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An accident happened at 9:22 Saturday night on Pershing Avenue at Seventh Street in Salem. According to the Salem Police report, a white 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by 23-year old Eric Steelman of Salem was traveling north on Pershing Avenue at a high rate of speed. The Mercury veered across the road and collided with a parked and unoccupied red 1997 Jeep Cherokee owned by Donna Taylor of Salem. The Jeep came to rest on its side against a tree and the Mercury came to rest in the middle of Pershing Avenue. Both Steelman and a passenger, 39-year old Robert (Bobby) Gamblin of Salem were pinned in the Mercury and had to be extracted by the Dent County Fire Protection District and Salem EMS. Steelman and Gamblin both suffered serious injuries and were transported to the Dent County Fire Protection District Landing Zone where they were air lifted to a trauma center in St. Louis. The Mercury and the Jeep sustained extensive damage and were towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem. 

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the board approved the installation of two strands of a single fiber optic cable from the Judicial Building to the Annex by the city electrical department for the Juvenile Office that will be moving to the Annex. The Circuit Court will pay all the expenses and provide the wire to use. The board approved the installation and the mayor said that the city attorney would need to review and prepare the city utility pole agreement for this use. It would then have to be voted on by the alderman in ordinance form. The consent agenda was approved and it included 18 nuisance violation notices and eight pit bull letters. City Engineer Bill Huffman then reported that the Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of the reviewed use permit for an in-home photography studio at 805 West Rolla Road owned by Lynne Hobson. The board approved the recommendation. Alderman Bill Riley stated that there has been a problem with derelict cars on Hobson and he feels that it is time for the city to abate the nuisance and take legal action to correct the problem. Alderman McDaniels asked about the airport and some of the asphalt still needs to be milled, and there is still no fuel at the airport. Mayor Gary Brown reported that MoDOT would come back in two to three weeks with a proposal to do work on McArthur. He said that the bridge on Highway 32 East at MFA would be replaced or strengthened once the bids are let out. The Highway 19 Bridge over Spring Creek will also be re-asphalted. The mayor said that effective April 1^st, the city received a 10.87% increase in the cost of electricity from Sho-Me Power and they have not yet passed any of the increase on to the citizens of Salem. He did say that over the last 3-4 months, the electric consumption of city citizens has been below the Sho-Me Power estimates. The mayor also said that there were 60 electric cutoffs after the last billing cycle. The board approved Bill #3161 that authorized the mayor to sign a three-year contract with Cintas for uniform rental, approved Bill #3162 that establishes a procedure to disclose potential conflicts of interest for certain municipal officials, and  approved Bill #3163 authorizing the mayor to sign all the applications and agreements concerning the Recovery Act-Justice Assistance Grant Program for the Salem police Department for $14,482. After the bills were approved, the board went into closed session.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Monday morning. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that a crew would be replacing a culvert, adding rock and then grading Dent County Road 2400, and replacing a culvert on Dent County Road 6490.  The rest of the District 1 crew would be checking roads for downed trees and limbs and checking a dumpsite on Doss Road. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that brush would be cut in the Anutt area and new tires would be put on truck 114. Larson also said that a crew member would be traveling to Springfield to pick up a load of oil for the durapatcher and the rest of the District 2 crew would be checking roads for any downed trees or limbs.  Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he would be attending a Missouri Career Center Meeting this morning. The meeting was called to discuss the five million dollars in funding that was provided to a 19 county region that does include Dent County, to help those who are unemployed. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The April Chamber of Commerce membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 8^th at the Salem TCRC. The program will be a bit different this month with Ray Walden and Sharon Tubbs giving a Tourism Committee update. There will also a drawing for the three prime booth spots that will be available at the 2009 Business Expo. Lunch will be provided by My Place Restaurant at the cost of $8 per person. The Chamber asks that you RSVP by noon TODAY if you plan on attending. Call the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce office at 729-6900.

Sports [TOP]

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

The Salem Tiger Baseball game with Houston on Monday was postponed due to the weather conditions and rescheduled for today at 4:30. The game with West Plains scheduled for today has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 4:30. You can hear the game today at 4:30 on KSMO Radio and online at ksmoradio.com.

The Salem Tiger Golf Team will be at Willow Springs today at 4:00, while the Salem Track Teams are scheduled to be at Mountain View.

Jack Wilson hit a three-run double as part of a four-run ninth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates came back to surprise the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-4, in the season opener for both teams at Busch Stadium. Ryan Ludwick went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and two RBI, and reigning NL MVP Albert Pujols had three hits and drew a walk for the Cardinals. Khalil Greene donated an RBI single in defeat. Adam Wainwright got the start for St. Louis and allowed two runs on four hits, walked five and struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings. Closer Jason Motte (0-1) was tagged for four runs on as many hits in the ninth inning. The Cards and Pirates play tonight at 6:55 on KSMO.

The Kansas City Royals opener with the Chicago White Sox was postponed until today due to poor weather conditions in Chicago.

The St. Louis Blues will be in Phoenix tonight to face the Coyotes. You can hear the game on KSMO after Cards baseball on KSMO Radio.

North Carolina overwhelmed Michigan State with a record performance in the first half, and in the end the Tar Heels were dancing in the Motor City with their fifth NCAA Tournament title with an 89-72 win.

The City of Salem Summer Youth Baseball, Softball and T-Ball Programs are just around the corner. Signups for children ages 4-14 years old will be held today and then again on Thursday and Friday, April 9^th, 10^th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The final sign-up will be held on Saturday, April 11^th from 9:00 am to noon. All sign-ups will be held in the front lobby of the Salem Freedom Activity Center. The leagues are for all boys and girls age 4-14. The cost is $15 per child. For additional information contact the Parks and Recreation Department by calling 729-6290.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Aileen Lunsford of Boss, age 90, will be held this morning at 11:00 at the Boss Assembly of God Church in Boss. Interment will be in the Boss Cemetery. All the arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem.

Weather [TOP]