came time to prepare the budget. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Green said grading will occur on Dent County Road 6090, and crews will try to get to all the roads used during the rally over the weekend, but that may take a couple of days as crews will have to fix a tire on one of the graders before it can be used. Rock may also be added to the race routes where needed. Brush could be cut on county road 6300 if they can get the brush-cutter welded. District 2 Commissioner Williams said patch grading will be done on the hills on Dent County Roads 2330 and 3334, while grading will be done on county road 3180. Williams said rock will be added to county roads 2330, 3180, 4330 and 4340, and crews will also be checking the roads used during the road rally for any needed repairs. Commissioner Larson said he attended the South Central County Commissioner Association meeting in Houston Friday and reported there is very little movement on Senate Bill 57 concerning sales tax on groceries. He also attended the MRPC meeting Thursday and heard from Michael King from Vesper Energy for Vichy Solar. The project is designed to create long-term economic growth for Maries County. Over the life of the project, it is expected to bring in millions of dollars in tax revenue which directly benefits the community, local schools, and other organizations most in need. Larson attended the Ozark Solid Waste Management Board meeting Tuesday.  He also apologized for not having the flag out Friday as there is a ball bearing out on the pulley. He said that is being repaired and flag should be flying everyday, but it will be harder to raise and lower the flag. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the excused absentee voting for the Municipal Election continues through April 7th, and non-excused absentee voting will begin on March 25th. The last day to have ballot mailed out will be March 26th, and 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. At the last meeting, Dent County Health Department Director Zach Moser updated the commissioners with their monthly update. Also last Thursday, the commissioners visited the William Lynch Elementary School to look at their stair chairlift. Custom Home Elevators of St. Louis installed that one and after being called by Commissioner Larson, they will have representative here March 24th. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) returned to the Branson Convention Center in March for its 2025 Annual Conference after a 5-year hiatus following the country’s shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic. A record 900 Missourians made themselves at home in the convention center for most of the four-day event. This year’s participants included city council and district board members, managers, office professionals, water and wastewater specialists, spouses, vendors, and MRWA board and staff members. At the conference, numerous water system representatives from distant parts of the state brought water samples to compete for one of the top spots in the MRWA Show-Me-Tap-Water-Roundup. Preliminary judging at the conference narrowed the field to five finalists. Those samples selected as superior in the three judging categories of clarity, bouquet, and taste were from four municipalities and a subdivision. The top five were the City of Berger, the City of Koshkonong, the City of Salem, the City of Waverly and the Stonebridge West Subdivision. Water specialists from these systems will bring a quart of water to the MRWA Open House on April 23rd for final judging. The ultimate winner will receive an MRWA WaterDrop trophy and represent Missouri in the 2026 NRWA Great American Water Taste Test, competing against entries from all other states. The winner also receives from MRWA, flight and hotel accommodation for two system representatives to attend this event in Washington, D.C.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has temporarily closed the license office in Rolla, located at 1038 S. Bishop, due to storm damage sustained on March 15. A reopening date has not yet been determined. Customers needing motor vehicle and driver licensing services are encouraged to visit nearby offices, including here in Salem, local residents should be aware that this could increase wait times. While utility and internet services are being restored in Rolla, local residents unaffected can access online services for license plate renewals, check registration renewal requirements, or use the Department’s chatbot “DORA”, for assistance. Additionally, vehicle and watercraft registrations can be renewed by calling (573) 751-1957, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

The tornado that struck the Rolla community has been confirmed as an EF2. The storm caused significant damage, with over 750 structures affected within Rolla city limits. An additional 150+ structures are estimated to have been damaged outside Rolla within Phelps County. Utility teams are actively working across the 

area to restore services, and they have a goal of doing so within a week. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is saddened to report a weather-related fatality resulting from a generator being operated inside a residence. They urge everyone to prioritize safety by never operating generators indoors or near residences. The damage across the region is extensive, and the recovery journey will be challenging. Citizens are being asked to please remain patient as response teams work tirelessly and to continue to check on your neighbors. Volunteers are still needed to assist with cleanup efforts. If you can help, check in at the Big Lots on 1001 S Bishop in Rolla, from 9 to 5. Donated supplies can also be brought to the Big Lots parking lot. Anyone in need of cleanup assistance is encouraged to call 573-415-9878.

