Ash Grove PD adds 23-year veteran to force

The Ash Grove Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to annex Highway 160 and its right-of-way into the city of Ash Grove at the board’s March 9 meeting. The right-of-way extends east out of town approximately three quarters of a mile. No personal real estate was included in the annexation. The move by the city comes on the heels of the purchase of nearby property by Ash Grove First Baptist Church.
A hearing for the issue was held Feb. 18 at Ash Grove City Hall. No opposition to the proposal was made by those in attendance.
Also during the March 9 board meeting, assistant city clerk Jennifer Martin swore in new police officer Bob Bell to the Ash Grove force. Bell has spent the last 23 years as a member of the Willard Police Department.
Additionally regarding the AGPD, Chief Darin Chance announced that officer Jacob Marler has the new title of city resource specialist. Marler will now be tasked with cleaning up derelict properties inside the city, through code enforcement.    
Chance also announced that his department is pursuing a grant that would pay for a school resource officer at Ash Grove schools.