News – Tuesday, December 2nd 2025

An accident occurred Sunday evening at 8:15 in Phelps County on Highway F 1.5 miles east of Highway 72. According to the Highway Patrol report an eastbound 2014 Ford F150 driven by a 20-year-old Salem male traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a group of small trees. The Ford continued traveling through a yard, struck a residence and overturned. The driver suffered minor injuries, while a 17-year-old Salem female passenger suffered moderate injuries. Both were taken by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital. The report stated that the male driver was not wearing a safety restraint, while the female passenger was. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by D&D Towing.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said brush would be cut in the Bunker area and work crews will be out checking for clogged culverts and crossover pipes. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams was not in attendance due to a prior engagement, so road supervisor Travis Turner gave the road report. He said brush was being cut on Dent County Roads 2160, 3220 and 3230. Turner also indicated crews were getting county truck #72 ready for winter conditions by installing the salt spreader. He went on to state that crews were also gathering wood for the furnace at the road and bridge shed. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the commission attended the Missouri Association of Counties meeting last week where MAC priorities were established for the next year, plus the county heard from MAC Attorney Travis Elliott. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley was re-elected to the MAC Board representing the 16th District. She stated some priorities for 2026 were going to be about property taxes, community development, justice and mental health as well as transportation and communication just to name a few. The commission then approved the agreement to pay their share of the cost of the public defender’s office rent with Russell Land Development Company along with six other counties at 901 North Pine Street in Rolla. The agreement was for two years. At the last meeting, Brad Smith from Omega Concrete Solutions came in to discuss sidewalk penetration sealant protection for the new sidewalks that will be installed around the courthouse in 2026. The cost for the protection is 65 cents per square foot. The commission likes the idea but will check into it further before deciding on it. Also, Emergency Management Director Derrick Marfitt came in to update the commission on the county generator, and everything has been taken care of. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting will be open to the public.

Salem R-80 Superintendent Nathan Wills has posted on the Salem R80’s social media, that the school district is hosting a board member workshop this afternoon at 5:30 in the Central Office. During the workshop you will learn about the requirements and responsibilities of a school board member followed up with a Q&A session. The Central Office is located at 1409 West Rolla Road. For more information you can contact the office at (573) 729-6642.

The Dent County Salary Commission met Thursday afternoon, November 20th at the Judicial Building. Dent County elected officials at the meeting included Angie Curley, Denita Williams, Shannon VanKirk, Gary Larson, Cindy Ard, Alisa Brookshire, Andrew Curley, Ben Pursifull, Sherida Cook, Keith Green and Jimmy Williams. Sheriff Bob Wells was unable to attend. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson was elected chairman of the meeting. The financial report provided by Treasurer Denita Williams showed the total funds from the major accounts of the county came to $9,553,782.02 and the commission accept the report. Currently, the county is at 100% of the assessed valuation salary by state statute for all office holders and the salary commission voted for it to remain at 100%. The commission then discussed cost-of-living increases. The commission approved a COLA increase of up to 4% to become effective January 1st, 2026, and be applied uniformly across the board for everyone, and for the future with the determinations authorized by the commission during the budget process. The commission also discussed SB1 which allows all coroners to get an additional $14,000 in salary which would take effect January of 2029. The commission approved increasing the county coroner’s salary by $14,000 beginning January 1st, 2029. The salary commission meeting was then adjourned.