News – Friday, November 21st 2025

An accident happened in Dent County Wednesday evening at 5:45 on Dent County Road 2050 about a mile west of Dent County Road 2055 that took the life of a man from Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Polaris being driven westbound by a 28-year-old Rolla man, traveled off the left side of the roadway and the driver overcorrected. The Polaris then returned to the roadway and overturned, ejecting the man from the Polaris. The Rolla man was pronounced dead at the scene by Dent County Coroner Ben Pursifull at 6:40 Wednesday evening. His body was taken to the Dent County Morgue by the coroner. The driver was not wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. The Polaris sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by the owner of the vehicle.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the CART tax money received in November. She said the county received $93,591.45 which is up from November of 2024 by $11,449.28. Year-to-date, the CART tax is up $73,570.55 over 2024 which is an increase of about 8.3%. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green stated crews were doing maintenance as well as training a new employee on the backhoe and possibly on a grader. They will also be out checking roads from the storms Tuesday morning and Thursday morning. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be cutting brush on county road 2160 and in the Lennox area. Williams said maintenance will be done on county tractor #6 as well. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended the tourism tax committee meeting Monday where one application and two reimbursements were approved. Larson said the tourism tax fund still has money available to help market special events in Dent County provided people submit a request that follows the committee’s guidelines. Larson also reported on the MRCF meeting he attended where they funded the Phelps County Disaster Relief Fund and other fund applications, scholarships and they also discussed general information. He also said there will be no commission meetings next week due to the MAC meeting the commission will be attending Monday and the Thanksgiving Holiday. The courthouse will be closed both Thursday and Friday, November 27th and 28th. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley stated her office is working on the county budget for 2026. The commission will be putting out for bid the construction of a new ADA accessible bathroom in the courthouse. Bids will be due by 10:00 in the morning, December 22nd, at which time they will be opened. For more information, contact the commission. Commissioner Larson also announced there will be an opening for a janitor at the courthouse after Christmas. At the last meeting, the commissioners agreed to sell a 1998 Pup Trailer and a 2006 Ford 450 Truck from the Road and Bridge Department on Purple Wave, and anyone can bid on those items. The deadline will be announced later. The commission also agreed to add a county policy requiring people to disclose or acknowledge that they will be video recording or audio recording the commission meetings. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning, December 1st, at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public. 

MoDot has plans for general highway maintenance and construction work in the mid–Missouri area that is ongoing through the 23rd. Weather conditions may postpone scheduled work. Many projects will include lane closures which could cause delays.  There will be moving operations such as pothole patching, mowing, and pavement repairs continuing in various locations. Motorists should travel with care and be alert for slow-moving equipment. In Dent County Missouri Routes 19, B, K, and N have culvert replacements planned to be completed later today. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zones. All work is weather permitting, and schedules are subject to change. 
A “Taste of the Masters” painting class will be held on Sunday, November 23rd from 3:00 until 5:00 with art teacher Beth Rosenkoetter at the creative Arts Center. This is a monthly class where you will paint and learn a little about impressionism and expressionism, learn techniques and and work on your own skill and style. This month’s class will look at ways to paint water, working from selected photos of nature to emulate the masters work in our own studies of color, tint, shadow, balance, and form. This class is for those 16 years of age and older, and at least four people need to sign up to hold the class. It will be limited to no more than 10 attendees. The cost of class is $45 and all supplies are included. To sign up, go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center. For more information, e-mail salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com.