Local News – Friday, October 28th, 2021

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports for the first half of October. On Friday morning, October 1st around 7:00, an officer arrested Emanuel Moore of Salem for six active arrest warrant through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. Moore was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Then on Thursday night, October 7th about 7:30, an officer arrested Richard Labrash, Jr. on warrants out of the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. Labrash was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. On Friday, October 8th near 2:30 in the afternoon, an officer arrested 43-year-old Rebecca Hughes for outstanding warrants through Dent County. Hughes was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Just minutes later at approximately 3:30, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of a shoplifter. It was reported that a 29-year-old Sullivan male had stolen $65 worth of merchandise and left the store without paying for it. As a result, the man was later arrested and issued a summons for shoplifting. On Saturday night, the 9th of October at around 10:00, an officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Fourth Street for a report of a domestic disturbance. It was reported that a male subject had struck his mother in the heat of an argument and was refusing to let her leave the residence. An investigation was conducted and as a result a 31-year-old Salem male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending the application of warrants. On Sunday afternoon, October 10th about 1:00, officers were conducting a security check of the old shoe factory on South Walker. While canvassing the area officers located a female subject that was trespassing on the property. As a result, a 33-year-old Salem female was arrested and issued summons for trespassing. If you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242.

An accident happened Thursday morning just after 7:00 in Dent County about 12 miles west of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Cadillac SRX being driven by 47-year-old Vera Copeland of Licking had slowed for a deer in the roadway. The Cadillac was struck from behind by a 2008 Toyota Yaris being driven by 23-year-old Elizabeth Lee, also of Licking. Copeland was taken by a private vehicle to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The Cadillac sustained minor damage and the Toyota had extensive damage. Both were removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The report stated that both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports that Missouri hunters harvested 12 black bears during the state’s inaugural bear-hunting season, which ran October 18th throught the 27th. More than 6,330 hunters applied for 400 permits for the season with the maximum total harvest for the season being 40 bears. MDC State Furbearer and Black Bear Biologist Laura Conlee says a harvest of 12 bears in the first season is testament to the hunters. Dent County is in BMZ 2 which is the portion of Missouri east of a line running north from the Arkansas border on U.S. Highway 63 to Interstate 44; east on Interstate 44 to State Highway 47; north on State Highway 47 to the Missouri River; east along the Missouri River to the Illinois border. Three of the 12 bears were killed in BMZ 2 with the other nine being in BMZ 1 that runs west of a line running north from the Arkansas border on U.S. Highway 63 to U.S. Highway 60; west on U.S. Highway 60 to MO-360; west on MO-360 to Interstate 44; west on Interstate 44 to the Oklahoma border. Bear hunting in Missouri is limited to Missouri residents and restricted to three designated areas of southern Missouri called Bear Management Zones (BMZ). Each permit issued was for a specific BMZ and hunting was limited to public or private property within the BMZ. Black bears were historically abundant throughout the forested areas of Missouri prior to European settlement but were nearly eliminated by unregulated killing in the late 1800s, as well as from habitat loss when Ozark forests were logged. Over the last 50 years, bear numbers and range in Missouri have grown to around 800 black bears with most found south of the Missouri River and primarily south of Interstate 44. Missouri bear range is expanding. Bear numbers in Missouri are increasing each year by approximately 9% and are expected to double in less than 10 years. As bear numbers continue to increase, MDC will use a highly regulated hunting season as an essential part of population management. MDC’s 2020-2030 Black Bear Management Plan will guide bear management in Missouri for the next decade. Learn more about black bears in Missouri and MDC management efforts at mdc.mo.gov/bears.