News – Friday, August 29th 2025

At the Dent County Commission meeting Thursday morning, Grant Wilson from Representative Jason Smith’s Rolla office reported Smith just wrapped up his 2025 Farm Tour visiting 23 out of the 28 counties he serves. He visited crop farms, dairy farms, cattle farms and even a tree farm as well as some businesses. Wilson said that after the Labor Day weekend, Smith stated Congress will be working on trade deals with other countries to increase US exports to those countries. When Wilson was asked about when the change would occur for the reduction in taxes for overtime and tips, Wilson said he believed that would be retroactive to 2025 as would the Social Security temporary credit of $6,000 per filer, $12,000 if filing jointly and both spouses qualify. The commissioners thanked him for his follow up with FEMA as FEMA personnel found the Dent County paperwork that was submitted, and they should issue the first round of funding in the next 60-90 days. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said maintenance was being done on a grader, while chip and seal repair work is being done on Dent County Road 5015 also known as the Doss Road. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be adding rock and grading Dent County Road 4290, while only grading was being done on county roads 4300 and 4310. He stated brush is being cut on county road 2300 and a crew is working on replacing an airline on a dump truck. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson stated new carpet has been installed on the back steps of the courthouse, and there was a report of water being heard running at the Annex. Larson said a plumber investigated and found there was water line going into the building next to the Annex that was leaking and Commissioner Larson asked him to install a shut off valve between the buildings to stop the water flow. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the courthouse would be closed Monday for Labor Day. She also said the new assessor, Alisa Brookshire, would be sworn in this morning to take over the position from Jamie Homeyer. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk said the tax sale of real estate was held Monday and all five of the properties sold for a total of $2,974.74, but there were no bids on the mineral rights tax sale. She stated that those who purchased property at the 2024 tax sale should now come in and get the Collector’s Deed as one year has passed. VanKirk also indicated that real estate and personal property tax bills will be mailed out on Tuesday, November 4th. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public. 

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to plan for a safe 2025 Labor Day weekend. The 2025 counting period for the Labor Day holiday will be from 6:00 this evening, and will last through 11:59 Monday night, September 1st. The Labor Day holiday is a busy boating weekend. Before you take your boat on the water, inspect fuel lines and hose connections for leaks, and test the battery to confirm it is charged. When refueling, turn off any electrical devices which could create a spark. After refueling, open the engine compartment to visually inspect and smell for fuel leaks. Activate the blower system for at least four minutes before restarting the vessel. In 2024, there were four boating crashes which included two fatalities and eight injuries. One person drowned during last year’s Labor Day holiday. Troopers arrested six people for boating while intoxicated during last year’s counting period. If you’ll be on the road this Labor Day holiday, make sure your vehicle is in good working condition before you depart. Drive courteously and obey all of Missouri’s traffic laws. Remember to buckle up and pay attention as you travel. In Missouri, 17 people died and 498 were injured in 1,047 traffic crashes over the 2024 Labor Day holiday. This means one person was killed or injured every 9.1 minutes. Troopers arrested 110 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s holiday weekend. The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways and waterways. The public is encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Report Line (800) 525-5555 or *55 on your cell phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency on the water or on the road.