News

Captain Lee Ann H. Kenley, commanding officer of Troop I, announced the results of the “Click It Or Ticket” program that was conducted on Friday, February 24, 2012.  Law enforcement agencies throughout Missouri participated in this statewide effort to get more motorists to buckle up and save more lives. During this enforcement campaign, Troop I officers stopped 224 vehicles, which resulted in 43 seat belt citations being issued. In addition to investigating three traffic crashes and issuing 165 warnings, troopers also either issued citations or made arrests for the following offenses: four DWI’s, 11 Uninsured Motorists citations, 32 Speed citations, 20 Non-Moving Traffic Offenses, four Driver’s License Violations, five Careless & Imprudent Driving, two Hazardous Moving Violations, and one Felony Drug Arrest. Despite evidence proving the benefits of wearing a seat belt, nearly one in four Missouri motorists are still not making it click. Seven out of 10 Missourians killed in traffic crashes are unbuckled.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has released several arrest reports. On Monday, February 20^th at 11:25 at night, 19-year old Dalton Harrison of Salem was arrested on a felony Texas County warrant for burglary and a misdemeanor Phelps County warrants for resisting an officer and assaulting a law enforcement officer. He was taken to the Phelps County Jail and held on bond. On Thursday, February 23^rd at 2:40 in the early morning, 31-year old Ranauta Boxx of Salem was arrested on a misdemeanor Pulaski County warrant for damage to public property. She was then taken to the Phelps County Jail. On Friday, February 24^th at 1:23 in the afternoon, 48-year old Rose Stagner of Salem was arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence of drugs. She was taken to the Dent County Jail and later released. On Saturday, February 25^th at 9:20 at night, 43-year old Stacey Camden of Dittmer was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, speeding, and no valid proof of insurance. He was taken to the Dent County Jail and was later released.

Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS) Michael Scuse announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a four-week Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup, beginning on March 12 and ending on April 6. CRP has a 25-year legacy of successfully protecting the nation's natural resources through voluntary participation, while providing significant economic and environmental benefits to rural communities across the United States. CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long- term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and develop wildlife habitat. In return, USDA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. Producers with expiring contracts and producers with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP. Producers also are encouraged to look into CRP’s other enrollment opportunities offered on a continuous, non-competitive, signup basis. For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA service center or www.fsa.usda.gov or call the Texas County FSA office at (417) 967-2028.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission will resurface nine miles of eastbound Interstate 44 in Phelps County this year after awarding a construction contract on March 1^st. The eastbound travel lanes and shoulders will be resurfaced from mile marker 176 near Sugar Tree Road to Route E in Rolla. Pace Construction Company, LLC of St. Louis was awarded the contract after submitting the lowest bid of $2,342,000. Once construction begins, the work will take a little more than two and a half months to complete. The contractor can complete the work anytime between spring and early December 2012. Motorists are encouraged to drive safely through work zones by following work zone signing. For more information about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636). 

The Southwest Baptist University-Salem Campusis sponsoring the Tuesday, March 13^th Chamber Members luncheon meeting.  This meeting will be held at Southwest Baptist University located at 501 South Grand, beginning at noon. Philip Giacomelli will be speaking on new and upcoming programs as well as the formation of their new community service student organization and various other SBU related topics. There will be a drawing for the top 3 “premier” booth spaces for the Business Expo – members must be present to win!  There is no cost for lunch but please RSVP by Friday, March 9^th to chamber@salemmo.com or call 729-6900.

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