Local News – Wednesday, June 14th, 2017

By Stan Podorski | June 14, 2017

NOTICE: 

The City of Salem has reported that Route J (the Rolla Road part) will be closed from MacArthur to Highway 72 to remove limbs that are down along the roads. This portion of road will be closed until approximately 3:00 this afternoon as there are no shoulders to do work.  The City of Salem apologizes for the inconvenience to the public this closure may have caused.

Two more drowning deaths occurred in the Ozarks since Sunday. The first occurred at Johnson Shut-Ins State Park Sunday evening at 6:45 when 19–year old Christopher Watson of Farmington attempted to swim across the Black River. He submerged and did not resurface. The body was recovered and the Reynolds County EMS was called. Watkins was pronounced dead by Reynolds County Coroner Jeff McSpadden at 8:45 that same evening and the body was taken by the coroner to the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington. He was not wearing a life jacket when attempting to swim the river. Then Tuesday at 3:15 in the afternoon on the Jacks Fork River near Shawnee Creek in Shannon County, 13-year old Justin Persons of Montgomery, Illlinois was canoeing when the canoe capsized and Parsons became lodged under a fallen tree due to the strong current. His body was later recovered and Parsons was pronounced dead at 4:35 by Shannon County Coroner Tim Denton. He was wearing a life jacket at the time of his accident. Parsons’ body was transported by ambulance to the Duncan Funeral Home.

An accident occurred Friday morning at 8:07 on Highway 19 about 3.7 miles south of Salem. According to the Highway Patrol Report a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by 52-year old Darwin H. Hayes of Salem, failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Hayes suffered moderate injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. He was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The Salem Police Department will be conducting a storm sirens test this morning at 10:00 AM, weather permitting. The storm sirens will not be tested if there are any systems moving in or it appears weather conditions are ominous.

The Salem Police Department released reports involving a physical assault, a stolen wallet, a harassment complaint, a stabbed male and a traffic stop. On Tuesday, May 30th at 6:09 pm, officers were detailed to the Salem Chamber of Commerce in reference to a physical assault that had occurred. Officers arrived and discovered that a 43-year old male had been assaulted by a 35-year old male. The 35-year old male fled the scene on foot, but was located a short time later and was placed under arrest and was incarcerated at the Dent County Sheriff's Office. On Wednesday, May 31st at 8:17 pm, officers were dispatched to Wal-Mart, in reference to a stolen wallet report. Officers conducted an investigation and were able to identify a female suspect. The female suspect was located in Dent County. The Dent County Sheriff's Office assisted the Salem Police Department with the investigation, which led to the recovery of the wallet, cash, and assorted cards. A 45-year old female was arrested and charged in the theft. On Thursday, June 1st at 7:35 pm, Officers responded to the 700 block of North Henderson Street in reference to a harassment complaint. Upon arrival officers spoke with the reporting party and learned that a 47-year old male was intoxicated and acting aggressively towards his neighbors. Officers contacted the male subject and he became combative and non-compliant. The male was arrested for a peace disturbance, harassment, and resisting arrest and was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail. On Friday, June 2nd at 11:08 pm, officers responded to the 100 block of Highway 19 in reference to a male subject that had been stabbed. Officers arrived on scene and rendered aid to the 31-year old male of Salem. The victim was flown from Salem to the St. Louis for treatment. The case remains under investigation at this time. On Saturday, June 3rd at 2:10 pm, officers contacted a male subject during a traffic stop in the 1100 block of West Highway 32. During the traffic stop it was revealed that the 17-year old male driver did not possess a valid license and was placed in custody, processed and released on a summons. Anyone with any information regarding any ongoing investigation is asked to call the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and Phelps County Public Housing Agency (PHA) Family Self-Sufficiency program will host a free workshop this Thursday in St. James on “Tackling the Tough Skills.” This workshop is the final workshop in a series of five and will cover budgeting. It will be held from 10:00 in the morning until to noon at the Phelps County PHA at #4 Industrial Drive in St. James with Christy Saylor, the Missouri Ozarks Community Action (MOCA) county projects coordinator, presenting the program. Workshops are offered at no cost to the participant. For more information or to RSVP, contact Savannah Vandegriffe at (573) 265-4200 EXT 132. Free training classes are a part of MRPC and PHA's efforts to help prepare families by making them aware of the resources available to assist with self-sufficiency. Each participant who attends will receive a $25 Wal-Mart gift card, as long as they meet income qualifications. MRPC provides staffing to the Phelps County Public Housing Agency that provides rental assistance to over 750 low-income families in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps (outside the city limits of Rolla) and Washington counties.

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