Local News – Wednesday, August 1st, 2018

An accident occurred Tuesday morning at 1:45 in Crawford County that took the life of a Cuba, Missouri youth. According to the highway patrol report, the accident occurred on Route DD about one mile north of Cuba when a 2001 Honda Civic, driven by 17-year-old Brandon Santonge of Cuba, swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle causing Santonge to loose control of the vehicle. The Jeep traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. A passenger, 15-year old Colten Santonge of Cuba, was transported by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis where he was pronounced deceased at 4:22 that morning. Another passenger, 15-year old Dakota McMullin of Cuba, suffered minor injuries and was transported by North Crawford Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. According to the report, Colton Santonge and McMullin were not wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident, while Brandon Santonge was. The Honda was totaled and removed from the scene by Chris and Son.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for July 23rd through July 26th. The afternoon of July 23rd at approximately 2:21 an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of East Second Street in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown took a Mongoose bicycle valued at $100.00 from the carport of a residence. The report is under investigation. Early Tuesday morning, July 24th, at about 1:21, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of South Carty in reference to an intoxicated male threatening his mother. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 38-year old male of Salem for disorderly conduct. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and incarcerated on a 12-hour hold. That afternoon at approximately 1:10, an officer located a 41-year old female of Salem near Highway 32 and Mildred Street who had three active arrest warrants from the City of Salem. The suspect was taken into custody on the warrants and incarcerated pending a court appearance. Later that afternoon near 5:58, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of East Third Street in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown took a Honda 70cc dirt bike valued at $500.00 out of a shed. The report is under investigation. Then on Thursday morning, July 26th, at approximately 6:59, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of North Pershing in reference to damage to a vehicle. That investigation revealed a person or persons unknown damaged the front fender of a white 2000 Dodge van. The value of the damage is approximately at $250.00. The report is under investigation. That same afternoon at approximately 12:24, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to two shoplifters. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 21-year old female and a 14-year old male juvenile both of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $43.48. The 21-year old female was issued a summons to appear in court and the juvenile will be referred to the Juvenile Office. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Road construction will continue in the area through August 10th. In Dent County, daylight hour work includes Highway 32 between Highway 72 and Highway 63 in Texas County where roadway microsurfacing continues. Striping and surface repair operations are scheduled for this week. One lane will be open and crews will guide traffic through the work area. The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall. On Highway 68 between Highway 32 and the Phelps County line, roadside work will take place through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area. On Highway 119 between Highway 32 and Dent County Road 6670, microsurfacing continues. Striping and surface repair operations are scheduled this week. One lane will be open. The project is scheduled for completion in the fall. Roadside maintenance will be held on a number of roads through Thursday. Those include on Route B between Highway 19 and Highway 72, on Route E between Highway 119 and Route K, on Route H between Highway 72 and Phelps County line, and on Route K between Highway 19 and the Shannon County line. Pavement patching will be done from Monday, August 6th and Thursday, August 9th on Route OO between Route O and Dent County Road 2010. In all of these projects, one lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area. Work on the Route F bridge over Dry Fork Creek, south of Route NN, continues as Route F remains closed through traffic.