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The first holiday weekend will soon arrive. Memorial Day weekend is an opportunity for Missourians to enjoy the many recreational possibilities in this great state. Be aware of construction along your route, pay attention while you are driving, and buckle up. The Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) during the long holiday weekend. This means every available officer will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists. In addition, the Patrol will assign troopers to 10-mile intervals along Interstates 29, 44, 55, and 70, and U.S. Highways 60 and 61 on May 22, 2009 and May 25, 2009. Troopers taking part in this enforcement project will be alert for all traffic offenses, and be especially vigilant to aggressive driving violations. Motorists in need of assistance or who want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol's Highway Emergency number 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. For road condition reports, travelers can call 1-800-222-6400 to hear about road construction areas throughout the state. Preliminary statistics indicate 11 people died and 477 were injured in 1,094 traffic crashes over the 2008 Memorial Day holiday weekend. That is one person killed or injured every 9.6 minutes. Inattention, speeding, and failing to yield the right-of-way were the leading contributing factors to traffic crashes over the 2008 Memorial Day weekend. Motorists are encouraged to be safe and courteous drivers. This year's fatality counting period for the holiday weekend begins at 6 p.m., Friday, May 22^nd, and ends at 11:59 p.m., Monday May 25^th. Troopers will focus their attention on seat belt use, use of child safety seats, intoxicated drivers, and speeding.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their monthly meeting  tonight in the hospital library beginning at 6:00 pm. After approval of the agenda and the minutes from the April 30^th meeting, Administrator Dennis Pryor will then address the auxiliary report, update the hospital activity calendar and then give a legislative update. Director of Nursing Carol Lacy will then update the Board on the summary of operations and statistics reports for the month of April along with the nursing service and ancillary service reports, and those will be followed by the Chief of Staff report. In old business, there will be a physician office building report, a strategic planning update and a budget presentation for the year 2010 by the Finance Committee. The Board will then address hospital purchases and storm damage in new business. The Board will then vote to go into Closed Session. The regular monthly meeting of the Salem District Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will conduct their monthly meeting tonight at the district administrative offices boardroom beginning at 6:00 pm. After approval of the agenda and communications, Superintendent Steve Bryant will address Serendipity, update the Board on legislative issues, address summer school and then give the career and technical education student recognitions. In new business the Board will consider a resolution for a bond election, followed by program evaluations on curriculum and A+, approve the CIA-communication arts curriculum, and update the 2008/2009 budget. The Board will also address an update on student drug testing, an Internet banking resolution, Board of Education policy revisions, consider propane bids for 2009/2010, discuss the Senior High Graduation, and the June meeting. In old business the Board will approve job descriptions and then adjourn and go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing student discipline and personnel. The regular monthly meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open to the public.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Baseball Tigers will face the Sullivan Eagles for the District 6 Championship game in Class 3 today at 4:30 at Sullivan. Salem enters the game with an 18-2 record. Grant Gordon will be on the hill for Salem facing Zach Messey for Sullivan. If you can’t make it to the game, you can hear it on KSMO Radio and online at ksmoradio.com.

Chris Carpenter returned from the disabled list and pitched five scoreless innings as the Cardinals escaped Ryan Franklin's rough ninth frame to upend Chicago, 2-1, in the middle meeting of a three-game set. Carpenter (2-0), sidelined since April 14 due to a strained ribcage, scattered three hits and two walks while fanning four for St. Louis, which received a shutout from Joel Pineiro in 3-0 victory on Tuesday. Carpenter has not allowed an earned run in 15 innings this season. In 14 career starts against the Cubs coming in, Carpenter was 7-3 with a 3.08 ERA. Albert Pujols went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, while Chris Duncan had two hits, scored and drove in a run for the victors. The Cards and Cubs play again tonight at 6:55 and you can hear the game on KSMO Radio.

To make room for Chris Carpenter on the roster, the Cardinals optioned outfielder Shane Robinson to Memphis (PCL).

Mark DeRosa went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a key RBI in the eighth inning, and the Cleveland Indians barely hung on to beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-5, in the second of three games at Kauffman Stadium. Jose Guillen went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Royals, who had won three of their last four. Gil Meche was solid in the start, giving up only two runs on six hits in six innings. Sidney Ponson (1-5) took the loss after yielding two runs in 1 1/3 innings of work. The Royals and Indians will wrap up their series tonight in Kansas City.

The Karr Lady Tiger Basketball Camp will be held at the Salem High School Gymnasium June 1^st through June 5^th for all girls entering grades 9-12 for the 2009-2010 school year. The camp will run from 10:00 in the morning until noon. The Karr Lady Tiger Basketball Camp for girls entering grades 5 through 8 will be held at the high school gym June 29^th through July 3^rd. Both Camps are open to girls from Oak Hill R-1, Green Forest R-2, Dent-Phelps R-3, Northwood R-4 and the Salem R-80 districts. The cost of the camp is $30 and a registration form must be completed along with your payment by Friday. For more information or to get a form, call Coach Karr at 729-5624.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Daniel R. “Butch” Holman of St. James, age 70, will be held this morning at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Interment will be in the Hughes Cemetery in rural Phelps County.

Graveside services for William “Bill” Turnbough, Jr. of Bridgeton, formerly of Steelville, age 54, will be held Friday morning at 11:00 at the Cherryville First Baptist Cemetery. Visitation will be held today from 5:00 to 8:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville.

Funeral services for Juanita Farmer Hoevelmann of Rolla, age 90, will be held Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Private graveside services will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Funeral services for Virginia Louise Conway of Reston, Virginia, formerly of Rolla, age 74, will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the First Baptist Church in Salem. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Interment will be in the Boss Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to your local hospice program.

Weather [TOP]