Local News – Wednesday, September 20th, 2023
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has release several reports. On Thursday, September 7th, deputies responded to the 2900 block of Highway 19 North for a reported violation of ex-parte order. During the course of the investigation, a 37-year-old Salem man was found hiding on the property and was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was placed on a 24-hour hold pending the issuance of formal charges. On September 11th, a 24-year-old Salem woman came to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office to report her estranged husband was harassing and threatening her. The suspect was a 37-year-old East Prairie man. That investigation is ongoing. On Wednesday, September 13th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 2700 block of East Highway 32. The driver, a 44-year-old Salem man, was found to be driving with an excessive blood alcohol content. He was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was processed per departmental procedures, issued multiple citations and released from custody. The next day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Highway 19 North. As a result, a 35-year-old Salem woman was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance. She was arrested and transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. Finally on Friday, September 15th, deputies responded to the 9300 block of Highway 19 South for a report of shots fired near a residence. Following an investigation, a 41-year-old woman was arrested for discharging a firearm while being intoxicated. She was taken to the Dent County Jail where she was placed on a 24-hour hold pending the issuance of formal charges. If you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.
The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Tuesday afternoon at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, the board accepted the written resignation of Tiffin Felkerson from the Park Board. The board then agreed to accept applications from individuals interested in serving on the Park Board. They can fill out the committee volunteer form on the City of Salem website at salemmo.com. Go to the government heading, click on the heading “Board of Aldermen,” then click on the subtopic of committees, fill out the form and print it out. You can deliver the form to Park Board President Carlos Lopez at the Salem Community Center@The Armory by this Friday afternoon. In her report, Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois said she had 22 kids for the two week Kids Summer Camp this summer. She said 154 children signed up for flag football this year which is nine athletes less from last year. There are three 1st/2nd grade teams, four 3rd/4th grade teams and two 5th/6th grade teams as well as four cheer teams. Flag Football games will be at Al Brown Field starting in October. Basketball registrations will begin soon and the “Skills and Drills” football camp signups will be announced soon. Dubois gave her report on the pool this summer and said the wire and conduit for the light stanchions at Al Brown is now in. She said the “Light Up the Park” event will be held from December 2nd through the 31st at the Salem City Park. For the first two months of the fiscal year, the sales tax money received and the charges for the programs have generated $130,076 in revenues while the total expenses come to $105,843 leaving an excess of revenues over expenses of $24,233. The board heard from Jay Anderson and John Hambacker about suggested improvements to the Salem Walking Trail where the railroad tracks used to be from 3rd and Grand Streets to the treatment plant. The improvements include signs showing the beginning of the trail as well as signs placed along the trail at numerous points of interest from days gone by like the McGrath Dairy, Elmer Park, Salem Bottle Works and more. The board took no action until more research is done. The board then went into closed session.
Want to be part of National Public Lands Day? Join Ozark Riverways Foundation volunteers at 10:00 this Saturday morning at Alley Spring to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism with the painting of the old historic Storys Creek School. The project is expected to conclude by 1:00 in the afternoon. Volunteers will clean and oil the old desks and furnishings inside the school. Be sure to wear your painting clothes! In appreciation for your help, volunteers for this “National Public Lands Day” event will receive a “fee-free” coupon for free one-day entrance into a federal recreation site, in addition to an ONSR Volunteer t-shirt. The Storys Creek one-room school was built in 1896 just west of Eminence and welcomed area students until Shannon County schools were consolidated in 1957. The school was donated to the National Park Service and moved to Alley Spring in 1971. It withstood the 2017 historic flood which has contributed to paint peeling on the lower sections of clapboard siding. Alley Spring is located five miles west of Eminence on Highway 106. For more information on the event, call (573) 226-3945.