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The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2440 and 5530, and a culvert would be installed on Dent County Road 2440.  Purcell also said that rock would be hauled to Dent County Road 2400. The rest of the District 1 crew would be cleaning up and painting a John Deere Model 2750 tractor to sell. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2580, 2610, 3370 and 4020; and rock would be hauled to Dent County Road 2500. Larson also said that a crew would be on Dent County Roads 3220 and 6150 patching chip and seal. Betty Wisdom stopped by the meeting to ask Commissioner Purcell what the residents of Dent County Road 5610 would need to do before the road could be chip and sealed. Purcell said that some of the residents would need to purchase new culverts. The county would then install the culverts. The county would provide a letter stating that to Ms. Wisdom if she needed it. Linda Inman also stopped by to ask Commissioner Larson if the county could add material to the road in front of her house where it had washed out.  Commissioner Larson said he would have material hauled there and also said the county is trying to find a solution to keep the road from washing out so often. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public. The Commissioners will also hold their quarterly evening meeting Monday night starting at 7:00 in the Judicial Building and that is also open to the public.

The Dent County Coroner’s Office released their report concerning 82-year old Eugene E. Plank of Salem. Plank was found in the garage/shed behind a residence off of Highway 19 North Wednesday evening and pronounced dead at 8:06 pm by Dent County Deputy Coroner Eddie Wilson. Plank died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest in the late hours of Tuesday, April 7th or the early hours of Wednesday morning. No autopsy was performed. The body was released to Wilson Mortuary in Salem.

Mark Twain National Forest has awarded $2,300,000 in contracts under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), better known as the Stimulus Bill, to improve forest roads and recreation sites, including $312,000 for projects on the Salem Ranger District. KD Crushing, of Reynolds County, was awarded a roads. Another $27,100 will provide for a new toilet facility at Loggers Lake Campground near Bunker, MO in Shannon County. New picnic tables, lampposts and fire rings wil$285,000 contract for graveling Forest Service l also be installed as well as new forest signs.

An accident happened at 12:18 Thursday afternoon in Shannon County on Highway 60 about one mile east of Birch Tree. According to the highway patrol report, a 1998 Ford Escort driven by 32-year old April Ortiz of Salem was traveling eastbound on highway 60 and turned into the path of a 1994 Chevrolet Blazer driven by 45-year old Raymond Bradshaw of Winona. Ortiz suffered minor injuries and was taken to St. Francis Hospital by ambulance. Ortiz was the only one wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by B and M Towing of Birch Tree. The Chevrolet sustained minor damage and was also removed by B and M Towing.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will conduct a reorganization meeting on Monday, April 13^th at the district administrative offices boardroom beginning at 6:00 pm. After the call to order by President Greg Nash and the certified election results, Nash will swear in the newly elected members. Superintendent Steve Bryant will then act as Temporary Chairman to select the new Board President. The new Board President will preside over the election of the Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The board will address resignations before adjourning and going into Closed Session to discuss personnel.

Sports [TOP]

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 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The final sign-up will be held this 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.

The Salem Baseball Tigers game with Cabool was postponed due to wet grounds after one inning was played. It will be made up at a later date. Salem is 4-2 on the year and will be at Willow Springs on Monday afternoon.

Yadier Molina and pinch hitter Brian Barden each had an RBI, while veteran Chris Carpenter tossed seven innings of one-hit ball, as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-1, to split a four-game series at Busch Stadium. Carpenter (1-0) allowed one unearned run and fanned seven batters with just two walks to pick up the win. Carpenter is back at full strength after two injury-plagued campaigns. He is entering his sixth season with the Cardinals and made just four appearances (three starts) in 2008, going 0-1 with a 1.76 earned run average. Ryan Ludwick and Khalil Greene scored in a two-run bottom of the seventh for the Cardinals. Dennys Reyes then retired the side in order in the ninth to collect his first save of the season.The Cardinals will host the Houston Astors tonight and you can hear the game on KSMO Radio.

Coco Crisp hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to help the Kansas City Royals edge the Chicago White Sox, 2-1, to wrap up a three-game series. Alberto Callaspo went 2-for-2 with a run scored while Ron Mahay (1-0) got the win for pitching a scoreless eighth inning for the Royals, who won the last two games of the series after dropping the opener. Kyle Davies worked seven innings of three-hit ball with two walks and eight strikeouts. The Royals home opener will be today against the Yankees.

The St. Louis Blues will face Columbus tonight at 7:30 at the Scottrade Center and will be on the road Sunday at Colorado. The Blues can earn a playoff spot with two wins or a win and overtime loss. They are tied with Anaheim and Nashville for the 7^th and 8^th positions for the playoffs.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Graveside services for Mary Lou West of St. Louis, formerly of Steelville, will be held Saturday at 2:30 at the Barnicle Chapel Cemetery in Steelville. Visitation will be from 11:00 to 2:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Memorials may be given to the American Lung Association or American Heart Association.

Funeral services for Everett Eugene (Gene) Plank of Salem, age 82, in honor of Mr. Plank’s wishes there will be no service. All the arrangements are under the direction of Wilson Mortuary in Salem.

Funeral services for Sandra Marie Clinton of Salem, age 53, will be held Monday at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary. Visitation will be Monday morning from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. 

Funeral services for Anna Salemie of Ridgedale, age 87, will be held today at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Point Lookout Nursing Home Patient Fund.

Weather [TOP]