News – Thursday, August 20th, 2026

An accident happened at 3:53 Tuesday evening in Dent County at the Cedar Grove Conservation Area a mile north of Hwy. WW. According to the highway patrol report, a 1998 Dodge Ram driven northbound by a 33-year-old female from Salem travelled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, overturned and ejected the driver. The driver suffered serious injuries and was transported by air evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. The report states she was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Dodge Ram was totaled and removed from the scene by a private party.

The City of Salem Administration and Utility Office will be closing at 2:00 in the afternoon this Friday for the budget year close out. For utility bill payments, remote payment options are available. Use automated phone pay 24/7 at the number 1-888-443-4087. If you have your account number, you can also find out how much you owe. For web payment options, you may use credit, debit, or e-check 24/7 at the salemmo.com/city website by scrolling down and clicking on “Online Utility Payments.”

Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams has reported on the County Aid Road Trust (CART) funds received by the county for the month of August 2026. The CART Tax funds received are utilized within the county for the construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repairs of roads, bridges and highways, as directed by the county commission. For the month of August, the county has received $94,532.44. This is up year to date $42,730.31 or a percentage increase of 6.3%.

The North Wood R-IV Board of Education held its regular meeting the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 18th. After approval of the agenda, the Tax Rate Hearing was held with much discussion from the board. Superintendent Jeff Dodson presented tax rate information with concerns expressed for the district. The board approved setting the tax rate at $3.4584 for the 2026-27 school year. Regular business resumed. An update on facilities was shared, and a discussion of the strategic plan was held. The board approved the following: the ASBR; the local compliance plan; emergency drill schedule; and the professional development plan for the 2026-27 school year. Dodson informed the board there was a small amendment to the stipend schedule for volleyball coaches. The board then went into closed session before adjourning. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the North Wood R-IV Board of Education will be Sept. 15th at 6:00 in the evening and is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has released that projects within Phelps County to rehabilitate six bridges over Interstate 44 is in the home stretch with three bridges complete, two to begin rehabilitation now, and the final bridge on schedule. Crews continue working toward reopening Phelps County Hwy. J over I-44 (Exit 169). While crews previously hoped to open the bridge Friday, Aug.14th, contractors working with MoDOT are now targeting this Friday to open the bridge to all traffic. Hwy. 72 (Kingshighway) over I-44 in Rolla (Exit 184) remains under construction. Crews rehabilitating the bridge deck uncovered more extensive deterioration than expected, adding additional time to the first phase of work. Crews have now moved to the next and final phase. As with the previous phase, westbound Kingshighway will remain closed during the second half of the project, while the bridge remains open to eastbound traffic. If no further deterioration is found, the contractor plans to reopen the roadway to westbound traffic in mid-October, weather permitting. Work on the final bridge in this project is the Phelps County Hwy. E bridge in Rolla at Exit 185. Crews plan to begin removing the sidewalk adjacent to the northbound lanes the week of Aug. 24th. Nighttime single-lane closures on Route E can be expected through early October. Flaggers will direct traffic nightly through the work zone.

The Intercounty Electric Cooperative (IECA) has released that it has contracted with Apex Right of Way LLC. to control the brush growing within the cooperative right-of-ways. Beginning around the first of September, Apex will be selectively applying a low-volume herbicide to the leaves of woody stemmed vegetation. All products used are registered with the EPA, have no grazing restrictions for animals and will not be applied in maintained yard areas. If you have any questions, please contact Apex at 870-448-2183. If you like to learn more about the cooperative’s right-of-way maintenance program, visit its website at ieca.coop and search “right-of-way maintenance.” To see a map of the areas Apex will be working within, visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/IntercountyElectric.

The MU Extension will be offering a free four-week virtual program designed for adults with diabetes or pre-diabetes. This program will take place on Wednesdays from noon to 2:00 beginning Oct. 14th and continuing through Nov. 4th. The program will take place over Zoom. Participants will learn about meal planning, label reading, physical activity, self-monitoring, goal-setting, and more. The program will also include recipe demonstrations, resources, and opportunities to connect with other participants and the instructor. Funding for this course has been received through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services diabetes program. For questions or to register for the course, contact 573-266-2701.