Your World Today

The Salem Police Department has released a number of reports. On Thursday evening, January 30th at about 8:58, an officer was dispatched to the Salem Police Department to speak with a female about a domestic disturbance that had occurred on Warfel Street. An investigation was conducted and as a result of that investigation, a 23-year-old Salem man was arrested and issued summons to appear in court. On Saturday morning, February 1st at about 1:21, an officer attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle for a speeding violation. The vehicle refused to stop right away. After a short pursuit the vehicle stopped near the intersection of Warfel and Third Streets. As a result of the investigation, two 22-year-old males were arrested and issued summons to appear in court for possession of Marijuana as well as a DWI and traffic offences for the driver. On Tuesday morning, February 4th at about 8:08, the School Resource Officer was contacted by school officials about a juvenile being in possession of alcohol on school grounds. After an investigation it was found that a juvenile student was in possession of a vape device and also cans of beer. The juvenile was detained, and the case is being forwarded to the Dent County Juvenile office for further investigation. That afternoon at about 4:56, an officer was dispatched to area of Grand and Third Streets for a report of a stolen vehicle. An investigation was conducted. Later in the evening the vehicle was located in Cabool. The suspect and driver of the stolen car were arrested and placed in the Dent County Jail on a 24-hour hold pending the application of warrants. The suspect is a 30-year-old female from Springfield, Missouri. On Thursday, February 6th near 3:30 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to the Salem Memorial District Hospital to transport a 38-year old male of Alton, Missouri to Joplin for a 96-hour evaluation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital and the Columbia Vet Center are teaming up to provide area Veterans with services such as Veterans Health Administration enrollment as well as counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma TODAY at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Rolla at 500 South Bishop from 9:00 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon at their Mobile Vet Center. The Mobile Vet Center is a 37-foot-long mobile resource unit that not only allows veterans to enroll and seek counseling, but also provides services such as bereavement, marriage and family counseling. They also can provide additional resources for Veterans that include VA benefits information and suicide prevention referrals. The customized MVC vehicle is equipped with confidential counseling space to extend access to these VA services to Veterans, service members and their families, especially those living in rural or remote communities. The Mobile Vet Center also provides readjustment counseling and information resources to Veterans to assist them in the difficult transition between military and civilian life. For more information, call (573) 814-6206.

Gary Brown, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board of Commissioners, has called for a Public Hearing by the Board for Tuesday evening, February 18th, at 6:30 in the City Hall Council Chambers, 202 North Washington. The Public Hearing is relative to the proposed annexation of commercial property at 1805 South Main owned by Charles W. and Janet L. Cunningham Trust. Immediately following the closing of the Public Hearing, the Board will conduct a Public Meeting at the same location to discuss annexation and zoning of the property at 1805 South Main, short-term rentals, and wineries and meadery. The public hearing and public meeting are both open to the public.

The Salem Rotary Club Annual Pancake Day will be held this Saturday morning from 7:00 until 11:00 at the Salem Middle School. The cost is $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children that are 12 years of age and under. Rotary members will be serving up “all you can eat” pancakes, sausage, coffee and milk. Tickets are available from any Rotary Club member in advance or you can buy your tickets at the door. The money that is raised goes toward community projects and scholarships.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports. On Sunday, January 26th, a Deputy responded to the 500 block of County
Road 6590 for a report of a burglary which had occurred at a neighboring residence on County Road 6590. Upon arrival, the Deputy discovered that a 55 year-old man and a 59 year-old man were the reported victims of the burglary. This investigation is still ongoing. Then on Wednesday, January 29th, Deputies responded to the 1300 block of Iron Mountain Road for a report of a theft. Upon arrival, Deputies discovered that a 56 year-old man was the reported victim. This investigation is still ongoing. Finally on Friday, January 31st, Deputies traveled to a residence in the 700 block of County Road 6620 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 29 year-old Licking man was arrested for an active warrant through the Licking Police Department. The man was later transported to a Licking Police Department Officer. Also on the 31st Deputies traveled to a residence in the 1500 block of South Gertrude Street to serve an arrest warrant through Dent County. During the course of the incident, a 25 year-old Salem man was arrested for the active warrant. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information on an ongoing investigation.

A two vehicle accident happened Monday afternoon at 4:00 in Shannon County on Highway 19 about a mile north of Eminence. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2005 Buick Century being driven by 35-year old Joshua Galardo of Eminence was traveling north on Highway 19 when he ran off the roadway and overcorrected, crossed the centerline and struck a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt being driven by 57-year old Jerald Keeling also of Eminence. Galardo suffered moderate injuries. Keeling received minor injuries. Both drivers were transported by ambulance to Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains. According to the report, neither were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Buick was totaled and removed from the scene by Bakers Towing of Birch Tree. The Cobalt sustained moderate damage was removed by Sartin’s Towing of Winona.

The Salem Park and Recreation Board will be meeting today at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, the board will hear the report from Park and Recreation Director Melissa DuBois who will talk about the football “Skills and Drills” camp, the Start Smart Soccer signups, the Your Soccer league signups, the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Pools, give an update on the Community Center Gym and talk about the baseball, softball and T-Ball Opening Day Ceremonies. The board will also receive a copy of the updated Park Board by-laws, and hear about the LWCF Grant application for the Soccer Park. After any miscellaneous business is heard, the meeting will adjourn. The meeting of the City of Salem Park and Recreation Board is open to the public.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission is working to convene a consortium for the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative. In October of 2019, MRPC was awarded a $997,000 grant to develop a two-phase, three-year project through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). MRPC was one of seven grant recipients nationwide for this round of funding. The consortium will consist of membersfrom law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, probation, children’s division, health care, mental health, prevention organizations, schools and counselors. The three-year project will be delivered in two phases. During the initial phase, the consortium will meet monthly as they work to develop and implement in the first year an effective, data-driven, coordinated response that addresses the misuse of opioids and provides services to children, youth and families impacted by the opioid crisis in the Meramec region. Years two and three will include the implementation phase and will consist of the implementation of coordinated responses and services. The MRPC recently hired Jane Johannsen, a former Steelville resident, and Rebecca Losing of St. James to work on program implementation. For additional information or if you interest in being involved with the consortium, contact Jane Johannsen at 573-265-2993, ext. 149.