News – Friday, October 24th 2025

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the CART tax money received in October. She said the county received $97,509.94 which is up from October of 2024 by $8,553.04. Year-to-date, the CART tax is up $62,121.27 over 2024 which is an increase of about 7.7%. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green stated crews were patching Dent County chip and seal roads 6040 and 6510, while brush would be cut on county road 5520. Green indicated grading was going to be done on county roads 5140, 6210, 6310 and 6350. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be adding rock and grading on county road 2380. He stated grading would also be done on county roads 2320, 2560, 3020 and 3030, while brush will be cut on county road 2130. Williams said a tree had to be removed from county road 3220. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended the tourism tax committee meeting and one reimbursement was approved. No applications were submitted to be funded. Larson said the tourism tax fund has money available to help market special events in Salem provided people submit a request that follows the committee’s guidelines. Larson attended the MRPC Annual Awards banquet Thursday night at the Salem Community Center@The Armory where Dent County Clerk Angie Curley was recognized for her service to the county. Clerk Curley then reported she had 15 students register to vote Tuesday at the high school, then returned Wednesday to the high school to talk with the Life Skills Class. The commission opened bids for the county’s liability, equipment, autos and buildings coverage. Mike Elliott from Town and Country Insurance had only one bid to submit which was from Tokio Marine which is the current insurer for the county. The quote for the insurance was $373,186, and that was an increase of about $107,000 over last year which included a raise in the deductible from $2,500 to $5,000, as well as an increase in the wind and hail damage deductible. The bid was tabled by the commission to review and see if there was any way to reduce the premium with increased deductibles or just having liability insurance on many of the vehicles. The commission then accepted four bids for lawn care and snow removal. They were from TL Mowing LLC, JB Lawn Care, Garden of Eden Nursery and Ron Lundy. The commission tabled the bids to review them and make sure they are comparing each of their services correctly. At the last meeting, the commissioners wanted to remind the public the Road and Bridge Department is selling two dump trucks and a road groomer on Purple Wave and anyone can bid on those items with the closing bid date being November 4th. 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 Missouri Department of Conservation invites the public to finish their hunter education certification at an event in Salem on October 27th. This event is the final step to becoming hunter education certified, and the classes are designed for participants ages 11 and older. Have you always wanted to firearm hunt on your own? The Fall regular firearm deer season is November 15th through the 25th. First you need to get certified! Join the Department of Conservation personnel at Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center for a Hunter Education skills session on October 27th from 5:00 to 9:00 in the evening. Participants must be 11 years old and have completed the knowledge portion of the course prior to attending this skills session. This is done either by completing the online version for a fee or filling out the student manual chapter review questions and bringing the booklet to class for instructor review for no charge. Student manuals are available at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, the Rolla Missouri Department of Conservation office at 12655 Route Y in Rolla, or from the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov. Students under 16 are required to show proof of age such as a birth certificate; a passport; or a photo ID that displays a birthdate when checking in. After successfully completing the skills session and passing a 35-question, multiple-choice final with a score of 80%or better, you will receive a temporary certificate so you can purchase a permit and hunt immediately. To register for the October 27th Hunter Education Skills Session, go to mdc.mo.gov. and click on the “Hunter/Bowhunter Education Course Finder,” go to the Hunter Education Skills Session tap, and search for the Salem location where you can register online. The class is open to 30 participants. For any questions, e-mail the instructor at Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov. The Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center is located at 202 South Main Street in Salem.

The DEA national “Medication Take Back” Day will be held Saturday, October 25th from 10:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon at Wal-Mart on Highway 32-72 West sponsored by the Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition. Bring your unused and/or expired medication to be safely disposed of. By doing so, you will keep unwanted or expired medication away from kids, persons struggling with substance abuse, and please DO NOT FLUSH IT DOWN THE DRAIN!! Members of the Drug Enforcement Agency, Salem Police Department and Dent County Sheriff’s Department will be on hand to assist with medication collection. Items that will NOT be accepted are syringes or needles, blood and infectious waste, hydrogen peroxide, aerosol cans and inhalers. If you can’t make it that Saturday morning, there are permanent disposal boxes at the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 112 East 5th Street and at the Salem Police Department at 500 North Jackson Streets.