Local News – Monday, March 8th, 2021

The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of January. They served 10 summonses to appear in court, gave 76 warning tickets, and 10 traffic tickets, plus they also served 6 fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated 6 traffic accidents, wrote 3 property damage reports, 6 stealing reports, and investigated 2 minors in possession of alcohol. The department investigated 2 driving while being revoked or suspended, 1 unlawful use of a firearm or weapon, 4 possessions of drug paraphernalia, 3 possessions of a controlled substance as well as 1 driving while intoxicated, and responded to 1 sexual offense. The department was also dispatched for 22 animal calls, 10 ambulance assist calls, and performed 91 traffic stops for the month. The Department also conducted 37 follow-up investigations, investigated 1 leaving the scene of an accident and responded 2 suspicious circumstances, 10 suspicious subjects, and 12 suspicious vehicles. The Salem Police Department received 722 calls for service during the month of January and had 38 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 9,184 miles during the month of January. There were 10 males and 6 females arrested in January. The Police Department also served 4 hours during the month as court bailiff for the month.

The Missouri Department of Transportation crews will be making drainage repairs at various locations in Phelps County this week. Crews will be making improvements along North Outer Road at Route U, the North I-44 Outer Road between Route V and Parker Lane, the South I-44 Outer Road between Route V and Marion Drive, and Route KK between Highway 68 and the Crawford County line. Work will take place Monday, March 8 through Thursday, March 18 between 6:30 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon each day. The Missouri Department of Transportation crews will also be performing roadside maintenance at various locations along Highway 72 in Dent County. MoDOT crews will be flushing culvert pipes and making ditch repairs between Highway 68 and Route FF. The Work is scheduled to take place today through Friday from 6:30 in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon. Most of the work is expected to take place off the roadway, but some lane closures are possible. Drivers are advised to expect some minor delays and to give crews plenty of room to work. MoDOT says they appreciate the patience of travelers while this work takes place. The work is weather permitting and could be delayed. For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central

Need trees and shrubs for your landscape? Go native with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Native trees and shrubs can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of private property. The George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes. The nursery provides mainly one-year-old, bare-root seedlings with sizes varying by species. Seedlings varieties include: pine, bald cypress, cottonwood, black walnut, hickory, oak, pecan, persimmon, river birch, maple, willow, sycamore, blackberry, beautyberry, buttonbush, deciduous holly, hazelnut, redbud, ninebark, spicebush, elderberry, sumac, wild plum, witch hazel, and others. Seedlings are available in bundles of 10 or increments of 25 per species. The prices range from 22 – 90 cents per seedling. Sales tax of 6.1% will be added to orders unless tax exempt. There is an $8 handling charge for each order. Receive a 15% discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Heritage Card, Permit Card, or Conservation ID Number. The nursery grows millions of seedlings each year, but some species are very popular and sell out quickly. Occasionally the seedlings succumb to uncooperative weather or hungry wildlife, despite the nursery staff’s best efforts. Fiaoni said that even if a species is listed as sold out, customers can still place an order for them. Sometimes orders get cancelled, freeing up inventory. Customers won’t be charged for seedlings unless they are available to ship. Learn more and place orders with the Missouri Department of Conservation’s “2020-2021 Seedling Order Form.” You can pick one up at Department of Conservation regional offices and nature centers. You can also access the form online at mdc.mo.gov/seedlings, or by contacting the State Forest Nursery at 573-674-3229 or by e-mail them at StateForestNursery@mdc.mo.gov. You can place your orders now through April 15, 2021. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery near Licking now through May.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold another special meeting tonight at 6:30 in the city hall council chambers. After the call to order and roll call, the board will go into closed session to discuss personnel and attorney/client privilege. The meeting is NOT open to the public.

An accident occurred Saturday afternoon at 2:06 on Route B about 2 miles north of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Kia Soul driven by 24-year old Broc Losing of Springfield, was travelling southbound and crossed into the northbound lane and struck a 2013 Chevrolet 1500 driven by 55-year old Gene Matlock of St. Louis head on. Losing suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps Health Rolla by private conveyance. Matlock also suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps Health Rolla by St. James Ambulance. An occupant of the Kia, 25-year old Sarah Rowland of Springfield, suffered serious injuries and was transported by Phelps Air Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Matlock was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. It is unknown if Losing or Rowland was. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing of St. James.