News

The Salem Police Department has released their reports. On Tuesday, June 19^th at 9:00 in the evening, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to sexual misconduct. The investigation revealed that a 21-year old Salem male made sexual advances and contact with an 18-year old Salem female. He was arrested, issued a summons to appear in court, and released. On Monday, June 25^th at 3:30 in the early morning, an officer made contact with a 26-year old Kirksville male who had active fugitive warrants from Knox County. He was taken into custody and incarcerated pending extradition. On Thursday, June 28^th at 1:17 in the early morning, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. That investigation led to the arrest of a 46-year old Salem male for driving while intoxicated. He was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. On Friday, June 29^th at 11:59 in the morning, an officer was dispatched to Casey’s General Store located on Highway 32 in reference to a theft. The investigation revealed that the driver of a silver Dodge Stratus pumped $8.40 in fuel and left without paying. Later that afternoon at 1:58, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of South Warfel in reference to a burglary. That investigation revealed that a person or persons unknown forcibly entered a residence and took property valued at $950. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding the thefts, which are still under investigation.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will conduct their monthly meeting tonight at the boardroom beginning at 6:00 pm. After approval of the agenda and communications, the superintendent will updated the Board on open house dates and times and there will also be a facilities update. In new business, the Board will address bids for milk, bread, energy and pest control. The Board will then set the Tax Rate Hearing, Budget Hearing and the regular August Board meeting. The Board will address a resolution for the 7% WADA transfer, consider MSBA Board Policy 2012A updates, and BBFA. The Board will address resignations and consider taking bids on a school vehicle. The Board will adjourn it’s regular meeting and go into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing personnel. The monthly meeting is open to the public.  

According to the Maries County Sheriff’s Office at around 4:00 Wednesday morning, deputies from the Sheriff's Office responded to the Royal Oaks Charcoal Plant located on Route EE in Belle for a reported fire at the plant. The Belle Fire Department, Bland Fire Department, and Vichy Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire that included about 80,000 pounds of charcoal and two structures. After further investigation, law enforcement suspects the fires were set intentionally, and the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office was called into assist with the investigation. No injuries were reported and the case remains under investigation.

An accident occurred at 7:35 Wednesday evening in Phelps County on I-44 about two miles west of St. James that took the life of a Rolla man. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Honda motorcycle ridden by 46-year old Kevin Keeney of Rolla ran off the left side of the roadway and struck the cable median barrier. Keeney was ejected and the motorcycle came to rest in the roadway. Keeney was pronounced dead at the scene by Phelps County Deputy Coroner Lenox Jones at 7:50. He was wearing a safety device at the time of the accident. The motorcycle was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing of St. James. Keeney’s body was taken to the Phelps County Morgue in Rolla.

Thomas Haines, District Ranger of the Mark Twain National Forest would like to inform the public of a Decision Memo for the Radford Hollow Fen Project. This decision guides management on an estimated 5-acres in Reynolds County. The Radford Hollow Fen is an Ozark fen. Fens are mucky, wet areas fed by mineralized groundwater. Fens are ecologically important in that they provide habitat for many sensitive species including several plant species that are restricted to fens and can also provide habitat for the federally endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly. The primary purpose of the Radford Hollow Fen Project is to enhance and improve the fen by hand cutting and removing encroaching woody shrubs from the fen and relocating a section of an existing ATV trail away from the fen. This decision is NOT subject to appeal. Under this provision, decisions and actions are not subject to appeal if only supportive comments are received during the comment period. The one response received during the comment period was neutral to the proposal. For further information on this decision or to receive a copy of the Decision Memo, contact James Turner at the USDA Forest Service, 1301 South Main Street, PO Box 460, Salem, MO. 65560 or call 729-6656.

Captain Lee Ann Kenley, commanding officer of Troop I, would like to make the citizens of Troop I aware of a radio coverage survey. Patrol members and retired Patrol personnel are conducting the radio coverage survey on new communications equipment for the entire Troop I area in South Central Missouri. The survey must be done on every road throughout the area to ensure overall system performance. At times, citizens will observe unmarked patrol vehicles traveling at a very slow rate of speed in some of the more rural areas in Troop I. One Patrol member or a retired Patrol employee and employees from the Motorola Company occupy the unmarked vehicles. The field-testing is expected to last for several months.  

Sports [TOP]

Corey Hart hit a two-run single during a four-run first inning Wednesday and the Milwaukee Brewers held on for a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. David Freese and Allen Craig each hit a solo home run for St. Louis, who have lost five of their last six games. Cardinal starter Adam Wainwright (7-10) was a hard-luck loser after striking out nine, walking none, and giving up just four hits in seven innings. Three of the runs charged to him in a sloppy first inning were unearned. The Cardinals have the day off today.

Billy Butler showed his power Wednesday by hitting a game-winning blast in the ninth inning to give the Royals an 8-7 triumph over the Mariners. Butler's second career walk-off homer capped a 3-for-3 night for the All-Star slugger. Alex Gordon went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Lorenzo Cain belted a two-run homer in the win, which was credited to Greg Holland (4-2) for throwing a perfect ninth. Before the game, the Royals recalled pitcher Francisley Bueno from Triple-A Omaha and optioned pitcher Ryan Verdugo. The Royals and Mariners play again tonight to finish up their four-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

Obituaries   [TOP]