Local News – Monday, July 11th, 2022
The Salem Police Department released an incident report for the evening of Tuesday, July 7th, when at approximately 5:17, officers with the Salem Police Department were dispatched to an accident that had occurred at the Salem High School. At the same time another caller reported the vehicle that was wrecked had also been stolen. Officers responded to the area, and they were informed the female that was driving the vehicle that had the accident had run up the hill, stole a truck and was last seen traveling towards Highway 72. The officer was also informed that the owner of the truck had jumped into the back of the truck as it was being stolen. Officers located the truck on Highway 72 and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. The truck did not yield and accelerated and began driving erratic while the male subject was still in the back of the vehicle. Due to the subject being in the truck, officers continued to pursue the vehicle at a safe distance into Rolla. Once in Rolla, the driver continued to flee and drive erratically, committing numerous traffic violations while evading officers. The pursuit moved through many streets in Rolla before traveling on Route BB headed towards St James. Once on Route BB, the victim that was in the back of the vehicle was able to crawl into an open window while the vehicle was traveling at about 30 MPH, and subsequently the vehicle crashed through a fence and came to rest after colliding with a tree. The owner of the vehicle pulled the subject out of the vehicle and assisted in apprehending the suspect before officers made it to the crash scene. The victim suffered minor injuries and no injuries were reported or were apparent to the suspect. As a result, 34-year-old Sara Cunningham of Salem was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the application of a warrant for kidnapping, two warrants for tampering with a motor vehicle, as well as warrants for leaving the scene of an accident, resisting arrest and for driving while being intoxicated. Charges were filed after a probable cause statement was submitted to Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley. Cunningham is being held at the Dent County Jail on a 500,000 cash or surety bond.
An accident occurred Saturday morning around 12:30 in Dent County on Route H about 6 miles west of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Lincoln MK2 driven by 21-year-old Jacob Wood of Salem, was travelling eastbound when Wood fell asleep at the wheel. The Lincoln traveled off the left side of the road, returned to the road, then travelled off the right side of the road, before striking an embankment and coming to rest. Wood suffered moderate injuries and was transported by a private vehicle to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. The Lincoln was totaled and removed from the scene by American Tire and Muffler. The report states Wood was wearing his seat restraint at the time of the accident.
The Dent County 4-H and FFA Expo begins Wednesday at The Dent County Commons with the 4-H Exhibit judging that morning at 10:00. The Dessert Auction will be held Wednesday evening at 6:00 at the Youth Building at The Commons and all dessert entries must be submitted by 5:00. On Thursday morning, all livestock must be in place by 11:00 for the livestock registration which will be held from 9:30 until 11:30. The livestock weigh-ins will begin at 12:30. Then at 4:30, there will be a Pig Pals Show that is new this year. Friday will be a day full of shows starting with the Hog Show at 7:00 in the morning immediately followed by the Sheep and Goat Show. The Small Animal Show will start at 1:00 to be followed by the Beef and Dairy Show at 2:00. On Saturday, the 16th, the FFA/4H Market Sale will begin at 9:00 in the morning and will be broadcast live on KSMO Radio (AM 1340 and FM 95.7); and the event will be video streamed live on Twitch (www.ksmoradio.com button “Listen online”), the KSMO YouTube channel and on the Facebook KSMO Stream page. Buttons for those other channels are at www.ksmoradio.com. Admission is free for everyone and a variety of food from local vendors will be available.
The Creative Arts Center will be holding a one-day outdoor painting workshop with Marty Coulter of Steelville. The workshop will be Thursday, July 14th from 9:00 in the morning till 4:00. There will be an hour lunch break. In the morning, Coulter will give instruction then in the afternoon participants will paint with guidance. All supplies will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your favorite paints and brushes. The cost of the workshop is $100 per person and at least 6 people must attend. The Creative Arts Center has two easy ways to sign up for events! Call or text 573-247-0651, or go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center.
In conjunction with the Thomas Hart Benton mural currently on display at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, the ONCRC will be hosting a special speaker who will provide background information about the paintings included on the mural and about Benton’s life and work. Dr. Sarah S. Jones, an art historian and historic site specialist at the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site and Missouri State Museum, will be speaking at the ONCRC this Thursday evening at 7:00. Her presentation is free and open to the public. The ONCRC is located at 202 South Main in Salem.
As reported last week, the Salem Memorial District Hospital’s lab regained their CLIA certification in the laboratory, plus the hospital has hired Jim Renfrow as the new Laboratory Manager to improve the overall experience and results of the lab as he comes to Salem with 39 years of experience. The hospital continues to improve their staffing at the SMDH Family Medicine with the recent addition of Michelle Bland, Family Nurse Practitioner, who has already started practicing at the clinic; and they have also added Jimmy Bell, Family Nurse Practitioner, who will be available for patients in the very near future. For more information about the lab, call 729-6626 and if you need to make an appointment at the SMDH Family Medicine Clinic, call 729-8000.