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The Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning. At the meeting, District One Commissioner Bobby Simpson and District Two Commissioner J.J. Tune both reported that conditions are too cold for grading.  Commissioner Simpson said that district one crew members would be catching up on routine maintenance and cutting wood, while Commissioner Tune said that district two crew members would also be catching up on routine maintenance. If the roads thawed out, a crew would be spreading gravel on Dent County Road 321. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that absentee voting has begun for the February Primary Election and will last until 5:00 pm February 4^th. Mayor Gary Brown stopped by the meeting to ask the Commission if they would submit a letter stating that they did not oppose annexing highway 72 from Dent County Road 321 to the junction of highway 32/72. The Commission said they did not oppose and would write a letter. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

Troop I, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, recorded three traffic fatalities during the month of November 2007. This is one more than November 2006. The total fatalities for 2007 are 54 as compared to 44 for the same time period last year. Crawford County reported 30 accidents with 15 injuries, Dent County reported 14 accidents with four injuries and Laclede County reported 46 accidents with 11 injuries in November. Maries County reported 21 accidents with seven injuries and one fatality, Phelps County reported 68 accidents with 23 injuries and one fatality and Pulaski County reported 50 accidents with 13 injuries and one fatality for November of 2007. There were a total of 229 accidents with 73 injuries and three fatalities reported in November of 2007 compared to a total of 236 accidents with 88 injuries and one fatality reported in November of 2006. Captain Randy Becker, Commanding Officer of Troop I Headquarters of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, wants to remind everyone that frost and ice covered windshields are common causes of some of our traffic crashes this time of year. With this in mind Captain Becker urges all drivers to properly defrost their windows before driving, and to use their headlights on days that are overcast, foggy or snowing.  Captain Becker wants to remind everyone to be aware of what is called “black ice”, during or after a snow or ice storm. Please help the Missouri State Highway Patrol and help yourself by taking the extra time to prepare your vehicle, use good common sense, be courteous in your driving habits, and always wear your seatbelts.

The University of Missouri Extension will be offering a program called “Grow Your Farm” beginning January 21^st at the Phelps County Extension Office. Grow Your Farm is an educational training and support program designed to help people who want to evaluate and plan their farm enterprise.  Grow Your Farm participants will engage in networking with Extension Specialists, innovative and successful producers, attend practical, high quality seminars, and tour successful farm enterprises. Participants of Grow Your Farm will learn how to create goals, assess opportunities and discover potential new enterprises for their land, evaluate marketing options for agricultural products, develop a formal business plan, keep proper records, and understand rural legal issues. Enrollment for this program is limited and required by January 11^th.  For more information on this course or to enroll, please call the Dent County Extension Office at 729-3196.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Boys Basketball Tigers dropped a 66 to 59 decision to the St. Clair Bulldogs last night at the Salem High School Gym as St. Clair netted a total of nine 3-pointers in the contest. Salem was led in scoring by Cody Wofford with 17 points followed by C.J. Smith with 14 points, all of them coming in the first half. Salem also had double digit scoring from Taylor Sirois who scored 11 points. The Tigers drop to 8-5 with the loss as they prepare to hit the road for the next five games starting at Sullivan Tuesday.

The Salem Lady Tigers lost to St. James last night to fall to 10-2 on the year. The Lady Tigers face SCA foe Willow Springs Monday night at the SHS gym. You can hear that game on KSMO and online at www.ksmoradio.com.

The St. Louis Blues will be back in action as they will host the Carolina Hurricane Saturday night starting at 7:30. You can hear that game on KSMO Radio. The Blues have lost three of their last four games, two of lose losses in overtime.

The St. Louis Cardinals announced Thursday that they have signed right-handed pitcher Matt Clement to a one-year contract for 2008, with a club option for the 2009 season. Clement has an 87-86 record and a 4.47 ERA in nine major league seasons, having last played in 2006 with the Boston Red Sox. The 33-year old had his best season in 2005, when he went 13-6 with a 4.57 ERA for Boston, and has won 10 or more games four other times.

Bill Belichick's ability to lead New England to an undefeated season was rewarded on Thursday when he was named the Coach of the Year, as voted on by the Associated Press. Belichick guided the Patriots to the first undefeated regular season in league history since the 1972 Miami Dolphins under Don Shula.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Marie Pavy of Salem, age 86, will be held Saturday morning at 10:00 at James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery.

Funeral services for James E. Albright of Rolla, age 93, will be held Saturday at noon at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be from 10:00 until service time. Interment will be in the ST. James Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Funeral services for Carl Lynn Pogue of Salem, age 44, will be held Saturday at 2:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from noon until service time. Interment will be private. Memorials are suggested to the Carl Pogue Family Fund.

Funeral services for Lester Broccard of Willow Springs, age 93, will be held Saturday at 3:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be from 1:00 until service time, with a Masonic Service at 2:00. Interment will be in the St. James Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church of Rolla or the Pomona Christian Church of Pamona or the charity of your choice.

Funeral services for Clarence Elmer Perry of Rolla, age 70, will be held Monday, January 7^th at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the Rhea Cemetery in Phelps County.

Funeral services for Ruth E. Coplen of St. James, age 66, are incomplete at this time. All the arrangements are under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James.

Weather [TOP]