News – Wednesday, June 17th, 2026

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees will be holding its monthly board meeting at 5:00 in the evening Thursday at the Dent County Health Center Annex Building at 1014 E. Scenic Rivers Boulevard in the Conference Room. The tentative agenda includes the approval of the previous meeting minutes. Under old business, the board will be presented the operations reports, administrator’s report, and will consider the approval of the financial reports. Under new business, the board will be presented a continuity planning proposal. The board will then vote to close part of this meeting. Then, the board will adjourn. Until closed, the meeting is open to the public.

The North Wood R-IV School District has released that it has been selected as this year’s district award recipient for the Dr. Mary Miller Richter Award. In honor of Mary Richter, Ph.D., Missouri’s founding Director of the Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support (SW-PBS) initiative, one school and one school district is honored annually that exemplifies the ideals, principles, and practices of positive behavior support. The award recipients demonstrate a firm commitment to improving the lives of students, the educators who teach them, and the community in which the school resides through innovation, creativity, and/or a firm commitment in staying the course despite barriers. Congratulations to the dedicated staff at North Wood R-IV for their much deserved recognition for their commitment to building a positive culture for students!

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repair. LIHEAP can help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer through programs that reduce the risk of health and safety problems that arise from unsafe heating and cooling situations and practices. This summer, LIHEAP might be able to help you by helping to pay your cooling bills; providing assistance to service, repair, or replace an air conditioner; helping with the purchase of an air conditioner; distributing or loaning air conditioning units or air source heat pumps; or establishing or providing transportation to a cooling center. If you or someone you know needs help with cooling bills, LIHEAP may be able to help. For more information, visit energyhelp.us, email energyassistance@ncat.org, or call 866-674-6327, weekdays from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the evening.

The Dent County Toy Drive will be holding its 6th annual Christmas in July fundraiser on Saturday, July 25th at the Dent County Commons. Vendors are wanted with outdoor spots still available. Indoor spots are full. This is a special year for the toy drive as it will be celebrating its 50th anniversary serving children in Dent County. Royal Oak Enterprises will be catering delicious pulled pork, and Backwoods Productions DJ will be keeping the music going throughout the event. As always, attendees will be able to enjoy a free kids carnival, car show, craft show, and poker run. To learn more or apply to be a vendor, visit the Dent County Toy Drive Facebook page at facebook.com/TheDentCountyToyDrive.

Four constitutional amendments will be seen on the August 4th Primary Election ballot. Amendment 1 – If approved by the voters, continues for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites. Amendment 2 – if approved by voters, requires that all charter counties, including Jackson County, elect a county assessor and that such assessors comply with training requirements established by state law. Amendment 4 – if approved by voters, modifies current requirements that a simple statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution, requires a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution, and makes available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot. Amendment 5 – if approved by voters, requires the phase out and elimination of the individual income tax based on revenue growth, requires the reduction of property taxes and other local taxes to offset any local sales tax revenue increases, while preserving local funding for public schools. The last day to register to vote for the Primary Election is July 8th. Excused absentee voting at the Dent County Clerk’s Office will begin June 23rd and continue through August 3rd. No excuse absentee voting will begin July 21st. To stay up to date on upcoming deadlines and voting information, be sure to follow the Dent County Elections Facebook page by searching Facebook for “Dent County Elections/County Clerk-Angie Curley.” For more information, visit the Missouri Secretary of State website at sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri.