Archive for 2022

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting Thursday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, City Clerk Tammy Koller swore in Sally Burbridge as the new temporary City Administrator. Mayor Greg Parker also appointed Burbridge as the Floodplain Administrator and the Building Commissioner. The board of alderman approved both appointments before going into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a few reports for the last week of August and the first day of September. On Saturday, August 27th, deputies responded to Route EE for a reported assault in the 4th Degree. During the investigation, a 29-year-old Salem woman alleged she was assaulted by a 27-year-old Salem woman. A further investigation is into the alleged assault is pending. Later that day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 4110. During the stop, a 29-year-old Salem woman was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance, except for 35 grams of less of Marijuana. The subject was released from custody pending further investigation. The next day on Sunday, August 28th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 19000 block of Route C. During the stop, a 29-year-old Salem man was arrested for the unlawful use of a weapon, for the unlawful possession of a firearm and for various narcotic related offenses. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was placed on a 24-hour-hold, pending the issuance of formal charges. On Thursday, September 1st, a deputy took a report for an alleged identity theft. According to the victim, a 38-year-old Salem woman received information that a former spouse was using her personal and financial information to make unauthorized online purchases. The investigation into the matter continues. Later that day, a deputy met with a 52-year-old Manchester, Missouri woman in regards to a camper that was reported missing from her property on Route H. This vehicle was entered into MULES as stolen and the investigation is ongoing. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 573-729-3241 if you have information on any ongoing investigation.

Healthy Dent County is bringing the Strengthening Families program to Salem which will help you learn tools, skills, and strategies to build a stronger family. Supported by a community partnership between Healthy Dent County, Four Rivers Community Health Center and MU Extension, the Strengthening Families program is free for ALL families of youth 10 to 14 years old. It is fast-paced and offers practical information using videos, discussions, learning games, and family projects to open up lines of communication. Families who attend have fun while they learn strategies for helping their child make positive decisions in the face of increased peer pressure. This seven-week program will begin on September 13th and run every Tuesday evening through the week of October 25th from 5:00 to 7:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory located at 1200 W. Rolla Road. A family meal will be provided at each of the seven sessions, along with weekly giveaways and a program completion reward for each family that completes the series. Childcare is available for younger siblings. Enrollment forms are available by contacting Healthy Dent County at 573-729-8163 or stopping by the Salem Community Center@The Armory.

An accident happened Friday morning in Crawford County on Highway 19 about two and a half miles south Cuba. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Honda CRV being operated by 37-year-old Timothy Morris of Steelville, was struck from behind by a 2023 Ford E-350 being driven by 49-year-old Lisa Gonzalez of Raymondville. Morris suffered minor injuries and was taken by private conveyance to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. The Honda sustained moderate damage but was able to be driven from the scene. The Ford received extensive damage and was towed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing. The report went on to state that Morris was not wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident.

An accident happened just after noon Sunday in Crawford County on Long Springs Road just over a mile west of Route BB. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado being driven by 25-year-old Alexander Light of Cuba, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a ditch. Light, who was not wearing a safety restraint, suffered minor injuries and sought his own treatment. The Silverado sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

Wednesday afternoon at the Dent County Courthouse, 53-year-old Randall Abney of Salem was found guilty of second-degree murder in the starvation death of 10-year-old Josie Ann Abney of Salem. Abney was also charged with the abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death. The jury came to their conclusion after about 90-minutes of deliberation. Sentencing for Randall Abney will be held on November 18th. Susan Abney of Salem, the wife of Randall Abney, had her second-degree murder charge dropped in exchange for testifying against Randall. She pled guilty earlier this year to abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death. Susan Abney is due for sentencing on October 11th.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to plan for a safe 2022 Labor Day weekend. Whether you are on the water or on the road, it’s everyone’s responsibility to travel safely and observe all Missouri laws. As you plan your Labor Day weekend, incorporate safety into every facet of your weekend including choosing your route, making sure your equipment is in good working condition, being aware of and following Missouri’s traffic, driving your vehicle courteously, and wearing a seat belt. In Missouri, 11 people died and 458 were injured in 1,124 traffic crashes over the 2021 Labor Day holiday. This means one person was killed or injured every 10 minutes. Troopers arrested 109 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s holiday weekend. The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) over the Labor Day holiday weekend. The 2022 counting period for the Labor Day holiday will be from 6:00 this Friday evening through 11:59 Monday night. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways and waterways. Troopers on the roadways will be enforcing Missouri’s speed limit, seat belt, and impaired driving laws, in addition to being available to assist motorists. The public is encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Report Line (800) 525-5555 or *55 on your cellular phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports. On Monday afternoon, August 1st, at approximately 1:00, officers while on patrol located a male subject who had an active capias warrant out of the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. As a result, 34-year-old Jacob Likes of Salem was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. A little over an hour later at approximately 2:15, an officer while on patrol noticed a suspicious female subject conceal herself upon seeing the patrol vehicle. Contact was made with the woman who was later found to be in possession of methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia. As a result of the investigation, a 31-year-old Salem female was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. The next evening, Tuesday, August 2nd at 7:30, officers responded to a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles near Burger King. During the investigation, officers were made aware that the driver of one of the involved vehicles was intoxicated and had pulled out and struck the other vehicle. The parties in the other vehicle sustained injuries and were taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for further evaluation. As a result of the investigation a 43-year-old Houston man was arrested and charged with a DWI resulting in a serious physical injury and assault. Then around noon Saturday, August 6th, officers conducted a traffic stop on Highway 32 and Doss Road for expired license. During the stop it was found a male subject had an active warrant for his arrest out of the Dent County Sheriff’s Office for no insurance. As a result, 41-year-old Johnnie Revelle of Salem was arrested and later released on bond. That same night at approximately 10:30, an officer traveled to Rolla to pick up a male subject that had three active warrants out of the City of Salem for failure to appear. As a result, 40-year-old Scott Smith of Salem was arrested and incarcerated on the warrants at the Dent County Jail. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Today at 4:00 at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, the Mudbugs will be back. They will be searching for lost ladybugs and zombie ladybugs and other cool things. If they should happen to see signs of Bigfoot along the way, that’s cool, too! Hope to see you there

The Salem Tiger Opening Day Football Parade will be held Friday night at 5:00 starting from the Dent County Courthouse on 4th Street., traveling west on 4th Street to 3rd Street, then continuing west to the High School Football Field. All businesses, organizations, clubs and anyone interested is invited to show their Tiger pride and be a part of the parade. For more information, message Dottie May Steelman on Facebook.