Local News – Monday, January 23rd, 2023
An accident occurred in Dent County Friday afternoon at approximately 3:05 on Highway 32 about three miles west of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a westbound 2019 Ford Fiesta operated by 79-year-old David Vanwinkle of Salem, traveled off the left side of the roadway. Vanwinkle then overcorrected and the Ford went off the right side of the roadway where it struck a sign and a tree. Vanwinkle suffered minor injuries and was transported by the Salem Ambulance to the Salem Memorial Hospital. The report stated that Vanwinkle was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their regular meeting Thursday evening at the District Administrative offices. Several FFA students presented a report on a program they taught to students at the Upper Elementary School called “Agriculture Education on the Move.” In the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Lynne Reed reported that there have been several candidates that have filed to run for the three board seats. They are Calvin Malone, Gregory Moravek, incumbent Andrew Wynn, Bret Bailey, Marjorie Pyatt, Dru Howard and Brian Mink. Reed reported that staff is reviewing a proposed calendar for next school year that replaces the current early out Mondays with Professional Development Days. In the tin gym update, the locker rooms have been demolished and the roof is done on the new portion. Intruder Training was held during the January professional development session. In new business, Sherry Lea, the Executive Director of Healthy Dent County, presented the board with a Department of Natural Resources Recreational Trails grant opportunity. This grant would pave the “Tiger Trail” that is currently a white chat trail around the Upper Elementary School. This grant would require a 25-year deed restriction. The board approved Lea writing this grant. Architect John Odom who attended the meeting via zoom, presented the board with a new location for the Construction Trades building. His original alternative site would have meant demolishing the current building that houses the IT Department and would mean moving several fiber lines that provide the school with high-speed Internet. It was determined that this was too cost prohibitive so a new site on the school property was proposed. The building will now be located on the west side of campus, south of the IT Department house. The board approved the new location. The board approved a Dent County Hazard Mitigation Resolution that will make the district part of the plan. The board then approved billing 100% for tuition as opposed to a prorated plan. Discussion was held regarding placing a bond issue on the April ballot to construct a new school for the William Lynch students. Without knowing for sure if the school will get a FEMA grant, the proposed $6 million bond would not be enough to complete construction. No action was taken at this time. The board will look at potentially placing the bond on the August ballot if the FEMA grant is received. The Board then went back into closed session.
During the week of January 7th, there was a total of 89 calls for service to the Salem Police Department. Officers conducted 20 traffic stops for various traffic violations with five of those stops resulting in a summons or arrest. Also that week, officers conducted three traffic accident investigations. On Saturday afternoon, January 7th at approximately 12:30, an officer was on routine traffic patrol near Carty and Hawkins Streets when he noticed a man who had a warrant for his arrest. An officer made contact with the man in reference to the warrant after which the subject fled on foot. Officers caught the man after a short foot pursuit. Located on this man was suspected heroin. As a result of the incident, 24-year-old Hunter Meade of Salem, was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance and for resisting arrest. He was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail for his active warrant. The next evening at approximately 11:00, officers conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Main and Center Streets. During the stop, officers were made aware that the driver was impaired. After a short investigation a 19-year-old Salem woman was arrested for a DWI and then later released on a summons. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.