The City of Salem Utility Committee held their regular meeting last Tuesday evening at 6:15 in the auditorium. After approving the agenda and meeting minutes, the Committee voted on services from Hometown Grid, which includes flex pricing of $3,000 up front, $10,000 to be paid in the first year, and a total of $7,008 for the remaining four years, plus costs for tests and messages. The funds for the upfront costs for year one will be pulled from prior year reserves and the costs will be included in the budget and rate calculations for future years. The committee approved this proposal, with member Harold Hamilton abstaining. The committee then discussed the Phase 2B sewer plant improvements with an estimated cost of $5.6 million. The City was awarded about $2.75 million in grant funds, leaving approximately $2.1 million remaining to be financed. Regarding the sewer budget and rates for fiscal year 2026, the Committee voted to maintain the base rate at $12 but increase the volume rate to $11.04. These increases will leave a surplus of about $2,600 in the sewer fund. That will help to repay the bond for the sewer plant improvements. A public hearing for the rate increase will be announced at a later date. The committee received updates on billing, net metering, and the MPUA and MMMPEP meetings. During his report, Public Works Director Steve Paine stated they continue to work with FEMA and that 72 more hydrants should be serviced this year, with the remainder to be completed in the next fiscal year. The discussion about utility policy changes and updates have been tabled and a special meeting will be held on the evening of March 26th at 6:15, and will be open to the public. With no major questions or comments from those in attendance, the meeting adjourned.

The Salem Police Department has recently released their report for the month of February. The department responded to 18 accidents during the month. Officers responded to four alarms sounding and addressed 51 animal calls, investigated two assaults or fights, a burglary, performed 13 well-being checks and 15 area checks in February. Police investigated 11 domestic disputes, five verbal disturbances and one physical disturbance, conducted 24 follow-up investigations and provided 16 escorts. They investigated five harassment reports, a parking complaint calls, an intoxicated pedestrian one leaving without paying report, three trespassing calls and four property damage reports. The Salem Police wrote eight stealing reports, responded to nine traffic complaints and assisted two motorists. Officers responded to a report of a suicidal person, seven suspicious circumstance calls, five suspicious person calls, and three suspicious vehicle calls. The Salem Police in February investigated two reports of shots fired, two sex offense calls, and checked out an abandoned vehicle call. Officers attempted to serve four warrants and conducted 41 traffic stops during the month. The police responded to a total of 351 incidents in February with the average response time to calls being two minutes and three seconds. The average time spent on the scene was 32 minutes and 41 seconds. If you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation, contact the Salem Police Department by calling their non-emergency phone number at (573) 729-6550 or speak with them in person at 500 N. Jackson Street in Salem.

Reports from the Dent County Fire Protection District and Dent County Emergency Management from the wildfire Friday in northeastern Dent County around Dent County Roads 4090 and 4060 indicate that two homes were destroyed, four vehicles were burned, and two outbuildings were lost. There were no injuries or fatalities reported. It is thought the approximate size of this fire was around 750 acres. Numerous responders assisted with the fighting of the fire included members of the Dent County Fire Protection District, Lenox Rural Fire Department, Jadwin Volunteer Fire Department, Montauk Rural Fire Department, the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri Department of Conservation. Numerous citizens also volunteered their services to assist the firefighters, and according to Dent County Emergency Management Director Derrick Marfitt, they included David Gray for bringing in a skid steer to establish fire lines, Kasey Hayes and Cordell Hornbeck for bringing water and setting up a rehab area for the firefighters, Dent County Fire Protection District Board Member Jeffrey Stokes, Jr for bringing in supplies for rehab and moving trucks for the fire crews, Gary Lay for bringing out his tractor, a family of Mennonites who brought over rakes and blowers, not to mention a number of others who offered their assistance if needed. Also assisting were off duty deputies, Dispatch Supervisor Whitney Capps for providing support to the dispatchers on duty, and City of Salem Emergency Management Director Chris Shell who was monitoring the dangerous weather situation approaching the area. The fire spread quickly by the intense winds and dry conditions and was finally extinguished following the rains that came through Friday evening that was part of the intense storm system that spawned a tornado that went through and hit the City of Rolla, the St. James area and rural Phelps County. 

