Your World Today - January 17, 2007

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The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday night at the city hall council chambers. In unfinished business, the board approved joining the Missouri Public Utility Alliance. The vote was 3 to 1 with Alderman Riley voting against joining. The dues will be $3,973 per year with an additional $1,300 for each lineman that goes through the lineman apprentice program. Alderman Bill Riley requested that the City sponsor a traveling sports team and the City Clerk explained that the city could not because it is illegal.  He also requested that the city establish a tree-trimming schedule. He asked about the bids for the pool filter and Mayor Brown explained that Park and Recreation Director Greg Nash is gathering bids and would have them by the end of February. Alderman Jim McDaniels asked that the fence around the veterans plot in the cemetery be fixed.  He asked that the city send a thank you letter to BP Convenience Store for providing free coffee and donuts to the electric servicemen that were working this past weekend.  McDaniels also asked about the emergency generator at the City Hall, and Mayor Brown explained that it is up and running. Mayor Brown noted that the City Hall as well as the Fire Department and Oak Grove Baptist Church could be used as emergency shelters because they all three had back-up generators.  Alderman Mike Whitley asked about the status of the water tower at the Industrial Park and Brown explained that DNR would be inspecting the tower before it is put into operation.  He also asked about the caution light that will be installed on Route J at the Salem Freedom Activity Center. The city is waiting on MoDOT to install the light. Whitley asked about the widening of Highway 19 in the downtown area. Brown explained that MoDOT is looking at widening each side 16 inches in the future.  The board approved appointing Clare Dent Underwood and Joe Brand to four-year terms on the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. The board postponed a decision on adding servicemen to the current pay scale.  Economic Development Director Sharon Tubbs informed the alderman of a Town Hall Meeting that will be held for local business and commercial property owners on Tuesday, February 13th at 7 PM at  the Bank of Salem Courtesy Room.  The purpose of the meeting is to give local business people the opportunity to identify issues that should be addressed to revitalize our town.  Mayor Brown reported that he and City Clerk Mary Happel attended an Ethics in Government conference in Jefferson City. He also attended a DNR meeting with Water Department Supervisor Jack Emory to discuss the wastewater permit.  With the new permit, additional testing will need to be done and this may mean that an additional person would need to be hired to do the testing. Brown gave a weekend storm update and reported on several branches down on power lines throughout the town.  He also reported that the Dog Ordinance Committee met again on January 4th to discuss the current ordinance. After approving the bills, the board then went into closed session to discuss real estate and litigation.

President Bush has approved Governor Blunt's request for a major disaster declaration in the wake of the ice storms that blasted Missouri over the weekend. The Governor declared a state of emergency for the hard hit areas on Saturday. This federal disaster declaration includes in our area Crawford, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Laclede, Maries, Phelps and Pulaski counties. The declaration provides for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program. A total of 24 counties and the City of St. Louis were included in the declaration.

Sports   [TOP]

In a mistake filled game, the Salem Tigers outlasted the Rolla Bulldogs in the first round of the St. James Tournament, 52-47. Salem was led in scoring by Solomon McNeal with 19 points and Taylor Sirois with 14. The Rolla Bulldogs were led in scoring by Caleb Parry with 12 points. Salem is now 8-7 on the year and have won five games in a row. They will face the #1 seed Waynesville Tigers Friday night at 8:00 at the St. James High School Gym.

The Salem Lady Basketball Tigers destroyed the Owensville Dutchgirls last night, 58-19 to go to 12-2 on the year. Allison Jones scored 14 points to lead the way for Salem followed by Kirsten Stephens with 12 points and Natalie Howard with 11 points. The Lady Tigers will face Licking Friday night at the SHS Gym.

Curtis Sanford made 30 saves and six different St. Louis players scored, as the Blues easily defeated the NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks, 6-2, at Honda Center. Eric Brewer tallied a goal and two assists for the Blues, who have won four of their last five and 10 of their last 14 games overall (10-2-2). Keith Tkachuk scored his seventh goal in the last 10 games and Doug Weight, Petr Cajanek, Dallas Drake and Jamal Mayers also scored in the win. The Blues will be in Los Angeles tomorrow night at 9:30.

The St. Louis Blues acquired forward Yan Stastny from Boston on Tuesday in exchange for their fifth-round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old Stastny has collected a pair of assists in 21 games with Boston this season.

The St. Louis Cardinals avoided arbitration with outfielder So Taguchi on Tuesday. The defending world champions inked Taguchi to a one-year contract with a mutual option for the 2008 season. The 37-year-old hit .266 with two home runs and 31 runs batted in for the Cardinals in 2006. He also homered in both the divisional series and league championship series and went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate during the LCS versus the New York Mets.

The Kansas City Royals avoided salary arbitration with Emil Brown on Tuesday, agreeing on a one-year contract with the outfielder for the 2007 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The 32-year-old Brown hit .287 with 41 doubles, 15 home runs, 81 RBI and 77 runs scored last year for the Royals.

Obituaries   [TOP]

A memorial service for Wendall L. Venn of Salem, age 72, will be held this morning at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Full military honors will be presented and memorials may be made to the Dent County Animal Shelter or the Phelps County Hospice.

Funeral arrangements for Jim “Shakey” Norris of Salem, age 50 will be held today at 1:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be tonight 6:00 to 8:00. Interment in the Stone Hill Cemetery in Dent County.

Funeral services for Archie L. Norris of Salem, age 84, will be held Thursday at 11:00. Visitation will be held tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 at the James & Gahr Chapel. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery.

A memorial service for Evelyn Simmons of Rolla, age 93, will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Hospice. Arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary of Rolla.

Funeral arrangements for George Laun of St. James, age 92 will be held Thursday at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James.  Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00.  Interment will be in the St. James Cemetery.

Weather [TOP]

Today..Increasing clouds, high of 34.
Tonight..Cloudy with a 20% chance for snow, low of 22.
Thursday..Cloudy early, then partly sunny, high of 37.
Thursday night..Partly cloudy, low of 20.
Friday..Mostly sunny, high of 34.