News – Monday, January 6th 2025

The Dent County Sheriff’s office released some reports for December. On Sunday December 15th deputies responded to the 18000 block of Highway C for a reported burglary at the Lenox Fire Department. The reporting party, a 60-year-old Salem man, advised entry was forced into the building and multiple items were stolen. The case remains active. Then on Wednesday December 18th deputies took a report for a theft that occurred in the 100 block of County Road 6245. The victim, a 40-year-old Salem woman, advised multiple kayaks were stolen from her property.  The next week on Monday December 23rd deputies responded to the 8000 block of N. Highway 19 for a reported disturbance. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that a 52-year-old Salem woman was injured during a physical confrontation with a 33-year-old Salem woman.  On Christmas eve December 24th deputies responded to the 2000 block of County Road 6210 for a reported domestic assault. The victim, a 38-year-old Jadwin woman, advised she was physically assaulted by her estranged paramour, a 41-year-old Jadwin man. The investigation is ongoing. if you have any information on an ongoing investigation please call the Sheriff’s office at 573-729-3241. 

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting of the Board Thursday evening at 5:30. After approving the agenda, the Board listened to the first and second reading of Bill Number 3636, an ordinance that would approve the Change Order #2 for the City Sidewalk TAP Grant project. This Change Order will be an increase to the City’s expenditures, with no match from MoDOT, in the amount of $10,807.00. This will be the cost to tear out and replace the heated sidewalk areas from Main to Washington Street on the south side of the road. The replacement portion from the original plans was for the apron only, but this change order also moves the snow-melt systems into the ADA-compliant sidewalk as well. The original total for the project from prior years funds was $73,409.84. With the two new change orders adding $1,943 from Change Order #1, and $10,807.00 from Change Order #2, the total cost from prior year’s funds would be $86,159.84. After approving Bill  Number 3636, the meeting adjourned.

Many people used their credit devices over the holidays for shopping and other everyday uses, but that opens the door for scammers to be able target innocent consumers like you. In a world of Artificial Intelligence, we can no longer immediately believe something even if we see or hear it. If something out of the ordinary comes up, don’t be afraid to say you are going to verify this with your company. Don’t be bullied! Just stop, hang up and call the company. Another rule of thumb is that anyone is asking for your payment card is up to no good. As a rule, never give your card to anyone, even if the card has been cut up, because it can still be used if the chip is intact. Trending scams show that scammers are now capable of taking personal devices and authorizing payments from people’s phones. Make sure your apps have multi-factor authentication like biometrics and one-time-passcodes required to access and transact. Investing can be exciting, but don’t let yourself get caught up in promises of fast returns. Counterfeit investment apps and digital currencies that require you to pay unexpected fees are an active threat. If someone emails or texts you a link to download an app, don’t click on it because it may take you to a site that looks like the real thing but is fake. Instead, go to the app store and download it from there. Before investing, do your research and make sure the investment platforms are secure. Certain information, such as card and account numbers, online credentials, etc. should be shared with extreme caution. Never share information that can be used in a security question anywhere. Stay vigilant to protect your accounts and make 2025 a great year!