Local News – Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday evening for their regular scheduled meeting as well as a public hearing on the personal property and real estate tax rate for 2018. At the meeting, they postponed the purchase of a sewer machine tank. The board isn’t sure if there isn’t another option other than buying a 700 gallon tank like working with a sister city to provide the sewer services, but the city does not have any agreements to that effect with other cities. The board held a public tax hearing about the proposed rate for 2018 as set by the state auditor of $0.6533 per $100 assessed valuation for real estate and personal property within the city limits. There were no public comments. The rate for 2018 is the same rate as 2017. After the consent agenda was approved, City Administrator Ray Walden told the crowd the city offices would be closed on September 3rd for Labor Day. He said the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce is holding a rodeo Labor Day Weekend and Timber Days will follow on Monday, September 3rd. Walden said the next meeting will be held September 10th. He also reported there is still an issue with the card reader and fuel pump at the airport. Part of the problem may be too slow of an Internet speed, but an attendee at the meeting said someone has been drilling under the road which may be a fiber optic cable. The city will check it out. The board approved the recommended tax rate for 2018 of $0.6533 per $100 assessed valuation for real estate and personal property, and then approved Bill #3397 creating an ordinance that set the tax levy for 2018. The board also approved Bill #3398 that added Chapter 106, a Code of Ethics for Public Officials to the municipal code book for the City of Salem. The chapter is directly from Missouri State Statutes. The board went on to approve Bill #3399 amending the annual budget for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1st, 2017. The board also approved the request from Chief Keith Steelman for the Salem Police Department to seek a Local Law Enforcement Block Grant which is a 100% funded block grant that the council must approve before it can be applied for. The grant funds will be used for equipment. The board then went into closed session where no votes were taken. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Salem Police Department released the following reports for August 7th through the 9th. On Tuesday morning, August 7th, at about 10:32, an officer was contacted at the Salem police department by a city employee for a report of stealing of city utilities. The investigation revealed the lock on a water meter had been tampered with and water had been used without authorization. The value of the water used was $26.60. The report is still under investigation. Later that same evening at 10:00, a vehicle was stopped for an equipment violation. The investigation led to the arrest of a 25-year old male from Salem for the possession of marijuana. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. At 2:31 the morning of August 8th, an officer was dispatched to Mobil in Salem in reference to a male subject trying to purchase items with a counterfeit bill. During the investigation it was determined that the male subject had sold personal items and was given the bill as payment for the items. It was also determined that the male subject had an active warrant for his arrest. The 30-year old male, from Potosi was arrested and incarcerated for the warrant. The investigation into the counterfeit bill is still under investigation. At 2:45 that same afternoon, an officer was dispatched to the St. Francois Country Sheriff’s Office in reference to a subject being held on City of Salem warrants. A 30-year old subject was arrested and taken back to Salem and incarcerated for two warrants for his arrest. That same evening at 10:43, a vehicle was stopped for an equipment violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 22-year old male subject from St. Louis for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The subject was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Thursday evening, August 9th at 8:05, a vehicle was stopped for an investigative stop due to suspicious activity. The investigation led to the arrest of a 21-year old male from Salem for possession of marijuana. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. At 10:16 that same night, an officer was dispatched to the Salem Memorial Hospital in reference to a 96-hour detention and Evaluation warrant. The warrant was served and the 32-year old female from Salem was transported to Osage Beach for evaluation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

An accident occurred Monday afternoon at 1:35 in Phelps County on Highway 68 about eight miles south of St. James that took the life of a Rolla man. According to the highway patrol report, a southbound 2005 Dodge Caravan, operated by 47-year old Richard Martin of Rolla, crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2006 Sterling box truck head on. The Sterling was driven by 51-year old Russell Eynard of O’Fallon, Missouri. Martin was pronounced dead at 7:43 Monday evening at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. According to the report, Russell Eynard was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, while Richard Martin was not. Both vehicles were totaled in the accident. The Dodge was removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing and the Sterling was removed by C & C Towing of Rolla. The highway patrol was assisted by MODOT, the St. James Fire Department and St. James Ambulance at the scene.

Following up on a story from Monday, Texas County Sheriff Rowdy Douglas identified the murdered female as 56-year old Susan J. Campbell of Cabool. She died of multiple gunshot wounds Sunday afternoon. The person suspected of the crime was identified as 52-year old Kenneth R. Clark of Cabool, who is in critical condition from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was arrested by the state highway patrol Sunday on charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action and violation of an order of protection obtained by Campbell. He was charged Monday by Texas County Prosecutor Parke Stevens Jr. Clark was ordered to be held without bond.