The team of Brandon Semenuk and Keaton Williams took 1st place at the 2025 100-acre Rally in the Woods in their Subaru WRX ARA25 with a time of 1:29:19, beating the team of Conner Martell and Alessandro Gelsomino in their 2015 Subaru WRX Sti who finished with a time of 1:31:04 falling short by about 1.9 seconds. Finishing in 3rd place was the team of Ryan Booth and Nick Dobbs in their 2024 Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2 as they finished with a time of 1:39:43. The ARA wants to thank everyone the Park Expose and those at the spectator points for attending, as well as all the volunteers and officials that worked had to make sure this was a successful event.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5380, 5580 and 6580, while repairs are still being made to the Mantis brush cutter. Green said grading would also be done on county road 6590. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be adding rock and removing a tree from county road 5305, and adding riprap rock around a bridge on county road 5300. Williams said brush would be cut on county roads 4280, while rock will be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3300 and 3310. Grading will also be done on county roads 2330, 2340 and 5225; while additional rock will be added to county roads 5300, 5305 and 2240. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended the MRPC board meeting Thursday night and will be attending the South Central County Commissioner meeting this morning in Houston. Larson recommended and the other commissioners agreed to appoint Ray Walden to the Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation as a representative of Dent County. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the first day to vote absentee with no excuse will be March 25th, and the last day to mail out a ballot for the Municipal Election will be March 26th. Excused absentee voting continues at the courthouse until April 7th. At the last meeting, the commission appointed Troy Bemis to the Tourism Tax Committee. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00.

This year’s 100-Acre in the Wood Rally will start off today in Washington County and continue tomorrow in Dent County only. There were 61 entries as of Tuesday morning that will compete this year in one of the most popular venues on the road rally tour. The City of Potosi will kick off the event Friday at 12:00 with their Parc Expose followed by two spectator points at Stage 3 around 2:25, and Stage 7 around 6:15. On Saturday, the Rally moves to Dent County where the Parc Expose on 4th Street in Salem around the courthouse square will start at 9:30 giving fans another opportunity to see their favorite teams up close before the Rally begins. Saturday also provides spectators several opportunities to see the cars on course at full speed starting at Stage 10 at 11:30 in the morning as well as afternoon locations starting at Stage 12 at 1:28 which this year has an admission charge, stage 13 A&B at 2:14, Stage 15 at 5:03, and Stage 17 A&B at 7:34. Maps on the locations of the spectator points are available at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce in the Crossroads Shopping Center or you can also access the maps on the American Rally Association website: www.americanrallyassociation.org/100aw. There is no charge for the maps. The 100AW organizers would like to remind all rally participants and spectators that Missouri’s “No Trespassing” Laws and “Purple Paint” Statute are still in effect during the rally and are asking everyone to watch for those signs and purple paint on trees, etc. Please respect all property owners by avoiding private property and if a landowner does not want you to spectate on their land, please move to a new location.

