Local News – Wednesday, January 17th, 2018
The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board heard from Todd Kinerk who wanted to let the board know the Timber Fun Days would be returning this year to the Commons on Labor Day Monday, September 3rd. Prior to the fun days will be a parade on the normal parade route starting at 11:00 that morning from Franklin Street, down McArthur and then to the courthouse square on 4th Street. Kinerk said the event this year will be a Salem Chamber of Commerce event. The board approved the closing of the streets for the parade on Labor Day. Beverly Atchison was on the agenda to discuss trash collection but was unable to attend the meeting due to the weather. She may request to be on the agenda for the next meeting. After the consent agenda was approved by the board, City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to remind citizens that if the conditions warrant, the city could declare Snow Routes are in effect. The Salem Police can also make that determination if needed. If you live on those routes and the Snow Routes are declared, you will need to remove your vehicle from those streets or risk having the vehicle towed at your own expense. If you do not know where the snow routes are, you can pick up a copy at the City Administrative Offices. Walden said the City of Salem Park and Recreation Board would be holding a meeting Monday, September 22nd at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center. He wanted to remind the aldermen the next board meeting would be February 5th at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory at 7:00. Walden talked about a use tax for the city on purchases that are made outside the state of Missouri that are brought back to Salem to be used. The city does not have a use tax in effect at this time and it would only be attributed to those items. It is NOT an additional sales tax on Salem residents; it is a tax only on items from out of state purchases and would be 1.875% which is the local sales tax rate. The board approved placing the issue on the April ballot. City Clerk, Mary Happel, read bill #3358 that included the ballot language; the bill was approved by the aldermen. Before the meeting was adjourned, the board also approved the bill for the city audit from Kristen DeLuca Tax Services for $10,000 which is a budgeted item.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On January 9th, deputies received a report of a burglary at a residence on Dent County Road 3180. The victim told deputies that a chainsaw was stolen from the garage. After an investigation, the chainsaw was located at Cousin’s Pawn in Salem. The next day, deputies located the 20-year old Salem man that had pawned the chainsaw, and he admitted to stealing it. He was charged with Burglary in the 2nd Degree and is in the Dent County Jail on a $7,000 cash only warrant. On January 10th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of Highway 32 West. As a result, the driver of the vehicle, a 31-year old Salem man, was arrested for driving while having his license revoked. He was fingerprinted, issued a citation, and released.
An accident happened in at the corner of Phelps County Roads 5030 and 5040 Saturday night at 10:28. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Ford Ranger driven by 17-year old Josh Traxel of Rolla was stopped at the intersection when 18-year old Brandon Soto of Rolla jumped on to the hood and fell off the Ranger, striking the back of his head causing serious injuries. He was transported to the University Hospital in Columbia by the Phelps Air Ambulance. There was no damage to the Ranger.
The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Thursday, January 4th at approximately 2:12 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to the Salem High School in reference to students in possession of marijuana. The investigation of the report led to the detention of two female juvenile students who were in possession of marijuana. The juvenile suspects were released to their parents and the investigation will be forwarded to the Juvenile Office. Saturday, January 6th at 6:41 in the evening, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of East Third in reference to minors consuming alcohol. That investigation led to the arrest of a 32-year old male of Salem for possession of marijuana and a 30-year old male of Salem for possession of a controlled substance. The 32-year old suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. The 30-year old suspect was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. Later on at 7:39 that same evening, an officer was dispatched to a residence on Forest Hill Drive in reference to a report of drugs being used. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 24-year old female and a 23-year old male, both of Salem, for possession of heroin. The two suspects were incarcerated pending the application for warrants. A few minutes later at approximately 7:44, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of East Hawkins in reference to a suicidal female attempting to kill herself. That investigation led to a 96-hour commitment order being issued for mental evaluation. The 24-year old female of Salem was transported to a mental health facility in West Plains on the order. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.