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An accident occurred at 10:35 Friday night in Dent County on Highway 72, 12 miles North of Salem.  According to the Highway Patrol Report a 2001 Dodge Ram driven by 51 year-old Joseph L. Perry of Salem failed to stop at a stop sign and struck an embankment.  Perry sustained moderate injuries and was transported by Air Evac to St. John’s Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.  According to the report Perry was not wearing a safety restraint.  The Dodge sustained moderate damage and was removed by Whitaker’s Towing.

An accident happened Saturday afternoon at 3:09 in Texas County on Highway 137 about three miles south of Licking that took the life of a woman from Licking. According to the highway patrol report, 50-year old Mark Griffith of Beulah, was driving a 1978 Harley Davidson northbound when he overtook several vehicles before striking a 2004 Jeep driven By Larry Booker from behind. The collision ejected Griffith and his passenger 44-year old Nancy James of Licking from the Harley Davidson. A 2011 Yamaha Motorcycle driven by 29-year old Kevin Warren of Licking then struck Griffith in the road. He suffered serious injuries and was taken by Air Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Nancy James was pronounced dead at the scene by the Texas County Coroner Tom Whittaker and her body was taken to the Fox Funeral Home in Licking. There was no damage to the Jeep or the Yamaha Motorcycle and they were driven from the scene. The Harley was totaled and removed from the scene by Jay’s Automotive in Houston.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their regular board meeting Thursday evening. At the board meeting, Superintendent Steve Carvajal updated the board on the construction progress and he indicated the roofing was finished at the high school new addition while the flooring, ceiling tiles and painting were almost done. The bathrooms were almost complete, just waiting on partitions for the men’s room. The exterior work still needs to be done. The high school classroom hallways were still being worked on and the library expansion concrete wall still has to be removed plus the electric work needs to be done and the doors need to be installed. At the middle school, the flooring work has been started and the wall painting is 95% complete. Bathrooms still need to be completed, lockers still need be installed and doors installed. Carvajal said the open house would be held on Tuesday, August 12^th from 5:30 until 8:00 to introduce the public to the improvements. He said hot dogs and cokes would be given out that evening. Summer school went well as about 310 students from the elementary and upper elementary attended. Kriste Crocker stated that 137 students from William Lynch would receive attendance incentive cards by July 15^th with the services fees paid by Progressive Ozark Bank. Carvajal then assigned each board member a committee assignment. In the school bus inspection report, Salem busses received a 91% approval rating, and it was determined after the inspection that one of the busses would be removed from service and sold. Principal John Smith reported that eight students graduated through the Missouri Options program, and both sessions of the Driver’s Ed are full. Smith said the attendance rate was 94.67% which is the highest for the school in his years as principal. In new business, the board approved the WADA 7% transfer from Fund 1 to Fund 4 of $494,034 for capital improvements, approved the transportation and enrollment of a non-resident student from Northwood R-4, approved the one surplus property bid on lockers from Keith Steelman. Lockers may be purchased from the school for $3.00 each until the school disposes of them tomorrow. Contact the Superintendent’s Office at 729-6642 for more information. The board approved declaring different surplus property for the public to bid on until noon on July 16^th. A detailed list of the property to be sold is available on the Salem R-80 website. The board also approved the roof repair by White Knight at the Upper Elementary that includes the entire roof except the library and 6^th grade section. The cost is $85,000 and it will include an additional 10-year warranty. The board went on and approved the purchase of a bus that the school had previously leased, and renewed the leasing of two additional busses. The board voted to approve the 2014 B policy and procedure updates with these exceptions: to rescind policy GDN, and change the dates on policies CFBAP1 and GCNAP1. Carvajal presented a conservative budget to the board for the 2014-2015 year because of the bills in the legislature that could affect the state funding due to the reduction of sales tax revenues. He said the budget was basically breakeven or would have a slight excess of revenues, but it may end up having more expenses than revenues due to the legislation that was passed on the last day of the session. He said there were no salary increases in the budget and insurance costs should go down next year as should the utilities with the new construction. He said the board should review the budget in August when more information is known. The board then approved the budget. The board approved the Durham Bus three-year contract for the transportation of children to the Developmental Pre-School and those funds are reimbursed by the state. The board accepted the resignations of High School Business Teacher and coach David Cochran, High School Science Teacher Angela Barnes, High School English Teacher Amber Vick, and Marleen Anderson from William Lynch Elementary. Retiring from the district was custodian Steve Pryor and Carolyn Boyle, although Boyle’s retirement will not go into effect until November 30^th. The board accepted the retirements as well. The board then went into closed session before taking a tour of the construction work.

Sports [TOP]

Jhonny Peralta and Mark Ellis each knocked in a pair of runs to help the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the finale of a four-game set. Carlos Martinez (1-3) picked up the win after giving up three runs on three hits over five innings of work. The Cards will be in Colorado tonight to start a three-game series with the Rockies. You can hear tonight’s game on KSMO Radio starting at 7:05.

Mike Zunino accounted for both Seattle runs as the Mariners completed a three-game sweep over the Kansas City Royals with a 2-1 victory on Sunday. Justin Maxwell drove in the lone run for the Royals, who have lost four straight after winning 10 in a row. The Royals will host the Dodgers tonight for the first of three games.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Charlotte Fowler of Salem, age 80, will be held at 11:00 this morning at the Hobson Community Church. Interment will be in the Carty Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Carty Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary in Salem.

Funeral services for Elizabeth “Betty” Jean Medley of Wright City and formerly of Salem, age 76, will be held at 1:00 Tuesday at the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Visitation will be from 11:00 until time of service. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the charity of your choice.

Graveside services for Betty A. Dudley of Columbia, Illinois, formerly of Salem, age 80, will be held Sunday, June 29th at 1:00 at the North Lawn Mausoleum in Salem. Memorials may be made, in lieu of flowers, to the American Legion Auxiliary #99 in Salem.

Weather   [TOP]