News – Wednesday, July 29th, 2026

The Salem R-80 High School will be holding walk-in registrations today from 8:00 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening for anyone needing a device or internet connection to complete their online registration for the upcoming school year. Enter through the High School Library’s doors. If you have already done registration or plan to do registration on your own device, you do not need to attend.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has updated the Missouri Flood & Drought app to include boundaries and labels for all 93 state parks and historic sites, making location tracking seamless for visitors. Developed over three years, this free app uses a statewide network of streamgages and soil-moisture sensors to deliver real-time water level data and local weather impacts. Users can set custom alerts for nearby streams to receive safety notifications and plan safe routes during flooding events. Track stream levels, water velocity, and soil saturation directly on the app or desktop at mohic.hub.arcgis.com. For mobile download, visit Google Play or App Store and search “Missouri Flood & Drought.”

Healthy Dent County and Titan Paving & Yard Drainage invites the community to an unforgettable evening of music, laughter, and audience participation at its Dueling Pianos Fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 7th at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The event will feature The Flying Ivories, an exciting dueling-piano act that combines live music, comedy, sing-alongs, and audience requests. Guests are encouraged to gather their friends and prepare for a lively evening filled with favorite hits and nonstop entertainment. Line Dancing and Karaoke will also be part of this fun evening. Doors are to open at 5:30 in the evening and the show will be from 6:30 to 9:30 in the evening. A VIP table for six is $250, and individual tickets are $25. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. There will be concessions and a cash bar at the event. For more information about The Flying Ivories, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/flyingivories. For event questions, call 573-729-8163 or email Jackie@SalemCommunityCenter.org.

As families head outdoors with warmer weather, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds everyone to appreciate wildlife from a distance this summer. Young wildlife that may appear orphaned or abandoned may have a mother nearby watching and waiting for humans to leave before they return. If you encounter wildlife that may be injured or you suspect may be truly orphaned, contact your local MDC office before taking any action. Picking up, feeding, or attempting to care for wild animals disrupts their natural behaviors and may violate state wildlife laws. In addition, Missouri law prohibits the possession of many species of wild animals without a valid permit. To report concerns about wild animals, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov or contact your local MDC office.

The Missouri Geological Survey will identify and map the location of historic landslides in southeastern Missouri through a grant recently awarded by the U.S. Geological Survey. The study area will be along the I-55 corridor through the Benton Hills area of Scott and Cape Girardeau counties. The Missouri Geological Survey will release maps and other data generated through the study to the public in the fall of 2027. Future goals of the effort include building on this project with available funding to conduct additional landslide studies in other areas of Missouri. The study’s funding, in the amount of $39,106, comes from the U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program. 

The Salem Police Department has released that Patrolman Jonathan Stroot has graduated from East Central College’s Police Academy after completing nearly 700 hours of intensive training. This milestone reflects Patrolman Stroot’s unwavering dedication, perseverance, and commitment to serving the citizens of Salem with honor, integrity, and professionalism.  

To mark this summer’s biggest meteor shower, the Perseids, Elephant Rocks State Park will be open to the public for a rare after-dark event on Friday, Aug. 14th from 8:00 to midnight. If you like stargazing or light shows and are able to brave the August bugs and heat, visit the park to create a lifelong memory. Elephant Rocks State Park is located at 7406 Highway 21, Belleview. This viewing event is free and open to the public; there is no need to register. Park staff will be available to direct you to the best and safest areas to view the shower. You do not need to use any viewing devices to see the shower, but you are welcome to bring your own devices if you want. Attendees are expected to be respectful of others and should avoid excessive noise and use of artificial light. No tents or other invasive camping equipment such as lanterns or propane heaters will be allowed, but you can bring portable chairs for seating and blankets to keep warm. Absolutely no campfires will be allowed. If there is bad weather, the event will be moved to Saturday, Aug. 15th, 8:00 to midnight.