Archive for 2024

The Dent County Sheriffs office has released several reports. On Monday, the 8th of January, a deputy took information for a forgery report. The victim, a 70-year-old Salem man, said a check he had written had been altered and forged. The incident occurred in Texas County and he was referred to the Licking Police Department for the investigation. The next day, Tuesday the 9th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on North Pershing Street and during the stop, the driver, a 58-year-old Salem man, was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine. The narcotics were confiscated and the investigation is ongoing. Later that same day, a deputy responded to the 3500 block of Route OO for a reported property dispute. The reporting party, a 59-year-old Rolla man, told deputies that a neighbor had trespassed on his property and continued to cause issues over a longstanding land dispute. Later that same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on South Highway 19. During the stop, suspected methamphetamine was located in the vehicle after a consent to search was granted and conducted. The narcotics were confiscated and the investigation is ongoing. On Wednesday, January 10th, deputies from the Dent County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office in the service of an arrest warrant in the 7100 block of Route FF. The suspect, a 34-year-old Salem man, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Phelps County Jail. If you have information regardinig an ongoing investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriffs office at 729-3241.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meeting at 6:00 this evening, January 16th at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda and review of the December minutes, the board will hear the financial report, then approve bills, and review the budget, before the calendar review and the monthly reimbursement report is heard. Old and new business will then be addressed. After hearing a report from the fire chief, the date will be set for that February meeting before adjourning. The meeting next Tuesday evening will be open to the public.

The Salem Police department has released their report for the month of November. The department responded to 12 accidents during the month. Officers also responded to two alarms sounding and addressed 37 animal calls. The department investigated two assaults or fights, performed 17 well being checks and nine area checks during the month. The department investigated 15 domestic disputes, six verbal disturbances, conducted 59 follow-up investigations and provided 23 escorts. They investigated one fraud, one harassment report, took four missing persons report, and offered assistance to seven motorists. The Salem Police wrote four property damage reports during November, plus made four stealing reports and one shoplifting report. Officers investigated two intoxicated drivers, 25 suspicious circumstance calls, six suspicious person calls and eight suspicious vehicle calls. Officers responded to two trespassing calls and attempted to serve one warrant in November. Officers conducted 96 traffic stops during the month. The police responded to a total of 556 in incidents in November. The average response time to calls during November was one minute and 57 seconds and the average time spent on the scene was 20 minutes and 05 seconds.

The Salem Public Library invites the City of Salem residents and Dent County communities to participate in their 2024 Community Survey. Information collected will be used to identify top priorities for the Library and used to develop strategic, long term plans for the future. The survey should take no longer than 5-7 minutes, and all responses will be kept anonymous. The survey is now live and a link to the survey is pinned at the top of Salem Public Library’s Facebook page. Individuals who wish to complete a paper copy of the survey will be able to do so at the Library during normal business hours. The Library is located at 403 N. Jackson Street in Salem at the intersection of 4th and Jackson Streets. The survey will close after Friday, February 9th. Community members are encouraged to visit the library to participate in current programming, utilize the many services available, access the library’s materials collection, or provide additional feedback. For questions about the survey or the Salem Public Library, its services or current programming, please contact Kate McBride, Library Director at salemmopubliclibrary@gmail.com or by phone at (573) 729-4331.

There will be a Toothbrush Rug Beginner Class this Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 with Amy Terrill. Join them for a fun rug-making, hands-on workshop. Learn an easy technique to make a rug with torn strips of fabric and a modified toothbrush. These rugs are quick to make and require no sewing. In this class, you’ll learn how to begin a toothbrush rug or table runner. You will leave class with a small rug that you can either use as a trivet or continue to build at home as large as you want it to be! All projects are machine washable, dry-able and last for years! No previous experience or skills necessary. The cost of of the class is $20 which includes all the supplies. The course is for those age 18 and above. A minimum of two people need to sign up and with a maximum of 10 participants. Class registrations are first come, first serve basis with online registrations and you can sign up under “Programs” at the salemcommunitybetterment.com website for activities at the Creative Arts Center.

Volunteers for AARP will be conducting free tax filing assistance at the Salem Community Center@ the Armory again this year. This free tax filing assistance will begin on Friday, February 2nd and continue every Friday until April 5th. Appointments can be made by calling the Salem Community Center at 729-8163. This local service is provided entirely by AARP trained volunteers and will be the 20th year that Healthy Dent County has partnered with AARP to provide this free tax service to our community. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained in filing certain tax forms and schedules, including the Form 1040. However, the Volunteer Protection Act requires that our volunteers stay in the scope of the program. If counselors feel they do not have adequate knowledge or your return is too complex, you may need to seek another qualified counselor or paid tax assistance. Items you will need to bring with you to have your tax returns prepared include: Proof of identification such as a picture ID; Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents; or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration. You should also bring birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return. Also needed are wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc from all employers; year-end Social Security Statements showing total SS received and Medicare payments; and interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099). You should bring a copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available; plus proof of bank account routing numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit, such as a blank check or deposit slip. To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms. The Salem Community Center @ the Armory is located at 1200 West Rolla Road. Appointments can be made by calling 729-8163.

An accident happened Friday morning at 7:40 in Phelps County on westbound Interstate 44 at the 189 mile-marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2014 Dodge 1500 van being driven by 45-year-old Sevcan Costner of Wheaton, Illinois, skidded across the center of the center line and struck a 2020 GMC Acadia being driven by 48-year-old Michael Smith of St. James. The GMC then struck the concrete barrier and came to rest in the roadway. Smith was taken by Phelps Health EMS to Phelps Health hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The GMC was totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing. The Dodge van had extensive damage but was able to be driven from the scene. The report stated that both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

An accident occurred Saturday evening around 5:55 in Phelps County near 14680 Phelps County Road 8160. According to the highway patrol report, a 2017 Toyota Corolla driven by 30-year-old Kerry Crowley of Rolla, was traveling eastbound when the vechicle began to slide on a snow covered road. The Toyota went off the left side of the roadway, impacted a tree, and overturned on its top. Crowley suffered minor injuries and was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the scene by D&D Towing. Crowley was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced his office obtained a judgment against Phelps County business owner of Sho-Me Labradors, Sandra Kozlowski, for violating state standards for licensed commercial dog breeders. In the judgment, the Court ruled that Kozlowski defied a previous consent judgment issued in May of 2020 for failure to comply with state law governing commercial dog breeders. Specifically, Kozlowski violated the law by keeping too many dogs, letting her breeder’s license lapse, and failing to provide dogs with fresh water or access to the outdoors. Even more disturbing, Kozlowski was keeping dogs in cages with an appalling lack of space like wire style and airline style pet crates without unfettered access to the outdoors. Under the order, Ms. Kozlowski must pay the $5,000.00 of suspended penalties from the original judgment and relinquish ownership of all remaining dogs, but for the 10 dogs specified in the Judgment and Order to the State of Missouri to be transferred to the Humane Society of Missouri. Additionally, she is banned from advertising the sale of dogs from Sho-Me Labs, with few exceptions. On January 9th, the Missouri Department of Agriculture seized 96 dogs that were taken to St. Louis where a number of veterinarians are evaluating the dogs.