Your World Today - April 22, 2008

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The Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Monday morning and District 1 Commissioner Bobby Simpson was not in attendance. District 2 Commissioner J.J. Tune reported that crews would be doing shoulder work on Dent County Road 2300, grading and patching on Dent County Road 4380 and grading and hauling material to Dent County Road 2540. Tune also said that Dent County Road 2240 is now open, but the county isn’t going to do much more with the road until FEMA has a chance to assess the damage that was done. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles attended a Homeland Security Oversight Committee Meeting last Thursday in St. James and it was reported that Dent County was provided with a Mass Casualty Trailer from the Red Cross in case of a major disaster. The trailer is being stored at the Dent County Fire Station. Skiles also said that he would be attending a FEMA Briefing in Rolla on Wednesday. The briefing is held for county officials to come and sign an application for FEMA’s assistance in helping pay for any damage that was done to roads, bridges and buildings due to flooding. The next meeting of the Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Monday in the city hall council chambers after an hour and ten minute closed session by the board. The aldermen were presented three ordinances to consider regarding various electric increases. Alderman Bill Riley proposed a 20% rate increase and a meter charge of $10 per meter, Alderman Jim Jackson proposed just a 20% rate increase without the $10 meter charge, and Alderman Jim McDaniels proposed a 25% rate increase along with a $10 meter charge. Mayor Brown presented the estimated revenue generation for the three options. After a long discussion, the board was still tied at 2 to 2 with their vote, with Alderman McDaniels and Whitley voting no and Alderman Riley and Jackson voting yes to the lowest proposal made by Alderman Jackson. After conferring with City Attorney Mark Weaver, Mayor Brown voted in favor of Alderman Jackson’s Ordinance #3128 proposal of a 20% flat rate increase with an estimated revenue stream of $4,879,788. This still leaves the budget short $700,000 in electrical revenues to cover the 34% Sho-Me Power increase. Budget cuts for the next year will need to be made to make up the difference. The board left open the option of reviewing the ordinance in three months to determine if a further increase is needed. The board canvassed the certification of election results from the municipal election that showed that Gary Brown was re-elected as Mayor, Jim McDaniels was re-elected as East Ward Alderman and Kenneth Nash was elected West Ward Alderman over Mike Whitley. After being sworn in, Mayor Brown appointed Mary Happel as City Clerk and City Collector, and appointed Ruth Mullnack as City Treasurer, and both were approved by the Board. The board then elected Bill Riley as President of the board. The board approved two standing committees at the meeting: Finance and Capital Improvements. The Utility Committee and the Community Services Committee will be named at the next meeting. In the hearing of persons, the board heard from Rhonda Smith from Pathways Behavioral Healthcare. She requested the use of the city hall basement for a weekly psycho-social rehabilitation meeting. After a brief discussion, James Ellis from the Western Cherokee Complex offered their building for this use and she accepted. Economic Development Director, Sharon Tubbs, reported that last weekends Business Expo was a success and the city distributed literature regarding recycling and clean up opportunities for residents.  Tubbs reported that she has been working with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, the Salem TCRC and University of Missouri Extension on some Hospitality Training and Customer Service workshops for employees of tourist related businesses. A resource manual with a comprehensive listing of all tourist opportunities, in and around Salem will be distributed to local businesses as well. Additional workshops will be held in May. Tubbs reported that she is working with MU Extension to provide an energy audit for a small manufacturing industry in Salem.  Brown reported that the City electric department is still working with the Western Cherokee regarding their electric usage. Brown reported that over 60 people attended last Saturday’s recycling day and that additional days might need to be added to accommodate the citizens of Salem. He also said that only a few sales spaces remain on the city administrative parking lot for the May 3rd City Wide Yard Sale. They are $8.00 each.  After approving the bills, the board then went into closed session.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Tigers scored the winning run on a strikeout in the 6th inning, and the Houston Tigers tying run on base in the seventh inning was picked off with two outs as Salem outlasted Houston in a wild and crazy contest in Houston yesterday, 6-5. Brandon Plan struckout in the sixth inning with Brett Hagler at third base, but the ball was in the dirt and the catcher did not tag or throw out Plank, but rolled the ball back to the mound allowing Hagler to score. C.J. Smith had two hits and an RBI, and Ethan Curley doubled in two runs when the rightfielder tripped over his own feet chasing his fly ball. Curley got the win going 5 1/3 innings with Louis Carroll getting the save. Salem is 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the SCA. They will be at Cabool today to face the Bulldogs at 4:30 in a makeup game and you can hear the contest on KSMO Radio and online at www.ksmoradio.com.

The Salem Golf Team will be at St. James this morning at 9:00, and the Salem Jr. High will host the Salem Open today at 4:00.

Skip Schumaker drove in the game-winning run in the ninth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals downed the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3, in the opener of a two-game set. Troy Glaus drove in a pair of runs while Ryan Franklin (1-1) got the win as he gave up one run on three hits in one inning of work for the Cardinals, who had dropped three of four coming into the game. Adam Wainwright started on the mound and gave up two runs on four hits in seven innings of work. Jason Isringhausen then retired the Brewers in order in the ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season. Ryan Franklin got the win for the Cardinals even though he surrendered the tying run in the 8th inning. The two teams will play again at noon today and you can hear the contest on KSMO Radio.

In news from the disabled list, St. Louis' Mark Mulder made a rehab start at Double-A Springfield Sunday and tossed six shutout innings, allowing three hits while walking three and fanning one. Before the game last night, St. Louis activated pitcher Russ Springer from the 15-day disabled list and optioned utility player Rico Washington to Memphis (PCL).

The Kansas City Royals had the day off yesterday. They will open a three game set at Cleveland tonight as Gil Meche will face C.C. Sabathia. The Royals have lost four of the last five games and are now a game below .500.

Major League Baseball Scores:

Chicago Cubs 7, NY Mets 1
Florida 10, Pittsburgh 4
LA Dodgers 9, Cincinnati 3
Atlanta 7, Washington 3
Houston 10, San Diego 3
Philadelphia 9, Colorado 5
Arizona 4, San Francisco 2
Boston 8, Texas 3
Detroit 5, Toronto 1

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Pamela Hanks, age 58, are incomplete at this time but are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel in Salem.

Weather [TOP]

Today..Cloudy this morning with a 40% chance for showers or thunderstorms, then partly sunny this afternoon, high near 80.
Tonight..Partly cloudy, low of 58.
Wednesday..Partly sunny with a 20% chance for an afternoon shower, high of 79.
Wednesday night..Cloudy with a 40% chance for showers & thunderstorms, low of 57.