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Patching low water crossings and hauling gravel to washouts due to the rains of more than 1.5 inches Sunday into Monday morning led the road reports for both District 1 and District 2 at the Dent County Commissioners regular meeting Monday morning at the courthouse. District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that the road crews would also be checking for downed limbs and trees, that brush was going to be cut on Dent County Road 6620 and that a worker was going to Springfield to get oil for the patching of chip and seal roads. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that workers are replacing a bad cylinder in a brush cutter and they will try it out to make sure it is working properly. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated that he would be attending an Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board meeting in St. James to discuss the appliance recycling program and review the situation with the tire recycling contractor. Commissioner Purcell also wanted to thank the American Legion for the flag at the Road and Bridge Department. The commissioners then appointed Larry Sensintaffer and Judy Halbrook as the citizen members of the Board of Equalization and they agreed to serve in that capacity. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be 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 Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. John Watson was in attendance to discuss his displeasure with the Board of Aldermen stating that they were considering banning the generic term “bath salts” as that is a large portion of his business. City Attorney William Camm Seay said that any ordinance would include the specific chemical compounds that would make the “bath salts” illegal. The State of Missouri is identifying those compounds but as of yet has not created a statute banning the chemical compounds. Billy Joe Parker, Jr. was not in attendance in regards to the registration fee for pit bulls. It was discussed by the alderman that other cities actually require liability insurance and they would like to have that investigated. The board approved the bid for the striping of the two new police cars from Action Graphics for $297.58 per vehicle, and they approved the bid for roofing material for the maintenance shed from Salem Metal for $4,247.80. Alderman Powell reported on the Utility Committee meeting held last Thursday. The committee reviewed the bids and recommended reviewing the contract for the second bid from the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission to provide electricity to the city. The board and the city attorney will review the proposed contract before any action is taken. Director of Public Works Bill Huffman discussed with the board what the different city departments would be doing the next couple of weeks. He also stated that he would like to upgrade the security for the Administration Building and would also work to keep city properties mowed and cleaned up. Alderman Jerry Randell asked the city attorney to prepare ordinances that would allow an assistant city clerk to live outside the city limits, that would allow the city attorney to hire an assistant that would be paid from the city attorney’s salary, and also to correct the unconstitutional parts of the city’s liquor license ordinance and bring it in line with the state of Missouri statute allowing for liquor sales to be held 100 feet or beyond from a church or school. Randell said that just because liquor is there, it doesn’t mean you have to drink it. Alderman Kenneth Nash asked if a couple of handicapped parking spaces could be indicated in front of the city hall auditorium and correct the curb for handicapped access by the ramp. He asked about the city audit and the auditors are supposed to be at the next board meeting. Nash also asked about the contract with The Commons for the 4^th of July fireworks and the city is waiting on Larry Gray to make sure that the cannons are still a safe distance from the trees as that law has been changed. Mayor Gary Brown wants to remind everyone that sump pumps from your basement need to be pumped into your yard and not into drains. This also includes any storm drains as well. He discussed the student suggestions from MS&T, and he said that an additional 100 tons of trash was picked up by Waste Management during the Spring Clean-Up weeks. Brown reminded the public that this Saturday would be the Community Wide Yard Sale and maps will be available at convenience stores and in the Salem News. He also said that he would run for one more term as Mayor. The board approved Bill #3224 annexing into the City of Salem properties at 1397 West Scenic Rivers Blvd owned by Mississippi Valley Forest Products, Inc.; 1500 Beezley Street owned by Joshua Rowe, and 1402 West Franklin owned by Perry and Verna Inman. The board then decided to delay any decision on setting rent for the Salem Fitness at the Salem Freedom Activity Center until budget hearings. After the bills were approved to be paid by a 3-1 vote with Alderman Nash voting against as he did not have a chance to review them, the board went into closed session.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Baseball Tigers at Steelville Monday afternoon was cancelled due to wet conditions. No makeup date has been set.

The SCA Golf Tournament was rained out Monday and will be made up next Monday.

Greg Dobbs' eight-inning sacrifice fly proved to be the difference, as the Florida Marlins narrowly edged the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-5, in the back-and-forth opener of a four-game series from Busch Stadium. Lance Berkman went 2-for-3 with four RBI, including a three-run homer, for St. Louis. Berkman is batting .406 on the season.  Mitchell Boggs suffered the loss (0-2). Kyle Lohse went six innings and gave up five runs on six hits, walking three and striking out two. The Cards and Marlins will play again tonight at 6:40 on KSMO Radio.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman earned the National League's weekly award for games played through May 1.Berkman, who was also tabbed as the NL's best performer for the week ending April 17, batted .458 with two home runs in six games last week. The switch-hitter led the NL with 20 total bases, while his eight RBI and 11 hits were both tied for second.

The St. Louis Cardinals announced that they have placed third baseman David Freese on the 15-day disabled list for a left hand fracture. To fill his roster spot, the Cards activated infielder/ outfielder Allen Craig from the 15-day disabled list.

The Kansas City Royals were off Monday and will host Baltimore tonight.

Salem Tigers Boys Basketball Camp will run from Tuesday May 31st – Friday June 3rd.  Camp Times are 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m for boys entering 9 –12 grades and 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. for boys entering 5- 8 grades. Cost of the camp is $30.  Camp forms will be sent home with kids, but if you do not receive one, you can stop by the JH and pick one up from Coach Zenker. Camp Forms are due back Friday May 13th so that T-Shirts can be ordered.

There will be a Girls Softball Clinic for girls going into the 5th - 8th grades next school year at the City Park fields or the high school gym if it rains. The Girls Softball Clinic will be held 3 Saturdays in a row on May 14^th, May 21^st and May 28^th. The cost is $20 and the clinics will be held from 9:00 am until noon. The clinic will consist of 3 Saturdays of specialized drills and fundamental work that will increase your skill level.  At the clinic you will work on correct hitting mechanics to improve bat speed, and throwing and fielding mechanics that will help you to be a tough defender.  Game strategy and situations to help you understand how to play the game will also be covered.  Each participate will receive a t-shirt. Call Coach Davison at 729-4208 or 729-6641 for a clinic form.

The seventh and eighth grade Honors Choir members will join the Upper Elementary Honors Choir to sing the National Anthem on July 28^th at Busch Stadium. The band will be playing “God Bless America” prior to the choirs singing the National Anthem. Call the Upper Elementary School at 729-4812, during regular school hours for more information. 

Obituaries   [TOP]