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An accident occurred at 9:40 Sunday morning in Dent County on Highway 32 about five miles east of Salem that took the life of a Salem woman. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 27-year-old Jessica Whitaker of Salem, was traveling east on Highway 32. The accident occurred as the vehicle drove off the right side of the road where Whitaker lost control on the gravel. She then overcorrected coming back onto the road, skidded across the center line, and then went off the left side of the road. The Malibu struck an embankment and overturned, causing Whitaker to be ejected from the vehicle. Whitaker was pronounded dead the scene by Dent County Coroner Gina White and the body was released to the Wilson Mortuary. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The Dent Count 4-H and FFA Livestock auction held Saturday brought in an amazing $112,466.90. Canoak USA bought the most animals with 10 hogs and three steers, followed by the Bank of Salem as they purchased two lambs, four hogs and four steers. Intercounty Electric was also very active as they bought one lamb, three hogs and three steers. Other top buyers included Town and Country Bank with the purchase of one lamb, two hogs and two steers; Salem Livestock Barn bought a cured ham, a lamb, two hogs, a steer and a junior commercial heifer ribbon; Phil-Mart purchased a cured ham, a lamb and three hogs; Interstate Regional Stockyards bought a lamb, a hog, three steers and a junior commercial heifer ribbon; Moser Pharmacy purchased a lamb and three hogs; and Wather Grain Company purchased three hogs and a steer. In the Country Cured Ham sale, Kendra Case had the Grand Champion Ham and it was sold to Shults Angus Farm for $406, and Lane Howard had the Reserve Champion Ham and it was bought by B&C Discount for $241. In the market lamb sale, Tyler Wofford raised the Overall Champion Lamb and it was sold to Phil-Mart for $994, Kayla Gott had the Overall Reserve Champion Lamb and it was sold to Jadwin Lumber Company for $468, and Cody Wofford presented the Champion Carcass Lamb and it was sold to Moser Pharmacy for $584.00. In the market hog sale, Brady Hagler raised the Overall Champion Hog that also won the Champion Carcass and it was purchased by Canoak USA for $1,350; and the Reserve Overall Champion Hog was raised by Cody Wofford and it was sold to the Bank of Salem for $900. In the market steer sale, Jacob Anderson raised the Overall Champion Steer that also won the Champion Carcass and his steer was purchased by the Bank of Salem for $2,880; and the Reserve Champion Overall Steer was raised by Tyler Wofford and it was also bought by the Bank of Salem for $3,627.  Proceeds from the sale break down as follows: the Country Cured Hams brought $1,558.30, the Market Lamb sale brought $6,164.50, the Market Hog sale resulted in sales of $42,149.10, and the Market Steer Sale amassed $61,204.80. The 4-H and FFA want to thank all the participants in this year’s sale, and all the buyers who made the sale extremely successful.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular meeting this evening at the City Hall Council Chambers starting at 7:00. Prior to the regular meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on making North Iron Street one-way between East 5^th Street and East Rolla Road, and also to rezone the property at 1101 South Gertrude from Commercial to Residential R-1. After the hearing, a public meeting will be held on those issues as well as hearing a request for a special use permit for an in home business at 1101 South Gertrude. At the regular meeting, the board will hear from Jerry Layman concerning parking on Highway 19 after the city widens the road and installs new sidewalks and curb and guttering. Before the consent agenda, the board will hold a public tax rate hearing for the 2009 year. The board will hear reports from the alderman and in adition to that, Alderman Jim McDaniels is requesting further information on the Highway 19 widening project, the topsoil hauling, asphalting and the storm water tests. Mayor Gary Brown will then give his reports before the board hears Bill #3177 which will be the ordinance levying the property tax rate for the year 2009. After the bills are approved, the meeting will adjourn. The hearing and meetings are all open to the public.

An accident occurred at 6:00 Saturday evening in Dent County on Dent County Road 2570 about 13 miles west of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 500 driven by 27-year-old Billy Cooper of Lenox, was traveling east on county road 2570. The accident occurred as Cooper swerved to avoid debris in the road, lost control on the gravel and slid into a ditch. Cooper suffered minor injuries and was taken by private vehicle to Salem Memorial District Hospital. The Kawasaki sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by the owner.

If you were affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred between May 8^th and 16^th, and you live in Dent, Shannon or Texas County, time is running out to register for assistance from FEMA. The deadline to register to see if you qualify for that assistance is Tuesday, August 18^th. To apply, visit the website www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1 800-621-FEMA (3362).

The City of Salem Board of Alderman will conduct a public tax rate hearing, which will be held during the Board of Alderman meeting to be held on Monday, August 17^th in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 202 North Washington, at which time citizens may be heard on the property tax rate proposed to be set by the City of Salem of $0.624 per $100 valuation. The tax rate shall be set to produce the revenue, which the budget for the fiscal year beginning at July 1, 2009 shows to be required from the property tax. The public tax rate hearing is open to the public.

The South Central Specialty Crop Growers Association Workshop will be held on Thursday, August 20^th at My Place Restaurant in Salem. These workshops are for specialty crop growers and those interested in becoming specialty crop growers. Specialty crops cover a broad range of products including vegetables, fruits and cut flowers. Registration will begin at 8:30 am followed by an introduction to the South Central Region Specialty Crop Growers Association. At 10:00 Andy Read University of Missouri Extension will talk about “Getting the Most Out of Your Product” with marketing strategies. At 11:00 Dr. Will McClain from the University of Missouri Extension will discuss “Managing Missouri Soils and Soil Fertility” and lunch be provided at noon. There is no charge for the workshop and lunch, but pre-registration is required. To register or for more information contact the Dent County Extension Center at 729-3196.

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Funeral services for Clifton Everett Mayes of Mehlville, age 72, will be held today at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Interment will be in the Lower Bee Fork Cemetery, Reynolds County. Memorials are suggested to the family. 

Funeral services for Dorothy Lorraine Sullivan of Belleview, age 77, will be held Wednesday at 11:00 at James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 10:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Radford Cemetery.

Graveside services for Franklin J. Hedrick of Olathe, Kansas, age 82, will be held Thursday at 10:00 at the Cedar Grove Cemetery. All local arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem.

Funeral services for Faron E. Roark of St. James, age 51, will be held Thursday at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the Flag Springs Cemetery in St. James.

Funeral service for Jessica D. Whitaker of Salem, age 27, will be held Thursday at 1:00 at the Boss Assembly of God Church. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Boss Assembly of God Youth Group.

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