News
The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their regular meeting at the administrative offices Thursday evening. The board discussed the conversion of the entire school to natural gas. William Lynch Elementary and the Upper Elementary are already all natural gas schools and the board approved those schools joining the Missouri Purchasing Resource center Energy Consortium through the MSBA that would save the district 27% off retail purchases of natural gas. Using last year’s numbers that would have been a savings of $6,490.11. Assistant Superintendent John McCulloch and Ameren UE representative Dennis Bennett discussed the conversion of the Senior High and Junior High to natural gas. There have been problems with the propane lines over the last few years. The maintenance shed and bus barn are both on fuel oil. The school would have to replace the furnaces in the bus barn and maintenance shed and covert the furnaces in the junior and senior high school. The new 80% efficient furnaces would cost about $4,000 not including new gas line piping, while the conversion of existing furnaces would be about $19,000, and there would be a cost to Ameren of $5,441 to run the gas lines to the meter, some that may have elevated pressure. That number could be lower if the elevated pressure is not needed. Board member Steve Morton felt that the efficiency rate should be at 90% on the furnaces and that would add to the cost. Overall the conversion would cost about $30,000 and the annual cost savings could be about $8,500. The board voted to approve the changeover to natural gas. High School Principal John Smith said that there would be 126 students getting their diploma as 128 students graduated. Stan Podorski from KSMO Radio told the board that graduation would be televised live and also be streamed live on fidelitylocal6.com. He stated that DVD’s would be available for purchase the week after graduation at the KSMO studios and online at fidelitylocal6.com. The board approved renewing the student insurance through Lawrence C. Smith for basic packages from $12 to $40, and they approved changing the June Board of Education meeting to June 28th. The board then rescinded the Salem R-80 Community Foundation of the Ozarks by-laws as they were already part of the Dent County Community Foundation of the Ozarks under the Salem Public Schools Foundation arm. In that rescission, they also approved not to include any educator or board member on the seven-member board that will control the funds of the Salem Public Schools Foundation. The board approved some budget adjustments including increasing the supplemental pay for certified staff that had been reduced in the budget, increase the textbook budget back to $15,000, increase the capital improvements budget, temporarily budget federal programs and reduce the Prop C money on the revenue side by $20,000. Superintendent Cindy Rumpf stated that everyone that bid on the surplus property would receive the number of lockers they requested. The board saluted Rumpf for her years of service in Salem and provided her with a hanging plant and a gift. The board then accepted a number of resignations. The list included Phillip Karr as Head Girls Basketball Coach; Paraprofessional Jamin Bray at the Upper Elementary; Bobbie Gotchal in food service; Junior High Communication Arts Instructor Andrew Pokorny; High School Instrumental Music Teacher Hillary Winter; Junior High Special Education Instructor Devin Campbell; Art Instructor Courtney Miller; Special Education Instructor Sally Haines from William Lynch and Ruth Warren in food service. In closed session, the board hired Kristina Jackson as a 3rd Grade Instructor, Matt Parker as a 8th Grade Math Instructor, Jacob Reardon as a 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Angie Barnes as a Biology Teacher, Phil McClintock as a Social Studies Teacher and Bonnie Brooks as the Attendance Secretary. The board also approved extra duty for Tina McKee, Lisa Jadwin and Debbi Ritchey in Yearbook, Jacob Reardon as the new head Girls Softball and Girls Basketball Coach, and Phil McClintock as the new head Boys Basketball Coach as well as the 7th and 8th grade Boys Basketball Coach. The board went on to approve the transfer of Drew Long to Special Education at the Junior High and Mitch Lundy to Assistant Boys Basketball Coach. The meeting was then adjourned.
Douglas Flint Dillard, born in Salem in 1937, passed away on Wednesday, May 16th at his home in Nashville from a lung infection. Douglas Dillard along with brother Rodney as well as Mitch Jayne and Dean Webb formed a group known as the Dillards and left Salem for California. It was in California in 1963 that Andy Griffith say them play and created the Darlin’ Family for his TV show, a backwards family from the hills who didn’t say anything but could play like no one’s business. Griffith allowed the Dillards to play their original songs on the nation’s most popular show. Douglas left the band in the lat 60’s to pursue solo interests and other projects including being one of the most requested studio musicians.
Sports [TOP]
Scott Van Slyke hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the 7th inning as the Dodgers defeated the Cardinals, 6-5, to complete a three-game sweep. Skip Schumaker had a two-run triple and Rafael Furcal added a pair of RBI for the Cardinals, losers of four straight overall. Kyle Lohse was charged with three runs over 5 2/3 innings and Marc Rzepczynski (0-2) gave up Van Slyke's homer to absorb the loss. Before the game, St. Louis placed Lance Berkman back on the disabled list with a knee injury and brought up first baseman Matt Adams from Triple-A Memphis. In 37 games for Memphis this season, the 23-year-old prospect was batting .340 with a team-high nine homers and 27 runs batted in. The Cardinals will host the San Diego Padres tonight and you can hear it on KSMO at 6:40.
Wade Miley tossed seven scoreless innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks blanked the Kansas City Royals, 2-0, in the finale of a three-game interleague series. Nathan Adcock (0-2) was the tough-luck loser, allowing just one run on five hits and a walk while striking out three. Jeff Francoeur went 4-for-4 at the plate, including a two-out triple, but the Royals lost for the fourth time in their last five tries. The Royals start a series with the Yankees tonight in New York.
Obituaries [TOP]
Funeral services for Paul Harvey Munsell of Salem, age 84, will be tonight at 7:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 5:00 until service time. Graveside services will be Tuesday at 1:00 at the Prospect Cemetery in St. Clair with full military honors. Memorials may be given to the VFW of Salem.
Funeral services for Ryan Jacob Pickle of Salem, age 19, will be Tuesday at 1:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Memorials may be made to the funeral home for expenses.
Funeral services for Robert “Bob” Steelman of Salem, age 73, will be held Tuesday at 2:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be from 1:00 until service time.
Graveside services for Cecil L. Short of O’Fallon, formerly of Boss, age 86, will be held Thursday at 11:00 at the Boss Cemetery in Boss. Visitation will be Wednesday at the Baue Funeral Home in St. Charles from 4:00 to 8:00. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Graveside services for June Fisher of Salem, age 88, will be held Thursday at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with Full Military Honors. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Salem Lutheran Church. All arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary in Salem.
Memorial services for Virginia L. Shelton of Salem, age 93, will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the Salem United Methodist Church with a gathering for family and friends from 10:00 to 11:00 and an Eastern Star Service. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be to the Salem United Methodist Church. All arrangements are under the direction of Wilson Mortuary in Salem.
Weather [TOP]
