Local News – Wednesday, July 12th, 2017
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department released reports for the first few days of July involving a shot fired, traffic stops and theft. On Saturday, July 1st, deputies responded to a report of a shot fired at a residence in the 8000 block of Route K. Deputies observed where a bullet had penetrated the front railing, struck a lantern, and dented the wood siding. Residents described a black Chevy Tahoe as a vehicle stopped in the roadway as it occurred. They observed two shirtless males in the vehicle as well and the report is still under investigation. On Sunday, July 2nd, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 72 at Route J. As a result, 24-year old Britta Terrill of Salem was arrested for driving while intoxicated. After her arrest, Terrill was found to be in possession of a small blue pill. Deputies identified the pill to be Alprazolam 1 milligram, a controlled substance. She was taken to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance and given a $10,000 cash only bond. On that same day, deputies responded to a residence on Highway YY for a report of a stolen wallet. The victim stated that his wallet was taken from the hood of a truck parked at the residence. A neighbor told deputies they noticed a red Chevy Tahoe or Blazer, between a 1992-1995 model year, drive past the house, stop suddenly, and pull into the driveway. Two men exited the vehicle and walked over to the driver’s side of the truck and then left. The neighbor described the two males as shirtless with tattoos on their arms and the driver walked with a limp. This report is still under investigation. That same day, deputies took a report of stolen game cameras on county road 2300. The suspect also damaged the man’s ground blind by tearing off some of the netting. This report is still under investigation. Later on that day deputies conducted a traffic stop in the Phil-Mart parking lot. As a result, 46-year old Jerry Cottrell of Salem was arrested for driving while suspended. He was taken to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons, and released. Anyone with any information regarding any ongoing investigation is asked to call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.
An accident occurred at 3:30 early Tuesday morning in Texas County on Highway 63 about seven miles north of Houston. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Nissan Versa driven by 26-year old Ashley Mendenhall of Salem was traveling southbound and struck a deer in the roadway. Mendenhall suffered minor injuries and was taken by private vehicle to the Texas County Memorial Hospital. The Nissan sustained moderate damage and was towed by Jay’s Towing.
The Salem Police Department released reports involving traffic violations, damage to private property, a disturbance and a shoplifter.
On Thursday evening, June 29th at 10:22, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The stop led to the arrest of a 40-year old Salem female for driving while being intoxicated, driving while having her license suspended, possession of a controlled substance and on an active arrest warrant from the State of Missouri. She was incarcerated pending the application for warrants and extradition. On Saturday, July 1st at 1:42 in the early morning, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The stop led to the arrest of a 32-year old male of Desloge for driving while being intoxicated and driving while having his license revoked. A 30-year old male passenger of the vehicle was also placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance. The 32-year old male was issued summonses to appear in court and released. The 30-year old male was incarcerated pending the application for a warrant. Later that same morning at 9:50, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 700 block of South Pershing in reference to damage to private property. The report revealed that a person or persons unknown broke the side rear cargo glass valued at $100.00 on a blue 2002 Ford Escape. The report is under investigation. On Sunday, July 2nd at 1:40 in the early morning, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of East First Street in reference to a disturbance. The report led to the arrest of a 22-year old Salem male on an active arrest warrant from Dent County. He was incarcerated on the warrant pending a court appearance. That evening at 6:14, an officer responded to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The report led to the arrest of a 46-year old Salem male for stealing merchandise valued at $37.60 and trying to return it for cash. He was issued summonses to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.
With temperatures rising across mid-Missouri this summer, sections of roadway may begin to buckle and crack due to the hot temperatures. The so-called “blow-ups” occur when the roadway surface expands at a crack or joint where moisture has seeped in. That crack weakens the pavement and the heat causes the pavement to buckle and warp. While it is difficult to predict where or when a pavement blow-up will happen, Missouri Department of Transportation crews monitor state routes during the summer months for possible problem areas. Central District Maintenance Engineer Jason Shafer is encouraging motorists to call when they encounter a pavement blow-up, so it can be fixed quickly. Motorists can call MoDOT’s toll-free customer service center at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) to report pavement blow-ups.
The Missouri Forest Products Association (MFPA) is now accepting applications for their logging school program that will begin about October 1, 2017 at the Camp at Lake Wappapello. The school is a 10-week course held 5 days a week and students are expected to stay at the camp throughout the week and housing will be in a dormitory on the property. The logging school tuition is expected to be $5,000 which covers room, meals and instruction for the 10-week period. A maximum of 12 students per session will be accepted in to the program and MFPA will offer two sessions per year, one in October and the other in February. There will classroom as well as field instruction covering topics such as: forest management, timber harvesting, marketing and utilization. To receive additional information, application materials and scholarship opportunities contact Fred Smith at (573) 619-4494.