News
The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Monday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board approved the bid from L & B Electronics for two emergency weather sirens for a total cost of $23,600. All the sirens must be converted to narrow band and these two sirens will replace two current sirens that cannot be upgraded. The reprogramming of the sirens must be done before December 31st and City Administrator Clayton Lucas already bid the reprogramming and L & B also won that bid for $6,300. The board also approved the bid from Mike Godi of Godi Excavating to demolish the building and remove the debris at 808 East Jack Street. Godi is to complete the work within 30 days. The City of Salem Planning and Zoning Board recommended to the aldermen to rezone the property owned by Joe Dent at 307 North McArthur from Residential R-3 to Commercial, and also recommended that a conditional use permit be issued for a used car lot at that location. The board approved the recommendation. Planning and Zoning also recommended to vacate a portion of the alley between North Washington and North Main Street behind the Lifeway Center, but the city is to retain all easement rights and the board approved the recommendation. An ordinance will need to be drawn up to vacate the alley. The board set a budget workshop for May 24th at 2:00, and they will hold a special closed session meeting Monday, May 14th to discuss personnel. City Administrator Clayton Lucas reported that the batting cages at the Salem City Park are finished except for the walkway, and the Al Brown Field soccer conversion is moving along as the old press box still needs to be removed. Lucas said that some people have been dumping illegal materials out at the Masters Industrial Park. The city was able to identify these people and there are taking the appropriate legal action. Economic Development Director Sharon Tubbs addressed the board for the last time before her retirement and thanked the board for 11 and ½ years. Mayor Gary Brown said that the emergency training held on April 28th went well and the city graded out at 80% in their first ever exercise. He reported that MoDOT did some recalculating on removing the crown on McArthur and having the city take it over after it was corrected. The new cost including engineering would be about $789,054 and the city would be responsible for about $392,000. Even though the city planned on using about $146,000 of STIP money, they would have to budget the rest for the next fiscal year. The board approved Bill #3253 which is an ordinance that redefined the City Treasurer position and created a salary of $2,000 per year. The board approved to provide ”in kind” labor for the mowing and weeding of a proposed walking trail to help with the preparation of a grant by the Council for a Healthy Dent County. Mayor Brown appointed Mike Condray to fill the unexpired term of John Whelan on the Planning and Zoning Board and the board approved the appointment. The board also approved closing McArthur this Halloween for the safety of those trick or treating during the designated hours as stipulated by the board of aldermen. The board then went into closed session.
Postal carriers across the country in partnership with the US Postal Service will be collecting food items for local food pantries this Saturday during their normal rounds. This is the 19th year that Salem postal carriers have participated in the “Stamp Out Hunger” and the 20th year overall for the program which has collected over one billion tons of non-perishable food items nationwide. The postal carriers ask that you donate items like canned meats, fish, soup, juice, vegetables, pasta, cereal and rice and place them in a grocery bag or box if possible. Please do not include items that are expired or that are in glass containers. Your participation is greatly appreciated!
An accident occurred at 3:45 Tuesday afternoon in Phelps County on County Road 8070 about two miles north of Rolla that took the life of a Newburg teenager. According to the highway patrol report, a 1994 Lincoln Town Car driven by 18-year old Devin Jones of Newburg traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck several trees, and came to rest off the roadway. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene by Phelps County Deputy Coroner Lennox Jones at 4:10. His body was then taken to the Null and Son Funeral Home. An occupant in the vehicle, 17-year old Dylan Harmount of Rolla, suffered serious injuries and was flown by Lifeline to the University Hospital in Columbia. Jones was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident and it is unknown if Harmount was wearing his. The Lincoln was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman Towing.
Lisa Blackwell has been selected as the new Dent County Advocate/Court Outreach and she will be taking over for Natalie Turnbough on May 10th. She is dedicated to helping victim's of domestic and sexual abuse to establish a life free of violence and provide the confidential services that will empower them to move forward. You may contact her at the office at 729-4774 or call her cell phone at 573-578-3586.
Sports [TOP]
The 2012 Salem High School Spring Athletic Banquet will be held tonight at 6:30 at the high school cafeteria. Varsity and junior varsity members of baseball, track, tennis, golf, and their parents are invited to attend a night of recognition.
Carlos Beltran provided all the offense the Cardinals needed Tuesday, crushing a two-run homer and a grand slam in the first two innings of a 6-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle tilt of a three-game set at Chase Field. Matt Holliday and Skip Schumaker had two hits apiece for the Cardinals, who have won three straight. Jake Westbrook (4-2) gave up just four hits and two walks while whiffing eight in seven scoreless frames. The Cards go for the sweep tonight and you can hear it on KSMO Radio at 8:05.
Billy Butler hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning Tuesday night to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. Royals’ starter Danny Duffy, who beat the Yankees his last time out, gave up four runs, three earned, in 4 1/3 innings. The Royals and Red Sox play again tonight.
Obituaries [TOP]
Funeral services for Charles E. “Chuck” Smith of Salem, age 73, will be held today at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Memorials may be made to the Phil’s Friends or the Cancer Society.
Funeral services for Lowell M. Wisdom of Bunker, age 89, will be held Thursday at 11:00 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Bunker. Visitation will be tonight from 5:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Crossville Cemetery in Bunker. Memorials may be made to the Wisdom family for funeral expenses.
Funeral services for Marley Ralph Williams of Salem, age 85, will be Friday at 11:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery with full military honors. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church.
Funeral services for Bill E. Marrill of Salem, age 76, will be Friday at 2:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the New Hope Cemetery.
