Archive for 2021

The Salem Police Department released a number of reports. On Saturday, January 23rd at around 1:00 in the morning, an officer conducted a traffic stop that the intersection of Highway 19 and Hunt Street. During the traffic stop, consent to search the vehicle was obtained and items of drug paraphernalia were located. As a result, a 23-year-old Salem woman was arrested and later released on a summons for possession of drug paraphernalia. A short time later at 2:18, an officer conducted a traffic stop near the city park for a vehicle that was not maintaining a single lane of travel. While making contact with the driver, an odor of intoxicants was noticed. Upon further investigation it was determined the driver was driving while being intoxicated. As the result a 46-year-old Salem man was arrested and was later released on a summons for driving while being intoxicated. Later that same morning just before 11:00, an officer was dispatched to the area of Mondy and Holman streets for a report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival officers found a male subject slumped over in the truck and it appeared the subject had used narcotics and was possible overdosing. Contact was made with the driver and it was later found that the vehicle he was occupying was reported stolen out of Lone Jack, Missouri. Also located on the subject was a clear substance suspected of being methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia. As a result, a 32-year-old Blue Springs man was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending the application of warrants. The next day, January 24th at approximately 4:50 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to the intersection of Highway 19 and Center Street for a report of property damage. It was reported three younger subjects had struck a vehicle with a golf club causing a dent to the vehicle. The witness was not able to identify the younger subjects and this incident is still under investigation. During the afternoon of Monday, January the 25th just before 3:00, an officer was dispatched to 404 West Seventh Street for a report of a theft. It was reported that numerous items were stolen out of a shed on the property. The total value of the items stolen was approximately $5000. A witness in the area had noticed a vehicle back up and load items from the shed around the holidays and was able to provide officers with a license plate. The license plate checked back to a stolen vehicle out of Maries County. This incident is still under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Here’s a cold weather safety tip. Youngsters are often attracted to ice covered private ponds for skating and playing. Theoretically, the only “safe” ice is at a skating rink. The ice forming on lakes, rivers, and ponds place a person at much greater risk due to natural variables. It’s impossible to judge the strength of ice by its appearance or daily temperature. Missouri weather moves from single digit temperatures to the upper 40s within short time periods, which will greatly affect the construction of ice. Adults should educate children about the dangers of playing on ice and always supervise them when they play on or near ice. Make sure they understand the dangers of being on the ice and insist that they wear a lifejacket/PFD. Never let them play on ponds or lakes unattended. Many ice victims start out as would-be rescuers. To prevent this from happening, do not go onto the ice to rescue another person or retrieve a pet. To aid someone who has fallen through the ice the first step should be calling for emergency services. A local fire department should have the quickest response time, the proper equipment, and have been trained to handle ice emergencies. Rather than going onto the ice to attempt rescuing someone, you should extend a ladder, pole, or rope to a victim along with something that will float. If you find yourself in the position of needing to be rescued, there are techniques that should be followed for self-rescue. Try not to panic. Face the direction you came from and spread your arms out on the unbroken ice. Kick your feet and try to pull yourself onto the ice. Once out of the water, do not attempt to stand. Lying on the ice keeps your weight distributed. Roll away from the hole then crawl across the ice back to solid land.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley reported on the case of Terry Webb of Salem who was in court in Dent County in front of Judge Megan Seay on Friday. Webb pled guilty to a class B felony of assault on a law enforcement officer in the 2nd degree. Webb recklessly caused a serious injury to Salem Police Department Corporal Michael Loveday by striking him resulting in the dislocation of his finger during an incident on May 5th, 2020 in Salem. The defendant testified that he was intoxicated during the incident, has no memory of the incident, and is remorseful. Corporal Loveday testified at the sentencing hearing to missing work for 30 days as a result and continues to experience pain from the injury. A sentencing assessment report was filed by Probation and Parole indicating the defendant had a prior conviction for domestic assault in the 3rd degree from 2006 and recommended probation for defendant, who was 60-years of age at the time of sentencing. Prosecutor Curley sought a 12-year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the assault on the law enforcement officer. The defendant, who was represented by Attorney Kris Crews from Steelville, requested probation. Over the objection of the state, Judge Megan Seay granted probation to the defendant.

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission has approved a contract with N.B. West Contracting to resurface roadways in Dent and Phelps counties. The amount of the low bid contract was of $5,294,709. Under the approved contract, resurfacing will take place on Highway 68 from Highway 8 in Phelps County to Highway 19 in Dent County; Route F from Highway 32 to Route E; Route K from Highway 63 to the Pulaski County line; and Route HH from Highway 32 to Dent County Road 6190. Work will take place this summer. When a start date is established, MoDOT will alert the public about the project through signs, news releases and social media. For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central.

A one vehicle accident happened Tuesday morning just after 10:00 on Route P in Crawford County about five miles west of Cuba. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2003 Ford Mustang being driven by 49-year old Billy Smith of Cuba was southbound when the Mustang traveled off the right side of the road and struck a utility pole. Billy Smith and a passenger, 51-year old Jay Smith also of Cuba, suffered serious injuries and were both transported by EMS to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. It’s unknown if Billy Smith was wearing a safety restraint, however, Jay Smith was not. The Mustang was totaled and removed from the scene by Chris and Sons Towing. The highway patrol was assisted on scene by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department.

The Missouri Department of Transportation urges drivers to stay off the roads as ice and dangerously cold temperatures will combine to make travel difficult. While MoDOT crews will be working continuous 12 hour shifts through these storms, bitterly cold temperatures can delay clean-up. Chemicals used to treat the roads start to lose their effectiveness below 25 degrees. Avoid driving if possible, particularly in areas where icing is occurring. If you must be out, make sure you have a full tank of gas, extra blankets and gloves and provisions like water and snacks in the event of an emergency. Stay inside your vehicle in the event of a crash or slide off. Once conditions improve, motorists should give snowplows room to work. Do not tailgate or try to pass. Remember that a snowplow operator’s field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but they may not see you. Travelers can stay informed about Missouri road conditions by using MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map, available online at www.modot.org, or through MoDOT’s smartphone app, available for iPhone and Android phones. The map offers current views of road conditions for Missouri interstates and highways. You can zoom in to a particular location, check live weather radar, and view images from MoDOT’s traffic cameras and message boards. MoDOT also provides road condition information through its Customer Service Center. Dial 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) to speak with a customer service representative 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.