News – Monday, October 5th, 2026

An accident occurred in Dent County Saturday morning at approximately 7:35 on Hwy. 72 four miles west of Salem. According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2019 Hyundai Sonata, driven by a 54-year-old Salem woman, slowed to make a left turn when a 2015 Nissan Altima, driven by a 16-year-old Salem juvenile, struck the rear of the Hyundai. Both drivers suffered minor injuries and were transported to Salem Memorial Hospital. The report stated both drivers were wearing safety restraints. Both vehicles were totalled and removed from the scene, the Hyundai by American Automotive and the Nissan by Whitaker’s Towing.

The Dent County Commission held its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green shared that crew members would be grading on the following county roads: 5610, 2490, 2450, and – if time allows – 2460. Patching is also to be completed on several chip and seal roads. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams shared that crew members would be working on maintenance for several county vehicles, including replacing a tire on the pup trailer; replacing tires on truck #75; preparing truck #72 for sale; servicing truck #70; and installing a fuel tank in truck #66. Concrete had been poured and a culvert installed on County Road 3200 this week. Green reported that fuel bids for 7,500 gallons of diesel had been received at $5.007 from MFA; $4.99 from Phil-Mart; and $5.10 from County Fuels. The bid was approved for Phil-Mart at $4.99 a gallon. In addition, commissioners approved the yearly renewal for health insurance for county staff. Health insurance increased 1.6%. Commissioners also received a routine quarterly update from representatives of the county’s property and automobile insurance company, Ollis Akers & Arney. County Clerk Angie Curley reported that sample ballots have been received by her office and are able to be given to voters upon request. Fair ballot language will be shipped out to the county clerk’s office at the beginning of this week. Curley stated fair ballot language should be available for Dent County voters by the end of this week. Curley further notified that all voters who use the Northwood R-IV for their polling location will be voting in the newly built FEMA gym rather than the regular gym for this coming election. For more information, visit sos.mo.gov/elections. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be this morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and is open to the public.