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The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Monday at the Salem TCRC. At the meeting, the board heard from Tray Crawford with Waste Corporation of America about extending the city’s contract with WCA for another three years in lieu of putting the services out for bid. The contract would call for no rate increase for 2008-2009 with a three percent increase for the next two years. Attorney Mark Weaver believed that the city could extend the contract, but he wanted to check to make sure that it could be rolled over. The city’s contract does not run out until September 1^st, so the city has until then to make a decision, but Weaver suggested that the item be put on the next agenda in unfinished business. The board then approved bid materials for the water department for work that needs to be done this year at a cost of $26,515.62, and they approved bid materials for the sewer department for work that needs to be done at $11,771.14. Alderman Bill Riley asked to review the ordinance about not hiring relatives and he will work with City Attorney Mark Weaver in creating a proposed ordinance that lightens up the current ordinance. Alderman Jim McDaniels asked about the culverts and they have been installed and covered at the city park with gravel work that still needs to be done. He also stated that the city needs to use their trailers to haul the tractors and lawnmowers from job to job, and Mayor Gary Brown said that he has talked with the Parks and Recreation Department. McDaniels said that the city-wide yard sale was a success as they were 42 signups in the newspaper and the city administrative parking lot had 25 spaces rented. He said that about three out of ten groups were from out of town and that is what the yard sale is all about. City of Salem Economic Development Director Sharon Tubbs told the alderman that a meeting was going to be held on Monday at noon at My Place Restaurant to preview the new website of the city, county and chamber. She said that the hospitality workshop was going to be repeated and about 35 more people are enrolled. Mayor Brown said that this Thursday at 1:00, the city would be holding a budget meeting at the city hall council chambers as well as on May 15^th and the 29^th. The mayor said that Gary Cook was honored for 30 years of service with the city, and the city honored Jim Hoernert who recently retired. Brown said that the pool would start being filled today, that the electric poles on Route J have been replaced, and that he asked for bids to replace three other electric poles in the city that are in bad shape. Brown asked the alderman to consider if they want to try to pass a sales tax to support the Parks and Recreation Department as time is running out if they want to get it on the August ballot.  Brown went over a letter from Show-Me Power that would allow the city to defer 1/3rd of the rate increase from their monthly payment beginning this month, but they would have to pay the entire deferred   amount in April of 2009 plus any other rate increase the city would incur as well as their normal payment, or they could pay the entire rate increase as billed. City Clerk Mary Happel asked for guidance as to how to make the April payment this month, but the board offered no suggestions and she will have to wait and see what the Show-Me bill states. After the bills were approved with a discussion about a bill to remove paint from a city vehicle for $500, the board went into closed session.

The Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Monday morning. At the meeting District 1 Commissioner Bobby Simpson reported that grading would be done on Dent County Road 5015, 5590, 6303 and 6305. Grading would also be done and material would be hauled to Dent County Road 6490 and brush would be cut on Dent County Road 5600. District 2 Commissioner J.J. Tune reported that grading would be done in the Boss area on Dent County Roads 4420 and 4430, and in the Anutt area on Dent County Roads 2200, 2210 and 2370. Tune also said that grading would be done on Dent County Road 4060. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he attended the South Central County Commissioners Association meeting on Friday in Houston and at the meeting it was reported that the prisoner per diem would likely be raised by 75 cents. Skiles also attended the Emergency Management Table Top Training that was held yesterday morning at the Dent County Firehouse. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that she would be attending a city and county website committee meeting on Wednesday at 1:00 at TCRC. The next meeting of the Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

Sports [TOP]

Will Morrison doubled in two runs in the first inning and drove in a third run later with a ground out, and Chris Bowe struck out all six men he faced as the Rolla Bulldogs shutout Salem yesterday, 14-0. Salem could muster only four hits and made four errors in the field. Salem falls to 9-6 on the year and they will face Iberia Thursday at 5:00 in the final regular season game.

Albert Pujols' double and heads-up base running in the ninth inning proved to be the difference in the Cardinals' 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. With one out in the ninth, Pujols doubled down the right field line off reliever Brian Fuentes. Rick Ankiel followed with a groundout to second base, but the heady Pujols, who was running before the pitch, made the turn around third, and avoided Yorvit Torrealba's tag at the plate for the deciding run. Jason Isringhausen closed it out in the bottom half for his 11th save, and Randy Flores (1-0) was credited with the win despite giving up the tying run in the eighth. Yadier Molina recorded three hits and a run scored. Cardinal’s starter Joel Pineiro was hit hard for eight hits and four runs, but did manage a two-run double. The Cardinals and Rockies play tonight at 7:15 on KSMO Radio.

Ervin Santana threw a four-hit shutout, while Garret Anderson and Brandon Wood hit back-to-back home runs as part of a four-run ninth inning to lead the Angels to a 4-0 win over the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game series. Ramon Ramirez (0-1) took the loss after allowing a run over 1 1/3 innings in relief of Brett Tomko, who struck out seven and allowed just two hits in seven innings. Jimmy Gobble allowed a run without recording an out, while Joel Peralta yielded the homers to Anderson and Wood in two-thirds of an inning. Mark Grudzielanek had two hits for Kansas City, which had a two-game win streak snapped. The Royals and Angels play again tonight.

Major League Baseball Scores:

Philadelphia 11, Arizona 4
Cincinnati 5, Chicago Cubs 3
LA Dodgers 5, NY Mets 1
Boston 6, Detroit 3
Toronto 1, Chicago White Sox 0
Oakland 2, Baltimore 1 (10 inngs)
Seattle 7, Texas 3

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Keith Beamon of St. James, age 50, will be held Thursday morning at 11:00 at James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the St. James Cemetery. 

Funeral services for Charles “Art” Lewis of Licking, age 78, will be Thursday at 11:00 at the Fox Funeral Home in Licking. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Craddock Cemetery.

Graveside services for Patricia M. Flett, of Salem, formerly of Australia, age 84, will be held Thursday at 1:00 at the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Memorials may be made to the SMDH Auxiliary “Wildlife Project”. 

Funeral services for John W. Koenig, age 87, of Chesterfield, formerly of Rolla will be held at a later date. All arrangements will be under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla.

Weather [TOP]