News – Monday, November 10th 2025

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will meet Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the Fire Station at #2 South Main. After the Call to Order and Roll Call will be the approval of the Consent Agenda, which includes review of previous meeting minutes, the financial report and approval of bills, plus the budget review. The Monthly Reimbursement Report will precede Old Business, which will include the Fidelity (CTI) Tower Lease consideration, Rescue tools quotes, and Policy and Procedures Review. In New Business the Board will review quotes on equipment and consider a Christmas Party. Chief Dennis Floyd will present his report, followed by setting the date for the next meeting and closed session, if necessary, before adjournment.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Missouri State Parks recognize and thank all veterans and active-duty military members for their service by offering two promotions in honor of Veterans Day. To show appreciation for their service, all veterans and active-duty military members who camp at a Missouri State Parks campground tomorrow will receive a promotional code for a free night of camping. The veteran must be staying the night of November 11 and show identification of veteran/active-duty military status when checking in to receive the promotional code. Missouri State Parks will accept several types of identification. Veterans and active military members are also invited to take free tours of Missouri state historic sites now through Tuesday, November 11th with valid identification. Visitors are encouraged to check current hours online at mostateparks.com before heading to a state park or historic site. In addition, Missouri State Parks offers a $2 per night camping discount year round at state park campgrounds for military members and veterans. Nightly camping rates vary from campground to campground based on different criteria. Retired, veteran and active-duty military personnel, as well as family members of active-duty military personnel (with valid military identification provided at check-in), will receive the military discount. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

Town and Country Bank was honored as the 2025 Lender of the Year by the Meramec Regional Development Corporation and Meramec Regional Planning Commission for its partnership efforts to bring jobs and private investment to the Meramec Region. Brandon Licklider, the Town and Country Bank Senior vice president of the St. James branch, accepted the award on behalf of the bank. The presentation was made at the MRPC’s 2025 Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet, held October 23rd at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory in Salem. Town and Country Bank was chartered in 1894 as the Dent County Bank and was owned by the Dent family. The president of the bank was Louis Dent. The Gott family purchased the bank in 1993 and is the current owners. Roger Gott is the President and Chairman of the board. Town and Country Bank provides a variety of lending services for personal and business, including agricultural lending, consumer loans and lines of credit. In addition, the bank offers insurance and investment services to its customers. Town and Country Bank has branches in Ava, Bourbon, Licking, Mountain Grove, Pevely, Rolla, Salem, St. James and St. Louis. The Meramec Regional Development Corporation and Meramec Regional Planning Commission work together to provide a gap financing for new and expanding businesses in the Meramec Region. For more information on MRPC’s small business loans program, contact MRPC at 573-265-2993.