News – Monday, October 19th, 2026

An accident that took the lives of three people occurred in Maries County on Highway 63 Wednesday morning at approximately 6:05. A northbound 2023 Buick Encore GX, driven by a 30-year-old woman from Dixon, was passing a tractor trailer when it hydroplaned. The Buick struck a southbound 2016 Ford F-150, driven by a 37-year-old man from Fulton. The driver of the Buick, a 30-year-old male passenger in the Buick, and a 29-year-old male passenger in the Ford, were pronounced deceased at the scene. All three were transported to the Crawford County Mortuary. The driver of the Ford suffered serious injuries, while a 21-year-old man and two 29-year-old men suffered moderate injuries. All occupants of the Ford were from Fulton. The survivors of the crash were transported by either the Osage County Ambulance or the Maries County Ambulance to either Capital Regional Hospital in Jefferson City or University Hospital in Columbia. According to the report all occupants of the two vehicles were wearing safety restraints. The Ford was removed from the scene by Plaza Towing, and the Buick was removed by Fast Lane Towing.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees has announced the following staff appointments and responsibility assignments. Joan Raulston has been named the Dent County Health Officer. Joan also has been appointed Deputy Administrator in charge of HR and general finances. Jessica Ricks has been appointed Deputy Administrator in charge of Grants and related finances. For more information, please contact either Joan or Jessica at (573) 729-3106.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green reported that crew members will be stockpiling rock and hauling rock to County Road 5070. Maintenance is to be done on a grader’s tires. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that crew members will be grading on county roads 3200, 2550, 2210, and 4300. Hauling rock will also be done to County Road 4300. Under public comments, Dent County Historical Society President Deloris Gray Wood thanked Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson for nominating the organization for an award at the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) Annual Banquet. MRPC’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Vice-Chairman AJ Seay reported that at the Sept. 23rd meeting there was a presentation given from Rob Pulliam of 501(c)(3) non-profit organization The Nature Conservancy (TNC) on grant funds available for low-water crossings. TNC can assist with funding for low-water crossings and some culvert bridges which pose significant barriers to the movement of fish and other wildlife. Seay also reported that a presentation was given from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) which stated that statewide fatalities saw a year-to-date decrease in 2026; however, the fatality rates for Dent County have doubled. Seay also stated he would be attending training for new commissioners in Jefferson City on Dec. 12th. In Larson’s report, he attended an Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) meeting in which members reviewed district grant applications. The organization was short $18,821 on giving applicants requested funds, so all applicants received a 6% decrease. The next meeting of the ORSWMD will be on Dec. 15th. County Clerk Angie Curley reported that the county has received notice from the State Auditor’s Office that the budget for 2027 is now available; Curley will begin the budget preparation process. Curley also reported that data distributed by the Missouri Association of Counties (MAC) indicates an increase in revenue for County Aid Road Trust (CART) funds beginning in 2027. Meanwhile, for the Nov. 3rd General Election, Curley reminds the public that no excuse absentee voting is set to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 20th and continue through Monday, Nov. 2nd. The Dent County Courthouse will be open for no-excuse absentee voting on Saturday, Oct. 31st. Find more on the election at sos.mo.gov/elections. If anyone would like to request a sample ballot and/or fair ballot language, contact the county clerk’s office at 573-729-4144 or email dent@sos.mo.gov. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be this morning from 9:00 to noon at the courthouse. This meeting is open to the public.

The Bunker R-III School District will be holding a blood drive within the old gymnasium of the high school on Monday, Nov. 2nd from 1:30 to 5:30 inthe afternoon. By donating blood, you give a chance at life to those in need and help Bunker High School seniors earn scholarships. To make an appointment, put the Bunker, Mo. zip code of 63629 into the search box of the American Red Cross website at redcrossblood.org.