Scroll Down for Sports, Weather and Obituaries! For State-Wide News, go to the MissouriNet! To read previous editions of Your World Today please visit our Archives Page.

The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of December. During the month, they wrote nine equipment repair orders, 27 summons to appear in court, 33 warning tickets, and 19 traffic tickets. The Salem Police Department investigated 16 accidents, three assaults, one attempted suicide, one burglary, two reports of child molestation, two reports of counterfeiting, four reports of disorderly conduct, one report of domestic assault, two reports of domestic violence, one report of driving while drugged, one report of driving while intoxicated, one report of failure to maintain financial responsibility, one report of forgery, one report of fraudulent use of a credit and or debit device, and two reports of a lost and or stolen plate. The department also investigated six reports of property damage, one report of stalking, 12 reports of stealing, one report of tampering, one report of theft from US mail, three reports of trespassing, and two 96-hour commitments. They also investigated three reports of possession of marijuana, and two reports of drugs opiate.  The police department received 1,824 calls for service during the month, handled 143 walk-ins to the station, and redirected 58 calls to the animal control officer. They spent 18 hours in court testifying, three hours as court bailiff and spent 18 hours teaching D.A.R.E. The calls in December included 44 calls for escorts, four calls for an intoxicated driver, two calls for prowlers, two calls for a suspicious person and/or vehicle, three intoxicated pedestrian calls, seven calls for domestic disputes, and nine calls for a wrecker. There were also eight 911 calls, three calls for peace disturbances, 12 calls for alarms sounding, one call for a fight in progress, eight ambulance assist calls, and one fire call.  The Salem Police Department drove a total of 7,155 miles and arrested 18 males and 11 females during the month of December. 

Salem Area Community Betterment Association (SACBA) will hold its annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner to honor volunteer citizens and organizations on Thursday, February 16^th.  The dinner will be held at The Gathering Place, Grace Community Church at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets may be purchased at the TCRC, the Visitors Center and from SACBA board members. Nominations for the Gift of Time awards and the Gift of Time Honor Roll are sought.  The categories for volunteer recognition are Education, Community Enhancement, Arts and Culture, an adult or adult organization that benefits Youth, a youth or youth organization that benefits Youth, Humanitarianism, and Historic Preservation.  Any citizen may nominate any individual and/or any organization that has made a significant volunteer contribution to the community during 2011.  An anonymous panel of citizens will select the Gift of Time awardees.  The Gift of Time awards will be presented and all nominees will be honored at the Volunteer Recognition Dinner. Nomination forms are available beginning January 7^th at the Salem Library, the TCRC, the Bank of Salem, US Bank, Progressive Ozark Bank, Town and Country Bank and the Salem News.  Nominations must be submitted to SACBA (Box 732, Salem, MO 65560) no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 31^st.

Captain Lee Ann H. Kenley, commanding officer of Troop I, is pleased to announce the assignment of Trooper Clinton R. Capps to Troop I, effective December 16, 2011. Trooper Capps was a member of the 94th Missouri State Highway Patrol Recruit Class, which began training on July 1, 2011, and graduated on December 16, 2011. Trooper Capps is a native of Salem, Missouri, and a graduate of Salem High School. Prior to his appointment to the Patrol, Trooper Capps also attended Columbia College in Rolla, Missouri. During his training at the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy, Trooper Capps earned an associate’s of applied science degree through Mineral Area College. Trooper Capps has been assigned to Zone 3, which serves the citizens of Crawford County.

An accident occurred at 3:15 Saturday morning in Crawford County on the North Outer Road of I-44 about a mile west of Sullivan that took the life of a Pacific man. According to the highway patrol report, a 1999 Jeep Cherokee driven by 21-year old Michael Heigl of Sullivan struck a pedestrian, 43-year old Lamar Scott of Pacific, who was walking in the roadway. Scott was taken to the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan and was pronounced dead by Dr. Amini Shamim at 4:00. Heigl didn’t suffer any injuries. The Jeep sustained moderate damage and was remove from the scene by a private vehicle.

The Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety recently awarded two Portable Breath Testers (PBT's) to the Licking Police Department. Police officers use PBT's to detect alcohol levels in suspected drunken drivers and remove them from the streets.  The department was one of nine law enforcement agencies in the southeast region receiving PBT's this year. Other agencies included the police departments of Cabool, Ellington, Houston, Piedmont, Puxico, Scott City; the Reynolds County Sheriff Department; and the Missouri State Park Rangers. It was noted that impaired driving contributes to nearly 30 percent of all Missouri traffic fatalities. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, a diverse group representing engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency medical services, was created in 2004 to reduce traffic fatalities and disabling injuries on Missouri's roads. 

Sports [TOP]