News – Monday, July 13th, 2026

Governor Mike Kehoe signed Executive Order 26-16 on Friday, July 10th, declaring a State of Emergency in response to dangerous flash flooding in the central, south-central, and southeastern portions of the state. Under this order, the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan has been activated, enabling state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions to expedite assistance. As much as 12 inches or more of rain fell within a matter of hours, beginning overnight in the areas of Crawford, Iron, Madison, Reynolds, and Wayne counties, resulting in a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event in some of these locations.

Missouri National Guard Soldiers supported civil authorities during flood response operations on July 10th by using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to evacuate more than 200 children and staff from Camp Taum Sauk camp site in southeastern Missouri. Eight Missouri National Guard crews and aircraft safely transported citizens from the campsite to a designated safe location in Arcadia. The National Weather Service (NWS) declared a Flash Flood Emergency for Reynolds and Iron counties following historic heavy rainfall of 8-12 inches overnight. The Missouri National Guard worked alongside local and state emergency response partners to ensure the safe evacuation of those impacted.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture encourages residents to report missing or found livestock in light of the recent historic flooding. To report missing or found (live or deceased) livestock, contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division by calling (573) 751-3377. Be prepared to report with the following information as best available: your name and contact information; species, quantity, and breed/color; identifying information; and, if found, the exact location and date and time found. For questions or more information, contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division at animal.health@mda.mo.gov or (573) 751-3377. For producers who have deceased livestock due to the flooding, contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency office to inquire about indemnity.

The Salem Public Library Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on Thursday evening at 5:00 in the library conference room. During the Librarian’s Report, Library Director Kate McBride noted a slight decline in book and periodical circulation, children’s program attendance, and reference questions, while internet use, paperback trades, and e-book and audiobook circulation have increased. After approving the financial report, the board discussed ongoing renovations in the south basement. Under New Business, the board determined that a salary committee was unnecessary, as the matter had already been addressed during last month’s budget discussion. During the General Library Report, the board discussed upcoming library events and explored ways to increase attendance at summer activities. The next regular meeting of the Library Board of Trustees is scheduled for Thursday, August 20th, at 5:00 in the conference room and is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has released a list of general highway maintenance and construction work planned for this week. The bridge over Dry Creek on Hwy. B remains closed for a bridge replacement project. A signed detour is in place, and the project is expected to be completed this month. During nighttime hours from 7:00 in the evening to 6:00 in the morning, resurfacing continues on Hwy. 32 within Dent County with the project expected to be completed by September. On Hwy. 19 and Hwy. 32, pedestrian facility upgrades continue in the city limits of Salem, with that project also expected to be completed in September. Keep up to date with road closures and upcoming road work through the MoDOT traveler information site located at traveler.modot.org/map.

Ozark Fly Fishers (OFF) will be hosting a three-day outing from Friday through the morning of Sunday at Montauk State Park dedicated to promoting the Missouri Stream Team program. This three-day outing is welcome for anyone interested, OFF member or not. On Friday evening at 5:30, there will be a potluck dinner and two presentations. On Saturday morning, organizers will demonstrate the Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring procedures. Learn first-hand what the biology of a stream can tell about its health. Following the in-stream monitoring, casting instruction will be held on the grassy area across from the Searcy Building. Two casting sessions are planned for the day, with one in the morning and one in the afternoon. At noon, OFF will be providing a barbecue lunch After lunch, visit the stream either by yourself or with a guide to help get you started. For dinner time, there will be leftovers and then an ice cream social. On Saturday evening, a presentation by Montauk State Park Naturalist Brian Waldrop will offer a unique perspective on streambanks throughout history. On Sunday morning there will be a Montauk State Park Stream Bank Cleanup. Those who participate will receive a Stream Team T-shirt to wear during the cleanup, and gloves, trash bags and bottled water will be provided. Consider lending a hand – stewardship can influence others in their care for our streams! Missouri Stream Team staff members from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be on hand to assist. This outing is based at the Searcy Building, located across from the Montauk Lodge and connected to the Park Office. This facility is air-conditioned and has restroom facilities. For more information, visit the Ozark Fly Fishers website at ozarkflyfishers.org or contact Scott Darrough, Director of Conservation, through phone at 314-560-1335 or email at swdarrough@yahoo.com. Learn more about the Missouri Stream Team at its website mostreamteam.org.