Local News – Wednesday, July 31st, 2019
Dent County Coroner Gina White released a report from an incident that occurred on Saturday, July 27th at the Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health Center in Salem at 203 North Grand. Her office received a report of a death at the facility of 59-year old Ramon Kerr from the Springfield, Missouri area who had been a patient at the facility since July 13th. He was pronounced dead at the treatment center by White at 4:35 as he was discovered during the staff’s hourly bed checks. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday, July 29th at the Boone County Medical Examiner’s office and will be completed by Dr. Eddie Adelstein. A complete report is expected in about six weeks. The case is being investigated by the Dent County Coroner’s Office and the Salem Police Department.
An accident occurred Monday morning at 8:51 in Laclede County on Interstate 44 at the 139.6 mile marker about nine miles east of Lebanon that left a Salem man with injuries. The accident occurred when 21 year-old Brandon Mendenhall of Salem lost control of a westbound 2008 Chevrolet Impala, which then traveled off the left side of Interstate 44, struck the metal guardrail and then the median cable barrier. According to the highway patrol report, the accident left 29-year old Patrick Mendenhall of Salem with moderate injuries and he was transported by Trooper C.M. Stauffer to the Mercy Hospital in Lebanon. The report stated that neither occupant of the Chevrolet was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Impala was totaled and removed from the scene by Steve’s Towing.
Registration will be held soon at the Salem schools. At the Salem Upper Elementary, new and current students can register from 9:00 to 5:30 on Monday, August 5th and Tuesday, August 6th, while only current students may register on Wednesday, August 7th. For more information, call 729-4812. At the Salem Middle School, students who are new to the area and have not been registered in any Salem school district in grades 6 through 8 may register on Monday, August 5th. All students can register on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, August 6th through the 8th, and on Friday, August 9th. All 6th, 7th and 8th grade students will enroll in the Cafeteria of the Middle School building and a parent or guardian must attend and complete the necessary required enrollment forms and paperwork. For more information, call 729-4261. At the Salem Senior High, seniors will register on Monday, August 5th from 1:00 – 5:00 PM; juniors will register Tuesday, August 6th from 1:00 – 5:00 PM; sophomores will register from 1:00 – 5:00 PM Wednesday, August 7th and freshman will register Thursday, August 8th from 1:00 – 5:00 PM. On Friday, August 9th, anyone who missed registration can register from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM. For more information about registration, call the Salem Senior High School at 729-6641. Don’t forget your vaccinations must be up to date before you can register your child. Contact the Dent County Health Center if you have questions about which vaccinations are required for each grade level at 729-3106.
The Dent County Sheriffs Department has released a number of reports. On Friday, July 12th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 3250. During the course of the traffic stop, a 27-year-old Salem woman was arrested for driving while having her license revoked or suspended, a 1st offense. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she was fingerprinted, issued summons and released. On Saturday, July 13th, deputies conducted a traffic stop with a motorcycle at Highway 32 and Route MM. During the course of the traffic stop, a 23-year-old Salem man was arrested for operating a motorcycle with a drivers’ license not validated for such operations. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued summons and released. Then on Thursday the 18th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 4150. During the course of the traffic stop, a 56-year-old Salem woman was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, 35 grams or less of marijuana/synthetic cannabinoid and exceeding posted speed limit by 11-15 mph. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she was fingerprinted, issued summons and released. The next day on the 19th, deputies responded to the Missouri Private Probation Services to attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 26-year-old Doolittle woman was arrested for an active warrant through Dent County. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. If anyone has any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.
A fatality accident occurred Monday afternoon at 3:32 in Phelps County on Interstate 44 at the 175 mile marker about nine miles west of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, 59 year-old Roman Zeragia of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was westbound when his 2015 Hino Box Truck traveled off the right side of the roadway, overturned and came to rest. Zeragia was pronounced dead at the scene by Phelps County Coroner Andy Davis at 3:57. The body was taken to James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. The truck was totaled and removed from the scene by I-44 Towing of Rolla.