News – Wednesday, March 12th 2025

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse and Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received in March. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $90,216.64 in March which is $175.53 more than March of 2024. Those funds year-to-date are both down $470.34 from 2024 last year. The Road and Bridge Fund received $44,976.84 in March and that is up $6,328.61 over March of 2024; and year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $6,996.96. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $90,367.52 this March and that is up $12,778.98 over March of 2024. Year-to-date, the jail funds are both up $14,115.54. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5015 and 5520, while brush will be cut on county road 5400 after repairs are made to the Mantis brush cutter. Green said grading would also be done on county roads 6630 and 6633. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers would be installing a driveway crossover pipe on Dent County Road 5240 and materials will be added to the road. Williams said brush would be cut on county roads 4280 and grading was going to be done on county roads 2330, 2380 and 4060. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the county issued a burn ban Friday after conferring with the Dent County Fire Protection District due to the high winds, but they have canceled that ban as of Monday morning. Larson went on to say the commissioners met with FEMA Tuesday, at the Dent County Fire House and on Friday, there will be a South Central County Commissioners meeting in Houston. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said excused absentee voting continues through April 7th and the last day to register for the Municipal Election will be today. She also said that House Bill 352 passed that modified the annual financial statement publishing requirements for counties to a summary form that will save money for counties. The financial statements will have to be published in the paper by June 30th. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk talked with the commission about creating an application soon for those who want to apply for the senior citizen real estate tax credits through Senate Bill 190 which is the Homestead Credit Bill. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Salem R-80 High School Senior Matthew Parks has been selected for “Honorable Mention” in the prestigious 2025 Missouri Scholars 100 program. This statewide initiative recognizes outstanding academic achievement, honoring Missouri’s top 100 graduating students. The announcement was made by Salem High School Principal Jody Heavin, recognizing the student’s exceptional commitment to academic excellence. Sponsored by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals, the Missouri Scholars 100 Program invites nominations from schools statewide. Selection is determined by a comprehensive formula incorporating the student’s grade point average, ACT or SAT scores, and participation in an “Academic Decathlon” encompassing ten events that assess the student’s academic prowess. To qualify, students must meet stringent criteria, including a minimum GPA of 3.750, a minimum ACT score of 29 (or a minimum SAT score of 1,280), ranking in the upper ten percent of their class, and enrollment in high-level courses in mathematics, science, English, and foreign language. Exemplary attendance, outstanding citizenship, and active participation in school activities are also essential. Executive Director of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals, Clark Mershon, states that the Missouri Scholars 100 Program stands as one of the premier academic recognition programs in the country, celebrating the dedication and success of students who have upheld the highest academic standards. This year marks the 31st Annual Missouri Scholars 100 recognition program, a testament to over three decades of honoring academic excellence. 

An accident happened in Phelps County at 4:18 Tuesday morning on Highway 8 about four miles south of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Dodge Durango driven eastbound by a 21-year-old man from Cook Station, traveled off the right side of the road and struck a mailbox. The driver then overcorrected causing the Dodge to travel off the left side of the road where it struck a tree and overturned. The driver from Cook Station suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the St. James EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Dodge was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. The man was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.