Local News (with Election results) – Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024

A municipal election was held Tuesday in Dent County and a total of 2,209 voters cast ballots for 23.74% of the 9,304 registered voters. The unofficial results of challenged races are from Dent County only and are as follows:

• indicates winners

CITY OF SALEM WEST WARD ALDERMAN:

Catherine Dent* 209 votes
Richard Labrash 196 votes

CITY OF SALEM EAST WARD ALDERMAN:

Kala Sisco* 252 votes
James Vance 115 votes

CITY OF SALEM MAYOR

Greg Parker* 441 votes
Lisa Elliott 73 votes
Grover “Mike” Whitley 97 votes
Eddie Fleetwood 182 votes

DENT COUNTY USE TAX QUESTION

Yes 623 votes
No* 1,532 votes

DENT COUNTY MARIJUANA SALES TAX QUESTION

Yes* 1,312 votes
No 882 votes

SMH HOSPITAL BOARD DISTRICT 5
BOARD OF DIRECTOR – SIX-YEAR TERM

Ray Bruno 420 votes
N. Dwayne Land 482 votes
Frank A. Barnitz 875 votes
Colleen Lake 226 votes

SMH HOSPITAL BOARD DISTRICT 4
BOARD OF DIRECTOR – FIVE-YEAR TERM

Zachary Moser 1,054 votes
C. David Kerr 938 votes

SMH HOSPITAL BOARD DISTRICT 6
BOARD OF DIRECTOR – ONE-YEAR TERM

Leigh Ann Price 1,256 votes
Susan Jordan 688 votes

SALEM R-80 SCHOOL BOARD: (two elected)

Steve Patterson 620 votes
Jason Green 499 votes
Lauren Prugh 468 votes

SALEM R-80 SCHOOL DISTRICT PROP E
INCREASE TAX LEVY

Yes 369 votes
No* 834 votes

SALEM R-80 SCHOOL DISTRICT PROP W
BOND ISSUE

Yes 412 votes
No* 828 votes

OAK HILL R-1 SCHOOL BOARD: (two elected)
THREE-YEAR TERM

Nathan Ragsdale 111 votes
Rhonda Wolfe-Hutsell 92 votes
Mikel Chambers 81 votes

OAK HILL R-1 SCHOOL BOARD:
ONE-YEAR TERM

April Greener* 176 votes

The Dent County Commission met Monday for their regular meeting. There was no road report as the road crews had Monday off due to the other county workers being off on Good Friday. They will be on call in case of any damages caused by the storms. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson also had nothing to report while County Clerk Angie Curley reminded everyone who wants to vote to please bring with them an ID that is either a Missouri Driver’s or Non-Driver’s License, a passport or a military ID. The polls will be open from 6:00 in the morning until 7:00 at night. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

Alderwoman Kala Sisco has called for a meeting of the Community Involvement Committee of the City of Salem. The meeting is to be held at the Salem Community Center at the Armory this evening at 6:00. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss ideas on how to help raise funds for the annual City of Salem Fourth of July Fireworks display and consider other Community Involvement Ideas. The meeting is open to the public.

This Saturday at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center on Highway 19 at the exhibit called “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” There will be a panel discussion with community residents beginning at 10:00 on “Salem’s Past and Present.” Then from 6:00 until 8:00 in the evening, there will be a Cruise-In around the ONCRC. The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday and there is no charge to visit the exhibit. The “Crossroads” exhibit is part of the “Museum on Main Street,” a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

If you are a person who is considering or has opted for weight loss injections, an informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 3rd at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory located at 1200 W. Rolla Road in Salem, to learn more about the potential to reach new fitness goals through lifestyle changes. Healthy Dent County will host an informational meeting about the popular weight loss injections available through medical providers. Their aim is to enhance our community’s overall health and wellness by providing comprehensive solutions that address diverse needs. A collaboration between Ozark Healthcare LLC and the Healthy Dent County Fitness Center can significantly impact our community’s health and well-being. By leveraging experts in weight management and utilizing HDC’s Fitness Center for fitness and exercise, they can offer a comprehensive approach to weight loss that empowers individuals to achieve lasting results by incorporating aspects such as diet, exercise, and, where suitable, medical interventions like GLP-1 agonist therapy. Within this educational framework, they will introduce their collaborative program tailored for individuals seeking fitness guidance while incorporating GLP-1 agonists into their regimens. As participants embark on GLP-1 therapy, they can guide them toward two pathways: either consulting their primary care physician for guidance or connecting them with a trusted local provider who offers telehealth consultations. For questions, please e-mail Susie Cahill at susie@salemcommunitycenter.org or call 573-729-8163.