Your World Today

Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley reported on two cases heard Friday in front of Judge Megan Seay in Dent County. The first case concerned Ronald Breeding of Salem who was on felony probation for manufacturing marijuana. He had pled guilty on March 18th, 2018; and completed a Section 559.115 sentence in July of 2020 for a municipal laws offense and failing to report. In October of 2020, the Dent County prosecutor's office was provided a probable cause statement for an incident that occurred on May 8th, 2019, where the defendant distributed meth to an undercover taskforce officer. Breeding was on probation and supervised by Missouri Probation and Parole at the time of the offense. In addition, Breeding had absconded from supervision and associated with a known felon. At the conclusion of the hearing Friday, Prosecutor Curley asked Judge Seay to execute Breeding's 4-year Department of Corrections sentence based on the new violations and law offense for the protection of the community from dangerous drug dealers. The Breeding defense attorney requested he remain on probation with credit for his 71 days of jail incarceration. Over the objection of the state, the defendant was allowed to continue to be on probation with a one-year extension of supervision and was given credit for his jail incarceration. The second case of the day was in reference to Levi Cardwell of Salem who was on a seven-year suspended execution of sentence probation for felony possession. The probation began on September 8th, 2016. The defendant’s probation was revoked, and he was sentenced to a Section 559.115 program in August of 2017. He was released from the program and placed back on probation and assigned to drug court. Cardwell was later charged with two cases of distributing meth for incidents in 2020, which he pled guilty to, and was scheduled for sentencing Friday. Cardwell was also terminated from drug court for failing to participate. Cardwell's defense team requested he be allowed to continue to be on probation while the state requested the defendant to serve 10 years in the Department of Corrections. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Seay sentenced Cardwell to serve seven years, concurrent.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the board heard a request from David Hancock of the Salem Running Club to close 4th Street from Washington east to Highway 19, and Highway 19 east to Pershing on Saturday, May 28th from 6:30 in the morning until noon for the Run Salem 5k/10k and Family Fun Color Run. The board also approved the request from Michael Florence to close some city streets for an Elvis competitor contest to be held September 17th at the Civic Theatre. After the consent agenda, the board approved Bill #3500 to create an ordinance to accept the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission’s Amendment #2 to the State Block Grant Agreement. The work is completed as the extension is to provide time for fulfilling the grant for the additional funding. The board approved Bill #3501 that created an ordinance amending Chapter 700, Article 1, Section 700.060 pertaining to the disconnection of utility service and the reconnection or services due to severe hot and cold weather conditions. The board approved Resolution #5-2022 that allowed Mayor Steelman to enter into a fee agreement between the City of Salem and Healy Law Offices, LLC for negotiating utility pole attachments and other matters as directed; and Resolution #6-2022 authorizing City Administrator Ray Walden to execute an agreement between the city and Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation for the lease of a new 2022 Caterpillar 289D3 Compact Track Loader for $1,413.36 for 60 months that includes physical property damage insurance. Don Harkey of People Centric updated the board on their strategic planning and introduced the board to a new associate, Mary Ling. They are also working with the Salem Park and Rec Board as well as doing succession planning for department supervisors. Administrator Walden reported the Salem Community Center@The Armory had 4,675 participants in their programs in February. He said staff have been getting training in the utility assistance program, and on Friday, there was a pre-bid site visit for the Salem Soccer Field Complex at the old fairgrounds property where the bid deadline is March 14th. Mayor Kim Steelman wanted to remind citizens to be aware of their energy consumption as the weather continues to go from spring like to very cold. Public Works Director Mark Nash thanked the board for the new skid steer that arrived Monday and has already been used. He also thanked them for the Ranger needed by the Park and Rec Department as that vehicle helped clear the snow away from the tight areas at the Salem Community Center@The Armory and also the drive through window at the administration building. He said numerous ditches have been cleaned out and the Wastewater Treatment Plant is now testing for COVID in wastewater in the statewide program. Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge gave her report before Alderman Parker told the board the Spring Clean-Up weeks will be May 9th through the 13th and 16th through the 20th. Alderman Bolerjack said the Love Thy Neighbor work week will be June 5th through the 9th, and those who need work done on their home should go to LTNDENT.com to submit their applications. The board then went into closed session.

An accident occurred Friday morning around 5:30 in Crawford County on Highway 8 at Route TT. According to the highway patrol report, a 1989 Ford L9000 Truck driven by 43-year -old Joey Pashea of Potosi, was traveling westbound and slowed for traffic ahead. At that time, a 2015 Dodge Journey driven westbound by 57-year-old Larry Emory of Steelville, failed to observe the Ford slowing and struck the truck from behind. Emory suffered moderate injuries and was transported by the Steelville Ambulance to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. He was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Dodge sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Miles Towing.