News – Monday, March 16th 2025

Reports from the Dent County Fire Protection District and Dent County Emergency Management from the wildfire Friday in northeastern Dent County around Dent County Roads 4090 and 4060 indicate that two homes were destroyed, four vehicles were burned, and two outbuildings were lost. There were no injuries or fatalities reported. It is thought the approximate size of this fire was around 750 acres. Numerous responders assisted with the fighting of the fire included members of the Dent County Fire Protection District, Lenox Rural Fire Department, Jadwin Volunteer Fire Department, Montauk Rural Fire Department, the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri Department of Conservation. Numerous citizens also volunteered their services to assist the firefighters, and according to Dent County Emergency Management Director Derrick Marfitt, they included David Gray for bringing in a skid steer to establish fire lines, Kasey Hayes and Cordell Hornbeck for bringing water and setting up a rehab area for the firefighters, Dent County Fire Protection District Board Member Jeffrey Stokes, Jr for bringing in supplies for rehab and moving trucks for the fire crews, Gary Lay for bringing out his tractor, a family of Mennonites who brought over rakes and blowers, not to mention a number of others who offered their assistance if needed. Also assisting were off duty deputies, Dispatch Supervisor Whitney Capps for providing support to the dispatchers on duty, and City of Salem Emergency Management Director Chris Shell who was monitoring the dangerous weather situation approaching the area. The fire spread quickly by the intense winds and dry conditions and was finally extinguished following the rains that came through Friday evening that was part of the intense storm system that spawned a tornado that went through and hit the City of Rolla, the St. James area and rural Phelps County. 

The team of Brandon Semenuk and Keaton Williams took 1st place at the 2025 100-acre Rally in the Woods in their Subaru WRX ARA25 with a time of 1:29:19, beating the team of Conner Martell and Alessandro Gelsomino in their 2015 Subaru WRX Sti who finished with a time of 1:31:04 falling short by about 1.9 seconds. Finishing in 3rd place was the team of Ryan Booth and Nick Dobbs in their 2024 Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2 as they finished with a time of 1:39:43. The ARA wants to thank everyone the Park Expose and those at the spectator points for attending, as well as all the volunteers and officials that worked had to make sure this was a successful event.