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The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of December. During the month, they wrote 12 traffic tickets and four warning tickets. They served 27 summons to appear in court and four fugitive warrants. The Salem Police Department investigated 12 accidents, four assaults and four domestic assaults. The Police Department made two reports on possession of drug paraphernalia. The Salem Police also investigated 16 reports of stealing, three reports of property damage, two burglaries, two reports of disorderly conduct, four reports of forgery, a report of a missing or runaway juvenile, a report of child abuse, a report of a lost or stolen plate, a report of sexual abuse, and a report of leaving the scene of an accident. The police made one death investigation. The police received 1,549 calls for service during the month, handled 125 walk-ins to the station and redirected 56 calls to the animal control officer. They spent 12 hours in court testifying, six hours as court bailiff and spent 10 hours teaching D.A.R.E. The calls in December included 14 calls for escorts, three 9-1-1 calls, four intoxicated driver investigation calls, a call for a suspicious person or vehicle, 12 ambulance assist calls, four calls for alarms sounding, two calls for fights in progress, five domestic dispute calls, a call for an intoxicated pedestrian, a fire call and two wreckers were needed. The Salem Police Department drove a total of 9,136 miles during the month of December.

Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Jessica Sparks said that based on the information available at this time, she has elected not to go forward with a prosecution arising out of an incident at the Roadhouse on December 27^th involving 29-year old Mark Wynn and a 24-year old male.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. After approval of the consent agenda, and bills, a discussion was held on the new 2009 budget. After review the board made a motion to cut the budget by $10,000 and accept the change. Under new business and after discussion, the motion was made to move forward with the heating and cooling for the office area, and the money is to come from capitol improvement. The Board then set the date for the next scheduled meeting for Tuesday, February 3rd at the fire station beginning at 6:00 pm. The meeting was then adjourned.

Two men have been arrested in Phelps County on drug and immigration charges, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced. 38-year old Raudel Galvez of Springdale, Arkansas, was indicted by a federal grand jury December 31^st, on one felony count of possession with intent to distribute in excess of 100 kilograms of marijuana.  If convicted, he faces a penalty range of five to 40 years in prison. 29-year old Israel Guadalupe, an illegal alien, from Mexico, was indicted the same day for re-entering the United States after previously being deported.  This charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. After both men appeared in federal court, Hanaway commended the work on the case by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the DEA.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is pleased to announce Missouri has experienced a 27% decrease in fatalities over the past three years. From 2005 to 2006, Missouri led the nation with a 13% decrease in traffic fatalities. From 2006 to 2007, Missouri experienced a 9% decrease in traffic fatalities. From 2007 to 2008, Missouri saw a 5% decrease in traffic fatalities. The Missouri State Highway Patrol urges motorists to continue to do their part to keep the numbers moving in the right direction. Motorists should obey the speed limit, pay attention, never drink and drive, and always fasten their seat belt. Missourians can help further make the roads safe by reporting dangerous drivers to the Patrol’s Emergency Report Line at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone.

The first Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Board meeting will be held on Thursday, January 14^th at noon the Salem TCRC. Guest speakers for the meeting will be from the 100-Acre Wood Rally Club. The Board will also vote on three new board members at this meeting. Nominees for a seat include Stacy Crocker, George LaJoie, Willie Strader, Julia Warren and Melanie Wisdom. Those planning on attending the meeting are asked to please RSVP by Friday, January 9^th by calling the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at 729-6900.

The Salem Area Community Betterment Association “Gift of Time” Awards Banquet will be held on Thursday, February 19^th at the Commons beginning at 6:30 pm. The Salem Area Community Betterment Association will host their annual volunteer recognition dinner, honoring citizens and organizations, who have significantly enhanced the quality of this community. The dinner will be catered by My Place Restaurant. Categories for nomination include: arts and culture, community enhancement, education, historic preservation, humanitarianism, youth-for adult, and youth for a youth. Tickets will be available beginning January 12^th at the Salem TCRC, the Visitor’s Center and from individual Salem Area Community Betterment Association Board Members. The ticket price is $20. For more information contact the SACBA by calling 729-7194.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Lady Basketball Tigers will host the St. James Lady Tigers tonight at the Salem High School gym starting at 6:00 with the JV contest and the varsity game will follow. You can hear the varsity contest on KSMO and online at ksmoradio.com starting at about 7:20. Salem enters the game with a 4-7 record on the year.

Keith Tkachuk of the St. Louis Blues has been named as an alternate to the Western Conference All-Star team. He is the only member to make the team. The game will be held on January 25^th in Montreal. The Blues will be in vancouver tomorrow night.

The Florida Gators will try for their second football championship in three years when they take on the Oklahoma Sooners tonight in the BCS title game in Miami. It'll be a battle between Heisman quarterbacks with Tim Tebow of Florida and Sam Bradford of Oklahoma.

Obituaries   [TOP]