Your World Today - May 3, 2010

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The City of Salem, Senator Frank Barnitz and ProEnergy Services announced a Memorandum of Understanding Friday morning at the city hall council chambers. This agreement is being established to explore the development of a wood fire renewable energy facility and other power services in Salem. John Smeltzer, Vice President of ProEnergy Services and Mike Mills with Spectrum Consulting Group presented the program and answered questions from the citizens in attendance.  Smeltzer explained that his company would work to develop a progressive public/private partnership with the city to provide a turnkey solution to service the energy needs of Salem, the Ozark Region and surrounding communities. This Ozark Regional Power Supply Initiative would create a wood bio-massed power plant with grid power purchase backup, and gas turbine capacity backup. The baseline rate set for this Memorandum of Understanding is 10¢ per kilowatt-hour. This would allow the electric prices to be comparable with the current rates, but would give the city better price control in the future. Currently at peak demand, the city uses 13.4 megawatts of power and the initial minimum goal is to assemble sufficient power demand for a base load wood fueled plant of at lease 20 megawatts. The Missouri Forest Industry confirms that enough wood is available for this project and will be mainly in the form of low quality wood stocks that are comprised of saw log residue, sawmill residue, treetops, etc. He explained this plant may create 22-30 new jobs, and each 30,000 green tons of wood could add 3-8 new jobs in the wood harvesting industry. The plant size will be appropriate for this area and would not hinder current timber industries and their markets. The plant would need 20-35 acres of land with significant water required for cooling. The Master’s Industrial Park has been proposed as a site and a water source would have to be developed. The city is continuing to explore other electric suppliers that will take the place of the contract with Sho-Me Power that will expire in 2013. Another electric source is necessary for yearly maintenance and in case the demand would exceed the capacity of the plant. A decision on the feasibility of this project will be made by the end of the summer of 2010.

An accident occurred at 12:30 Friday afternoon in Phelps County on Highway 8 about three-and-a-half miles southeast of I-44. According to the highway patrol report, a 1998 GMC Sonoma driven by 19-year old Jennifer Parks of Salem struck a turkey as it flew onto the roadway. Parks suffered minor injuries, but declined treatment at the scene. She was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The GMC Sonoma sustained minor damage, but no tow was needed.

An accident occurred at 7:01 Friday afternoon in Phelps County on Highway 72 about eight miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by 20 year-old Kristina Perkins of Salem began sliding, crossed the center line, went off the left side of the roadway, struck a ditch, overturned and came to rest on it’s wheels. An occupant in the vehicle, 18-year old Kirstie Neely of Lenox suffered minor injuries and was taken to Phelps County Regional Medical Center by Phelps County EMS. They were both wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet Cavalier sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will meet tonight at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers. After the approval of the consent agenda, the board will discuss bids that were taken for cutting the grass on properties in non-compliance with the city codes, the purchase of electric poles, the purchase of copper wire, and the purchase of wire to replace 3-phase lines. City Attorney Nanci Wisdom and Sean Curley will then report on the public hearing and meeting held by the Planning and Zoning Board held just prior to the Aldermen meeting for the annexation of 1603 and 1605 South Franklin and 600 Phillips Avenue owned by AD-PAR Construction, Inc. Mayor Gary Brown will then discuss meetings he has attended and give his comments on various items concerning the city. City Clerk Mary Happel will present Bill number 3197 for approval. Bill number 3197 is an ordinance to rezone 1000 West International Street from residential to commercial. The meeting of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen is open to the public.

The vocal department of the Salem Jr High and Salem Sr High Schools will present their annual spring concert tomorrow night at 7:00 at the high school gym. Performing will be the junior high choir, concert choir and chamber singers. The finale will be a mass choir presentation featuring members of the community.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Golf Team will participate in district play today at Washington. Good luck Tigers!

The Salem Baseball Tigers will host the Steelville Cardinals this afternoon at 4:30. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio and online at ksmoradio.com.

The Salem Track Team will participate in the SCA Track meet today stating at 3:00.

Chris Carpenter threw seven shutout innings and David Freese remained hot at the plate, as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds, 6-0, in the rubber match of a three-game set. Carpenter gave up only two hits and walked three, while striking out eight in moving to 4-0 this season. Freese, meanwhile, went 3-for-4 with his third home run of the season. Albert Pujols added a three-run double for the Cardinals, who have won seven of their eight series so far this season. The Cardinals travel to Philadelphia to start a three-game set against the Phillies tonight.

Evan Longoria hit a solo homer in the fourth inning, and Wade Davis threw seven innings of three-hit ball, as the Tampa Bay Rays edged the Kansas City Royals, 1-0, in the finale of a four-game series at Tropicana Field. David DeJesus, Jose Guillen and Jason Kendall had the only hits for the Royals, who have dropped four of six. Zach Greinke (0-3) was the hard-luck loser, as the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner tossed his 10th career complete game. He gave up four hits in all without walking a batter and lowered his earned run average to 2.27 this season. The Royals start a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox tonight.

Kansas City Royals have optioned third baseman Alex Gordon to Omaha (PCL) and recalled infielder Mike Aviles to Omaha.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Louis “Spud” Burnham of Boss, age 64, will be held today at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Green Forest Cemetery.

Funeral services for Vinita Ilene Wisdom of Salem, age 78, will be held Tuesday morning at 11:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel in Salem. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 this evening. Interment will be in the Boss Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Salem Long-Term Care Center.

Weather [TOP]

Today..Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of thunderstorms this afternoon, high of 78.
Tonight..Mostly clear, low of 49.
Tuesday..Mostly sunny, high around 80.
Tuesday night..Mostly clear, low of 58.
Wednesday..Mostly sunny, high of 83.