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The Salem R-80 Board of Education conducted their regular monthly meeting Thursday evening. After approval on the agenda and consent agenda, Superintendent Steve Bryant updated the Board on legislative issues and let the Board know that legislators are currently on spring break. Summer school for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade will be from May 26^th through June 26^th. Bryant then gave the Board some budget information to let the Board know where the district currently stands as compared to this time last year. For the most part, the district is running about the same as last year and is looking for more ways to tighten their budgets. Bryant reported to the board that the Judson Young Foundation gave a donation of $20,000. Of that money, $15,000 was designated for the baseball program and would be used to put in permanent batting cages, an indoor pitchers mound, a bullpen, purchase baseball equipment and to also redo the dugouts. The remainder of $5,000 will be used for a parent notification system. In new business, the Board observed a couple of CIA-Upper Elementary performance events that were conducted in the classrooms. There was also an FFA-Parliamentary Procedure demonstration under the direction of Bob Parsons. The Salem Parliamentary Procedure team won in area competition and head to the district competition on April 2^nd. The Salem Parliamentary team is made up of one student from each of the five districts and includes a representative for each grade level in high school. The Board approved the career ladder plan with changes, and also approved two career ladder plan waivers. The Board then approved the technology plan, approved numerous BOE policies as presented with a few notes and approved the MSBA policy service agreement. During the discussion about the bus leases and purchase bids, Bryant said that for 2009 the district is considering two 77-passenger busses for a purchase and lease agreement for 5-years at $81,309 a month, and  one 90-passenger bus on a straight 3-year lease for $19,860 a month. Monday, April 13^th has been set aside as the organizational meeting, which has to be held within 14 days after an election. The Board then approved the retirement resignations of Jake Edgar as a Special Ed teacher, Johnita Wells as a 5^th grade teacher and Debbie Thompson as a Reading Recovery teacher at the end of the school year. Tana Kettner also resigned as the JV Girls basketball coach. In closed session Thursday night, the board employed the certified staff for the 2009-10 school year excluding the senior high social studies position that is being deleted.  The board also employed Michael Farrar as the senior high business education teacher before the meeting was adjourned. The Salem Police Department released their reports. On Monday, March 16th at 4:45 p.m. an officer transported a 42-year old male from Hawk Point to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center Stress Unit on a 96-hour commitment order. On Tuesday, March 17th at 12:06 a.m. an officer was detailed to the 300 block of West Ninth in reference to a disturbance. The report led to the arrest of a 26-year old male and a 23-year old female of Colorado on fugitive warrants from Colorado Department of Corrections. The two were incarcerated pending extradition. On Wednesday, March 18th at 8:21 a.m. an officer was dispatched to the Salem Jr. High School reference to a fight. The report led to the detention of two female juveniles for fighting.  The juveniles were released to their parents and the report will be forwarded to the juvenile officer. At  9:43 p.m. that evening, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation that led to the arrest of two 17-year old Salem males for minors in possession of intoxicants.  One of the suspects was also arrested for possession of a prohibited weapon. The two were issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Thursday, March 19th at 7:40 p.m. an officer was detailed to the 300 block of East Truman in reference to a disturbance. The report led to the arrest of a 51-year old Salem female for disorderly conduct. She was issued a summons to appear in court and released. The Salem Police Department ask that if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation or previously mentioned incident to please contact the Salem Police Department by calling 729-4242.

Sports [TOP]

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

Kim English scored 15 points in the first half and came off the bench to hit the game-winning free throws with 5.5 seconds left in regulation, as the Missouri Tigers gutted out an 83-79 victory over the Marquette Golden Eagles to advance to the Sweet 16. The third-seeded Tigers (30-6), who hammered Cornell in their first-round matchup, led by as many as 16 points in the first half before watching the lead evaporate in the final 20 minutes. But the Big 12 Tournament champions survived the comeback bid and will now face second-seeded Memphis in the West Regional semifinal in Glendale, Arizona on Thursday night at 8:30. Leo Lyons netted 18 points for Missouri, which received a 15-point, eight-rebound effort from DeMarre Carroll.

Ryan Ludwick, Khalil Greene and Yadier Molina each had two hits and an RBI, as the St. Louis Cardinals topped Baltimore, 5-4, in Grapefruit League play. Todd Wellemeyer hurled five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, while Blake Hawksworth earned the win with a perfect inning in relief.

Matthew Brown went 6-for-6 with two of the Angels' eight home runs and a triple, as Los Angeles topped Kansas City in a spring training slugfest, 18-12. The Royals had 18 hits, of which seven were homers. Miguel Olivo hit two, while Ryan Shealy, Alberto Callaspo, Mike Jacobs, Coco Crisp and Tony Pena also went deep. Callaspo finished 3-for-5. The Royals' Horacio Ramirez gave up nine runs on 10 hits -- three homers -- in only two innings of work, and took the loss.

The Salem Baseball Tigers will face Houston today in the first round of the SCA Pre-season Tournament starting at 4:00.

The Salem Golf Team will be at Willow Springs tomorrow for their first meet of the year, weather permitting.

Andy McDonald and Jay McClement scored 51 seconds apart in the third period to help the St. Louis Blues take a crucial 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames at Pengrowth Saddledome Friday night. T.J. Oshie scored the other goal while Chris Mason stopped 33 shots in the win for the Blues, who snapped a two-game slide. The win gives St. Louis 75 points on the season and is now just two points back of Nashville for the final spot in the Western Conference with 10 games to play.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Ellen A. Gorman of St. James, age 92, will be held this morning at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Interment will be in the St. James Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Church of God in St. James.

Funeral service for Len Bond of Leasburg, formerly of Steelville, age 81, will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 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.

Memorial services for Delphia “Reita” Price of St. James, age 78, will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation will be from noon until service time. Interment will be in the Fort Leonard Wood Military Cemetery.

Funeral services for Grace L. Hilderbrand of Salem, age 92, are incomplete at this time but are under the direction of Wilson Mortuary in Salem.

Weather [TOP]