News

Jane Spencer Turner, the former director of the Spencer Funeral Homes in Salem and Bunker, has pleaded guilty to 14 charges related to state tax fraud on Monday. Turner entered guilty pleas to each of seven charges of failure to file state sales tax returns, and seven charges of failing to remit state sales tax. Circuit Judge Kenneth W. Pratte sentenced Turner to four years on each count with the terms to run concurrent. The tax fraud charges will also run concurrent to the eight years in prison that Turner received after pleading guilty in August to seven counts of unlawful merchandising practices for misusing more than $46,000 paid by clients for pre-need funeral expenses. The case was heard in Washintgon County on a change of venue from Dent County and was prosecuted by the offices of Attorney General Jay Nixon. Nixon credited the help of the Salem Police Department in executing a search warrant on the Spencer Funeral Home to obtain 18 boxes of evidence in the case.

The Salem Police Department released their reports for first of October including thefts. On October 1st at 1:00 in the afternoon, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to a theft from a vehicle. The report revealed person(s) unknown entered a vehicle parked near the 200 block of South Warfel and took items valued at $150.00 The reports is still under investigation. On October 9th at 11:15 in the morning, an officer was detailed to the Break Time Convenience Store in reference to the theft of a cell phone. The report revealed that person(s) unknown took the cell phone of a patron who had laid it down. The cell phone is valued at $150.00. The report is under investigation. On October 10th at 10:42 in the evening, an officer was contacted in reference to the theft of a bicycle. The report revealed that person(s) unknown took a blue 20-inch Next bicycle from a residence in the 500 block of South Washington. The bicycle is valued at $45.00. The report is still under investigation. Anyone with any information regarding the thefts is asked to please contact the Salem Police Department by 729-4242.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will conduct their regular board meeting on Thursday, October 19th at the district administrative offices boardroom beginning at 7:00 pm. After the approval of the agenda will be the approval of the consent agenda that includes the approval of bills, approval of the attendance report, the food service report and the substitute list. Superintendent Steve Bryant will then give the Superintendent's report and will address the September membership count, the SCA September 25th PD Day Report along with the Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Team (STAT). He will also address the R-School Administrator's meeting as well as safety procedures. New business will include discussion of the NRA Grant, hear program evaluations, discuss the Montgomery Academic Opportunity Program Scholarship and they will also consider the Newton Summer School contract. The Board will then adjourn and go into closed session to discuss personnel, discipline and sealed bids. The meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open to the public.

The emergency services of southern Crawford County, Viburnum and Salem are having a training exercise on Saturday, October 21st in the morning in the southern Crawford County-Cherryville area. This will be a large-scale event with about 40 patients and will include many emergency services. NO public roads will be used or blocked, but caution is advised for any one traveling in that area. For the safety of all, the public is not invited. The emergency services want to thank the public for their understanding as we train and develop skills for any situation that may require us to save lives.

Sports   [TOP]

Preston Wilson's fifth-inning double scored David Eckstein with the go-ahead run and Jeff Weaver tossed six strong innings, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the New York Mets, 4-2, in pivotal Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. A resurgent Weaver (2-1) allowed two runs on six hits, striking out one and walking two, to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven set as the series shifts back to New York tonight. Albert Pujols and Chris Duncan each homered and Ronnie Belliard drove in a run for the NL Central-champion Cardinals, who rallied from a two-run deficit. Eckstein ended 2-for-5 and made a number of solid plays at shortstop early in the game, as St. Louis is seeking its second World Series appearance in three years. New York starting pitcher Tom Glavine (2-1) was hit with the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits in four-plus innings of work. He surrendered his first runs of the postseason and the Mets' bats couldn't overcome Weaver or the Cardinals' bullpen. Josh Kinney, Randy Flores and Adam Wainwright closed things out for the Cardinals. Wainwright recorded the final four outs for his second save of the playoffs. The Cardinals can close out the NL East champs with ace Chris Carpenter on the hill in Game 6. New York's season now rests on the shoulders of rookie right-hander John Maine, who will start on Wednesday. Maine lasted only four innings in his Game 2 start at Shea Stadium last Friday. You can hear the game tonight on KSMO starting at 6:55.

Shane Doan and Mike Comrie each had a goal and an assist as Phoenix ended a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over St. Louis. Dave Scatchard and Owen Nolan also scored, while Ladislav Nagy added two assists for the Coyotes, who won for the first time since a season-opening 6-3 victory over the Islanders. Radek Dvorak and Martin Rucinsky scored for the Blues, who squandered eight power-play opportunities and saw their two game win streak come to an end. Manny Legace yielded four goals on 32 shots. St. Louis will conclude a four-game home set on Friday against Vancouver.

NHL Scores:

Buffalo 9, Philadelphia 1
Montreal 5, Calgary 4
Edmonton 2, Vancouver 1
San Jose 2, Dallas 0

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Norma Ruth Limbaugh of Viburnum, age 81, will be held today at 1:00 at the Wilson Funeral Home in Fredericktown, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 11:00 until service time at the Wilson Funeral Home in Fredericktown. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. All arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary in Salem.

Funeral arrangements for John V. Howie of Knowville, TN, age 68, will be held Thursday at 1:00 at the Wison Mortuary Chapel. Visitation will be held tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Carty Cemetery with Military Honors. Memorials may be made to the Carty Cemetery.

Funeral services for Mabel E. Christian of St. James, age 99, will be held Friday at 1:00 at the James & Gahr Chapel in St. James. Visitation will be from noon until service time. Interment will be in the Boss Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the St. James Nursing Center.

Weather  [TOP]

Today..Partly cloudy, high of 76.
Tonight.. Becoming mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the evening and a 90% chance for showers after midnight, low of 45.
Thursday..Cloudy with a 70% chance for showers and thunderstorms, high of 53.
Thursday night..Partly cloudy, low of 35.