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The Salem Police Department received a call Thursday morning at 6:50 concerning an incident at 307 East 2nd Street. Upon arrival, the Salem Police Department found the body of a 21-year old white female and contacted Dent County Coroner Gina White. The subject was identified as Andrea Ray of Salem, and Dent County Coroner White pronounced Ray dead at the scene at 7:07 am. The scene is being handled as a suspicious death by the Salem Police Department. Dent County Coroner Gina White sent the body by Burnett Courier and Transport LLC to Kansas City for an autopsy to be performed by Dr. Friedlander with Parcells Forensic Pathology Group, PA. to determine the actual cause of death. A warrant has been issued charging Jesse Berry of Salem with 1st Degree Murder with no bond set. Berry is in the custody of the Salem Police Department.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5150, 6220, 6280 and 6505; and a crew would be repairing chip and seal on Dent County Road 6180. Purcell also updated the commission on the status of Swiney Bridge, which was closed last week after a MODOT engineer had declared the bridge unsafe. He said that he is waiting for a permit from the forest service, which owns property on the west side of the bridge, so the county can place a temporary crossing at the area. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2090, 2103, 3030, 3160 and 5240; and a crew would be hauling rock to Dent County Road 2100. Larson also said that brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 2630, 2640, 3220, 3230 and 3233. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles attended a Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting and a MRPC Meeting yesterday evening in St. James. David Bolerjack with Van Keppel came by the meeting to give the commission information on a pull behind paver. Bob Holthaus from the Missouri Association of Counties stopped by to update the commission on the counties workman’s compensation insurance. At 10:30 the commission went into closed session to meet with the state auditors office. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 and that meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened Thursday evening at 9:55 in Dent County on Route P near Salem that left a Salem teenager with serious injuries.  According to the highway patrol report, 17-year old Ashley K. Pryor of Salem, was driving a 1996 Ford Explorer southbound when she failed to negotiate a curve, went off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Pryor suffered serious injuries and was flown to the Cardinal-Glennon Hospital in St. Louis by Air-Evac. The Explorer sustained extensive damage in the accident and was removed by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem. Pryor was not wearing a seat restraint when the accident occurred.

Missouri Insurance Director John M. Huff says seniors who have reached the coverage gap or "doughnut hole" in Medicare Part D will begin receiving rebate checks for $250 next week. These one-time, tax-free checks are the first step in reducing the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap as outlined in the new federal health care reform law. The federal government estimates more than 80,000 Missourians will get a rebate check by the end of this year. Consumers covered under Medicare Part D are automatically eligible to receive a check once they reach the coverage gap. Seniors do not have to buy a new policy or modify their existing one in any way to qualify. Consumers who reach the "doughnut hole" can expect a check within 45 days. Huff also warned that while the checks will bring financial relief, seniors could become a prime target for scam artists. Anyone asking for Medicare, Social Security or bank account numbers in order to receive a check is a scammer, he added. Consumers need to be aware that no one working for the government will ever request personal information before a check can be sent. Consumers can report a scam or verify an agent or company by calling the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390 or visiting insurance.mo.gov.

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