News

Scroll Down for Sports, Weather and Obituaries! For State-Wide News, go to the MissouriNet! To read previous editions of Your World Today please visit our Archives Page.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In attendance was Ellen Baum from the Sheltered Workshop requesting permission from the commission to place their new patriotic bench on the courthouse lawn near the gazebo for the 4^th of July. The commissioners approved her request. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 5015, 5070 and 6090; and that brush was going to be cut on Dent County Road 6480. He said that two men would be hauling brown rock. Purcell also stated that if people want to comment to the Department of Interior on the White River National Blueway Designation, they must do so by today. They should locate the document on the federal register (Volume 78, Number 86) and read how to properly make comments. The e-mail address to send your comments to is: blueway@ios.doi.gov. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that a man was getting cold mix to asphalt part of the chip and seal surface on Dent County Road 5240 by the Stone Hill Cemetery where a new culvert was put in. The men will be there until that project is complete. A man will also be working on the sweeper. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that a number of the Arkansas agencies that originally supported the White River Blueway Designation have withdrawn their support and are asking the Department of Interior to back away from the project. Skiles said that he was in Springfield Friday to discuss this topic on the Mike Huckabee Show on Fox News Network that is supposed to air Saturday unless something more important happens. Skiles recommended that folks still send letters to Representative Jason Smith and Senator Roy Blunt about this so that they have them to show the Department of Interior how their constituents feel. Skiles said that the courthouse would be closed on Independence Day so there will be no commission meeting that day. He did say that the Board of Equalization would be meeting today. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be next Monday morning, July 8^th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday evening for their regular meeting. Alderman Phillip Giacomelli was not in attendance due to vacation. The board approved the closing of Henderson Street between 4^th and 5^th Streets on July 4^th from 2:00 to 8:00 next to the Salem Christian Church for activities planned that day. The board heard from Derick Monday from 1107 South Jackson on the upcoming reptile ban that will go into effect on August 1^st as part of the new city ordinances. He was asking the aldermen what defined a “deadly and dangerous” reptile. He said that his snakes are more dangerous to their handlers than they would be to the public, and that the snakes would become sick if it gets colder than 52 degrees. He was told my City Administrator Clayton Lucas that the city code mirrors the state of Missouri statute that forces individuals to register that type of animal with the state. The city code is a stronger in that it bans the possession of the “deadly or dangerous” reptile. Later, Monday said that he is a hobbyist with his snakes and actually loans them for schools to use through the school year before they are returned. Elmer Leach, a resident of the county, wanted to know what could be done to reach some kind of understanding with the aldermen that would allow snake owners to keep their animals in the city limits. J.J. Tune then spoke for Clyde Wells and said that inside the city limits is no place for snakes and the raising of mice or rats to feed them. He stated that rats and mice do carry the possibility of viruses and contamination, so the city would need to have some kind of sanitation policy in place for the mice and rat control and feces, and then follow up on it. A petition was presented to the board with over 20 signatures, most from South Jackson Street, against allowing snakes and mice to be raised at 1107 South Jackson. City Administrator Lucas said that the city now has a building inspector and Jarrod Brown will meet with Lucas and City Attorney William Camm Seay to go over a list of homes he will need to inspect. Mayor Brown then reminded everyone of the Independence Day Parade at 6:00 with the fireworks to follow at The Commons after 9:00. He said that the severe weather sirens will be tested today at 11:00. He said that on Friday the City of Salem Budget was approved with expected revenues of $11,052,994 and expected expenditures of $10,746,089. He indicated that $1,433,827.25 would be spent on Capital Improvement projects, over 2.3 million would be spent on payroll, and the cost of electricity in the 2013-2014 year would be about $4,290,000. Brown also said that he would run for one more term as Mayor in April of next year. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will have their regular meeting tonight at 6:00 pm at the fire station. During the meeting, the board will discuss the financial report, approve bills and sign file copies. The board will then go over the calendar review, the monthly reimbursement report, old and new business, Fire Chief Brad Nash will give the officer report and the board will review the committee reports. The board will then vote to go into closed session and set the date of their next meeting for August 6^th at 6:00 pm. The meeting of the Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors is open to the public.

Sports [TOP]

The St. Louis Cardinals had the day off yesterday but will be in L.A. to start a three-game series with the Angels tonight. The Cardinals are 49-32 on the year and are two games back of the Pirates for the lead in the NL Central. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio tonight starting at 8:30.

The Kansas City Royals had the day off yesterday but will host the Cleveland Indians for three games starting tonight at 7:10. The Royals are 38-41 on the year but are only 4½ games back for the lead in the AL Central.

The St. Louis Rams and long snapper Jake McQuaide have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension through the 2017 season. The Ohio State product has served as long snapper in each of the past two seasons.

Obituaries   [TOP] 

Funeral services for Frank Barnes of St. James, age 87, will be held this morning at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Memorials may be made to the Solid Rock Christian Church.

Funeral services for Thelma Pearl Brand of Steelville, age 84, will be Wednesday at 2:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation will be today from 5:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Pleasant Point Cemetery in Steelville.

Funeral services for Jerry E. Williamson of Rolla, age 83, will be held Friday at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be from 10:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Vienna Public Cemetery in Vienna. Memorials are suggested to the Salem Avenue Baptist Church in Rolla.

Funeral service for Fred D. Howard, Sr. of Salem, age 91, will be held Sunday at 2:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from noon until service time. Interment will be in the Carty Cemetery with Full Military Honors. Memorials may be made to the Salem Long Term Care or the Carty Cemetery.

 Weather   [TOP]