Local News – Wednesday, July 14th, 2021

An accident happened in Phelps County Tuesday afternoon at 3:55 on Highway 63 about a mile north of Rolla that took the life of a Rolla teen. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Ford Escape driven northbound by a 16-year-old female juvenile, crossed the center line and side-swiped a 2011 Chevrolet Impala driven southbound by 54-year-old Jerry Prewitt of St. James, before striking a 2019 Jeep Compass driven southbound head-on, driven by 27-year-old Abigail Bowen of Rolla. The 16-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene by the Phelps County Coroner Ernie Coverdell. Her body was transported by the coroner to the James and Gahr Funeral Home in St. James. Bowen and a passenger in the Jeep Compass, 46-year-old Leann Robertson of Rolla, suffered serious injuries. Bowen was taken from the scene by the Phelps Ambulance and taken to Phelps Health, while Robertson was life-flighted to the University Hospital in Columbia. Prewitt, Bowen and Robertson were each wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident, while the juvenile girl was not. The Ford Escape and Jeep Compass were both totaled and removed from the scene by C&C Towing, while the Impala had minor damage and was driven from the scene. It was the first fatality in Troop I this month.

An accident happened Tuesday morning at 8:22 in on Highway 32 about six miles west of Salem. According to the report released by the highway patrol, a 2010 Buick Enclave being driven by 48-year-old Sunny Shelton of Yukon was traveling eastbound when she crossed the center of the roadway. The Yukon struck a 2004 Peterbilt being driven 47-year-old Stace Pryor of Salem. Shelton suffered minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene. The Buick sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by All-American Towing. The Peterbilt had moderate damage and was driven from the scene. The report went on to state that both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

The Salem Police Department has released several reports. On Wednesday evening, June 23rd around 10:00, an officer was dispatched to the area of Carty and Center streets for a report of someone shooting off fireworks outside the allowed times. During the investigation, the subject responsible for setting off the fireworks was non-compliant and refusing to cease in shooting off fireworks. As a result, a 41-year-old Salem man was issued three summons to appear in court. During the afternoon of June
24th at approximately 2:00, an officer responded to the 1200 block of east Third Street to locate a subject with an active arrest warrant. The officer located the subject and a 40-year-old woman from Salem was arrested and incarcerated on her warrants. About an hour later an officer responded to the 300 block of west Seventh Street to locate a woman that had an active arrest warrant. Contact was made with the woman and as a result a 42-year-old woman from Salem was arrested and posted bond on her warrants. On Sunday afternoon, June 27th near 1:00, an officer was dispatched to the Mobil/Dirt Cheap location for a report of the stealing of fuel. It was reported that $36 was pumped into a white Dodge Charger and the subject did not pay for the fuel. The incident is still under investigation. On Wednesday, the 29th at approximately 5:30 in the afternoon, an officer responded to the 200 block of west Third Street to attempt to locate a man with two active arrest warrants. Contact was made with the man and as a result a 58-year-old man from Salem was incarcerated on his warrants at the Dent County Jail. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting Tuesday night at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, the board approved selling the old crawler for $2,500 to Woolf Equipment in Salem before discussing bids on a 2021 Caterpillar 289D3 Skidster and a 2021 325G John Deere Skidster. Public Works Director Mark Nash discussed each and recommended the Caterpillar as they have had less mechanical issues versus the John Deere, even though it costs a little more. Nash said the
machine could be used for multiple uses including its main use of moving the yard waste and debris at the Industrial Park waste site, but also at the cemetery, for the street department and in ditches. The cost of a 60-month lease was $1,120.62 per month with a buyout at the end of the lease for $26,670. There was a discussion about non-yard waste items being delivered illegally to the dump site at the Masters’ Industrial Park including construction materials, furniture and treated wood. The board wanted to see violators cited and Chief Joe Chase said it would fall under the Section 210.530 of the City Ordinances for illegal dumping. These was a discussion about the installation of cameras or even closing the waste site with a gate, but no decisions were made on those suggestions. Board President Kim Steelman said that she felt until the financial audit of the city has been completed, she didn’t feel the city should enter into any long-term agreements. After a long discussion, the board approved a motion to allow Nash to lease a skidster similar to the Caterpillar for short terms such as a month at time until the audit is completed to work at the waste site. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County 4-H and FFA Expo begins today at The Commons with the 4-H Exhibit judging this morning at 10:00. The Dessert Auction will be held this evening at 6:00 at the Youth Building at The Commons. On Thursday morning, the livestock registration will be held from 9:30 until 11:30 with the livestock weigh-ins beginning at 12:30. 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 17th, the FFA/4H Market Sale will begin at 9:00 in the morning and will be broadcast live on KSMO Radio and online at ksmoradio.com on Twitch; and the event will be video streamed live on the KSMO YouTube channel and on the Facebook KSMO Stream page. Buttons for those channels can be found on our website at www.ksmoradio.com. Admission is free for everyone and a variety of food from local vendors will be available.