Your World Today, Salem, Missouri

News

The Salem Park Board held a meeting Wednesday afternoon at the Salem TCRC. Salem Parks and Recreation Director Greg Nash reported that some vandalism occurred at the city park on Tuesday and crews cleaned it up. This has occurred a few times since the start of the year. Nash also reported that routine spring maintenance would be done since warmer weather has arrived such as turning on the water, getting the lawnmowers, tractors and weed-eaters tuned up and ready; and checking the fields for repairs. He stated that 200 children are participating in the basketball program this year which is about 40 more children than last year. Nash stated that the season has gone very well so far this year. He indicated that there were four girls’ teams in the 5^th and 6^th grade this year for the first time in some years. He also said there was five 5^th and 6^th grade boys’ teams this season. Nash said that the summer baseball, T-ball and softball signups would be held on Thursday, March 22nd and Friday, March 23^rd and again on Thursday March 29^th and Friday, March 30^th at the Salem TCRC from 4:00 to 6:00. He also said that a baseball sign-up would be held Saturday, March 24^th at the Salem High School Gym while the youth basketball games are going on. City Administrator Clayton Lucas reported that work on taking down the old baseball field backstop and dugouts at the Al Brown Fields is underway. Workers will also have to remove the old press box while the outfield fence will be left up to prevent soccer balls from going into the creek. Lucas went on to say that the parking lot is going to be extended south toward the church and that some earth moving will be done to taper down the incline of the hill. Lucas also reported that concrete work is continuing on the batting cages when weather allows. He said that the posts have to be set and the nets still need to be purchased and installed. There will be three separate cages available when finished. The board discussed the possibility of looking at a sales tax to support the Parks and Recreation Programs, but no decisions were made. The next meeting of the Salem Park Board will be held in May before the pool opens and that meeting will be open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will conduct their monthly meeting tonight at the district administrative offices boardroom beginning at 6:00 pm. After a calendar hearing, approval of the agenda and communications, Superintendent Cindy Rumpf will address Summer School for 2012, give a facilities update and various reports from each of the buildings. In new business, the Board will set an organizational meeting date, approve the MSBA Policy Service Agreement, approve the calendar for the 2012/2013 school year and approve a surplus property list. The Board will then address resignations before voting to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel. The monthly meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open to the public.

The 2012 Business Expo will be held from 9:00 a.m. until noon on Saturday, March 31^st at the Salem High School gymnasium. The Business Expo is an exceptional opportunity for area businesses to advertise their products and services, and is organized by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Salem Publishing Company and KSMO. The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo is the areas business trade show. Hundreds of people attend to see what local businesses have to offer in the ay of products and services. No sales exchanges are allowed at the Business Expo, however attendees may place orders for products or services. There will be food concessions in the cafeteria during the event. The annual Business Expo is free and open to the public. Salem Area Chamber of Commerce members receive one booth space (10 foot by 6 foot) at no charge. Additional booth spaces are $35 each. The booth space fee for non-chamber members is $135. The deadline for booth entries will be TODAY. Businesses may bring their entry form to the chamber office or fax it to them at 729-6741. For more information about the 2012 Business Expo, contact the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, 729-6900 or e-mail them chamber@ salemmo.com.

Sports [TOP]

St. Louis Cardinals 2012 pocket schedules can be found at area businesses that sponsor St. Louis Cardinal Baseball on KSMO Radio including: Mooney Auto Supply, both locations of The Bank of Salem, Country Mart, Fidelity, K&H Auto Supply, both locations of Town & Country Bank, Progressive Ozark Bank, and in the front lobby of the KSMO studios.

Travis Buck, Jason Castro and Brett Wallace each had a RBI during a four-run sixth inning as the Houston Astros defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3, in spring training action Wednesday. Matt Holliday had three hits with a RBI and run scored for the Cardinals, who got three scoreless innings from Lance Lynn. The Cardinals will play the Boston Red Sox today at 1:35.

Veteran right-hander Kevin Millwood continued to make a strong case to be the Mariners' fifth starter, throwing four scoreless innings in Seattle's 6-2 win over Kansas City in Spring Training action Wednesday. Royals starter Aaron Crow breezed through his first three innings, only allowing a hit and a walk. The Royals play the L.A. Dodgers this afternoon.

The St. Louis Blues will be in Carolina tonight to play the Hurricane at 6:00 in the third game of their seven game road trip. The Blues are 45-18-8 on the year and sit atop the NHL with 98 points. You’ll be able to hear the game on KSMO Radio.

The St. Louis Rams have officially signed cornerback Cortland Finnegan to a five-year contract. The deal is reported to be worth around $50 million, with the majority being paid in the first few years of the pact. Finnegan appeared in 93 career games with the Titans, recording 473 tackles and 14 interceptions.

Obituaries [TOP]

Graveside services for John W. Ditmeyer of St. James, age 43, will be held Friday at 1:00 at the Miles Cemetery in St. James. Visitation will be from 11:00 until 12:30 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Memorials are suggested to the Miles Cemetery.

Funeral services for Irene Huitt of Bentonville, Arkansas and formerly of Salem, age 83, will be held Friday at 3:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be held from 1:00 until time of service. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the New Heights Christian School in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Funeral services for Edna McMillion of St. James, age 89, will be held Friday at 3:00 at the Missouri Veterans Chapel in St. James. Visitation will be from 1:00 until time of service. Interment will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery.

Graveside services for Roland D. Killian of Springfield, IL, age 87, will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the St. James Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James.

Funeral services for Eugene A, Wagner of St. James, age 76, will be held Sunday at 3:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be held Saturday night from 5:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the St. James Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Post #607.

Funeral services for Martha Ann Pike of Salem, age 87, will be held Wednesday at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Weather [TOP]

Today..Partly sunny with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, high of 75.
Tonight..Mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers, low of 59.
Friday..Mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers, high of 77.
Friday night..Mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers late, low of 58.
Saturday..Mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers, high of 77.