Scroll Down for Sports, Weather and Obituaries! For State-Wide News, go to the MissouriNet! To read previous editions of Your World Today please visit our Archives Page.

The Salvation Army Service Unit of Salem will hold their final bell ringing events this Friday and Saturday in an attempt to reach their goal of $21,000. Bell ringers will be at the kettles at Country Mart, Dollar General and Wal-Mart while a number of counter kettles will remain over the holidays. Contributions can also be mailed to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 229, Salem, MO   65560. The funds that are raised during the campaign help those in need in 2012 with prescriptions and utility assistance as well as helping those who have lost their belongings in a fire. The Salvation Army also provides backpacks to children to begin the school year. The Salvation Army Service Unit of Dent County last year was able to meet their goal of $21,000 through their kettle collections and their local mail appeal, and those funds have already been allocated throughout the 2011 year. For more information about the local Salvation Army, please call Jim and Diane Boulware at 729-6685 or Sherry Lea at 729-8163.  

On December 20^th, 2011, 55-year old Bryce D. Bird of Crawford County was arrested by authorities on a warrant from the Circuit Court of Crawford County, charging him with Possession of Child Pornography. The charges were the result of an investigation by the South Central Missouri Computer Crimes Task Force and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office. In November of this year, an undercover investigator with the South Central Missouri Computer Crime Task Force, investigating subjects using peer-to-peer networks to distribute child abuse images and videos, downloaded suspected child pornography from a computer later determined to be using Internet service at an address in the Steelville area. Detectives with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and the South Central Missouri Computer Crime Task Force executed a search warrant at the residence and seized a computer and other digital media owned by Bird. A forensic examination of the computer determined that it was the one observed during the undercover investigation and it contained a number of video files known to be child pornography. Bird is being held in the Crawford County jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond. The charges are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The Doe Run Company received an Award or Merit and a Circle of Excellence award from the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Associations’ (RCGA) 2011 St. Louis Green Business Challenge. The Challenge is part of a regional effort by the RCGA to recognize local companies for their efforts in implementing sustainable business practices with an emphasis on energy efficiency, waste reduction and water conservation activities. Highlights of Doe Run’s accomplishments include publishing a sustainability report, providing monthly educational tips, reducing waste through implementation of single-stream recycling, reducing paper usage by 30 percent and collecting cell phones and shoes for recycling/reuse purposes. Doe Run was one of the top three companies to receive an Award of Merit for Greatest Gain in the Tenant Category, and was among 69 companies that competed overall in two categories. Participants responded to challenges in six areas including: outreach, energy, indoor environmental quality, waste, water and transportation. The awards were presented at the December 6^th ceremony hosted by the RCGA and held at the Union Station Marriott Regency Ballroom.

The Salem Police Department released their reports. On Wednesday, December 14th at 9:52 in the morning, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The investigation led to the arrest of a 26-year old Salem female for stealing merchandise valued at $59.48. She was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Thursday, December 15^th at 6:30 in the morning, an officer transported a 27-year old Salem female to the Phelps County Medical Center in lieu of a mental commitment order. On Saturday, December 17^th at 10:59 in the morning, an officer was detailed to a residence in the 1000 block of South Warfel in reference to a theft. The investigation revealed that a person or persons unknown took a laptop computer and a ring valued at $900 from the bedroom of a residence. That night at 10:05, an officer transported a 49-year old male of St. Louis to the Ozark Medical Center in West Plains in lieu of a mental commitment order. Then at 10:33 that same night, an officer was dispatched to Breaktime Convenience Store located on Highway 32 East in reference to damage to private property. The investigation revealed that a person or persons unknown cut two tires on a gray 2003 Kia Spectra while parked in the Bowling Center parking lot. The value of the damage is approximately $200. Anyone with any information regarding the theft or property damage reports, which are still under investigation, is asked to contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.

Sports [TOP]

Obituaries   [TOP]