News – Tuesday, August 12th 2025

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will meet this evening, at the Fire Station #2 South Main in Salem. The meeting will begin at 6:00 with the call to order, roll call, and approval of the consent agenda, which will include review of the minutes, the financial report and approval of bills, and the budget review. The monthly reimbursement report will be reviewed followed by old business, which will include the Fidelity (CTI) Tower Lease, which was tabled last month. New business to be considered will include the tax rate hearing, MEC Resolution, the sale of old trucks, and brush truck bids for equipment beds, skid units, and lighting. Other new business items will include fuel cards, truck radio for #8010, and budget requests. Chief Floyd will give his report followed by setting the date for the next meeting. Prior to adjournment the Board may go in to closed session to discuss personnel.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold a workshop today at 5:30 before their regular meeting, where they will discuss vacant buildings within the community. During their regular meeting, the board will hold a public hearing to discuss the annexation of property in the 1000-1200 block of W. Roosevelt-Adams St, and the 2025 tax rates. The board will then approve the agenda and consent agenda and hear public comments. They will then hear first and second readings of Bill No. 3682 regarding conflicts of interest, Bill No. 3684 regarding Phase 2A improvements at the waste water treatment facility, and Bill No. regarding the 2025 tax levy. New business items include discussion and approvals related to the city’s demolition policy, a mobile home park license, and multiple equipment purchases such as a paint sprayer, streetlights, a transformer, wastewater shoring equipment, and a new desktop computer. Reports from city officials will be presented before the board enters a closed session to discuss legal matters and certain contract negotiations, followed by adjournment.

A Bunker man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit from Salem into Iron County late Saturday night. According to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began on August 9, 2025, at approximately 11:00 p.m., when deputies on routine patrol clocked a vehicle traveling 103 miles per hour in a 35 mile-per-hour zone within the City of Salem. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit east on Highway 32 into Iron County. The chase came to an end near Belleview when the suspect’s vehicle crashed and suffered a mechanical failure. Deputies said the driver, identified as 40-year-old Benjamin Smith of Bunker, was tased and taken into custody. A warrant application was submitted to the Dent County Prosecutor’s Office, and on August 10, 2025, Judge Kelsaw issued a no-bond warrant for Smith. He is charged with aggravated fleeing a stop or detention, driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving involving an accident, failing to drive on the right half of the roadway resulting in an accident, driving in the center lane of a three-lane roadway, and three counts of exceeding the posted speed limit by 26 miles per hour or more. The Dent County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Salem Police Department, Iron County Sheriff’s Office, Iron County Ambulance District, and the Pilot Knob Fire Department. Authorities note that the charges are merely accusations and that Smith is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.