News – Tuesday, August 25th, 2026

An accident occurred in Phelps County Saturday evening at approximately 8:05 in the 600 Block of West James Boulevard in St. James. According to the Highway Patrol report a westbound 2019 Dodge Charger St. James Police Department Patrol Car, operated by a 27-year-old St. James man, began making a U-Turn to stop a violator and struck a 2018 Ford Taurus, driven by a 26-year-old St. James man. Both vehicles came to rest off of the left side of the roadway. The driver of the Dodge Charger suffered minor injuries and was transported to Phelps Health by personal conveyance. The report stated that both drivers were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled while the Dodge sustained moderate damage. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Spurgeons.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting and annual Tax Rate Hearing Monday morning at the courthouse. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green shared that crew members would be brush cutting on County Road 6485, and grading, hauling rock and clay, and installing a pipe on County Road 6490. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams shared that crew members would be cutting brush on both County Road 3180 and 3140. Crew members continue working on County Road 2270, to include replacing a pipe. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported that he may be absent the next few meetings in order to attend a family member’s funeral. County Clerk Angie Curley reported that payroll and bills are to be approved. Moving on to the Tax Rate Hearing, the General Revenue tax rate for 2025 was $0.0357; for 2026, the commissioners approved an increase to $0.0452. The Road and Bridge Fund tax rate was approved to remain at $0.2553. The Developmental Disability Board, or SB40, took a voluntary rollback from $0.1343 to $0.1341. The Senior Citizen Service Fund tax rate for 2026 was approved to remain the same at $0.0481. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be at 9:00 in the morning Thursday at the courthouse and will be open to the public.

The Dent-Phelps R-III Board of Education met for its regular meeting and Tax Rate Hearing Thursday evening. The proposed tax levy of $2.75 was approved. After approval of the agenda and consent agenda, CTA presented survey data and goal-setting for the upcoming school year. The food services report from the 2025-26 school year was discussed and approved. Superintendent Karla Tiefenthaler provided updates on facilities, sharing that Brown Heating & Cooling has completed services on the HVAC. Additionally, Meramec Fire and Safety has completed fire extinguisher inspection and repairs of the fire suppression system in the kitchen, alongside installation of portable extinguishers to the diesel storage tank area and bus barn. Bus inspection results were also presented, with a certificate awarded from MSHP for 90% or higher approval rating for the 2026 bus inspection program. Tiefenthaler shared that a $40,000 grant has been received by the school from DELSA Foundation to be utilized for student technology upgrades. The Vector Bus Driver/Safety Compliance Training was tabled until a later date. The District Emergency Operation Plan Board of Education Commitment was approved. The evening custodial job description was also updated, as presented. The board then voted to move into closed session for the discussion of personnel, during which the board approved hiring Robin Blackwell as building aide for the 2026-27 school year. The next regular meeting of the Dent-Phelps R-III Board of Education will be Sept. 17th at 6:00 in the evening and is open to the public.

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. In Dent County, bridge maintenance is scheduled to begin this week over Pigeon Creek north of Montauk. 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. All three of these projects are scheduled for completion in September this year. In Phelps County, preventative maintenance is scheduled from Hwy. 68 in Phelps County to Hwy. 28 in Gasconade County, with one lane to remain open. Bridge rehabilitation continues over I-44 with the bridge at Business Loop 44/Hwy. 72/Kingshighway closed to all westbound traffic. Bridge rehabilitation also continues over Little Piney Creek near Yancy Mills, alongside the bridge on 10th Street in Rolla.

The Salem Memorial Hospital (SMH) invites the community to help welcome the new Chief Executive Officer Brent Peirick to Salem. Monday, Aug. 24th marks Peirick’s first day with the SMH team. Originally from O’Fallon, Mo., Peirick brings rural healthcare leadership experience to the hospital, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Mo. Beyond his healthcare experience, Peirick is looking forward to becoming part of Salem. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors, fishing, and hanging out with his two dogs, Martin and Nelly. Welcome to SMH and to Salem, Brent Peirick!

The Phelps County Public Housing Agency is seeking landlords for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly known as Section 8. Landlords are needed in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps and Washington counties. The program assists low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities afford decent, safe and sanitary rental housing from private landlords. Some of the benefits of accepting Housing Choice Vouchers include a large pool of potential tenants, guaranteed rental income, free advertising of available units, lower vacancies and unit oversight by qualified housing inspectors. Currently, there are 173 families with Housing Choice Vouchers in the Meramec Region searching for approved housing and another 415 families on the waiting list. For more information, contact Donald Keeney at 573-265-4200 ext. 128 or dkeeney@meramecregion.org.