Your World Today - June 5, 2009

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The Graduation Photos are in!! They can be picked up at the Salem High School Office between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm today. After that, the photos can be picked up at the Superintendent’s Office between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that the southern portion of District 1 received a substantial amount of rain on Wednesday causing many washouts. He said crews would be repairing washouts and hauling rock to Dent County Roads 4080, 5110, 5600 and 5610; and two low water crossings were washed out in the Bunker area so a crew would be working on those roads. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that crews would be repairing washouts on Dent County Roads 3140, 3180, 4050 and 4060; and hauling creek gravel to Dent County Road 4290. Larson also wanted to remind everyone to drive with caution, because the edges of roadways are still washed out and crews are working as fast as they can to get them repaired, but with the constant rain, crews are falling behind. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that Service Pro has finished the clean up effort in the Judicial Building. He said the main focus now is to get the insulation and ceiling tiles replaced. Rob Soucy from the Agape Home came by the meeting to let the Commission know about stimulus money that is available to counties through the Missouri Housing Commission. He said he spoke with the Missouri Housing Commission about the money, which is called the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Housing Act, and was told the county would be receiving a letter with more information about the act. The county would then have to write an application letter requesting the money. Commissioner Skiles said he would let him know as soon as the county received the letter and the Commission would look over it together to make sure there were no future encumbrances to the county. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public. 

A Special Meeting of the City of Salem Board of Alderman, called by Mayor Gary Brown, will be held this morning at 10:30 am at the City Hall Council Chambers located at 202 North Washington regarding the purchase of a dump truck. The Special Meeting of the City of Salem Board of Alderman is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department released their report for the month of May. During the month, they wrote 17 traffic tickets, two warning tickets and one equipment repair order. They served 32 summons to appear in court and six fugitive warrants. The Salem Police Department investigated 13 accidents, two assaults, four forgeries, one missing person, two domestic assaults, and two reports of driving while intoxicated. The Police Department also investigated 15 reports of stealing, five reports of property damage, two burglaries, five reports of disorderly conduct, one report of arson, and two reports of leaving the scene of an accident. They also investigated one report of possession of synthetic drugs. The Salem Police Department received 1,849 calls for service during the month, handled 121 walk-ins to the station and redirected 89 calls to the animal control officer. They also spent four hours in court testifying, four hours as court bailiff and spent 12 hours teaching D.A.R.E. The calls in May included 20 calls for escorts, eight 9-1-1 calls, five intoxicated driver investigations, two calls for a suspicious person or vehicle, four calls for peace disturbances, 19 ambulance assist calls, 11 calls for alarms sounding, 10 calls for fights in progress, nine domestic dispute calls, two calls for prowlers, three calls for an intoxicated pedestrian, four fire calls and one wrecker was needed. The Salem Police Department drove a total of 10,606 miles during the month of May. The Salem Police Department arrested 15 males and five females during the month of May.

Here they come again. High gas prices are rearing their ugly nozzles. Don’t despair. Help is just a computer click away. To help ease the drain at the pump, the Missouri Department of Transportation has launched a Web service called Carpool Connections that can help match you with fellow carpoolers anywhere in the state. The site, located at www.modot.org, provides all the information you need to park your car and join fellow travelers on your road to save dollars and keep the planet green. The service is easy to access. Just click on Find A Ride and register with the iCarpool database service. After answering a few questions, you’ll have the opportunity to contact existing carpools in your area or even start one from scratch. There are also links to carpooling groups in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield. In addition, the Web site provides a list of state-operated commuter lots, complete with descriptions and detailed maps to find them. To take a step toward reducing your carbon footprint and keep more dollars in your wallet, sign up for MoDOT’s Carpool Connections today.

Sports [TOP]

Chris Carpenter tossed a complete game gem to help the Cardinals edge the Reds, 3-1, and earn a split in the four-game set from Busch Stadium. It was Carpenter's first complete game since September 21, 2006. Carpenter (4-0) baffled Cincinnati hitters, as he yielded just a run on three hits while fanning three batters. Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with a homer and drove in all three runs for the Cardinals, who are 2-3 over their last five tilts. The Cards start a four game series with Colorado tonight at 6:55 and you can hear the games on KSMO Radio.

Prior to the game, the Cardinals purchased the contract of pitcher Jess Todd from Triple-A Memphis and designated pitcher Blaine Boyer for assignment.

B.J. Upton's two-run homer in the eighth inning helped the Rays complete an improbable comeback to sweep a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, at Tropicana Field. Billy Butler went 3-for-4, drove in both runs and had half of the six hits for the Royals, who dropped their seventh in a row. Starter Gil Meche received a no-decision despite a decent showing of six-plus innings giving up a run on six hits.  The Royals will travel across the border to Toronto to face the Blue Jays.

Randy Johnson reached the benchmark for elite starting pitchers on Thursday, becoming the 24th pitcher in major league history to amass 300 career wins.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Larry Williamson of St. James, age 69, will be held Saturday at 11:30 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Asher Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Pancreatic Cancer Research or the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home.

Funeral services for Frank House of St. James, age 89, will be held Saturday at 2:00 at James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the St. James Cemetery.

Graveside Services for J. Richene Emory Laubach of Willow Springs, age 74, will be held Saturday, June 13th at 4:00 at the North Lawn Cemetery in Salem. All the arrangements are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel.

A Memorial Service for William J. Higginbotham of Rolla, age 72, will be held Saturday, June 20th at 7:00 at the Central Community Church in Rolla. Memorials are suggested to the Central Community Church of God or the American Cancer Society. All arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla.

Funeral services for Lillie May Parks Reed formerly of Salem, age 82, will be heldMonday at 1:00 at Dent County Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

 Funeral services for Pat Walker of Licking, age 59, will beheld Monday at 2:00 at Fox Funeral Home in Licking.  Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00. Interment will be in the Patterson Cemetery.

Funeral services for John Parker of St. James, age 81, are incomplete and are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla.

A memorial service for Daniel L. Ivicsics of Salem, age 65, will be held at a later date and arrangements are under the direction of James and Gahr Mortuary.

Weather [TOP]

Today..Mostly sunny, high of 78.
Tonight..Partly cloudy, low of 53.
Saturday and Saturday night..Partly cloudy, high of 83, low of 63.
Sunday and Sunday night..Partly cloudy, high of 86, low of 67.
Monday & Monday night..Mostly cloudy with a 40% chance for rain, high of 85, low of 66.