News

The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of June. During the month, they wrote five equipment repair orders, 22 summons to appear in court, 12 warning tickets, and 39 traffic tickets. The Salem Police Department investigated 15 accidents, one armed criminal action, four assaults, three burglaries, one curfew violation, five reports of disorderly conduct, one report of domestic assault, four reports of domestic violence, six reports of driving while intoxicated, four reports of driving while revoked, three reports of endangering the welfare of a child, one report of felonious restraint, and one report of identity theft. The Salem Police investigated one report of a missing and or runaway juvenile, one report for an open container, two reports of property damage, two reports of resisting and or interfering with arrest, one report of sexual misconduct, seven reports of stealing, one report of tampering, one report of unlawful use of a weapon and three 96 hour commitments. They also investigated one report of possession of amphetamine, one report of possession of benzodazephine, five reports of possession of marijuana and six reports of possession of drug paraphernalia. The Salem Police also conducted four death investigations during the month. The police department received 1,819 calls for service during the month, handled 148 walk-ins to the station, and redirected 85 calls to the animal control officer. They spent 14 hours in court testifying, and four hours as court bailiff. The calls in June included 28 calls for escorts, three calls for an intoxicated driver, two calls for a prowler, three calls for a suspicious person and/or vehicle, six calls for domestic disputes, and five calls for a wrecker. There were five 911 calls, four calls for a peace disturbance, seven calls for alarms sounding, two calls for fights in progress, three ambulance assist calls, and three fire calls.  The Salem Police Department drove a total of 8,499 miles and arrested 19 males and 11 females during the month of June. 

Management of the Low Gap Fire that was under the command of Paul Kollmeyer’s Type 2 Eastern Area Incident Management Team (IMT).  Management of the wildfire was transferred back to the Mark Twain National Forest on Wednesday, July 11^th. Firefighters are mopping up 100-feet within containment lines. Patrol will continue to look for hotspots. Rehabilitation of containment lines will continue. The wildfire is smoldering in timber blown down by the 2009 “Derecho” wind event and it continues to smolder, but well within containment lines. Very dry fuels and heavy fuel loading create difficult conditions for control as fuel bed depths range from one to four feet deep. The heavy fuel load created by the Derecho does not allow for traditional equipment, such as small dozers, to work in this fuel type. 

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded a $4,235,966 contract to Magruder Paving, LLC, from Troy to improve Highway 72 and add shoulders from Highway 32 in Dent County to Highway 21 in Reynolds County. The contract was awarded during the commission’s regular meeting on July 11^th. Additional information, regarding timelines and impacts to traffic, will be released prior to the start of construction. Work zones will be marked with signs as work is underway. Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling in these areas and plan for possible delays. MoDOT will alert drivers prior to any changes in traffic. For more information, please contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636). 

Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host FREE Canoe and Kayak Clinics at Round Spring on Fridays July 20^th, July 27^th, and August 3^rd from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Canoes and kayaks will be provided.  Round Spring is located 16 miles north of Eminence on State Route 19. The purpose of the clinics is to improve the safety, skill, and enjoyment of visitors using canoes and kayaks on the Riverways. Topics covered include canoe and kayak equipment; rescue techniques; basic paddle strokes and maneuvers; and river safety. The American Canoe Association certifies clinic instructors. Sessions are limited to 12 participants and advance registration is recommended. To register and for additional information, call the Round Spring Visitor Center at (573) 323-8094 between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and ask for Ranger Dave Tobey. Clinic information will also be available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozar. Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding natural resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.

An accident occurred at 5:15 Wednesday evening in Phelps County on Highway 63 about six miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 1993 Dodge Dakota driven by 84-year old Walter Henze of Rolla was turning left onto the highway from County Road 7160 and pulled into the path of a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle ridden by 38-year old Matthew Simpson of Rolla. The motorcycle then collided with the left rear of the Dodge. Simpson suffered serious injuries and was airlifted by Life Line to the Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Henze suffered no injuries. Simpson was wearing a safety device at the time of the accident while Henze was not wearing a seat restraint. The Dodge sustained moderate damage but was driven from the scene. The motorcycle was totaled in the accident and was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman Towing of Rolla.

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The St. Louis Cardinals will be back in action tomorrow night as they will be in Cincinnati to take on the Reds to open up the second half of the season. The Cardinals sit 2 ½ games behind the Pirates for the top spot in the NL Central. The Kansas City Royals will also be playing tomorrow night, as they’ll be hosting the division leading Chicago White Sox for three games. The Royals are in fourth place in the AL Central, 9 ½ games behind Chicago.

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