News – Thursday, June 5th 2025

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meeting tomorrow evening, at 6:00 at the Fire Station at #2 South Main in Salem. After the call to order and roll call the Board will approve the consent agenda which will include review of the minutes, financial report, bills and budget. The monthly reimbursement report will be reviewed followed by old business, which will include approval of Bylaws Revisions. New business will consist of review of insurance for the district. Chief Floyd will then report, and the date will be set for the next meeting. The Board may vote to go into closed session, which will be followed by adjournment. The regular meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors in open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports for May 23rd through 30th. On Friday the 23rd Deputies took a report of tires being dumped on County Road 6150. Suspect information was obtained, and the investigation is ongoing. Then on Saturday the 24th, Deputies took a report of a trailer that was stolen from the 2800 block of County Road 4050. The investigation is pending. On Memorial Day, the 26th, Deputies took a report of a shed burglary in the 1000 block of County Road 6160. The investigation is pending. Deputies took a report on Tuesday the 27th of a stolen Harley-Davidson motorcycle that occurred in the 200 block of County Road 4155. The investigation is pending. Then on Thursday the 29th Deputies took a report for a domestic assault that occurred in the 400 block of Private Lane 117. Suspect information was obtained, and the investigation is ongoing. That same day Deputies took a report for stolen property that occurred in the 18000 block of Highway C. The investigation is pending. The next day, Friday the 30th, Deputies conducted a traffic stop at Highway 72 and Highway H. During the stop, a 32-year-old Salem man was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241 if you have any information about an ongoing investigation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) urges drivers to be cautious and give turtles a break! These reptiles are often hit by cars during warmer months but are at special risk this time of year because they are more active. Common turtles spotted on roads include three-toed box turtles, ornate box turtles, red-eared sliders, painted turtles, Mississippi mud turtles, and even snapping turtles. Turtles emerge from their winter burrows and begin to hunt for food and mates during warm and wet conditions, which can lead them to cross roadways, oftentimes resulting in their death. Thousands of box turtles are killed each year by vehicles. Young males make up most of the travelers. They sometimes wander as many as six miles searching for territories and mates. Females are also crossing the roads in search of nesting areas. Turtles are ectothermic, or cold-blooded, and depend on external sources of heat to determine their body temperatures. This is why they are seen on warm asphalt during cool, spring days. Vehicles are one of the leading threats box turtles face in Missouri, and MDC encourages motorists to be cautious and slow down if they see a turtle in the road. If helping a turtle make it safely across, check for traffic and always move the turtle in the direction it is traveling. MDC also urges the public to leave turtles in the wild. Taking a wild animal, whether a turtle of other species, and keeping it as a pet normally ends in a slow death. Turtles have an extremely low survival rate if taken from their original habitat. Leave turtles in the wild, follow the speed limit, and keep your eyes on the road. For more information on Missouri’s turtles, visit the MDC online Field Guide at .mdc.mo.gov.

Join the Graham Cave State Park team for a journey through time as they celebrate World Atlatl Day Saturday, June 7th. From 9:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon, the Missouri Chapter of the World Atlatl Association will be on site to share this ancient throwing tool’s history and use. Predating the bow and arrow, humans first used the atlatl in the Upper Paleolithic Period, and archaeological evidence suggests that it was used around the world. If you have never heard of or used an atlatl, come learn how it’s done! Participants don’t need any prior experience, and there is no fee or registration requirement. Participants should bring a sun hat and wear closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and insect repellent. The event will take place at the Lower Day-Use Area Shelter in Graham Cave State Park. The park is located off I-70, between Kingdom City and St. Louis, on Highway TT two miles west of Highway 161 at exit 170 in Danville. For more information about the event, call Graham Cave State Park at 573-564-3476. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.