News – Tuesday, October 27th, 2026

A Salem resident was involved in an accident Sunday afternoon at approximately 12:30 in Shannon County on County Road 427 four miles Southeast of Summersville. According to the Highway Patrol report, a northbound 2008 KIA Sedona, driven by a 31-year-old male, ran off the roadway and struck a tree. The man suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Mercy Life Line to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. The report stated that it was unknown whether the man was wearing a safety restraint. The KIA sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Baker’s Towing at the trooper’s request.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be holding its regular bi-monthly meeting on tonight beginning at 6:00 in the evening in the Old City Hall Auditorium. The consent agenda for the evening contains previous meeting minutes, financial updates from the Missouri Department of Revenue, and several records to be approved for destruction. The board will discuss a tabled item from the meeting of Oct. 13th regarding the building of an outdoor library box proposed for Craig Plaza from Virginia Lamb, a representative of the VFW Post 6280. Bids to be discussed include a Wastewater Treatment Plant lab testing bid and bids for the rehabilitation of Well No. 6. Under new and miscellaneous business, the board will discuss and consider approval of legislative priorities for the city. The board will then consider approval of, after a first and second reading, a task order with Toth and Associates, Inc. for the Bass Lake Development sanitary sewer analysis. The board will then adjourn. The meeting will be open to the public. The meeting can also be watched streamed live or recorded at the official city YouTube channel located at youtube.com/@CityofSalemMissouri.

The Dent County Commission met for its regular meeting Monday morning at the courthouse. County Clerk Angie Curley appointed District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams as acting presiding commissioner in the absence of Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson. Under road reports, District One Commissioner Keith Green reported that grading is planned for county roads 6090 and 5615. Hauling rock is also planned for County Road 6090, and cutting brush is planned for County Road 6300. A grader is down and in need of maintenance for district one, Green stated. For district two, Williams reported that grading is planned for county roads 2120, 5240, and 5250. Hauling rock is also planned for county roads 5240 and 2120. Cutting brush is planned for county roads 5245 and 4350. Curley reported that no excuse absentee voting will continue through Nov. 2nd with the county clerk’s office open from Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 4:30 in the afternoon. This coming Saturday, the county clerk’s office will be open for no excuse absentee voting from 8:00 to noon. On Monday, Nov. 2nd, the office will be open from 8:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon. On Election Day, Nov. 3rd, voters will need to go to their individual polling locations which will be open from 6:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening. The commissioners also approved seeking propane bids for the courthouse. Those bids will be opened on Monday, Nov. 9th at 10:00 in the morning. Resident Brandon Snyder finished preparing a county road built off of H Hwy. to specifications of the commissioners. The commissioners approved the reception of the deed providing 2,284 feet of new road to the county. Additionally, a representative of CAT, Matt Lloyd, presented and discussed bids for two new graders. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk gave notice that the new website for customers to pay tax bills is now live. Tax bills will be available for payment on the website beginning Nov. 1st. Customers will be able to make payments on taxes, look up taxes, and print their past taxes through the website dentcountycollector.com. A resident also visited the commissioners and provided compliments to road graders for the work done on County Road 4020. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday, Oct. 29th from 9:00 to noon and will be open to the public.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety reminds both new and seasoned drivers that you must stop for school buses and, with the passage of Senate Bill 1421 earlier this year, any driver convicted of an offense of failing to stop for a school bus that is receiving or discharging students shall be assessed five points. In addition, a driver found guilty of the offense is also subject to further ramifications. For the first offense, a driver’s license suspension and a fine of at least $500. For the second offense within five years, a driver’s license suspension for 90 days and a fine of at least $1,000. For the third or subsequent offense within five years, a driver’s license suspension for 180 days and a fine of at least $1,500. Remember, yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicle. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off.  Drivers must stop their vehicle before they reach the bus and wait until the lights stop flashing, the extended stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving (or the bus driver signals to proceed) before they can start driving again. For more information, visit savemolives.com/mcrs/school-bus-safety.

Scenic Rivers Industries (SRI), the sheltered workshop of Dent County, will be holding its 2nd annual Haunted House this Friday and Saturday. Both days will be from 6:00 to 9:00 in the evening at the Dent County Commons. Come on out and enjoy a spooky evening and concessions!