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An accident occurred at 3:00 Friday afternoon in Dent County on Route C about five miles east of Anutt. According to the highway patrol report, a 1997 Chevrolet driven by 17-year old Jessica Smith of Salem was traveling eastbound on Route C. The Chevrolet traveled off the right side of the roadway. Smith overcorrected causing the vehicle to overturn and strike a fence. Smith suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Salem EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Smith was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Knight Towing of Salem.

An accident happened at 10:35 Sunday morning in Shannon County on Route KK west of Route J. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Ford Explorer driven by 75-year-old Marcia Oller of Salem ran off the right side of the roadway struck a road sign and trees. Oller suffered from moderate injuries and was taken by Air Evac to St. Johns Springfield. She was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The vehicle sustained moderate damages and was towed from the scene by Tyler’s Towing of Eminence.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will chip seal approximately 4 miles of Route 119 in Dent County from Route 32 to Route E today. Weather permitting, tentative work hours are scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., each day. MoDOT performs chip-seal resurfacing on roads that are in generally fair to better condition. The benefits include crack sealing, increased skid resistance and correction of minor rutting, which extends the life of the pavement in a cost effective way. Motorists should plan ahead and allow extra time due to a one-lane restriction. Work zone signs, flag persons and a pilot vehicle will be used during this operation. MoDOT urges motorists to proceed slowly through the work zone, especially while driving on the fresh-laid surface.  For additional information regarding this project or other transportation-related issues, call the MoDOT Customer Service Center, toll-free, at 1-888-ASK MoDOT (275-6636).

During the August meeting of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, a contract for rumble strip installation involving several counties in the South Central District of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) was awarded. The project was awarded to Penhall Company of Rogers, Minnesota, with the total project cost of $107,978.28. Crews could begin installation of the strips as early as September 2007, with completion of the work expected by July 2008. The rumble strip contract involves various routes in the counties of Carter, Crawford, Dent, Howell, Phelps, Pulaski, Shannon, Texas and Washington, in an effort to reduce the number of head-on and run-off accidents. The focus for this work will be major routes such as Interstate 44 and Routes 60, 63, 8 and 72. Several engineering options are available to MoDOT as they work with The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety partners to reduce roadway fatalities. One of these is the installation of rumble strips. Rumble strips have proven very effective in alerting motorists when they are about to leave the travel lane. By drawing their attention to it right away, they are afforded the opportunity to correct before it is too late. For additional information regarding this or other transportation-related topics, call the Missouri Department of Transportation Customer Service Center, toll-free, at 1-888-ASK MoDOT (275-6636).

Salem Area Chamber of Commerce’s August membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 15^th at noon at the Salem TCRC. There will be a presentation by Jim Pasley from the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency on the “Ready in 3” Emergency Preparedness Plan for the community as well as individuals. Jim will also discuss the July ’06 storms in Dent and surrounding counties, and the response during the storms. ‘My Place’ will be catering the meal, and lunch is $7.00. Please RSVP as soon as possible at the Chamber office at 200 South Main or call 729-6900.

Salem R-80 Schools have announced the schedule for open houses for all their schools. William Lynch Elementary and the Salem Upper Elementary will hold open house tonight from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The Junior and Senior High Schools will have open house on Tuesday, August 14th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Parents are encouraged to attend.

Sports [TOP]

Ryan Ludwick hit a three-run homer and finished with four runs batted in as the St. Louis Cardinals pounded the Los Angeles Dodgers, 12-2, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Busch Stadium. Brendan Ryan, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis prior to the game, went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and three RBI for the Cardinals, who have won two straight and four of five. St. Louis starter Anthony Reyes (2-11) pitched six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. He also struck out five and walked just one while knocking in a run at the plate. The Cardinals placed infielder Adam Kennedy on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday with a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. To take Kennedy's spot on the roster, the Cardinals recalled Ryan. The Cardinals went 5-2 on the home stand and will begin a key seven game road trip to Milwaukee and Chicago starting Tuesday.

Blue Jays starter A.J. Burnett tossed 7 1/3 innings of one-run, three-hit ball in his return from the disabled list to help Toronto to a 4-1 win over the Kansas City Royals in the third of a four- game set. Brian Wolfe, Scott Downs and Jeremy Accardo combined to hold the Royals scoreless in the eighth and ninth and preserve Beckett's win. Accardo got his 22nd save of the season. Brian Bannister (8-7) took the loss for Kansas City, getting chased with two outs in the fifth after allowing three runs on seven hits and walking three. Alex Gordon hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, his tenth of the season, for the Royals. Toronto will wrap up their series with the Royals tonight in Kansas City.

Kevin Lovell's 40-yard field goal as time expired gave the St. Louis Rams a 13-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings in the preseason opener for both teams. Rams quarterback Marc Bulger completed six-of-seven passes for 42 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. Backup Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 13-of-21 passes for 117 yards and two picks, one returned for a touchdown.

Chris Barclay ran back a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown with just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter to lift the Cleveland Browns past the Kansas City Chiefs, 16-12, in the preseason opener for both clubs. Justin Medlock booted a 42-yard field goal with 1:51 remaining to give Kansas City a 12-9 lead until Barclay returned the ensuing kickoff back for a score to give Cleveland the lead.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Denver Schafer of Salem, age 81, will be held Wednesday morning at 10:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 to 9:00. Interment will be in the Green Forest Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association.

Funeral services for Madelynn Grace Salts, of Rolla, age 1 year 6 months, will be held Wednesday morning at 10:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Macedonia Cemetery in rural Phelps County.

A funeral mass for Leona Mullen of Steelville, age 97, will be held Wednesday morning at the St. Michaels Church in Steelville. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 with a Prayer service Tuesday night at 7:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Leasburg. Memorials may be made to the St. Michaels Church in Steelville.

Interment service for Retired Staff SGT William W. Harney of Salem, age 68, will be held Friday at 1:15 at the Jefferson Barracks Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to the Crossville Baptist Church and all the arrangements are under the direction of Wilson Mortuary of Salem.

Weather [TOP]