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The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Monday evening at the city hall council chambers. At the meeting, the board approved a request from Carilee Ball, the co-chairman of Relay for Life, to reserve usage of the city park June 13^th through June 14^th for their all-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Bids for the new sign for the city hall were postponed until the next meeting as the city only had one bid submitted at the time of the meeting. City Clerk Mary Happel said that the investment report as of February 1^st for city of Salem CD’s was $12,751. She also said that the city had to withdraw $203,396 from the electrical reserve CD fund to cover electrical expenses. Alderman Jim McDaniels asked about the culverts at the city park and Mayor Gray Brown indicated the workers starting digging the ditch to make sure it is the right depth and it also needs to be cleaned out. He also asked about the land at the old landfill and City Engineer Bill Huffman stated that the city could only sell the hay off the land until 2024. McDaniels asked Electric Department Supervisor Larry Major if the electric had been shut off at the Al Brown Fields and he said that has been done. Alderman Mike Whitley asked about some handicapped parking spaces at the My Place Restaurant on Center Street and the city would take at look at that. Mayor Gary Brown said the Dent County Commissioners and City of Salem honored Jack Emory Monday morning for his 11 years and nine months as Emergency Management Director with a plaque. He also said that the county is willing to allow the city to use the county’s pothole patcher on city streets as long as the city gets their own supplies. Mayor Brown said that he met with MoDOT and the MRPC in regards to the Safe Routes to School grant money and he won’t be able to use that money for the sidewalks to the soccer fields on Highway 19 south or Route HH. He will be able to use that money for sidewalks on Roosevelt and partly on Route HH to the city limits. He did say that there is grant money for a hiking trail that is being built at the Shawnee Mac Lake and if that could be wound around Spring Creek to the soccer park, that would help with the development of a walkway in that area. Mayor Brown said that he was in Marshfield on January 25^th to talk with Sho-Me Power along with a number of other towns, but nothing new was accomplished. He did meet with Dwayne Cartwright of Intercounty Electric along with three aldermen to discuss the problem, but was not satisfied with the explanation from Cartwright concerning the rate increase for the city. Based on his calculations, the increase stated by Sho-Me Power between April 1^st and December 31^st of this year will cost an additional 1.1 million dollars to the city. The mayor said that he will be going to Jefferson City today to hear MoDOT’s report to the legislature, and Parks and Recreation Director Greg Nash will also attend to see what grant monies may be available for the soccer park. Mayor Brown reminded everyone that the next Recycling Day would be Saturday, February 16^th at Grand and Third Street for tin cans, glass, #1 and #2 plastic and also magazines and catalogs from 9:00 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon. After approving the bills, the board went into closed session.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Tigers jumped out to an early first quarter lead of 21-8 and never looked back as they blasted the Liberty Eagles, 70-34. Salem was led in scoring by C.J. Smith with 23 points followed by Taylor Sirois with 17 and Cody Wofford with 16 points. Sirois also pulled down nine rebounds in the game for the Tigers. Salem is now 16-6 on the year and 3-1 in the SCA. They will be at Mountain Grove Friday night.

Martin St. Louis posted a goal and two assists, as the Tampa Bay Lightning squeaked by the St. Louis Blues, 5-4, at Scottrade Center. The Lightning won in the Gateway City for the first time since October 13, 1992, their inaugural season. Tampa Bay had dropped 10 straight (0-9-0-1) in St. Louis. Brad Boyes, Keith Tkachuk, Jamal Mayers and David Perron scored for the Blues, losers of two straight and nine of their last 11 overall. Andy McDonald had two assists and Manny Legace allowed five goals on 24 shots in defeat. The Blues will be off until Saturday night when they travel to Dallas to face the Stars.

The St. Louis Cardinals invited 66 players to their spring training camp Monday, including two-time American League Most Valuable Player Juan Gonzalez. Gonzalez, 38, last played regularly in 2003 when he clubbed 24 homers and had 70 RBI in 324 at-bats with the Texas Rangers. He appeared in one game for Cleveland in 2005 before injuring his hamstring while running out a ground ball. The Cardinals will also get a look at their minor league player of the year, outfielder Colby Rasmus, a non-roster invitee. Cardinals' pitchers and catchers report on Thursday, February 14th and begin workouts the following day. The first full squad workouts will take place on Tuesday, February 19th.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Betty Lou Shorter of Rolla, age 68, will be held Thursday at 10:00 at the New Life Ministries in Evening Shade. Visitation will be tonight from 5:00 to 7:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Interment will be in the Palace Union Cemetery in Evening Shade. Memorials are suggested to the New Life Ministries of Evening Shade, MO.

Funeral services for Erma Harrison of St. James, age 87, will be held Thursday at 1:00 at the James & Gahr Chapel in St. James. Visitation will be tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the High Gate Cemetery in High Gate Missouri. Memorials are suggested to the High Gate Cemetery Fund.

Funeral services for Robert Washburn of St. James, age 77, will be held Friday at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Interment will be in the James Memorial Cemetery in Maries County.

Funeral services for Charles E. Spencer of Rolla, age 94, will be held Friday at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Ozark Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Rolla. Memorials are suggested to the Fuondation for the Blind.

Funeral services for Howard Chandler of Viburnum, age 85, will be Friday at 2:00 at Wilson Mortuary in Viburnum. Visitation will be Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Upper Indian Creek Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Chandler Family.

Memorials services for Lyle Robert Jeffers of Steelville, age 66, will be held Saturday at 2:00 at the Masonic Hall in Steelville and Sunday at 2:00 at the Community Christian Church in Manchester, MO. Memorials may be given to the Steelville Food Pantry in Steelville or the Circle of Concern in Valley Park, MO. All the arrangments are under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home.

Weather [TOP]