News

Hunters checked 40,447 turkeys during Missouri’s regular spring turkey season, up by 2,120 from 38,327 last spring, or about 5.5%. The harvest of 4,319 turkeys during this year’s spring youth weekend, March 31 and April 1, brought the 2012 spring turkey harvest to 44,766, up about 6% from 2011. Youth hunters harvested 3,893 turkeys during the 2011 spring youth weekend for a 2011 spring total of 42,220. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recorded four non-fatal firearms-related turkey hunting incidents and no fatalities. The bulk of birds taken during both this year’s youth weekend and regular spring season were adult gobblers with 31,813, or about 71 percent. Juvenile male turkeys (jakes) comprised almost 28 percent with 12,445 birds. Bearded hens made up one percent with 508. In the area, Texas County had the second most birds taken in the state with 803 comprised of 579 adult gobblers, seven bearded hens and 217 jakes. In Crawford County, 229 adult gobblers were harvested along with seven bearded hens and 142 jakes; while in Dent County, there were 356 adult gobblers checked along with six bearded hens and 151 jakes. Phelps County harvested 492 birds made up of 344 adult gobblers, four bearded hens and 144 jakes; and Shannon County checked 236 adult gobblers, three bearded hens and 100 juvenile gobblers. Iron County checked a total of 270 turkeys while 240 were harvested in Reynolds County.

The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of April. During the month, they wrote 13 equipment repair orders, 35 summons to appear in court, 18 warning tickets, and 42 traffic tickets. The Salem Police Department investigated 17 accidents, two assaults, two reports of child abuse, two reports of child molestation, six reports of disorderly conduct, four reports of domestic assaults, two reports of domestic violence, four reports of driving while intoxicated, four reports of endangering the welfare of a child, two escapes from custody, and one report of failure to stop at an electric traffic light. There was one report of falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer, three reports of fraudulent use of a credit or and debit device, one report of identity theft, five reports of leaving the scene of an accident, and one report of driving while license revoked. The department also investigated two reports of a peace disturbance, five reports of property damage, one report of rape, six reports of resisting and or interfering with arrest, one report of a robbery, 19 reports of stealing, one report of theft from the US mail, two reports of trespassing, two 96-hour commitments, one report of failure to obey a lawful order and two felonious restraints. They also investigated one report of possession of barbiturates, six reports of possession of marijuana, six reports of possession of drug paraphernalia and two reports of distribution/delivery/manufacturing/ producing/possessing a control substance.  The Salem Police Department also conducted one death investigation during the month. The police department received 1,775 calls for service during the month, handled 116 walk-ins to the station, and redirected 79 calls to the animal control officer. They spent 10 hours in court testifying, and spent 24 hours teaching D.A.R.E. The calls in April included 43 calls for escorts, two calls for an intoxicated driver, three calls for prowlers, two calls for a suspicious person and/or vehicle, three intoxicated pedestrian calls, four calls for domestic disputes, and seven calls for a wrecker. There were two 911 calls, 10 calls for a peace disturbance, six calls for alarms sounding, six calls for fights in progress, five ambulance assist calls, one fire call, one call for property damage and 10 informational reports.  The Salem Police Department drove a total of 7,922 miles and arrested 22 males and 11 females during the month of April.

A bridge replacement project on Route 32 over Spring Creek in Dent County continues to take place and will be closed during construction. The bridge is located east of Craig Industrial Drive in Salem. Motorists are advised to find an alternate route around the work area. The bridge will remain closed for nearly two months. The bridge replacement is part of MoDOT's Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program. For more information please call 1-888-275-6636.

Sports [TOP]

At the Salem Spring Sports Banquet held Wednesday night, the Tiger Awards were presented to Jacob Kettner and Ashley Crocker. Participants in tennis, golf, track and baseball were also saluted.

The Salem Tiger Baseball team will host the Rolla Bulldogs this afternoon at 4:30 in their final regular season game of the year. It will be Senior Day at the Salem High School Baseball Complex where the three seniors on the team will be saluted prior to the game. Salem is 11-8 on the year and you can hear the game on KSMO and ksmoradio.com. You can also watch the game at fidelitylocal6.com.

There are still tickets remaining to the St. Louis Cardinal and Phildelphia Phillies game on May 26th that will be followed by the Salem and South Calloway High School game at Busch Stadium. Tickets are $26 each and a tour bus through USA Tours has been secured for those who want to ride the bus for an additional $19 per person round trip. For more information about tickets or about the bus, please call the Salem TCRC at 729-8163 or drop by 1200 West Rolla Road in the Salem Freedom Activity Center.

Allen Craig hit a two-run home run and Matt Holliday hit a two-run double as the St. Louis Cardinals capped a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 7-2 win on Wednesday. Kyle Lohse (5-1) gave up just one run on seven hits for the Cardinals, who have the day off today.

Brayan Pena knocked in a pair of runs as the Kansas City Royals edged the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium. Bruce Chen (1-4) gave up three runs over 6 2/3 innings for the Royals, who have the day off.

A group of St. Louis investors led by Tom Stillman have purchased the St. Louis Blues, their Peoria Rivermen affiliate of the AHL, and "significant interest" in the Peabody Opera House for $130 million. Stillman has been a minority owner of the Blues since 2007.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Lowell M. Wisdom of Bunker, age 89, will be held today at 11:00 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Bunker. Interment will be in the Crossville Cemetery in Bunker. Memorials may be made to the Wisdom family for funeral expenses.

Funeral services for Marley Ralph Williams of Salem, age 85, will be Friday at 11:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be tonight from 5:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery with full military honors. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church.

Funeral services for Bill E. Marrill of Salem, age 76, will be Friday at 2:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the New Hope Cemetery.

Funeral services for Bebincio “Ben” Lliaban of Rolla, age 88, will be announced at a later date. All arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla.