Local News – Thursday, June 1st, 2017
On May 31st, Dent County Deputies with Dent County Sheriff’s Office, Police Officers with the Salem Police Department, troopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Agents with FBI began investigating a possible abduction in Dent County. This investigation revealed a 13-year old female juvenile left with two males from a residence in rural Dent County. Family members became concerned that she had not left with the party she told them she was leaving with and contacted the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation identified two males, 19-year old Gregory Barton of Bunker, MO and his grandfather. The investigator’s determined that the juvenile and Barton were in a continuing romantic relationship that began on the Internet. At approximately 6:40 in the morning, deputies with the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and Troopers with Missouri State Highway Patrol located the juvenile at a residence in the 500 block of 5th Street in Bunker in Reynolds County, MO. Both subjects were transported back to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning. The juvenile was later released to her parents. As a result of this investigation, Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley has filed a complaint against Gregory Barton charging him with 1 count of Statutory Rape in the 1st Degree. Barton is being held in the Dent County jail in lieu of a $100,000 cash only bond.
The City of Salem has announced they are in the process of picking up downed limbs, branches and trees from the straight line winds from May 27th. City Administrator Ray Walden said the city is waiving its limb bundling policy due to amount of tree damages in the city. He did ask citizens to please drag their limbs to their curb for pickup as city crews cannot come on private property. Walden said the city crews will continue to pick up limbs through June 16th. At that time, he will re-evaluate the situation to see if the deadline needs to be extended. If you have limbs at the curb, please be patient and let the city workers get to your streets. If they still haven’t been removed by Monday, June 12th, please contact the city administrative offices at 729-4811. This service by the City of Salem is for the residents of the city only.
Five people died in traffic crashes over the 2017 Memorial Day weekend. Last year, 13 people were killed during the three-day weekend. During the counting period of 6:00 pm on Friday, May 26th, through 11:59 pm, Monday, May 29th, the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated 345 traffic crashes which included 128 injuries and all five fatalities. Troopers also arrested 107 people for driving while intoxicated and made 125 drug arrests. During the 2016 Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Patrol investigated 347 traffic crashes which included 128 injuries and six of the 13 fatalities. Last year, troopers arrested 135 people for driving while intoxicated. There were zero boating fatalities over the 2017 Memorial Day weekend. Marine operations troopers investigated 14 boating crashes involving seven injuries. Three people drowned over the 2017 Memorial Day holiday. Marine operations troopers arrested 20 boaters for boating while intoxicated and made six drug arrests. There were zero boating fatalities over the 2016 Memorial Day weekend. Troopers investigated 13 boating crashes involving eight injuries. There were no drownings. Troopers arrested 21 people for boating while intoxicated and made 71 drug arrests. Of the five traffic crash fatalities investigated by the Patrol, one occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit, area and the Troop B, Macon, area. Three fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring area.
The Dent County Open Youth Market Animal Jackpot Show will be held Saturday, June 3rd at the Commons on Highway 72 in Salem. Hogs weigh in starts at 7:00 am, goats, lambs and steer will follow and the show will begin at 9:00 am. The show is open to all youth age 5 to 21-years of age. Four Montana Silversmith Signature Trophy Buckles will be awarded for Grand Champions, Reserve Champions, Senior Showmanship and Junior Showmanship as well as a 1st place ribbon in each weight division class. For late entries, a list of rules or for more information, contact Bambi Merrifield at 729-2234 or Marsha Fenton at 739-4563.
The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of April. During the month, they wrote three equipment repair orders, two summons to appear in court, 23 warning tickets, and 22 traffic tickets. The Salem Police Department investigated 14 accidents, two assaults, one burglary, one report of counterfeiting, one report of domestic assault, four reports of domestic violence, two reports of driving while intoxicated, five reports of driving while having a license revoked and/or suspended, one report of endangering the welfare of a child, one report of failure to appear, one report of harassment, and one report of leaving the scene of an accident. The department also investigated four reports of property damage, one report of resisting and/or interfering with an arrest, 12 reports of stealing, and two reports of tampering with a victim. They investigated one report of possession of a controlled substance, one report of possession of heroin, five reports of possession of marijuana, one report of possession of methamphetamine, and one report of possession of drug paraphernalia. The police department received 1,124 calls for service during the month, handled 105 walk-ins to the station, and redirected 36 calls to the animal control officer. They spent 26 hours in court testifying, and 10 hours as court bailiff. The Salem Police Department drove a total of 7,206 miles and arrested 20 males and 4 females during the month of April.