Archive for 2019

A pedestrian was struck by a car in the Wal-Mart parking lot on Saturday morning at 11:26. The report from the Salem Police department states that a 2008 Chevrolet HHR owned and operated by Marion Ledden of Salem, was turning left from the main drive of the Wal-Mart parking lot toward the east side of the store. The pedestrian was struck with the driver’s side front tire and quarter panel. The pedestrian suffered an apparent broken foot and possible other injuries and was transported by EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for evaluation and treatment of injuries. Surveillance video from the store showed that the driver failed to stop at the posted stop sign at the end of the main drive before making the left turn.

The Dent County Sheriffs office has released reports on activities by the department from September 22nd through the 29th. On Sunday the 22nd, deputies traveled to a residence in the 3000 block of Route JJ to attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 35-year-old Salem woman was arrested for an active arrest warrant through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was transported to the Dent County jail and incarcerated. Then on the 24th, deputies traveled to a residence in the 7500 block of South Highway 19 in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant for a probation violation. During the course of the incident, a 42-year-old Salem man was arrested for the active warrant and transported to the Dent County jail and was incarcerated. The next day deputies traveled to the Missouri Private Probation Services Office on West 4th Street to attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 56-year-old Salem female was arrested for active warrants through Dent County. The female was transported to the Dent County jail and was incarcerated. Later that same day deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Highways 68 and 19. During the course of the traffic stop, a 38-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 2nd offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Then on September 26th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 8000 block of Highway 19 North. During the course of the traffic stop, a 28-year-old Salem woman was arrested for an active arrest warrant through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The female was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she later posted bond. Later that same day deputies traveled to a residence in the 700 block of South Washington Street in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 24-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The man was transported to the Dent jail and incarcerated. Finally on the 29th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at the Route B and Dent County Road 5150 intersection. During the course of the traffic stop, a 59-year-old Salem man was arrested for a felony for driving while having his license revoked or suspended. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If you have any information regarding an investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriffs’ office at 729-3241.

An accident happened in Dent County Tuesday at 1:15 on Highway 19 about 11 miles south of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 1999 Ford Ranger driven eastbound by 58-year old Joellen Taylor of Winona, failed to yield while making a left hand turn out of a private drive into the path of a 2008 Kawasaki Motorcycle driven southbound by 48-year old Anthony O’Hara of Quasqueton, Iowa. O’Hara suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. The Ford was secured at the scene while motorcycle was totaled and removed by Whitaker’s Towing. Everyone involved was wearing their safety restraints.

The Salem Police Department reports that an accident occurred Tuesday, September 24th, shortly after 11:00 in the morning. Jayden Brown of Salem, was traveling east on Franklin Street on a pedacycle when the vehicle crossed into the westbound lane as he was distracted by speaking with someone who was walking along Franklin. The pedacycle struck the right passenger side bumper of a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis being driven west by Harold Holloway of Salem. Brown was taken by Salem EMS to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The City of Salem’s Park & Recreation Board will meet this evening at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The agenda includes the roll call, the Park Director’s Report, and closed session to discuss personnel. The Director’s Report portion of the meeting is open to the public. The meeting was called by Stan Podorski, President of the City of Salem Park & Recreation Board.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Melissa Weed from US Bank brought in the documents for the lease-purchase agreements for the two new Cat graders that were financed for $330,000 for the commission to sign. Since the new graders have not yet arrived, the acceptance agreements could not be signed and won’t be until they arrive. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated that the entire crew would be doing the final concrete pour Monday morning on Dent County Road 6580. Purcell said he hopes the road can be reopened Friday, but it may be Monday before the concrete cures. He said after the pour, workers would be grading on Dent County Roads 5150 and 5600 while brush would be cut on county roads 2400 and 6210. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2530 and 4020 while only grading would be done on county roads 2520 and 2540. He went on to say brush would be cut on county roads 3270, 3273 and 3275. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wanted to remind those interested in filling the assessor’s position when Tina Whitaker retires at the end of the year need to come and let the commission know they are interested. When it is time, the commissioners will appoint a person to temporarily replace Whitaker until the governor makes his decision on who will fill that position. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the Facebook National Voter Registration period ended September 28th where a person could register online and a total of 18,106 people took advantage of the chance to do so in Missouri. MoDOT District Engineer Preston Kramer, MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge and Anne Friend from MRPC were in attendance to review the annual Dent County Transportation Needs priorities for the upcoming year. Two projects have already been added to the MoDOT STIP and they are the Highway 68 project that will add two foot shoulders to the road from Highway 19 to the Phelps County Line, and also the bridge replacement on Route FF over Norman Creek which has been scheduled for 2021. After reviewing the needs that have already been identified, the commissioners agreed to set the replacement of the Highway 19 bridge over Gladden Creek as their first priority, the intersection of Highway 19 and Roosevelt Street as their 2nd priority, and the Highway 32 bridge over the Huzzah Creek in Boss as their 3rd priority. The low water crossing on Route TT is still a priority but Kramer said the MoDOT work crews have installed three new 36” metal culverts under the road in addition to the box culverts already there to help with the water flow. The commission kept it on the list as the 4th priority. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The 2019 Football Homecoming Court has been announced for this Friday night’s game. This year’s court includes freshman, Ashton Bowers;
sophomore, Sierra Rusco; and junior, Grace Kunkel. The Senior Homecoming Queen candidates include Emma Brakefield, Leighann Pope and Nicole Brookshire. This year’s Homecoming game will be Friday night, October 11th against Mountain Grove starting at 7:00 and the festivities will be held prior to the start of the game.