An accident happened in Reynolds County in Bunker on Highway 72 Wednesday evening at 5:10. According to the highway patrol report, a 2014 Dodge Ram driven eastbound by a 74-year-old man from Bunker, failed to yield to a 2005 Ford Escape driven eastbound by a 17-year-old girl from Bunker resulting in a collision. The 17-year-old woman was transported by the Iron County EMS to Salem Memorial District Hospital with moderate injuries. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Department, Reynolds County Fire Department, the Reynolds County First Responders and the Iron County EMS. Both vehicles sustained moderate damages and were removed from the scene by Rowdy’s Towing at the request of the vehicle owners. The girl was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident while the 74-year-old man was not.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 at 202 N. Washington in the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the call to order, the agenda was approved after removing Resolution 7-2025, an ordinance authorizing the execution of license agreement for the installation, maintenance and operation of a fiber optic cable from Sho-Me Technologies, LLC to the Salem Police Department for the Next Gen-911 system. During public comments, a citizen stated she submitted a bid to purchase the lot next to her home, and that was approved but has been waiting several months for the City Attorney to contact her. The request from Jay Beck from The Local was removed, and the board appointed former Alderwoman Kala Sisco to serve on the Parks and Recreation Board. The Board voted to approve Resolution #8-2025 supporting state funding for the rebuilding of the Scenic Rivers Industries Sheltered Workshop in Salem, with Alderman Shawn Bolerjack abstaining. Additionally, they approved Bill #3646, which amends Urban Development Code definitions to replace references to “city hall” with “city administration offices” as the city’s operations hub, Bill #3647 to correct a clerical error in commercial electric customer demand meter rates, and Bill #3648 to clarify responsibilities and define “owner” for water and sewer meters used to determine actual sewage usage. In the first reading of bills, the board discussed Bill #3649 which would approve amendments to the Clean Air (Non-Smoking) ordinances to allow appropriate smoking locations for employees, plus discussed Bill #3650 and Bill #3651 that also dealt with the other definitions in the Clean Air (Non-Smoking) ordinances specifically in city parks and other public places. During city officials’ reports, City Administrator Sally Burbridge announced a mapping workshop scheduled for April 28 at City Hall, which will be led by an MPUA representative. Burbridge also noted that due to the April 8 election, the Board of Aldermen meeting that week would be rescheduled to April 15. Mayor Greg Parker recognized DNR members for their assistance at Montauk following the floods and their ongoing community support efforts. Public Works Director Steve Paine provided a brief utility crews update, while Water Department Superintendent Chris McGuirt reported on the Missouri Rural Water Conference in Branson, where the City of Salem’s tap water was recognized as one of five state finalists for best drinking water. The meeting then went into closed session to discuss contracts and litigation.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. Roll call was taken followed by the approval of the consent agenda and minutes of the April meeting. The financial report was reviewed and showed an ending balance of $383,614.53. Bills, payments, and statements were reviewed and approved, followed by the budget review and approval. The monthly reimbursement report was presented showing a total of 16 calls for the month and 56 calls year-to-date. Eight of the calls were for various fires, while other calls included medical assist and accidents. In old business the bond progress report was given by Leigh Ann Price. Information has been distributed to TownScreen and Salem Publishing, KSMO will be doing on-air interviews. Plans are to have a town hall meeting with the public on March 24th.  In new business board of directors’ terms were discussed. Captain Earl Jarvis asked to acquire some of the fire equipment that was budgeted. In the chief’s report brush fire trucks pumps are causing problems by working sometimes and not working sometimes. A pump from Leonx has been borrowed till something can be replaced. The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. Roll call was taken followed by the approval of the consent agenda and minutes of the April meeting. The financial report was reviewed and showed an ending balance of $383,614.53. Bills, payments, and statements were reviewed and approved, followed by the budget review and approval. The monthly reimbursement report was presented showing a total of 16 calls for the month and 56 calls year-to-date. Eight of the calls were for various fires, while other calls included medical assist and accidents. In old business the bond progress report was given by Leigh Ann Price. Information has been distributed to TownScreen and Salem Publishing, KSMO will be doing on-air interviews. Plans are to have a town hall meeting with the public on March 24th.  In new business board of directors’ terms were discussed. Captain Earl Jarvis asked to acquire some of the fire equipment that was budgeted. In the chief’s report brush fire trucks pumps are causing problems by working sometimes and not working sometimes. A pump from Leonx has been borrowed till something can be replaced. The date for the next meeting was set for April 8th at 6:00 in the library basement. Motion was carried to go into closed session where no motions or decisions were made.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters, trappers, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts they can get free copies of its updated booklets on 2025 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information and Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations at MDC regional offices, MDC nature centers, and other places where permits are sold. MDC’s 2025 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations booklet will be available at vendors and MDC offices beginning in April. View booklet information online at mdc.mo.gov using the search tool on the homepage. The handy booklets have information on related permits, seasons, species, regulations, limits, conservation areas, and more. Learn more about hunting and trapping in Missouri at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping and more about fishing at mdc.mo.gov/fishing.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse and Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received in March. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $90,216.64 in March which is $175.53 more than March of 2024. Those funds year-to-date are both down $470.34 from 2024 last year. The Road and Bridge Fund received $44,976.84 in March and that is up $6,328.61 over March of 2024; and year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $6,996.96. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $90,367.52 this March and that is up $12,778.98 over March of 2024. Year-to-date, the jail funds are both up $14,115.54. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5015 and 5520, while brush will be cut on county road 5400 after repairs are made to the Mantis brush cutter. Green said grading would also be done on county roads 6630 and 6633. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be installing a driveway crossover pipe on Dent County Road 5240 and materials will be added to the road. Williams said brush would be cut on county roads 4280 and grading was going to be done on county roads 2330, 2380 and 4060. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the county issued a burn ban Friday after conferring with the Dent County Fire Protection District due to the high winds, but they have canceled that ban as of Monday morning. Larson went on to say the commissioners met with FEMA Tuesday, at the Dent County Fire House and on Friday, there will be a South Central County Commissioners meeting in Houston. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said excused absentee voting continues through April 7th and the last day to register for the Municipal Election will be today. She also said that House Bill 352 passed that modified the annual financial statement publishing requirements for counties to a summary form that will save money for counties. The financial statements will have to be published in the paper by June 30th. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk talked with the commission about creating an application soon for those who want to apply for the senior citizen real estate tax credits through Senate Bill 190 which is the Homestead Credit Bill. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Salem R-80 High School Senior Matthew Parks has been selected for “Honorable Mention” in the prestigious 2025 Missouri Scholars 100 program. This statewide initiative recognizes outstanding academic achievement, honoring Missouri’s top 100 graduating students. The announcement was made by Salem High School Principal Jody Heavin, recognizing the student’s exceptional commitment to academic excellence. Sponsored by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals, the Missouri Scholars 100 Program invites nominations from schools statewide. Selection is determined by a comprehensive formula incorporating the student’s grade point average, ACT or SAT scores, and participation in an “Academic Decathlon” encompassing ten events that assess the student’s academic prowess. To qualify, students must meet stringent criteria, including a minimum GPA of 3.750, a minimum ACT score of 29 (or a minimum SAT score of 1,280), ranking in the upper ten percent of their class, and enrollment in high-level courses in mathematics, science, English, and foreign language. Exemplary attendance, outstanding citizenship, and active participation in school activities are also essential. Executive Director of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals, Clark Mershon, states that the Missouri Scholars 100 Program stands as one of the premier academic recognition programs in the country, celebrating the dedication and success of students who have upheld the highest academic standards. This year marks the 31st Annual Missouri Scholars 100 recognition program, a testament to over three decades of honoring academic excellence. 

