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The Dent County Sheriff Department reports that on September 17^th, warrants were issued for 48-year old Dennis W. Wright of Dent County, charging him with three counts of Invasion of Privacy in the 1^st Degree, a class D felony; three counts of Abuse of a Child, a class C felony; and one count of Promoting Child Pornography in the 2^nd Degree, a class C felony. Wright surrendered himself at the Dent County Sheriff’s office on September 18^th and is currently being held in the Dent County Jail on $50,000 cash only bond. The arrest warrant was issued pursuant to a felony complaint filed by Prosecuting Attorney Jessica Sparks. The probable cause involved evidence discovered during the execution of a search warrant at the Wright residence on August 6^th that included a web camera installed in the vanity of the hall bathroom, cables to another room in the home, the computer that was connected to the camera and other digital media. A second search warrant was issued on August 10^th to search digital media for evidence of child pornography. Evidence in the form of files, images and movies was obtained dating back to August and September of 2005 that led to the warrants for abuse of a child and promoting child pornography that occurred at his residence on Route W in Dent County.

The Dent County Fire Protection District has received a grant in the amount of $78,464 from the Department of Homeland Security program for operations and safety. According to Dent County Fire Protection District Fire Chief Brad Nash, the grant has only a 5% local match and will be used to purchase new hose for the entire fire department, new nozzles for the hose, 35 pairs of new boots, ten new helmets, and a new breathing air compressor for the fire district’s CASCADE System. Nash said that the new compressor will allow the fire district to utilize their breathing apparatus to its full potential as the new compressor will be able to fill the air tanks to their capacity where the district’s current compressor could not. The new compressor will use up about a third of the money received from the grant. Nash said that he will now have to get bids on the equipment and submit them to the Dent County Fire Protection District Board. They will make the decision on the purchases and then Nash will submit those vendors and the winning bids to the Department of Homeland Security. The money will then be transferred to the Fire District’s account to be used to pay for the new equipment

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their monthly meeting Wednesday evening at the district administrative offices. At the meeting, Superintendent Steve Bryant said that R-80 would become part of the Missouri Alert Network where the state could contact Bryant in the case of a statewide emergency and he could disseminate the information throughout the district. There is no charge for this service. Greg Nash was then assigned to the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan committee before 11 teachers came before the board to discuss what they will be instructing at the SCA Academic Conference in Willow Springs on Monday. The SCA awarded them with new jackets that Assistant Superintendent Cindy Rumpf presented. At the Dent County Schools Administration meeting, Bryant said that the administrators feel that the curriculum needs to be in line between all the schools and they discussed long-term goals. Superintendent Bryant also wanted to thank the City of Salem for the sidewalk installation on West First Street, the curb and gutter work at the high school, work at the exit at the upper elementary school and all the assistance they have given the district. He said the district is lucky to be able to work this closely with their local government. The board approved the bus routes for the year, and they heard presentations on safety, transportation, plus co-curricular and extra curricular activities where participation is up from last year. The board agreed to stay with the CEE and their lawsuit over school funding as they plan on making an appeal after the ruling on a hearing they held yesterday. The board then agreed to vote “no” on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education screen 6 that says that the district has been appropriately funded so that they are able to provide an adequate education. The only reason they have done so is to keep the Missouri School Improvement Waiver. The school in their resolution describes their decision in detail concerning the needed “performance levy” quoted by the state and the lack of adequate and equitable funding by the state. The board then declared some property as surplus and plans on putting it on the Internet to sell after checking to see about public notification. The board then went into closed session.

Sports [TOP]

Yadier Molina singled home the game-winner in the 10th inning, as the St. Louis Cardinals downed the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-1, to conclude a three-game series at Busch Stadium. Molina ended 3-for-5 for the Cardinals, who ended a three-game skid. Adam Wainwright, who finished 2-for-3 and drove in the other run for St. Louis, allowed one run on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over eight innings. Randy Flores (3-0) tossed a scoreless 10th for the win. The Cardinals start a series with Houston tonight at 7:00 on KSMO Radio.

Jim Thome homered twice and Jose Contreras allowed five hits in a shutout, as Chicago shut down Kansas City, 7-0, in the third installment of a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium. Jason LaRue had a pair of hits for the Royals, who have dropped 11 of their last 14 games. Brian Bannister (12-9) took the loss by allowing eight hits and six runs over five frames. The Royals and White Sox play again today.

The Salem Lady Softball Tigers will be at Richland today for action beginning at 4:30, while the Salem Lady Volleyball Tigers will host the Willow Springs Bears starting at 6:00 tonight at the high school gym.

 Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Ellis Roland Sample of Salem, age 91, will be held Friday morning at 11:00 at the Salem Chapel of the James and Gahr Mortuary. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 tonight. Interment will be in the Sample Family Cemetery in Turtle, Missouri. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Salem in lieu of flowers.

Funeral services for John Elba Southards of St. Peters, age 74, will be held Friday at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary Chapel. Visitation will be tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the New Hope Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the New Hope Cemetery.

Funeral services for Doris Mae Wisdom of Salem, age 84, will be held on Saturday morning at 11:00 at the Wilson Mortuary Chapel. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

Family and friends gathering for Charles Gustave Zorn of Bland formerly of Steelville, age 79, will be held Saturday at 1402 Highway A in Owensville. All arrangements are under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral of Steelville.

Funeral services for Pearl Zolder of Salem, age 96, will be held Sautrday afternoon at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary Chapel. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Hobson Community Church.

Weather [TOP]