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The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6660 and 6670, while rock will be hauled to Dent County Road 5110 and it will be graded. Purcell said that workers would also be installing culverts on Dent County Roads 6220 and 6580. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 4040 and 4310, while rock will be added to Dent County Road 2150 and then it will be graded. He also said that there was a culvert problem on Dent County Road 3305 where water was running across the road. Larson went on to say that that workers will be working on truck #116 and will work on the hydraulic lines on the new spreader. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that a CERT training has been scheduled in Dent County for May 15^th through the 17^th by the Meramec Regional Emergency Planning Committee. Anyone interested in attending that training can contact Tammy Snodgrass at 265-2993. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that absentee voting for the April election is going on now, and the last day to ask for an absentee ballot to be mailed is April 1^st. She also wanted to remind voters that Dent-Phelps R-3 and Northwood R-4 school boards are not having an election as they had just enough candidates to fill the open slots. Curley said that the voting machines would be tested on March 24^th at 10:00, and that she would be attending an insurance consortium meeting in Springfield on March 25^th. Darrell Hay with Viking-Cives Midwest Group discussed new tandem and single axle dump trucks for the county as they hold the state contract. He described in great detail the features of the truck that were requested by the road and bridge department, and he recommended that the county go with at least a 350 engine and possibly even a 410 with all the hills that the county has where they actually pull some pup trailers. The commissioners were discussing the options available and wanted to come to a decision soon as there is a four month turnaround on getting any new trucks. The commissioners also agreed to put bids out for fuel for the remainder of the year. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors held their regular monthly meeting Thursday night at the hospital library. For the month of February, the hospital showed an increase in hospital admissions, outpatient registrations and ER visits that helped produce income over expenses from operations during the month of  $123,753. After tax revenues were added, the excess of revenues over expenses for the month ended up being $257,127. There was also an increase in cash during the month of $110,263. During the month, there were77 acute care patients admitted, 758 ER visits, 65 ER transfers, 189 ambulance runs with 35 dry runs, 26 surgeries, 197 home health visits, 8,772 lab tests, 1,207 radiology procedures, 350 CT scans, 37 MRI scans, five nuclear med scans, 383 rehab treatments, 147 dialysis treatments and 412 clinical visits.  Hospital Administrator Dennis Pryor said that the hospital auxiliary raised $1,507 during their masquerade jewelry sale. He said that hospital contacted three internal medicine or family practice physicians during the month. He also discussed with the board the Medicare Payments Incentive for Physicians program that can provide up to $48,400 extra income to the physicians over five years if they go to the electronic filing. After 2015, physicians would be penalized for not having implemented the electronic filing. Pryor said that a Diabetic Screening would be held on March 26^th and 27^th, the Finance Committee meeting will be held April 1^st at 5:30, and that the April Board meeting has been moved to April 30th. The board approved the Medical Staff Bylaw Review changing the malpractice insurance minimum of $200,000 per incident with a minimum aggregate of $600,000. The board approved the budgeted purchases of a laser jet printer from CDW-G for Cardiopulmonary for $418, and a Cardiac Monitor for the ambulance from Zoll Medical for $23,209. The board also approved the purchase of electronic file management software from CPSI for $8,800 that will be charged to this fiscal year, and two scanners for $4,238 from CDW-G and two computers from CDW-G for $1,132 that will be charged to fiscal year 2010. This will expedite the updating of files from paper to electronic filing. The board then voted to go into executive session.

Sports [TOP]

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

Henrik Sedin registered a goal and an assist, and Roberto Luongo stopped all 30 shots he faced to earn his 44th career shutout as the Vancouver Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues, 3-0, at GM Place. Chris Mason stopped 18-of-21 shots in taking the loss for St. Louis, which dropped a 2-1 shootout decision to Edmonton on Tuesday. The Blues fell to 13-17-4 as the visitor this season and will be at Calgary tonight at 8:00 and you can hear the game on KSMO Radio.

The Missouri Tigers will face Cornell in the first NCAA Tournament contest this afternoon starting at 1:30 on KSMO Radio. Missouri is the 3^rd seed while Cornell is the 14^th seed. The winner of the game will go on to play again on Sunday at a time to be determined.

The Kansas City Royals had the day off yesterday in Cactus League play.

The Salem Baseball Tigers begin the preseason SCA Tournament Monday against the Houston Tigers at 4:00 in Salem.

Rick Ankiel went 3-for-3 with a homer and three runs batted in, as the Cardinals edged the Rays, 9-7, in Grapefruit League action. Ryan Ludwick added a three-run homer for St. Louis, while Brendan Ryan went 2- for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI. Joel Pineiro got the win after going four innings and giving up two runs on six hits. Jason Motte notched the save after recording the final four outs. The Cardinals will be in action this weekend as they play Washington on Saturday and Baltimore on Sunday. Both games are scheduled to start at 11:55 and both can be heard on KSMO Radio.

Kansas City Chiefs have terminated the contract of long snapper Jean-Philippe Darche.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Larry David Martin Sr. of Salem, age 68, will be held Saturday morning at 11:00 at the Wilson Mortuary. Visitation will be tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Corinth Baptist Church Youth Group or the Phelps County Regional Home Care Foundation.

Funeral services for Opal McCracken of Salem will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be Saturday morning from 10:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Cuba.

Funeral services for Ellen A. Gorman of St. James, age 92, will be held Monday at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Interment will be in the St. James Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Church of God.

Funeral service for Len Bond of Leasburg, formerly of Steelville, age 81, will be held Wednesday morning at 11:0 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 on Tuesday. Interment will be in the Meramec Hills Cemetery in Cuba.

Memorial services for Kay Rietz of St. James, age 85, will be held Saturday, march 28^th at 11:00 in the morning at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. James. Visitation will be held at the church Saturday morning from 10:00 to 11:00. Interment will be at a later date. All arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr mortuary in St. James.

Weather [TOP]