An accident happened in Phelps County at 4:18 Tuesday morning on Highway 8 about four miles south of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Dodge Durango driven eastbound by a 21-year-old man from Cook Station, traveled off the right side of the road and struck a mailbox. The driver then overcorrected causing the Dodge to travel off the left side of the road where it struck a tree and overturned. The driver from Cook Station suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the St. James EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Dodge was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. The man was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

An accident occurred in Dent County Saturday afternoon at 4:10 on Private Property off of County Road 5310. According to the Highway Patrol report a southbound 2024 Polaris Ranger 1000, operated by a 56-year-old Rolla man, overturned ejecting all 4 occupants. The 56-year-old driver suffered serious injuries and was transported by Air Evac to Cox South in Springfield. A 39-year-old Lebanon man suffered moderate injuries and was transported by personal vehicle to Phelps Health in Rolla. Two other occupants, a 7-year-old male juvenile from Lebanon and a 31-year-old Dixon female, suffered minor injuries and were also transported by personal vehicle to Phelps Health. The report stated that none of the occupants of the Polaris were wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. The Ranger sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has submitted the following reports for the last week of February. On Sunday February 23rd, Deputies conducted a traffic stop at Highway 68 and Highway U. During the course of the stop, three suspects were taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance. All suspects were transported to the Dent County Jail, pending issuance of formal charges. Then on Monday the 24th Deputies arrested a 56-year-old Salem man on an active Parole & Probation warrant. The suspect was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated on the warrant. On the 25th, Deputies responded to the 3500 block of Highway OO for a reported harassment. During the course of the investigation, the complainant was found to have an active arrest warrant. A 33-year-old Rolla man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. Also, that day Deputies conducted a traffic stop at South Highway 19 & County Road 5083. During the course of the stop, a 40-year-old Salem man was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance. The suspect was transported to the Dent County Jail & placed on a 24-hour hold. On Wednesday the 26th, Deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 900 block of County Road 5070. During the course of the stop, the suspect was found to be in Violation of a Protection Order and possession of a controlled substance. A 38-year-old Salem man was transported to the Dent County Jail & placed on a 24-hour hold. The next day, Thursday February 27th, Deputies responded to the 400 block of County Road 5150 for a reported stolen UTV. Finally, on the 28th, Deputies located the stolen SXS and after a vehicle pursuit, a 34-year-old Salem woman and 38-year-old Salem man were taken into custody. They were transported to the Dent County Jail & placed on 24 hour holds. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241 if you have any information relative to any ongoing investigation.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will meet this evening at 6:00 at 202 N. Washington in the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the call to order, approval of the agenda and consent agenda, the board will hear from Jay Beck from the Local about a request to close a road. Committee appointments will then be heard before the board hears Resolution #7-2025, authorizing the execution of license agreement for the installation, maintenance and operation of a fiber optic cable from Sho-Me Technologies, LLC to the Salem Police Department for the Next Gen-911 system. The board will also discuss Resolution #8-2025 showing the board’s support of state funding to assist in the rebuilding of the Scenic Rivers Industries Sheltered Workshop in Salem. In the second reading of bills, the board will be asked to approve Bill #3646 amending definitions under the Urban Development section of the Code of the City of Salem to clean up language in the codes that refers to the city hall as the operations hub for the city and replace it with the city administration offices; the board will discuss amendments in Bill #3647 to correct a clerical error to the demand meter and rates for commercial electric customers; and the board will clarify responsibilities and define what an “owner” is in Bill #3648 for water and sewer meters installed to determine the actual sewage usage. In the first reading of bills, the board will discuss Bill #3649 which would approve amendments to the Clean Air (Non-Smoking) ordinances to allow appropriate smoking locations for employees, plus discuss Bill #3650 and Bill #3651 that also deal with the other definitions in the Clean Air (Non-Smoking) ordinances specifically in city parks and other public places. After the reports from city officials, the board will go into closed session to discuss contracts and litigation. The meeting tonight is open to the public.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meeting this evening at 6:00 at the fire station at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the board will review minutes, financial reports before approving bills, and discuss the budget before hearing the monthly reimbursement report. In old business, the board will hear a progress report on the Bond issue followed by new business. New business will include discussion on board of directors terms before Chief Dennis Floyd gives his report to the board. The date will be set for the April meeting and Closed Session may be held, before the board adjourns. The meeting is open to the public.

