News – Wednesday, January 14th 2026

The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) of Dent County will meet tonight at 6:00 in the Salem Public Library Meeting Room. After the call to order will be the approval of the agenda followed by the approval of the minutes. The IDA will consider the status of member appointments of Dean Jones, Camron Erway and Lori Plank, which will be followed by the review of financial statements for the period ending December 31st, 2025. The board will approve payment of bills including the City of Salem Economic Development for $1,500 for October, November, and December 2025, plus $1,500 for January, February, and March of 2026. The IDA Board will hear a report from Economic Development Director Carrie Sutterfield, plus consider other business that may come before the board. Prior to adjournment the IDA may vote to go into closed session to discuss real estate.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting tomorrow at 5:00 in the R-80 Board Room. After the Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance the Board will approve the agenda and the consent agenda. Salem High School students will receive recognition. In the Superintendent’s Report CSIP Goals will be addressed in all reports. Administration reports will be heard from William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Athletics and Activities, Special Education, Technology, Maintenance, and Transportation. In new business, the Board is to approve a conflict-of-interest ordinance. No Transfers, Hires, or Resignations/Retirements are scheduled to be considered. The Board will enter executive session, followed by adjournment after returning to open session. The regular meeting of the Salem R80 Board of Education is open to the public.

The Internal Revenue Service has announced tax relief for individuals and businesses in parts of Missouri affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that began on March 30th, 2025. These taxpayers now have until March 30th, 2026, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. Following the disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), individuals and households that reside or have a business in these counties in our area qualify for the tax relief. They are Iron, Maries, Reynolds, Shannon and Texas counties. As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until March 30th, 2026, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period. The March 30th, 2026, deadline applies to individual income tax returns and payments normally due on or after March 30th, 2025, and before March 30th, 2026; and 2025 contributions to IRAs and health savings accounts for eligible taxpayers. This relief also applies to the estimated tax payments normally due on or after March 30th, 2025, and before March 30th, 2026. Penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after March 30th, 2025, and before April 14th, 2025, will be abated as long as the tax deposits were made by April 14th, 2025. In addition, quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on July 31th, 2025, October 31st, 2025, and January 31st, 2026, are postponed until March 30th, 2026, for affected businesses. If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty. The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area should call the IRS Special Services toll-free number at 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief. Tax practitioners in the covered disaster area, who maintain records necessary to meet a filing or payment deadline for taxpayers located outside the disaster area, may contact the IRS Special Services; if the practitioner maintains the necessary records of ten or more clients, please refer to Bulk requests from practitioners for disaster relief for additional guidance. Again, this tax relief is only for those in Iron, Maries, Reynolds, Shannon and Texas counties.

The Department of Revenue announced recently that vehicles produced in or after 2016 are exempt from required safety inspections, however the department highlighted that the vehicles must have less than 150,000 miles. Newer vehicles still require the ID/OD Check (VIN & odometer verification) when applicable. The Department also sent a notice stating that the vehicle registration and safety requirements remain unaltered, and drivers should continue following existing inspection laws. For more information and to learn about other exemptions visit the Department of Revenue’s website at dor.mo.gov.