Scroll Down for Sports, Weather and Obituaries! For State-Wide News, go to the MissouriNet! To read previous editions of Your World Today please visit our Archives Page.

The Salem Board of Aldermen’s regular meeting was held Monday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board approved the bid from the City of Van Buren to purchase their Knight 8014 Manure Spreader for $6,000, and the board approved a three-year contract for employee uniforms from Centos for $141.84 per week. In the consent agenda, sales tax revenues were down $22,000 from February of 2008. Alderman Jim McDaniels wanted to know if the city is recycling the sand and gravel that was put down in the snow storm and Mayor Gary Brown said that it is being done, and the sand and gravel have been put out at the industrial site where it will need to be filtered. McDaniels would also like some organization to commit to planting some flowering trees in town as a memorial or a project, and also wants an organization to outline businesses in town with Christmas lights. Alderman Kenneth Nash asked if the police had any leads on the vandalism at the city park and Chief Jadwin said not at this time. Economic Development Director Sharon Tubbs reminded the alderman about the Chamber of Commerce Business Expo in April and the city-wide yard sale on May 2^nd. She said that the Tour of Missouri bicycle race may be coming through Salem, but that is still in the negotiation stages with MoDOT. Tubbs also presented the board with a new marketing logo that the board approved to use for the city. Mayor Gary Brown said that there may be a number of projects that the stimulus package can do in Salem, but many are actually loans, and the city wants to concentrate on getting the grants without strings attached for storm water, two storage water tanks, sidewalks and hiking and biking trails and three-phase electric line replacement. Brown said that Eric Stephens from VISTA will be starting a community garden at the Methodist Church and there will be a meeting for those who are interested on Monday, March 23^rd at 7:00 at the Salem TCRC. He said that the electric rates will increase 10.87% effective April 1^st and the city will eat that increase until a new budget is prepared. He said that the city may only have to pass along about 5.5% of that increase. Brown said that MoDOT is supposed to be in town next week to discuss the McArthur Street project. The board approved Bill #3160 that allows the mayor to sign the quit-claim deed on property on Highway 68 that was railroad right of way owned by Todd Kinerk. The board approved the spring clean up weeks to be on April 27^th and May 4^th. The board also approved to write an ordinance that would allow Chief Jadwin to apply for a grant for $14,482 from the JAG program for new communication radios. The board then went into a brief closed session to discuss personnel.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated that workers will be sweeping off the excess sand and gravel from the Warner Subdivision. He said that rock and a new culvert would be added to Dent County Road 5410. Purcell said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4120, 5680 and 6500. In District 2, Commissioner Larson said that rock would be hauled and grading done on Dent County Roads 2303, 4280 and 4290; while grading will be done on Dent County Roads 2070 and 2080. He said that county road 3225 needs a dead end sign and a pipe is also stopped on that road. Larson did report that the new spreader box came in Friday and workers will be assembling it this week. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that he attended a public housing authority meeting and the MRPC meeting where the new employment and immigration rules were discussed. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley when asked by the commissioners about the cost of implementing early voting, said that the cost could be in excess of $92,000 to the county. Early voting would be at least 14 days before the election date and would have to be fully staffed with workers and election judges. This is being proposed by House Bill #59 and the commissioners voted to oppose the implementation of the this bill or any other voting bill that does provide compensation from the state for the county to implement such a voting system. The commissioners are not against “no excuse” absentee voting for the public as long as the cost is not prohibitive. Sandra Hogan then came in and said that Senate Bill 40 Board member Joyce Jones has resigned and will now work for the board. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

Sports [TOP]

The Cardinal pocket schedules have arrived and are available around town and at the KSMO Radio Station lobby.

Will Rhymes singled home Ramon Santiago with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to lift Detroit to a 7-6 win over St. Louis in Grapefruit League play. Todd Wellemeyer went the first five innings for St. Louis and was tagged for four runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Albert Pujols homered and singled in three at-bats for the Cardinals with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Khalil Greene went 3-for-3 with a double and three runs batted in.

Mark Teahen hit a two-run home run and scored three times as the Kansas City Royals downed the Chicago White Sox, 11-7, in Cactus League play. Mitch Maier hit a solo home run while Alberto Callaspo drove in three runs for the Royals. Gil Meche got the win in the start despite giving up four runs on four hits with two walks in 3 1/3 innings of work.

The St. Louis Blues will be in Edmonton tonight to face the Oilers starting at 9:00. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Graveside services for La Vaughn Luebbert of St. James, age 76, will be held today at 11:00 at the Highgate Baptist Cemetery in Highgate. All arrangements are under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary of St. James.

Funeral services for Robert E. Harris of Edgar Springs, age 75, will be held today at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Interment will be in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Edgar Springs. Memorials are suggested to the Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Funeral services for Norma Jean Todd of Steelville, age 67, will be held today at noon at the Britton-Bennett Chapel in Steelville. Interment will be in the Boss Cemetery in Boss.

Funeral services for Hinton” Willie” Chafin, Jr. age 88, will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 at the Oak Grove Baptist Church. Visitation will be tonight from 5:00 to 8:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Oak Grove Baptist Church Youth.

Funeral services for Verla Ellen Floyd of Salem, age 71, will be held Thursday at 6:30 at the Church of Christ in Salem with visitation to follow. Interment will be Saturday in the Westlawn Cemetery in Geering, Nebraska. Memorials may be made to the Pregnancy Center in Salem. All the arrangements are under the direction of the Day Funeral Home in Marshfield.

Weather [TOP]