News – Tuesday, August 19th 2025

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting this evening at 6:00 in the Auditorium located at 202 N. Washington St to discuss Resolution No. 24-2025 regarding a donation of property by the City of Salem to the Housing Authority of the City of Salem for the development of 40 affordable housing units. This meeting is open to the public. 

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said materials would be added where needed and grading done on Dent County Roads 4080, 5450, 5460 and 5465. He indicated brush would be cut on county road 5600, and the Blevins Paving will be doing chip and seal patching on county roads 5015, 5080 and 5085. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported workers will be adding rock and grading on Dent County Roads 2120 and 4405, while only grading will be done on county roads 2130, 4400 and 5260. Williams said brush will be cut on county roads 2075. and 2080. He also stated that a grader blade will be changed out on grader #42. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson attended the TAC meeting, External Relations Committee meeting and regular MRPC meeting Thursday in St. James. Larson reported it was announced that Federal Land Access Program funds are available for low-water crossings adjacent to federal forest land and it is a 100% reimbursement. He said they have three million dollars available. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported on the Missouri Association of Counties Board meeting she attended last week. She said there were discussions about the lack of newspaper publications in some rural areas to meet the required public notice laws, discussion on mental health programs, the need of a rural transportation system, received a report from Trent Watson on legislative issues, heard about state redistricting, heard about petition reform, heard about educating 9-1-1 operators using artificial intelligence, and also heard from attorney Travis Elliott about the Supreme Court decision on marijuana tax issues passed by cities and counties and how the taxes are to be collected. At the last meeting, the commission approved County Surveyor Elwood to move forward with the remonumentation of eight county corners. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department will be testing the storm sirens this Wednesday morning at 10:00. If there is inclement weather, the test will be postponed to the following Wednesday morning, the 27th, at 10:00.

The Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board for Salem and Dent County will hold its annual meeting on Thursday evening August 21st at 5:00 at the Salem Community Center – The Armory in the Rotary Room. The tentative agenda is as follows call to order, approval of agenda items, approval of last years minutes, review and approval of annual filing statement. Other business includes EEZ recertification and City of Salem Mo Economic Development Director.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting Thursday at 5:30 in the R-80 Board Room. After the Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance the Board will approve the agenda followed by a vote to appoint a Board Member to fill a vacancy. The Board will then approve an appointee to serve until the April election. The consent agenda will be approved followed by communications. In the Superintendent’s Report CSIP Goals will be addressed in all reports, updates will be shared on the FEMA building, the Football Field drainage, parking lots and roofs. Administration reports will be heard from William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Athletics and Activities, Special Education, Technology, and Maintenance. In new business, after the second reading the board will approve the MSBA policy updates to leaves and vacation, the First Student Transportation contract for ECSE, the LTE & Public Placement Fund Addendum, and the 2024-2025 Annual Secretary of the Board report. The Board will address the hiring of Sarah Wells ECSE personal aide, Heather Whitlock classroom paraprofessional at UE, Lynn Mast aide, and Codee Sagdalen UE aide, plus the resignation/retirement of Molly Toothaker WL paraprofessional. There will be a tax rate presentation followed by public comments and adoption. The Board will enter closed session to discuss personnel, followed by adjournment after returning to open session. The regular meeting of the Salem R80 Board of Education is open to the public.

This upcoming Sunday and Monday from 5:30 in the evening until 8:00 join Terrie Welch in a two day Barn Quilt class. You will draw a quilt block design of your choice on a sanded and primed 2’x2′ piece of plywood. You will then tape off areas to create sharp-edged lines and paint it with chosen colors of house paint.  When you finish, you will want to take and proudly gift it or display it on your barn or home! The class is for participants 13-years-old and older. The cost is $55 per person and all supplies are included. To sign up, go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then Creative Arts Center.