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Happy Memorial Day weekend! Your World Today will not be published on Monday. The next edition will be on Tuesday, May 27^th.

The Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning. At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Bobby Simpson reported that grading would be done and material would be hauled to Dent County Roads 5080, 5085, 6010 and 6580 and the rest of the crew would be cleaning out culverts throughout the district.  District 2 Commissioner J.J. Tune reported that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2500, 2560, 3200, 4330 and 5333 and also in the Ray Oaks Subdivision. The rest of the District 2 crew would be patching chip and seal on the Round Pond Road. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that the Commission received a letter from Ramaker and Associates asking for comments about the company putting up three more cell phone towers in the county. Two of the towers would be east of Salem, one at the junction of Highway 32/72 and the other in the Boss area and the final one would be constructed in the Hobson Heights area north of Salem on Highway 72. Skiles also said that he spoke with Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Jessica Sparks about the real estate contract for the building that the county is purchasing from Mark Weaver and Kelly Parker. Sparks said that she would like a copy of the Commission’s closed session minutes about the purchase of the property before she precedes any further. Skiles said that he spoke with Weaver and he said that Parker would be back in Salem in about a week and would like to close on the property then.  The Commission voted to set the closing date for Thursday, June 5^th. Tad Bero stopped by the meeting to get a copy of the counties road requirements, because he is putting in a subdivision west of Salem and would like the county to maintain the road once the subdivision is established. The Commission will not be meeting on Monday in observance of Memorial Day, but will meet again on Thursday at 9:00 and that meeting will be open to the public.

As summer nears, many people tend to relax to enjoy the weather causing inattention to rules and regulations that need to be followed for the safety and well being of all the citizens. With this mind, Salem Police Chief Clifford Jadwin reports that there has been in increase in minor accidents lately due to excess speed and the running of stop signs. Starting around the Memorial Day Holiday, the Salem Police Department will begin enforcing speed limits on all the city streets, they will monitor stop signs for stop sign violations, and they will also be ticketing those vehicles that are causing excessive noise. Jadwin also reports that a number of people are violating state law by not maintaining insurance on their vehicle, and many are also driving without a license. He said that checkpoints are going to be set up periodically in the city to check drivers for a valid operators license and also for proof of insurance. The chief also wants to remind all skateboarders that skateboarding in the city is only allowed at the skateboard park inside the City Park. Individuals that do their skateboarding on city streets or on private property without permission will be ticketed by officers. Further, Jadwin wants to remind everyone that all parks within the city limits are alcohol free and that includes all roads and parking areas adjacent to the park. He said that officers will begin walking through the parks looking for violators and they will be issued a ticket for violating the city ordinance. If you have any questions about ordinances on operating a vehicle, skateboarding or having alcohol in the city parks, contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242. For more information about the laws on having an operator’s license or insurance for your vehicle, contact the license bureau at 729-8305.

The Salem Board of Alderman held a special meeting Thursday morning at the council chambers of city hall. The board heard City Attorney Mark Weaver read Bill #3129 concerning holding an election on whether the city of Salem should impose a sales tax of one half cent for the purpose of providing funding for storm water control and local parks for the city of Salem. Questions were asked as to how much the tax would provide and it should be between $375,000 to $505,000 a year. The aldermen also asked if the tax were passed would the cardio vascular wellness program be absorbed by the city parks department so that it can maintain it’s same level of service and the thought is that it would be. It was also asked if the tax were passed could the money be used for only the parks department or only for storm water control, and the use of the special fund created by the tax would be determined by the board of aldermen during their budget process, but it is possible that all the money could be used for just one purpose, but that would be determined each year. The board then approved the bill providing for an ordinance to be drawn up so that it can be filed with the county clerk by May 27^th. The issue will then be on the August Primary and will only be voted on by the citizens of the city of Salem. The meeting was then adjourned.

The upcoming Memorial Day weekend will see a large number of people on Missouri highways. 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. Last year, 15 people died and 474 were injured in 1,094 traffic crashes over the 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 2007 Memorial Day weekend.

Sports [TOP]

The St. Louis Cardinals had the day off Thursday and will be in Los Angeles this weekend starting tonight at 9:15 on KSMO Radio.

J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell each hit a grand slam as the Boston Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with an 11-8 win at Fenway Park. Miguel Olivo went 3-for-5 with a homer, a pair of doubles and five runs batted in for the Royals, losers in four straight and five of their last six. Jose Guillen went 4-for-5 with a double, a homer and three RBI. Brian Bannister (4-6) was rocked for seven runs on 12 hits in 5 1/3 frames, while Jimmy Gobble was tagged for four runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning of relief. The Royals will at Toronto this weekend.

Major League Baseball Scores:

Pittsburgh 8, Milwaukee 4
Florida 4, Arizona 0
Philadelphia 7, Houston 5
San Diego 8, Cincinnati 2
Atlanta 4, NY Mets 2
Detroit 9, Seattle 2
Texas 8, Minnesota 7 (10 inngs)
Toronto 4, LA Angels 3
Chicago White Sox 3, Cleveland 1

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Cody J. McMurry of Salem, age 15, will be held Saturday at 1:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be tonight from 5:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family.

Funeral services for Mr. Clair Short of Willow Springs formerly of Boss, age 88, will be held Sunday at 1:00 at the James & Gahr Chapel in Salem. Visitation will be Sunday from 10:00 until time for service. Interment will be in the Boss Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Hospice.    

Funeral services for James Vandivort of Sun City, Arizona, formerly of Salem, age 85, will be held Saturday, June 14th at 10:30 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the charity of your choice. 

Funeral services for Velma Bailey of Rolla, formerly of Steelville, will be held Tuesday morning at 11:00 at the Britton-Bennett Chapel in Steelville. Interment will be in the Upper Indian Creek Cemetery in Viburnum.

Funerals services for Neva M. Conaway of St. Louis, age 83, will be held at 1:00 Tuesday at the James and Gahr Chapel in Salem. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Stone Hill Cemetery in Salem

Funeral services for Richard Bequette, Sr. of St. James, age 71, will be held Tuesday at 2;00 at the James and Gahr Chapel in St. James. Visitation will be from 12:30 until service time. Interment will be at a later date.

Funeral services for Opal Martha Edgar of Steelville, age 88, will be held Tuesday at 3:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Interment will be in the First Baptist Church Cemetery in Cherryville.

Funeral services for J.C. “Red” Welch of Salem, age 74, will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 at the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Visitation will be held Tuesday night from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be Round Pond Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Round Pond Cemetery.

Funeral services for Mary “Pat” Smallwood of Jefferson City, formerly of St. James, age 70, will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 at the Catholic Church in St. James. Visitation will be held from Tuesday night 6:00 8:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Interment will be in the Catholic Cemetery in St. James. Memorials may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Funeral services for Arbrey Allen (Jack) Redman of Licking, age 69, will be held Thursday at noon at the St. John’s Hospital Chapel in Creve Couer. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Visitation will also be held from 6:00 to 8:00 Thursday evening at the Wilson Mortuary Chapel in Salem. Graveside services will be held Friday at 1:00 at the Green Forest Cemetery in Salem.

Funeral services for Ida Derrick of Salem, age 93, are incomplete but are under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary of Salem.

Weather [TOP]