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On Monday, April 12^th the Dent County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from the Salem Wood Products that a co-worker had found the body of 43-year old Tracy Pettit of Salem and CPR was started. Ralph Ford M.D. at the Salem Memorial District Hospital ER pronounced Pettit dead at 4:07 pm. The body was taken to the Dent County Coroner’s office and released to Wilson Mortuary. The conclusion as to the reason for the death is pending at this time, as an autopsy has been scheduled by Dr. Friedlander with Parcells Forensic Pathology Group, PA in Springfield.

The Salem Police Department released their reports. On Tuesday, April 6th at 7:55 p.m. an officer was contacted at the station in reference to tampering with a witness.  The investigation of the report revealed the victim of an assault was being threatened in lieu of a previous assault wherein the victim was a witness. At 8:15 p.m. that evening, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to phone harassment.  The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown were sending threatening messages. That same evening at 9:14 pm, an officer was detailed to the Walnut Motel in reference to a disturbance. The report led to the arrest of a 46-year old Salem male for disorderly conduct. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Then at 9:15 p.m. that same evening, an officer was dispatched to the Salem Hospital to transport a 48-year old Salem male to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center in lieu of a mental commitment order. He was transported and released to the Center of Psychiatric Services. Anyone with any information regarding the tampering of a witness or the phone harassment, which are still under investigation, can contact the Salem Police Department by calling 729-4242.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held a special meeting Tuesday evening at the district administrative offices for the re-organization of the school board. Assistant Superintendent Cindy Rumpf acted as the temporary chairman and read the results of the April 6^th election that showed that Carol Jordan and Bernie Sirois were the two top vote getters among the five candidates running. The board approved the results, 4-0. R-80 Board Secretary Chris Heavin then swore-in Bernie Sirois and Carol Jordan as the new Salem R-80 Board of Education members. New officers were elected and they are Jack Blackwell as President, Chris Heavin as Vice-President, Carrie Coffman Snyder as the Secretary and the Treasurer is Clifton Parker. The board then heard and accepted the resignations of Amber Tarvin who is the 9^th grade Communication Arts instructor, 1^st grade teacher Claire McCartney, Upper Elementary Nurse Holly Asbury and janitor Ronald Quick. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee has begun an audit of Dent County. A team of auditors is now reviewing county records as part of the fieldwork phase of the audit. The audit report, which will be available to the public, will include recommendations for any changes needed in county government operations. Responses from county officials to the state auditor’s recommendations will also be included along with a review of action taken by officials in response to recommendations made in the previous audit report of the county. Montee urges anyone with information or concerns to call the state auditor’s toll free hotline at (800) 347-8597 or contact the state auditor’s office by writing to P.O. Box 869, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or by e-mail at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov.

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