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The Dent County Sheriff's Department and the Division of Drug and Crime Control of the Highway Patrol are conducting an investigation into the double homicide on Dent County Road 2240. On Tuesday afternoon, March 1^st, the Dent County Sheriff’s Department contacted Dent County Coroner Gina White. At 5:50 Tuesday afternoon, she pronounced 50-year old Mary L. Lewis and 57-year old Dennis L. Lewis both of Salem dead at their residence. Preliminary autopsy results from the University of Missouri-Columbia Hospital in Boone County Wednesday showed that both Mary Lewis and Dennis Lewis died from gunshot wounds to the head. The incident is still under investigation. Dent County Sheriff Rick Stallings says that they do have a person of interest in the crime.

The City of Salem Board of Alderman will conduct their meeting today at the City Hall Council Chambers beginning at 3:30 in the afternoon. After approval of the agenda, the board will hear from Michelle Fulton who is requesting that the Board approve the closing of the East Salem Hill for sledding when weather permits. In unfinished business, at the last Board meeting Mayor Brown presented a report on the utility committee meeting that was held February 17^th. In the report the committee recommended that as long as the garage is being used as a garage and not for commercial use, the charge should be figured as residential for utility charges, and this is for residential garages that have a separate meter. The Board will address the issue. Also at the last meeting Bill #3213-3217 were presented to amend other ordinances. The Board voted to pass the bills, which were then vetoed by Mayor Brown. He is expected to give his reasons for the vetoes. Mayor Brown will then give the Director of Public Works report along with a discussion regarding the public works report and business expo participation. During the introduction and reading of bills, Bill #3218 is an ordinance recommended by the utility committee reducing the prompt payment discount from 2% to 1% will be introduced, since the City no longer receives any patronage checks from Sho-Me. Bill #3219 is an ordinance recommended by the utility committee raising the electric rates to cover the two increases in 2010 and 2011 that Sho-Me charged the City and Bill #3220 an ordinance required by the Board of Alderman wishing to create the position of City Administrator. After approval of bills presented by City Clerk Mary Happel, the Board may then vote to go into Closed Session. The meeting of the City of Salem Board of Alderman is open to the public.

The Dent County Fire Protection District released their reports. On Sunday, February 20^th a call came in at 12:45 in the afternoon for a wildfire on Dent County Road 4283. A total of ten firefighters responded and provided mutual aid as it was determined to be a forest, woods or wild land fire. At 1:20 that same afternoon, ten firefighters responded to East Acuff to provide medical assistance for EMS crews. At 1:54 on February 20th, ten firefighters responded to Dent County Road 3233 to a brush fire in an open field. The scene was under control at 4:46 pm. On Monday, February 21^st at 8:01 in the morning, four firefighters responded to East Rolla Road to provide medical assistance for EMS crews. On Tuesday, February 22^nd at 6:15 in the evening, five firefighters responded to a residence on Route H for a possible fire, but it was determined to a false alarm and the scene was under control at 6:58 pm. On Wednesday, February 23^rd at 9:56 in the evening, four firefighters responded to Dent County Road 2160 to provide medical assistance for EMS crews. On Sunday, February 17^th at 8:38 in the evening, nine firefighters responded to North Jackson Street in Salem to provide medical assistance for EMS crews.

Troop I, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, recorded one traffic fatality during the month of January 2011. This is two less than January 2010. There were 178 accidents with 64 injuries and one fatality reported in January 2011 compared to 304 accidents with 86 injuries and three fatalities for January 2010. In Crawford County, there were 23 accidents reported with nine injuries and one fatality, while in Dent County, there were 11 accidents reported with three injuries and Laclede County had 33 accidents reported with ten injuries. Other counties reporting for January 2011 showed that Maries County had 10 accidents reported with eight injuries, while there were 53 accidents in Phelps County with 20 injuries and there were 48 accidents in Pulaski County with 14 injuries.   

The public is invited to attend the Candidates Forum, presented by the Salem Area Community Betterment Association, The Salem News and KSMO Radio, on Tuesday, March 29^th at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center located at 202 South Main Street in Salem beginning at 6:30 pm. The forum will feature candidates Phillip Giacomelli and Mike Godi, running for the West Ward Aldermanic seat in the City of Salem municipal election, to the held on Tuesday, April 5^th.  If you are unable to attend the forum, the event will be carried live on KSMO Radio 1340 AM.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce March membership luncheon meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 8^th at the Southwest Baptist University Salem Campus beginning at noon. The program will be about social and local media and how to reach potential customers. The luncheon is being sponsored by Fidelity Communications and there is no cost. RSVP’s for the luncheon must be in by Friday, March 4^th by calling the Chamber at 729-6900 or e-mail the Chamber at chamber@salemmo.com.

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