News

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Monday morning. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not in attendance due to a previous commitment out of town. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson served as the acting Presiding Commissioner at the meeting. Assistant Administrator Kasey Lucas from the Salem Memorial District Hospital was in attendance to observe and prepare for a presentation the hospital will give at the Commission meeting on Thursday. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated that grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 5080, 5610 and 5615; while materials would be added and grading was going to be done on Dent County Road 6670. He said that brush was going to be cut on county road 5690. District 2 Commissioner Larson indicated that he is a grader operator short and will be for a couple of weeks or so. He did say that materials would be added and grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 4060 and 5300, and grading was also going to be done on Dent County Road 5310. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind voters that the polls will be open from 6:00 in the morning until 7:00 at night on Tuesday, and to bring your voter registration card or ID when you go to vote. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be held Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting at the City Hall Council Chambers Monday night. At the meeting, the board heard from Mark McElvy with AccuBak Data Systems asking to renew a three-year contract to lease the water tower so that he can continue to supply Internet to his customers. The aldermen will make a decision on this contract in closed session. The aldermen postponed reviewing the Request for Qualification from Health Insurance Brokers until the next meeting. The board approved accepting the lowest bid of $3,980 from Smith Construction for the demolition and removal of the burned out house located at 1201 S. MacArthur Street. This project is estimated to be completed in 30 days. The board approved the recommendation by City Administrator Clayton Lucas to not charge the Salem TCRC rent at the Armory facility for the next year.  Lucas presented a sample ordinance regarding restricting unlicensed mini bikes on city streets and sidewalks. He asked the alderman to review for future discussion.  He also said that a few city employees are training to become certified building inspectors to help with complaints of dilapidated homes and buildings in town. Lucas indicated that there were 110 children in the youth basketball program this past winter, that youth soccer practice starts next week at Al Brown fields, and that the batting cages will be open next week at the Salem City Park.  Alderman Kenneth Nash asked for a financial report regarding the shooting range expenses.  Lucas will have this information at the next meeting.  Alderman Philip Giacomelli asked if there was a way to inform the citizens of the street sweeper schedule to allow for them to move their cars during this time.  City Clerk Mary Happel recommended the city create a Facebook page to inform citizens of these types of announcements.  Mayor Gary Brown reported that the Business Expo would be held this Saturday at the Salem High School gym from 9 am-12 noon, and the spring clean up weeks will be April 15^th and April 22^nd.  Bill No. 3629, the ordinance to adopt the new City Code Book was postponed because a Public Hearing will need to be held.  Resolution No. 5-2013 to authorize the Mayor to sign the close-out report for the CDBG grant water project at the Housing Authority was approved.  Resolution No. 6-2013, a resolution to update the Employee Handbook to meet Federal regulations was approved.  Lucas presented the quarterly financial report.  Expenses are at 61.29% and revenue is at 62.75%. The board then went into closed session to discuss personnel and contracts.

Sports [TOP]

Brady Floyd went 3-4 and drove in two runs, and Jake Conway pitched four shoutout innings in relief to lead the Salem Tigers to a 7-2 win over Mountain Grove Monday afternoon in Salem. Darwin Flaherty and Adam Ziske each drove in two runs for the Tigers who are now 2-2 on the year and 1-0 in the SCA Conference. Salem will host St. James today at 4:30 at the Salem High School Baseball Complex. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio, online at ksmoradio.com and on fidelitylocal6.com.

Jaden Schwartz and Andy McDonald each had a goal and an assist as the St. Louis Blues took down the Minnesota Wild, 4-1, on Monday. Barret Jackman and Kevin Shattenkirk also lit the lamp for the Blues, who snapped a three-game skid and moved one point ahead of the idle Columbus Blue Jackets for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Jaroslav Halak made five saves before suffering a lower-body injury in the final seconds of the first period. Brian Elliott stopped 19-of-20 shots in relief. The Blues will play the Blackhawks on Thursday.

The Buffalo Sabres sent defenseman Jordan Leopold to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for conditional second-round and fifth-round selections in the upcoming draft. On Monday, the Calgary Flames traded veteran defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to the Blues in exchange for a conditional first-round draft pick, defenseman Mark Cundari and goaltender Reto Berra.

Ian Kennedy threw seven solid innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks pounded out 15 hits to win their seventh straight season opener, this time topping the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-2, at Chase Field. Daniel Descalso and Matt Holliday each drove in a run for the Cardinals, who were within one win of making consecutive World Series appearances last year, as they lost Game 7 of the NL Championship Series to the San Francisco Giants. The Cardinals and Diamondbacks play again tonight, and you can hear it on KSMO at 8:05.

Tyler Flowers supplied the game's only run with a solo homer in the fifth inning to lift the Chicago White Sox past Kansas City, 1-0, in the 2013 opener for both squads. James Shields (0-1) pitched well for Kansas City, allowing one run on eight hits over six innings. Alcides Escobar and Jeff Francoeur each supplied two hits in the setback. The Royals and White Sox have the day off but will play again on Wednesday.

Obituaries   [TOP] 

Funeral services for Eugene Hoffman of St. James, age 81, will be held this morning at 10:00 at the Rolla Chapel of the James and Gahr Mortuary. Interment will be in the Corn Creek Cemetery.

Funeral services for Ruby Ann Quick of Salem, age 76, will be held this morning at 11:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Interment will be in the Stone Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Stone Hill Cemetery.

Funeral services for Freda M. Fisher of Salem, age 101, will be held today at 1:00 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Apple Creek, MO. Visitation will be held from noon until service time. Interment will be in the St. Michaels Catholic Cemetery in Apple Creek. In lieu of flowers, plant one and take time to enjoy.

Weather   [TOP]