News – Wednesday, March 19th 2025

According to the Salem Police Department, the City of Salem will be testing the Storm Sirens this morning at 10:00.  If there is any inclement weather the test will be postponed to Wednesday, the 26th.

At the Dent County Commission meeting Monday morning, Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson as well as District 1 and 2 Commissioners, Keith Green and Jimmy Williams, wanted to thank all the first responders, Intercounty Electric and all the fire departments for their assistance in controlling and putting out the fire in northeastern Dent County. Marsha Geninatti was in attendance about an altered check from the Collector’s office and was told by the Missouri Attorney General’s office to take her concern to the commissioners. The commission told her she would need to talk with the collector directly about the issue as they have no control over the operations of her office except when it came time to prepare the budget. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Green said grading will occur on Dent County Road 6090, and crews will try to get to all the roads used during the rally over the weekend, but that may take a couple of days as crews will have to fix a tire on one of the graders before it can be used. Rock may also be added to the race routes where needed. Brush could be cut on county road 6300 if they can get the brush-cutter welded. District 2 Commissioner Williams said patch grading will be done on the hills on Dent County Roads 2330 and 3334, while grading will be done on county road 3180. Williams said rock will be added to county roads 2330, 3180, 4330 and 4340, and crews will also be checking the roads used during the road rally for any needed repairs. Commissioner Larson said he attended the South Central County Commissioner Association meeting in Houston Friday and reported there is very little movement on Senate Bill 57 concerning sales tax on groceries. He also attended the MRPC meeting Thursday and heard from Michael King from Vesper Energy for Vichy Solar. The project is designed to create long-term economic growth for Maries County. Over the life of the project, it is expected to bring in millions of dollars in tax revenue which directly benefits the community, local schools, and other organizations most in need. Larson attended the Ozark Solid Waste Management Board meeting Tuesday.  He also apologized for not having the flag out Friday as there is a ball bearing out on the pulley. He said that is being repaired and flag should be flying everyday, but it will be harder to raise and lower the flag. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the excused absentee voting for the Municipal Election continues through April 7th, and non-excused absentee voting will begin on March 25th. The last day to have ballot mailed out will be March 26th, and her office will be open for absentee voting on Saturday, April 5th from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon. Curley also said the voting equipment public test will be April 1st at 9:00 in the morning. At the last meeting, Dent County Health Department Director Zach Moser updated the commissioners with their monthly update. Also last Thursday, the commissioners visited the William Lynch Elementary School to look at their stair chairlift. Custom Home Elevators of St. Louis installed that one and after being called by Commissioner Larson, they will have representative here March 24th. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) returned to the Branson Convention Center in March for its 2025 Annual Conference after a 5-year hiatus following the country’s shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic. A record 900 Missourians made themselves at home in the convention center for most of the four-day event. This year’s participants included city council and district board members, managers, office professionals, water and wastewater specialists, spouses, vendors, and MRWA board and staff members. At the conference, numerous water system representatives from distant parts of the state brought water samples to compete for one of the top spots in the MRWA Show-Me-Tap-Water-Roundup. Preliminary judging at the conference narrowed the field to five finalists. Those samples selected as superior in the three judging categories of clarity, bouquet, and taste were from four municipalities and a subdivision. The top five were the City of Berger, the City of Koshkonong, the City of Salem, the City of Waverly and the Stonebridge West Subdivision. Water specialists from these systems will bring a quart of water to the MRWA Open House on April 23rd for final judging. The ultimate winner will receive an MRWA WaterDrop trophy and represent Missouri in the 2026 NRWA Great American Water Taste Test, competing against entries from all other states. The winner also receives from MRWA, flight and hotel accommodation for two system representatives to attend this event in Washington, D.C.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has temporarily closed the license office in Rolla, located at 1038 S. Bishop, due to storm damage sustained on March 15. A reopening date has not yet been determined. Customers needing motor vehicle and driver licensing services are encouraged to visit nearby offices, including here in Salem, local residents should be aware that this could increase wait times. While utility and internet services are being restored in Rolla, local residents unaffected can access online services for license plate renewals, check registration renewal requirements, or use the Department’s chatbot “DORA”, for assistance. Additionally, vehicle and watercraft registrations can be renewed by calling (573) 751-1957, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.