News – Monday, May 11th, 2026

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors has called a special, executive session meeting for this morning in the Doctor’s Library at the hospital at 9:15. This meeting will not be open to the public. After the call to order, roll call and approval of the agenda, the board will be going into executive session to discuss personnel and interview candidates for the position of Chief Executive Officer. The minutes will likely be reviewed and approved during the open session of their regularly scheduled board meeting on the evening of May 26th, at 7:00, which is open to the public.

The City of Salem’s Airport Board will hold a meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Old City Hall Auditorium at 202 North Washington. After the call to order will be the approval of the agenda and minutes. The board will review a draft of the budget followed by airport and new hangar updates. The board will consider a land lease option and other business. Public comments may be presented prior to adjournment. The meeting was called by Airport Board President Tyler Naramore.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meeting Tuesday at 6:00 in the evening at the fire station. After the call to order, roll call, and approval of the minutes, the board will hear the financial report, consider approval of bills, plus review the budget. In old business, the board will discuss the CTI Tower issues followed by new business. Officers will be elected and the By Laws are to be reviewed. Chief Thomas will present his report, which will include the monthly reimbursement reports. The date for the next meeting will be set followed by closed session if necessary. The meeting will then be adjourned. The open portion of the meeting of the DCFPD Board of Directors is open to the public.

The Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or “STIP,” lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies and reflects the transportation needs of communities across the state, from high-volume interstate construction projects to low-volume routes in rural areas. The draft FY 2027-2031 STIP was recently presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) at an open meeting, kicking off the 30-day public review and comment period on the proposal. This draft STIP makes available $13 billion of federal and state revenues for all modes of transportation over the next five years and details $9.3 billion in road and bridge construction contractor awards, averaging approximately $1.9 billion per year. In Dent County specifically, proposed highway and bridge construction projects include bridge rehabilitation over Spring Creek; repair slide 0.3 mile south of County Road 4050; bridge replacement over Huzzah Creek; bridge improvement over Dry Creek; scour repair and bridge painting at Dry Branch; bridge improvement over Crooked Creek; bridge improvements over Dry Fork Creek and Barnitz Prong Dry Creek and on Hwy. 32 over Dry Fork Creek and Pigeon Creek. There are also a few pavement resurfacing projects proposed, including from Hwy. 72 to Hwy. 32. Scoping for bridge improvements over Dry Fork of Meramec River is also among the proposed projects for Dent County. Comment at the website modot.org/DRAFTSTIP. Those interested in seeing the program or offering comments can also contact MoDOT by email at STIPcomments@modot.mo.gov; by calling customer service at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636.) The formal comment period ends June 5th. The proposal will be considered for approval at the July 1st MHTC meeting.