News – Friday, March 20th 2026

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. In road reports, First District Commissioner Keith Green reported crew members would be grading county roads 5220, 5130, 6575, and 6460. Crew members would also be hauling rock to County Road 6575. Second District Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported crew members would be grading county roads 3160, 3050, 3020, 3060, 3070, and 3080. They would also be hauling rock to county roads 3020, 3050, and 3090, and cutting brush on County Road 2510. A resident requested maintenance on County Road 4340, with Williams affirming crew members would be out to take care of it. Williams also reported commissioners will be putting bids out for a lease and purchase agreement for two dump trucks. Those bids are planned to be opened April 6th at 10:00 in the morning. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson shared the Tourism Commission heard one request and approved three reimbursements Tuesday. At the Ozarks Solid Waste Management District, members went over finances and approved a grant request. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills have been approved. For the April municipal election, March 25th is the last day to mail out absentee ballots. No excuse absentee voting begins March 24th through April 6th. From 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon Saturday, April 4th, the courthouse will be open for absentee voting in the county clerk’s office. On April 7th, voting will be open from 6:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening. Sargent Lenny Pabin with the Sheriff’s Office requested approval in applying for a DSSSF grant, which would allot approximately $2,000 a year per deputy. With 13 deputies, this would be $26,000. The commissioners approved submitting the application for the grant. Meanwhile, under public comments, Missouri State Representative of the 124th District, Don Mayhew, stopped by to discuss legislative issues, including how the state owed counties roughly $43 million in jail per diem. Mayhew, along with three other representatives, were put on a subcommittee to seek solutions to the issue. According to Mayhew, approximately 62% of the $43 million lies in pre-trial confinement. In 2025 alone, 856 people had spent more than a year in county jails, with 82 spending more than three years, with many being arrested on a charge that wouldn’t have drawn a three year sentence, Mayhew shared with the commissioners. With that being the case, the cost is mainly tied to waiting on mental-health evaluations or treatment for mental health conditions. Mayhew proposed to legislators utilizing a state prison located in Cameron, Missouri as a dedicated mental-health facility, which would allow for the transportation of detainees with mental illness there, rather than holding the detainees indefinitely in county jails. Despite support expressed from county sheriffs and commissioners for the idea, Mayhew shared that a study must be done first, which requires funding. In addition, Mayhew is working on a bill which would mandate consent from inmates for mental health treatment, modeled after bills within Texas and Florida. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 in the courthouse, and the meeting is open to the public.

The Nurses Honor Guard was first established in 2003 by the Kansas State Nurses Association. There are now more than 250 professional local chapters nationwide, including the South-Central Missouri Nurse Honor Guard LLC., a volunteer organization of active and retired nurses who come together to honor their nursing colleagues that have passed away. The organization currently has 12 members and cover services held in five counties including Phelps, Dent, Crawford, Texas, and Pulaski County. The 5-10 minute tribute during the funeral or memorial service recognizes the lifelong commitment of the nurse who dedicated their life to caring for others. The volunteers wear traditional white uniforms, white caps, and nursing capes. The honor guard provides this service free of charge to families and includes a special reading of the Nightingale Pledge, a personal tribute to the deceased, and a final call to duty. A white rose is then placed on the casket or with the urn, and a Nightingale lamp is given to the family. Families or funeral directors can request a ceremony by contacting Bev Martin at 573-626-4699 or Carol Lacy at 573-453-4977. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at the Community Center at the Salem Armory at 4:00 in the afternoon. Nurses interested in joining the South-Central Missouri Nurse Honor Guard may also contact Bev or Carol. Any individual, family, or business interested in helping cover the cost of the lamps, brochures, and other items needed for ceremonies can donate by mailing a check payable to the South-Central Missouri Nurse Honor Guard c/o Carol Lacy, 1108 South Louise Street, Salem, Missouri 65560.