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Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee announced that a public delivery of the report on the state audit on the City of Salem will be held Thursday evening at 7:00 at the Salem City Hall Auditorium. The state auditor began an audit of the City of Salem after receiving a citizen petition. State law requires the auditor to conduct an audit of any political subdivision if asked to do so by enough registered voters in that political subdivision. A total of 311 signatures of registered voters were received. State law also requires that the entity audited pay for the audit. The delivery of the findings and recommendations will be done by State Auditor Montee and members of the her staff, and they will answer questions about the report. The hearing Thursday night is open to everyone.

An accident occurred at 10:00 Friday morning in Phelps County on Highway 68 about twelve miles north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 1990 Mercury Sable driven by 37-year old Stephanie Carrell of Rolla was traveling westbound on Highway 68. Carrell failed to negotiate a curve on the snow-covered roadway. The Mercury went off the right side of the road, struck an embankment and a fence. A passenger, 21-year old Tabith Stringer of Salem suffered minor injuries and was transported by the St. James ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Stringer was the only one not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Mercury sustained minor damage and was towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem. 

A fire occurred Saturday to the American Auto Parts and Stricklin Radiator Building on Highway 32-72 West. No formal report has been issued by the Dent County Fire Protection District to date as to the details of the fire, but extensive damage to the building is visible.

The January Chamber Membership Luncheon & Board Election meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 13^th at noon at the Salem TCRC. Guest speakers will be on hand from the 100-Acre Wood Club Rally. They will be sharing new details of the 2010 Road Rally. There will also be an election of three new Board members. You must be present to cast your vote. The cost of the luncheon is $8.00 and you are asked to RSVP no later than today. You can call the Chamber at 729-6900 or e-mail the Chamber at chamber@salemmo.com.

Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap and Dent County Sheriff Rick Stallings have announced that 73-year old Andrew Kennedy of Salem pled guilty to federal child pornography charges. Kennedy pled guilty to one felony count of possession of child pornography. This case is the result of an investigation by the South Central Missouri Computer Crime Task Force.  With his plea, Kennedy admitted that he possessed images containing child pornography on his computer between October and December 2008. He appeared before United States District Judge Henry E. Autrey, who set sentencing for April 5, 2010. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. This case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.  Reap commended the work on the case by the South Central Missouri Computer Crime Task Force, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Assistant United States Attorney’s Carrie Costantin who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The Salem Police Department released their reports involving a runaway juvenile, a stolen vehicle and mental commitment order. On Sunday, January 3rd at 5:09 pm an officer was detailed to Brady Lane in reference to a runaway juvenile. The report revealed that a 15-year old Salem female juvenile had run away from home.  After further investigation, the juvenile was located at a residence in the 500 block of East Center. The juvenile was released to the juvenile officer. On Monday, January 4th at 9:00 in the evening, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to a stolen vehicle. The report revealed that a 20-year old Rolla male took an orange 2004 Pontiac Grand Am from a resident while test-driving the vehicle. On Tuesday, January 5th at 3:00 pm, an officer transported a 32-year old Salem female on a mental commitment order to the Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains. Anyone with any information regarding the stolen vehicle, which is still under investigation, is asked to please contact the Salem Police Department by calling 729-4242.

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