News – Monday, April 20th, 2026

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced a Crawford County man to 170 months in prison for grooming and engaging in illegal sexual contact with a minor last Wednesday. Nathaniel Rod Gibson, age 34, gave the victim a phone and sent her more than 18,996 text messages from March 10th, 2023, to Sept. 6th, 2023, while grooming her with romantic and flirtatious statements. Gibson also told the victim to delete the messages, so that her mother would not find them. In June of 2023, Gibson drove the then 13-year-old victim from Missouri to a campground in Arkansas, where he engaged in an illegal sex act with her. He also did so at his home in Crawford County. Gibson pleaded guilty in January in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Diamond City (Arkansas) Police Department, and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. 

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen has called for a special meeting tonight at 6:00 which will go immediately into closed session following the call to order, roll call, and agenda approval. The closed session will be held pertaining to legal actions, causes of action or litigation involving a public governmental body and any confidential or privileged communication between a public governmental body or its representatives and its attorneys. After the closed session, the meeting will adjourn. 

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held its monthly meeting Tuesday, April 14th at the firehouse. After the call to order and approval of consent agenda and previous meeting minutes, the board also approved the financial reports, bills, payments, and statements, along with the budget and reconciliations. The board was reminded that its By-Laws will be reviewed for its meeting in May. In old business, the board reviewed the Fidelity Tower. During a formal inquiry into technical malfunctions, Assistant Chief Derrick Marfitt investigated persistent issues regarding the department communications repeater, revealing there had been a change in ownership to Symphony Towers. The communication led to formal documentation of the malfunction and the launch of a corrective investigation. The investigation continues working to resolve the equipment failures. In new business, two bids were received for lawn care for the district: Larry Lundy bid $100 and Blue Line Outdoor bid $80. The board approved Blue Line Outdoor. Fire Chief Derek Thomas presented the monthly reimbursement report, which showed the fire district responded to 23 calls in March and a total of 84 calls for the year. Thomas presented a quote from Sentinel for Propak Angled Coupling for a total cost of $1,186.08. This was the only bid received. After discussion, the bid from Sentinel was accepted. Quotes from fencing companies were reviewed, for both commercial and residential fencing, to be placed around the Roof Vent Training area: Mid Missouri Fence  Company for $29,000; Holiday Welding and Fence for $23,427; and Missouri Fence and Lot Clearing for $21,254.63. After discussion, the board accepted the bid from Missouri Fence Company and Lot Clearing for $21,254.63. Sleep In Heavenly Peace requested the use of the firehouse parking lot for a community bed build, which the board approved. The next board meeting was then set for May 12th at 6:00 in the evening at the Dent County Fire Protection District firehouse. The meeting then adjourned.

An in-person public meeting is planned to provide information and answer questions from the community about planned corridor improvements on I-44 in Laclede, Phelps and Pulaski counties. In Phelps County, planned improvements include rebuilding pavement and interchange improvements at Route V (Exit 189) in Rolla and at Missouri Route 68 (Exit 195) in St. James. These pavement and interchange improvements will enhance safety, improve pavement conditions, and support future traffic needs. The Rolla Forward 44 Public Meeting will be held in the evening of April 25th from 5:00 to 7:00 at Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street. There will be no formal presentation, so members of the public can come and go as they please during the meeting time. By participating and commenting, the public can help MoDOT determine what best serves the needs of the motorists who use the interstate on an average day, while being responsible stewards of available funding.