Thursday morning at the Dent County Commission meeting at the courthouse, Jeff Banderet and Austin from Great Rivers Engineering were in attendance to talk about the TAP grant for the sidewalks around the courthouse. The project is still estimated to come in at $441,000, and MoDOT’s portion will be $316,000 with the county responsible for the rest. The preliminary plans and the estimate have been completed. The project will include new sidewalks around the entire courthouse property as well as sidewalks from the four corners of the property to the front and back doors. An ADA accessible path will be located at the southwest corner of the property and discussion for additional ADA parking spots was held as the county currently only has two. The county would be responsible for the signing and painting of the ADA parking spots. The commission considered matching the city’s stamped bricks and concrete for this project, but it would be more expensive. The commission instead voted to use stamped concrete buffers without the brick pavers to save money. There will also be new retaining walls where needed, a dumpster pad and the removal of the brick trash cans before the project begins. The county will still need to get with the city electric department about relocating some electric poles. Banderet also discussed the FLAP Project 077 for Dent County Road 6670 which is the road that goes to the backside of Montauk State Park. The preliminary plans and estimate have been completed, and the project estimate is $720,000 which will be paid for solely by a federal grant. Banderet said they are confident the funding is secure although all new federal grants may be on hold at this time. Work continues on environmental clearances, roadway property acquisition and finalizing permits. Banderet feels the project should be completed by December 1st of this year. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said crews are brush cutting and screening sand. Workers are also replacing a couple of pipes and performing maintenance. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said grading was being done on Dent County Road 4290, while hole patching was being done on county roads 2330, 2340 and 6160. Materials were also being added on county roads 2330, 2340 and 4290. Brush cutting was being done on county road 4300 and workers were removing a fallen tree. Williams also signed the CART program agreement for 2025 which is a cost-share program for maintaining the public roads serving Missouri Department of Conservation areas and adding new white rock where needed. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended a Tourism Tax Committee meeting and there was one new request that was tabled, and four reimbursements that were approved. Dent County Clerk Angie said excused absentee voting continues at the courthouse for the Municipal Election, and the last day to register to vote is March 12th. Curley also said her office balanced with the collector and assessor for collections, add-ons and abatements for the month of February. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said she is distributing her collections from February of $615,070.86 to the appropriate taxing entities. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Dent County Recorder Cindy Ard wants people to be aware of a new website where you can sign up to find out if someone is recording a document or changing a recorded document with your name on it. The website is deedwatch.com and once signed up, you would receive an e-mail letting you know if a document is recorded with your name on it. There is no charge for this service. Just go to the website, and in the drop-down box, select Dent County, Missouri. In the second box, enter your e-mail that you want the notification to come to. From that point, just follow the directions to finish signing up. You could include the name that should be on your deed, or any other form of your name the deed may have been recorded. This service is provided by the Dent County Recorder’s Office to prevent anyone from being scammed out of their property or having someone attached their name to your deed without your knowledge. If you have questions about this service, contact Cindy Ard at  573-729-2198. You can also e-mail her at dcrecorder07@gmail.com.