News

Due to the extreme heat and the unusually dry conditions, ALL activities scheduled for July 4^th at The Commons have been cancelled. The City of Salem Fireworks Display has been postponed indefinitely, but the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Parade will be held Wednesday, July 4th starting at 6:00 PM from the old fairgrounds and conclude at the Dent County Courthouse.

The City of Salem Emergency Management Director Allen Kimrey has issued a burn ban for the City of Salem. Because of the burn ban, no outdoor burning of any type should be done, as the dry conditions are conducive to the rapid spread of fire. The City of Salem recently passed Ordinance 3257 allowing the discharge of fireworks within the city limits, but Section 3 of the ordinance states that the Salem Emergency Management Director may suspend this ordinance due to a burn ban and Section 4 indicates that any violators of this ordinance may be given a citation and shall be punished upon a plea of guilty or conviction of a fine not to exceed $200.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting Wednesday morning to amend the 2011-2012 budget, and adopt the budget for the fiscal year 2012-2013. At the meeting, the board approved Resolution #13-2012 that authorized the mayor to execute an agreement with the Commons Committee for the leasing of the Commons for the Annual 4^th of July activities. They also heard the second reading of the Ordinance #3258 establishing the electric rates for the City of Salem that included a 3% increase that would go into effect on July 1^st. All other increases or decreases incurred by the city would be automatically passed on. After a long discussion on payroll and the salary schedule, the board approved Ordinance #3259 that approved the budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. Proposed revenues in all funds for the year are expected to be $11,211,721 while the proposed expenses for the fiscal year are expected to be $10,930,352. The largest expenditure will be for the purchase of electricity for the new fiscal year as Salem will move from getting electricity from Sho-Me Power to the Mid-Missouri Municipal Power Energy Pool in March with an anticipated prepayment of about $368,000. Total electricty purchases for the year will top $4.5 million dollars. The board also plans to transfer $100,000 into the electric reserve fund. Also in the budget is the projected work to be done on McArthur in removing the crest and fixing the street so that the city will take over the maintenance. MoDOT and the city will be working on this project. The city budgeted $300,00 toward the project for the street department from the Capital Improvement Tax, plus set aside money in the water and sewer departments for line replacements. The city will also be applying for a grant to help pay to replace the sewer and water lines under the roadway and that could help push the total cost of the project for the city to around $600,000. The board then approved Ordinance #3260 that amended the budget for the city for the fiscal year 2011-2012 as approved by Ordinance #3233 and amended by Ordinance #3235. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced that on Tuesday, July 3^rd, and on Sunday, July 8^th, Troop I officers will be participating in the 20-Mile Trooper project on Interstate 44 during the peak travel hours. On those same days during the peak travel periods, Troop I will assign several troopers who will concentrate their patrol efforts on secondary roads. The objective of both projects is to have a trooper within close proximity of any motorist who may need assistance and to have dedicated officers who will aggressively enforce all traffic laws in an effort to make our highways safer during this busy holiday time. In addition to these special enforcement projects, all available troopers will be patrolling both the highways and waterways over the holiday in an effort to make it both enjoyable and safe for everyone.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will conduct their monthly meeting tonight at the Salem R-80 Boardroom beginning at 6:00 pm. After approval of the agenda and communications will be the Superintendent’s report where Summer School and the Board of Education assignments will be addressed. In new business, the Board will address a resolution for a 5% WADA transfer. The Board will then consider approval of non-residential student(s), the developmental preschool building lease, renewal of TCRC support, bus leases, and Board policies. The Board will then approve updated job descriptions and address resignations. The Board will then vote to go into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing personnel. The monthly meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open the public.

Sports [TOP]

The 7th & 8th grade FOOTBALL CAMP will start Monday, July 9th at 9:00 AM and will continue thru Friday, July 13th. Campers should meet at the Salem High School Weight Room on July 9th for registration and the start of camp. The 9th through 12th grade FOOTBALL CAMP will start on Monday, July 9th at 5:30 PM and will continue thru Friday, July 20th with a Team Camp Scrimmage. The cost of either camp is $25. If you have any questions, call Coach Bill Schuchardt at 729-6644.

John Buck and Logan Morrison smacked back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Miami Marlins downed the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-3, in the finale of a three-game set. Tony Cruz registered two hits, including his first career homer, for the Cardinals, who had their five-game winning streak snapped. Joe Kelly pitched six innings of two-run ball while giving up five hits and two walks and striking out three. The Cardinals have the day off today.

Billy Butler's solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Kansas City Royals over the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-4, in the finale of a three-game series. Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas also homered for the Royals, who swept the Rays for the first time since 2001. Yuniesky Betancourt knocked in two runs and starter Everett Teaford gave up two runs on four hits over five-plus innings. Aaron Crow (1-1) recorded the final two outs in the eighth to pick up the win. The Royals have the day off today.

The St. Louis Blues rewarded head coach Ken Hitchcock with a contract extension on Wednesday. The extension runs through the 2013-14 season and includes an option for the 2014-15 season that will be jointly decided on.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Weather   [TOP]