Local News – Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday evening in the City Hall Council Chambers for their regular meeting. Bill #3488 was introduced that would have moved the Board of Aldermen meetings from the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month to the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. Before the vote, mayor Brad Nash said that he would have conflicts with meetings on Tuesdays where he would not be able to attend the meetings due to his job as fire chief. Alderwoman Kim Steelman and Alderman Shawn Bolerjack voted against the bill while Aldermen Kevin James and Greg Parker voted for the bill. Mayor Brad Nash cast the deciding “no” vote and the bill was defeated. Salem Police Chief Joe Chase explained to the board the need for a new digital repeater and dispatch conversion that would make it easier for the Salem Police Department to communicate with the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and monitor the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Chase brought up instances where they could not communicate at some accident sites even though officers could see each other. He said fortunately there were no issues, but it is not a safe environment. The cost of the repeater and conversion is $41,339.91. The board approved the budgeted purchase. The board approved the appointment of Tiffin Felkerson and Caleb Shepherd to the Salem Park and Recreation Board, and the appointment of Aldermen Shawn Bolerjack to the Airport Board. The board discussed the trailer court license for the trailer park at 307 Truman Avenue called Greenbriar. The board approved the trailer court license application for the Greenbriar pending the passing of an inspection. The Park Street Trailer Court has not yet submitted their application. Salem Police Chief Joe Chase said he would talk with the owner and give him a limited amount of time to be in compliance or be issued citations. City Administrator Ray Walden was not in attendance but did pass on the monthly numbers at the Salem Community Center@The Armory for June and they came in at 4,574. Mark Nash gave an update on the utilities to the board. He said they found the main problem with the water meters were incorrectly installed connectors. They are being replaced and then checked at the time of replacement to make sure they are working properly. After a long discussion on the rezoning of the property at 306 East Franklin from commercial to industrial, the board tabled the issue to do more research and wait until the city attorney would be able to be at the meeting. The meeting was then adjourned.

Judging last Friday morning included the Goat and Sheep Show. In the market goat competition, Judge Reichel selected Baylee Park’s 54-pound goat, Greta Vogel’s 64-pound goat and Josie Howard’s 89-pound goat as class winners. Howard’s goat was awarded Champion Goat and Schafer’s was the Reserve Champion Goat. A light-weight goat was exhibited by Mikayla Huebner, and Charlie Duncan showed a Breeding Doeling. Eleven exhibitors competed in Goat Showmanship with Abbi Terrel winning the Junior Division, Greta Vogel taking home the award in the Intermediate Division, and Lori Terrill winning the Senior Division. Three classes of Market Lambs yielded class winners by Emma Fleener with a 112-pound lamb, Josie Howard with a 130-pounder, and Preslie Strader with a 138-pound lamb. The Champion Lamb went to Strader, and Tyffany LuCerne’s second place lamb in the heavy weight class was named Reserve Champion Lamb. Twelve exhibitors competed in Sheep Showmanship. The Junior Showmanship Award went to Josie Howard, Preslie Strader was selected as Intermediate winner and Kennedy Major was named the Senior Showmanship Champion.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has submitted the following reports for early July. On Friday, July 2nd, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 15,000 block of South Highway 19 to serve an arrest warrant. During the incident, a 71-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he later posted bond and was released. That same day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 800 block of East Scenic Rivers Boulevard. During the traffic stop, a 19-year-old Salem man was arrested for purchasing or attempting to purchase, or for the possession of liquor by a minor, a 1st offense. The teenager was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Then on July 5th, a deputy traveled to the 500 block of North Highway 19 to serve an arrest warrant. During the incident, a 22-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. She was transported to the Dent County Jail where she was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Thursday, July 8th while on routine patrol, a deputy observed a 35-year-old Salem woman operating a motor vehicle on Dent County Road 4110. The deputy knew that the woman’s driving privileges had been revoked. The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle but was unable to locate it. A short time later, the deputy found the vehicle and conducted the traffic stop on East Dent Street. The woman that had been operating the vehicle previously was now in the passenger seat of the vehicle. During the traffic stop, the 35-year-old Salem woman was arrested for driving while having her license revoked or suspended. Also arrested during the traffic stop was a 32-year-old Salem man for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 2nd offense. The two people were transported to the Dent County Jail where they were fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. If you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s office at 729-3241.