News – Monday, November 24th 2025

On November 22, 2025, Patrolmen 114 and 118 of the Salem Police Department responded to the 1100 block of West Scenic Rivers Boulevard regarding a reported theft in progress. According to the department’s Facebook page, upon arrival, officers located and apprehended a suspect as he attempted to leave in his vehicle. Both responding officers possess advanced criminal interdiction training, and during the course of their investigation, they observed indicators suggesting additional criminal activity beyond the original incident. After the suspect declined to consent to a vehicle search, K9 Mid and Corporal 607 from the Dent County Sheriff’s Office were requested to assist. K9 Mid provided a positive alert for the presence of illegal narcotics. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of approximately 507 grams (1.18 pounds) of methamphetamine-laced marijuana, 67.4 grams of liquid methamphetamine, and additional drug paraphernalia. The suspect, identified as Randy Lindberg, was taken into custody and transported to the Dent County Jail pending formal charges. A probable cause statement was submitted to the Dent County Prosecutor’s Office for, Trafficking Drugs 1st Degree, Burglary 1st Degree, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The Salem Police Department extends its gratitude to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, K9 Mid, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Dent County Prosecutor’s Office for their crucial assistance and teamwork during this investigation.

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds everyone there will be an increase in traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with Wednesday and Sunday being the most heavily traveled times. Drivers should expect more traffic and the possibility of delays throughout the weekend. Regardless of traffic patterns, safety should remain a priority. The counting period for the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday weekend is from 6:00 Wednesday evening to 11:59 Sunday night, November 30th. Troopers will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., which stands for Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort, enforcing all traffic laws, and by being available to assist the public. Over the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, 11 people were killed and 571 injured in 1,664 traffic crashes. If you plan to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, be aware of work zones, obey all traffic laws, and make sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt or secured in the appropriate child safety seat for their size and age. Remember: Missouri is a hands-free state, so put the phone down and buckle up. There is never a reason to speed, drive aggressively, or drive impaired. Drivers should also be aware of some ongoing road construction throughout the state. The Patrol suggests that travelers use the MoDOT Traveler Information Map to plan their travel days. The map provides up-to-date information such as road closures, delays, construction zones, and alternative routes. If being on or near the water is part of your Thanksgiving holiday weekend plans, remember that the water is becoming colder, and hypothermia is a concern. The body loses heat 25 times faster in water than in the air of the same temperature. The proper use of life jackets is imperative. The public is encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Report Line 800-525-5555 or *55 on your cellular phone if they witness criminal activity, observe driving behavior that could cause a crash, or experience an emergency. These phone numbers are operational for both highway and water emergencies. 

The Missouri State Parks, in partnership with the University of Missouri, is gathering feedback to better understand how our parks and historic sites bring value to visitors and local communities. Anyone who has visited one of Missouri’s 93 state park or historic sites in the past 12 months is encouraged to take the 5-minute survey. Responses are completely anonymous and will help improve visitor experiences while strengthening communities across the state. This essential feedback will help Missouri State Parks better understand the true economic and social value our parks bring to visitors and local communities. At first glance,survey takers may feel the questions are out of place, with the first question asking the respondent if they most recently visited the Katy Trail State Park or another park or site. However, the survey was carefully designed to serve two purposes: It will provide a Katy Trail-specific report and a system-wide analysis of all Missouri state parks, historic sites and trails. That particular question will help separate data for two reports. The survey was designed by a collaborative University of Missouri research team from the School of Natural Resources, the Division of Applied Social Sciences and the Assessment Center. To take the survey, visit mizzou.us/mo-state-parks. The survey, funded by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, will close November 30th. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.