Your World Today - March 17, 2008

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The Salem R-80 Board of Education met at the Upper Elementary Library Media Center to discuss the 2008-2009 school year before holding a dedication ceremony for the new addition and media center expansion in the library. Following special music by the Honor’s Choir and remarks made by Superintendent Steve Bryant, a plaque was unveiled that will be placed by the library entrance showing the dedication of the improvements. At the board meeting, Superintendent Steve Bryan discussed some legislative issues with the board including two Senate bills that are voucher related, a human rights bill, and bills that would set a minimum salary for teachers, but doesn’t have a funding mechanism. Salem would only benefit from the human rights bill. Bryant said that he spoke with the other rural district superintendents and he felt that they really did not indicate any urgency to have a consolidated meeting between all the districts. The board voted not to pursue such a meeting. Bryant announced that summer school will be held May 27th through June 27th for pre kindergarten through sixth grade, and they are exploring the option of having some type of summer school for junior and senior high students. Bryant then presented board president Dr. Steve Watson with a plaque honoring him for his nine years of service to the board, and then presented Melanie Wisdom the 2008 South Central Exemplary Principal Award. Bryant then went into great detail about the master plan expansion that would move the 6th grade to the junior high and move the 9th graders to the high school. The plan also includes the building of an auditorium and gymnasium along with numerous improvements to all the schools. The total costs of all the proposed improvements and new construction would be between 12.1 million dollars and 12.65 million dollars. Currently, the schools’ bonding capacity is just about 9.1 million dollars. If this bond issue would pass, the current tax rate would go from $3.43 per $100 assessed valuation to $3.65 per $100 assessed valuation for residential homes. That would be an increase of about $42.00 per year with someone who’s home is assessed at $100,000. Bryant is looking at the board at the next meeting for their guidance in looking to put the issue on the ballot in November or next April. The board did approve the career ladder program, the program evaluation on curriculum, and participated in an exercise showing the Class within a Class program. The board approved the amended 2007-2008 school calendar that shows the last day of school to be May 23rd, and they approved the 2008-2009 school calendar that shows school starting on August 14th and ending on May 15th. Bryant recommend to the board to participate in the Cooperating School Districts purchasing plan, but only after all local resources have been examined first. He wanted them to research the program before making a decision at the next meeting. The board approved staying with the MSBA Policy Service Agreement for board policies for $1,710.00 per year, and the board set the re-organizational meeting for April 17th at 6:00 prior to the regular board meeting that evening. The board accepted the resignation of Richard Parks as Cross Country Coach, and the resignation of Jo Ann Reed as the manager of food service at the high school. She will stay on in food service. The board also accepted the retirement of Susan Jenkins as the full time Special Services Director before going into closed session.

Sports [TOP]

The City of Salem Summer Youth Baseball/Softball/T-Ball Season is fast approaching. Sign-ups will be held in the front lobby of the Salem Freedom Activity Center (formerly the National Guard armory). This league is for all boys and girls that are between 4 and 13-years of age. The last sign-ups will be held on Thursday, March 20th and Friday, March 21st from 4:00 to 6:00 and then on Saturday, March 22nd from 9:00 am to 12:00 (NOON). The cost is $15.00 per child. For additional information, contact the Parks & Recreation Department by calling 729-6290.

The spring sports season begins today for the Salem High School. The Salem Track Teams will be at Rolla for the Rolla Open that begins at 4:00.

The Salem Baseball Tigers are scheduled to host the Cabool Bulldogs today at 4:00 in the first round of the SCA Pre-season tournament, weather permitting. In the tournament, Ava was seeded first followed by Salem, then Houston was seeded third, followed by Mountain Grove, Liberty, Thayer, Cabool and finally Willow Springs. The second round games are scheduled to be held tomorrow, weather pending.

Yunel Escobar crushed a two-run homer, and Chipper Jones added a solo shot as the Atlanta Braves edged the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2, in Grapefruit League play. Adam Kennedy had a single and a double for the Cardinals, while Cesar Izturis tirpled in a run. Starter Todd Wellemeyer yielded three runs on four hits, fanning three and issuing one walk in the loss. On Saturday, The Cards beat the New York Mets by the score of 10-3.

Esteban German's three-run triple capped a seven-run seventh inning as the Kansas City Royals beat up on the San Francisco Giants, 13-3, in Cactus League action. David DeJesus doubled in a pair of runs, while Ryan Shealy ended with two RBI and two runs scored as the Royals banged out 17 hits in the contest. Zach Greinke gave up just one run on three hits in five innings in the start. Mike Maroth earned the win, despite walking four and giving up a pair of runs in two innings of relief.

Rob Niedermayer scored twice in the third period as the Anaheim Ducks downed the St. Louis Blues, 5-2, Saturday night at the Honda Center.  Jeff Woywitka had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who have dropped their past six games. Jamal Mayers also scored for the Blues. Manny Legace stopped 28 shots in the loss. The Blues will be in Montreal tomorrow night.

The St. Louis Cardinals named Bill DeWitt III the newest team president at a press conference Friday. DeWitt is the son of Bill DeWitt Jr., the Cardinals' chairman and principal owner, and had been serving as the team's senior vice president of business development. He also worked as the team's director of merchandising from 1996-99 and the vice president of business development from 2000-03. DeWitt is the Cardinals' 21st team president. He replaces Mark Lamping, who resigned this week after 13 1/2 years on the job.

Obituaries   [TOP]

A Memorial Service for David Joe Cook of Boss, age 48, will be held today at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Salem.

Funeral services for Janice Naomi Hood of Rolla, age 67, will be held today at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Interment will be in the Zion Cemetery in Salem. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or Phelps Regional Hospice.

Funeral services for Laverne “Cotner” Gregory of Sligo will be held today at 11:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Interment will be in the Sligo Cemetery.

Funeral services for Ernest Floyd Chitwood of Salem, age 81, will be held today at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Interment will be in the Huda-Chitwood Cemetery in Reynolds, MO.

Funeral services for Leora Rose Collier of Steelville will be held at 1:00 today at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Interment will be in the Davisville Cemetery.

Funeral services for Rena Mae Parker of Salem, age 80, will be held at 2:00 today at the Dent County Memorial Chapel in Salem. Interment will be in the Boss Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

Funeral services for Holly Jo Lucas of Rolla, age 20, will be held at 4:00 today at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 4:00 today. A Graveside service will be held at 2:00 Tuesday at the Avalon Cemetery in Avalon, Missouri. Memorials may be made to the family.

Funeral services for Dorothy M. Cochran of Bland, age 73, will be held Wednesday at 10:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Miles Cemetery in rural St. James. Memorials are suggested to the Miles Cemetery. 

Funeral services for Barbara Rosella Casey of Salem, age 70, will be held Thursday at 12:00 (noon) at Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Dry Fork Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Dry Fork Baptist Church or Dry Fork Cemetery.

Funeral services for Louie E. Ellis of Salem, age 93, are incomplete at this time but are under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel.

Weather [TOP]

Today..Mostly cloudy and breezy with a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, high of 61.
Tonight and Tuesday..Cloudy and windy with almost a 100% chance for showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall possible, low of 54, high of 59.
Tuesday night..Cloudy with an 80% chance for showers, colder, low of 36.