Archive for 2018

An accident happened in Phelps County on Highway 72 at Phelps County Road 4070 about four miles east of Rolla Friday afternoon at 12:20 that took the life of a Rolla man and left two others with injuries. According to the highway patrol, a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria driven by 20-year old Saad Alsaihan of Rolla, was on the southbound shoulder of Highway 72 when Alsaihan attempted to make a U-turn crossing into the path of a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado driven southbound by 68-year old Carolyn Whitaker of Salem. The Chevy struck the drivers side of the Ford and both vehicles came to rest on the east shoulder of Highway 72. Alsaihan was pronounced dead at th scene by Phelps County Coroner Andy Davis. His body as released to the Phelps County Coroner. Suffering moderate injuries was Carolyn Whitaker and she was taken to the Phelps County regional Medical Center by the Phelps County Ambulance. Minor injuries were suffered by 21-year old Almujaweb Abdulhadi of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and he was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by the Phelps County Ambulance. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing of Rolla. Whitaker and Abdulhadi were wearing seat restraints when the accident occurred while Alsaihan was not wearing his seat belt.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salem Christmas Parade of Lights was held Saturday night starting from Grand Avenue and finishing up around the courthouse square. A total of 50 entries were witnessed by numerous onlookers on a breezy, but pleasant evening. This year’s Grand Marshall was George Gruendel. If you missed the parade, go to the KSMO Facebook page for a You Tube video.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports. On Wednesday afternoon, November 21st at approximately 4:55, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Westwood Drive in reference to drug activity. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 40-year old female of Salem for the possession of drug paraphernalia used with opiates. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Later that night at approximately 10:40, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 43-year old male of St. James for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Friday night, November 23rd at 7:45, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 21-year old male of Salem for driving while having his license suspended. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. A bit later that evening at approximately 8:50, an 18-year old male of Salem turned himself in at the Salem Police Department on warrants from Laclede County, Missouri. The suspect was taken into custody onthe warrant and later released with a court date after posting bond. On Saturday afternoon, November 24th at about 1:50, an officer was dispatched to Classic Joy Ride Auto Sales located on Craig Industrial Drive in reference to a stolen vehicle. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown stole a blue 1999 Dodge Ram 3500 valued at $12,200.00 from the lot. The report is under investigation. Later that afternoon at approximately 5:12, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of an 81-year old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Then on Sunday morning, November 25th at about 4:58, an officer was dispatched to the Casey’s General Store located on Highway 32 in reference to a counterfeit bill. The investigation of the report revealed an unknown person passed a counterfeit one-hundred-dollar bill. The bill was a copy that is used for training people in foreign countries and can be purchased on the internet. These bills usually have red lettering of some kind on one side of the bill. The report is under investigation. Later that afternoon at approximately 3:18, an officer was dispatched to the Casey’s General Store located on Highway 19 South in reference to reported drug use in the parking lot. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 24-year old female of Licking for the possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and a 27-year old male of Salem for the possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. The suspects were incarcerated pending the application for warrants. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

An accident in Phelps County Wednesday afternoon at 12:30 On Route HH about two miles north of Route E that left two Rolla residents with serious injuries. According to the report, a 2000 Chevrolet 3500 driven southbound by 47-year old Rodger Jones of Rolla, went off the right side of the road when Jones overcorrected causing the Chevy to travel off the left side of the roadway and where the vehicle struck trees and a fence. Jones was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medial Center with his serious injuries, while a passenger, 30-year old Tiffany McCormick of Rolla was flown to the University Hospital in Columbia with her serious injuries. Jones was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident while it is unknown if McCormick was wearing hers. The Chevy Pickup was totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated patch grading would be done on Dent County Road 6090 while materials would be added and patch grading would be done on county road 5510. Purcell said that prior to the patch grading and adding materials, the work crew will have to do road maintenance on county road 5510 as a crossover pipe is exposed. He is asking the public to use caution in that area. Purcell also said workers were servicing grader #24 and the springs are being replaced on snow plow truck #119. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Road 2533. He also said work on a creek crossing on Dent County Road 3180 would be done as the culvert pipe is clogged up and materials will have to be added to the road. Larson also said brush would be cut on county roads 2530 and 2540. He went on to report he attended the Dent County Extension Council meeting Monday and also attended the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet Tuesday after the meeting. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he attended the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management Executive Board Meeting Tuesday as well as the dinner and awards banquet. Skiles presented an invoice from the City of Salem for building permits and the plan review of the new jail project. The amount came to $8,730.50. The commissioners approved the bill to be paid. The board also approved the low telephone bid for 7,000 gallons of diesel from County Fuels from Eminence for $2.1060 per gallon. City Administrator Ray Walden and the new Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge came into the meeting at about 9:00. Burbridge discussed her background and talked about getting caught up on city ordinances and policies as well getting acquainted with information on the state of Missouri that can help her with her position. Sarah Massengale from the Dent County Extension Council came in with their budget request for the 2019 fiscal year. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released a number of reports. On Thursday evening, November 15th at about 5:32, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 24-year-old female of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $24.88. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. That evening at about 11:00, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 19-year-old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Saturday, November 17th at about 6:49 in the evening, an officer was dispatched to the Mobil Convenience Store in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed a 26-year-old male of El Dorado, Missouri had stolen merchandise valued at $23.19. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect who was also found to be in possession of marijuana. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. On Sunday morning, November 18th at 7:24, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of North Water in reference to an assault. The investigation revealed a 39-year-old female of Salem had assaulted a 47-year-old male of Salem. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect who was issued a summons to appear in court and released. That day at about 1:15 PM, an officer was dispatched to Casey’s General Store located on Missouri Highway 32 East in reference to the theft of fuel. The investigation of the report revealed a male driving a silver Kia Optima pumped fuel valued at $39.00 and left without paying. The report is under investigation. On Monday afternoon, November 19th at approximately 4:19, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of West Ellis in reference to an assault. The investigation of the report revealed that two females, ages 40 and 47 both of Salem, had assaulted a 26-year-old female of Salem and left the scene. The report is under investigation. If you have information regarding any ongoing investigation, please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.