News – Tuesday, January 13th 2026

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will meet this evening, at 6:00 at the Fire Station at #2 South Main. After the Call to Order and Roll Call will be the approval of the Consent Agenda, which includes review of previous meeting minutes, the financial report and approval of bills, plus the budget review. In Old Business the Board will address the Fidelity (CTI) Tower Lease.  In New Business the Board will consider FF 1&2 Program, Candidates for FF Training School, Chief Spending Limit, and Training Equipment Quotes. Chief Thomas will give his report, which will include the Monthly Reimbursement Report, followed by the setting of the date for the next meeting and closed session, if necessary, before adjournment. The regular meeting of the DCFPD Board of Directors is open to the public.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will meet this evening at 5:30 at 202 N. Washington in the Old City Hall Auditorium. The meeting will open with a workshop to discuss the Old City Hall’s auditorium, basement, and kitchen, then proceed with the regularly scheduled meeting. Following approval of the agenda, and consent agenda, the board will hear any public comments, followed by a presentation from the U.S. Small Business Administration. After the presentation the board will hear the project discussion for rebuilding the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s effluent pumps, as well as a request to approve a sewer trailer repair/rebuild presented by Public Works Director Steve Paine. Resolution 1-2026, an agreement between the City of Salem and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will also be voted on. The board will hear the first reading of Bill NO. 3695 regarding the Mid-Year budget adjustments, from Finance Director Stacy Houston. After the reports of city officials the Board of Aldermen will enter executive session to discuss legal matters. The meeting tonight of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen 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 grading will be done on Dent County Roads 4090 and 5450 with rock being added on those roads where needed. Grading will also begin on county road 2400 with brush being cut on county road 5680. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 4030 while only grading would be done on county roads 4480, 5330 and 5333. Williams stated brush would be cut on county road 2313 and maintenance work is being done on tractor #9. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson stated Thursday he attended Phelps County Public Housing Authority meeting where they went over their financial reports as well as their audit. At the MRPC External Relations Committee meeting, they discussed state and legislative priorities for the upcoming year; and finally, at the MRPC meeting Thursday, a number of state and federal office representatives were in attendance to hear about concerns in the region. Larson reported the IDA Board would be meeting Wednesday at 6:00 at the Salem Public Library. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said her office balanced with the collector and assessor for the month of December on all collections, abatements, and add-ons; and her office balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the 2025 fiscal year. Curley also stated the tentative preliminary budget will be ready for the public to pick up after 10:00 today at the clerk’s office or call them at 573-729-4144 and have the budget e-mailed to you. At the last meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the January tax money received from the state. The General Revenue and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Funds each received $96,745.48, which was up from funds received in December of 2025. The Road and Bridge Fund received $48,372.69, and that’s up from December 2025 totals. Williams reported both Jail Funds received $97,096.82, which was also up from December 2025 totals. Dent County Health Center Administrator Zach Moser gave its monthly report, and Deputy Derrick Marfitt told the commission he had created the Mid-Missouri Emergency Solutions, LLC that could perform emergency management duties for the county. The commission is waiting on legal counsel to review the contract. 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 Missouri Department of Conservation is asking the public for help and Operation Game Thief is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the poacher or poachers who illegally shot and left an adult bull elk as waste at Peck Ranch Conservation Area in southern Missouri on Tuesday, November 25th. Visitors driving through the area on Wednesday, November 26th, first reported the animal’s location to the conservation department. Conservation agents immediately responded and began investigating the scene for evidence. Agents noted the animal was lying in an open field about 40 yards off of Trail 1 and had a bullet hole in its left shoulder. Tire tracks were also visible entering the field toward the elk, then circling back to the gravel trail and aggressively spinning away from the scene. A December 1st social-media post on the incident by MDC generated photographs of the elk from two sources. The first individual had photographed the elk peacefully grazing in the field at 5:15 the afternoon of November 25th. The second had photographed the elk dead in the field at 8:05 in the morning on November 26th. Conservation agents noted that this was not a case of someone hunting legally and somehow mistaking the elk for a deer. Missouri’s Operation Game Thief hotline is (800) 392-1111 and they are asking anyone with any information related to this investigation to call. Callers may remain anonymous.