News – Friday, December 5th 2025

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. The commission approved the appointment of Dr. Nathan Wills and Dr. Jeff Dodson to the Enhanced Enterprise Zone as requested by the City of Salem Economic Development Director Carrie Sutterfield. Both of the terms were expiring, and they agreed to serve another term. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said they should be finishing up brush cutting on Dent County Road 5610, plus maintenance work will then be done on the brush cutter. He stated county truck #119 has a muffler problem and the part that went out is no longer available. They are currently trying to find someone locally that could make the part they need. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said brush was being cut on Dent County Road 2240 and road signs were installed on county road 3180. Williams indicated workers were cutting up dead trees pushed aside by the county for fuel for their wood furnace at the road and bridge shed on Highway 32-72 West. He went on to say another crew would be picking up metal to replace the bridge railings on county road 3220. Williams said this was a FEMA project and the county has received that funding. Presiding Commission Gary Larson said he attended a meeting of the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management Board where their old management plan had to be updated as the Missouri Department of Natural Resources wants a new plan every two years instead of five. He said after a two-and-a-half hour meeting, a new proposed plan had been developed for the next two years, but it has not yet received final approval. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said her office balanced with the collector and assessor for the month of November on all collections, abatements, and add-ons. She also said Tuesday, December 9th, will be the first day for candidates to file for offices for the April 7th Municipal Election for school boards, hospital boards, City of Salem alderman positions, etc. She said those who want to file will do so at the entities office, NOT at the courthouse, and if they have any questions about the qualifications to run for the position they choose, candidates need to contact those individual entities themselves, not her office. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem will be holding their “Parade of Lights” tonight starting at 5:30 from the SBU Salem Campus at Grand and Franklin. About 48 entries are participating this year with the theme “Candy Cane Lane” with the Grand Marshall this year being the Salem Special Olympic Athletes and Coach Krystal Sims. The parade will move east on Franklin to MacArthur where the parade will travel north to 4th Street and then head east to the courthouse square. Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the parade, but if you are unable to make it this year, KSMO Media will be streaming the parade LIVE from their post at the Corner of 4th Street and MacArthur. The broadcast should get underway close to 6:10 and can be seen on the KSMO Facebook Stream page, ksmoradio.com and the KSMO YouTube page. There is no charge to watch the parade and if you miss it, the parade will be available for playback at a later time. If you have any questions about the parade, please call the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Office at 573-729-6900.

PJ’s & Pancakes with Santa is fun for the whole family and will be held this Saturday, December 6th from 8:00 to 11:00 in the morning at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory! This event is hosted by the Salem Fireworks Committee to help raise funds for next year’s show. There will be a pancake breakfast, coffee, balloon art, hot chocolate, pictures with Santa from 9:00 until 10:00 and much more! Tickets for the event are $15 for those 16 years of age and older; $5.00 for those youngsters seven years of age to age 15; while kids six and under are FREE! Tickets are available at the door at the Salem Community Center@The Armory.

Create a fluffy hat with large needles with M. Emilia Barbosa on Thursday December 11th from 6:00 in the evening until 8:00. All ages are welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult. In this two-day class you will learn how to knit in the round by making a fluffy hat with big needles! Explore different methods for knitting in the round and knit a fluffy hat with bigger needles. From double pointed needles to circular ones, magic loop and Addi FlexiFlips, there are many possible ways of knitting in the round. If you already know how to Knit and Purl and have gotten bored with just knitting straight ahead, come learn how to simply knit in the round with big needles. You will have a fluffy hat ready to wear in no time, which can become a cool Christmas gift or a treasure for yourself! The cost $35 per person and all supplies are included. A minimum of 3 people are needed to have the class and no more than 12. How do you sign up? Go to the SACBA website, click on the programs link, then Salem Creative Arts Center link.