News – Monday, September 21st, 2026
An accident occurred in Phelps County in the early hours of Saturday morning at approximately 2:05 on eastbound I-44 at the 194.4-mile marker. According to the Highway Patrol report, a 26-year-old woman from Lonedell, Mo. fell asleep while driving a 2016 Toyota Camry and collided with an unknown vehicle. The 26-year-old woman suffered minor injuries and was transported by St. James ambulance to Phelps Health. According to the report, the woman was wearing a safety device. The Toyota Camry was totalled and removed from the scene by Tunes Towing.
An accident occurred in Phelps County on Friday at approximately 10:25 in the evening near County Road 7140. According to the Highway Patrol report, a 17-year-old juvenile travelled off the left side of the roadway, struck a tree, and overturned while driving a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The juvenile suffered minor injuries and was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla. According to the report, the juvenile was wearing a safety device. The 2013 Cadillac SRX was totalled and removed from the scene by D&D Towing.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has released a list of general highway maintenance and construction work planned in the mid-Missouri area through Friday. On Hwy. 32, resurfacing continues east of Salem as the project continues toward Iron County’s Hwy. KK. On Hwy. 19 and Hwy. 32, pedestrian facility upgrades continue in the city limits of Salem with minimal traffic impacts expected. Bridge maintenance continues over Dry Fork Creek, northwest of Salem on Hwy. 72. One lane will remain open, and crews will flag traffic through the work zone. In Phelps County, pavement repairs are planned beginning today and continuing through Thursday on I-44 on the eastbound on and off-ramps from Hwy. D to I-44 at Exit 172. Daily periodic closures of each ramp will be required. Bridge rehabilitation continues over I-44 at the Business Loop 44/Hwy. 72/Kingshighway junction, with the bridge remaining closed to all westbound traffic and expected completion of that project in October. On Hwy. 63, bridge rehabilitation continues over Little Piney Creek near Yancy Mills with temporary traffic signals being used to maintain traffic through the single-lane work zone. That project is also scheduled for completion in October. On Hwy. BB, or 10th Street in Rolla, bridge rehabilitation continues over the BNSF Railway with one lane open in each direction and no center turn lane.
The Nov. 3rd General Election is coming up, with voters encouraged to reach out with any questions to the Dent County Clerk’s Office by phone at 573-729-4144 or email at dent@sos.mo.gov. Excused absentee voting is set to begin on Tuesday, and no excuse, in-person absentee voting will begin on Oct. 20th. Absentee voting will continue through Nov. 2nd.
The Dent County Clerk’s Office has given notice that a public test of the automatic absentee voting equipment is scheduled for today at 2:00 in the afternoon at the Dent County Courthouse. This test is open for public viewing.
The planned citywide power outage will be this Wednesday, Sept. 23rd from 1:00 to 3:00 in the early hours of the morning. This is so crews can safely replace an insulator on the transmission system serving Salem. Residents are encouraged to charge phones and other important devices before going to bed the night before. Customers should also keep flashlights nearby and turn off or unplug sensitive electronic equipment. Anyone who depends on electrically powered medical equipment should make sure a safe backup power source is available. Security systems, medical alerts, electronic clocks, timers and other devices may also be affected. Customers do not need to report the loss of power during the scheduled outage period. If your power remains off after the City of Salem announces that service has been restored, call or text 833-703-4811.