The 56th annual trout derby this past weekend at Montauk State Park was a huge success. 735 tags were sold on Saturday and another 139 on Sunday for the event. Fourteen lunkers were caught, including the largest lunker, an 8 pound 4 oz fish caught by Dan Hatch of Licking. Thirty two kids also brought in stringers and 62 tagged fish were caught during the event. Linda Jones of Bismark brought in a 2 pound 5 ounce rainbow for the heaviest fish in the women’s category while a youngster from Rolla, Wyatt Martin, landed a 7 pound 12 ounce fish. In all, $14,370.50 was during the event with proceeds going to the American Heart Association.

The Salem Police Department reports that an accident occurred Tuesday, September 24th, shortly after 11:00 in the morning. Jayden Brown of Salem, was traveling east on Franklin Street on a pedacycle when the vehicle crossed into the westbound lane as he was distracted by speaking with someone who was walking along Franklin. The pedacycle struck the right passenger side bumper of a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis being driven west by Harold Holloway of Salem. Brown was taken by Salem EMS to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Jason Stotler, Forester with the Missouri Department of Conservation and Max Butler are excited about telling tales about Indian Trails Conservation Area where Jason lives on Tuesday, October 8th, at 6:00, at the Dent County Historical Society Speaker Series at the new James & Gahr Fellowship Hall, after dinner at the Pizza Inn Meeting Room. Indian Trails has an interesting history, including the CCC camp, deer restoration, game preserve, camp ground, shooting range, and many other tidbits. If you have relics or stories of Indian Trails, there will also be a sharing time to participate. Come hear Jason & Max, at the James & Gahr Fellowship Hall, at 6 p.m., and maybe join others who enjoy the senior special at Pizza Inn at 5 p.m. For more information about the program call Deloris Gray Wood, president, at 573 729-2545.

An accident happened Friday morning at 11:35 in Dent County on Highway 32 about two miles west of Salem. The highway patrol report states that a 2000 Mazda pickup driven by 19-year old Ryan Brueschke of Salem was traveling westbound and turned into the path of a 2012 Buick Enclave being driven by 84-year old Charles Morton of Salem. A passenger in the Morton vehicle, 82-year old Shirley Morton was seriously injured in the accident and was transported by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Morton passed away this weekend from her injuries. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The report went on to state that all involved in the accident were wearing safety restraints.

An accident happened Sunday afternoon at 5:15 in Dent County on Dent County Road 3210 about two miles north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, 17-year old Slayton Parker of Salem was driving a 2014 Mazda 6 eastbound when the vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway. Parker overcorrected and the Mazda went off the left side of the road and struck a utility pole. Parker suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to the Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. Parker was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Mazda was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00 Monday night. After the consent agenda, the board will hear from City Administrator Ray Walden about events affecting the city including the naming of the streets in the Cemetery. The board will then hear and discuss Bill #3431 that will amend the annual budget for the City of Salem from July 1st of 2018 and ending on June 30th, 2019. The budget needs to be amended due to the end of the fiscal year appropriation of monies to a number of funds. The board will go into closed session to discus litigation, real estate and contracts. The board of aldermen meeting Monday night at 7:00 is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released a number of reports. On Saturday afternoon, the 21st at about 3:50, an officer located a 25-year-old male of Salem who had an active arrest warrant from the City of Cuba. The suspect, who was located near Grand and Rolla Road, was taken into custody on the warrant and found to be in possession of methamphetamine. The suspect was incarcerated pending extradition and an application for a warrant. That same evening at approximately 7:16, an officer located a 41-year-old male of Salem in the 200 block of Highway 19 south who had an active arrest warrant from Crawford County. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrant and incarcerated pending extradition. On Monday afternoon, September 23rd, at approximately 4:17, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of South Hickory in reference to a domestic disturbance. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 28-year-old male of Salem on an active arrest warrant from Phelps County. The suspect was incarcerated pending extradition. On Tuesday the 24th at about 2:00 in the morning, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Westwood Drive in reference to a theft. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown took a guitar and laptop computer valued at $500.00 from the residence. The report is under investigation. Wednesday night, the 25th near 9:24, an officer was dispatched to the area of the 1100 block of South Wines in reference to a suspicious man looking in vehicles. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 28-year-old male of Salem for possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and on an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

The Salem Marching Blue traveled to Washington, Missouri on Saturday to compete in the annual Washington Marching Band Festival. Students competed in preliminary competition against five other schools and received 2nd Place Overall as well as winning the Outstanding Color Guard caption for the 2nd time this year. With a score of 74.15, the Salem Marching Blue qualified for another finals performance and placed 9th overall against 22 other schools. The Salem Marching Blue will travel to Reeds Spring, Missouri this Saturday to perform in the Ozark Mountain Marching Festival at 11:45 in the morning.