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Additional firefighting crews and other resources are being called in to help hold a 5,000-acre wild fire in the Salem area that started on November 1^st. As of 10:30 Thursday morning, a fire line had been established around the entire fire perimeter. Two twenty-person hand crews, one from North Carolina and a second from Georgia, were expected to arrive Thursday evening. These resources will provide Mark Twain National Forest additional help and rotate firefighters who have been fighting the wildfire since Tuesday afternoon. Currently, there are more than 40 firefighters, five bulldozers, and four engines assigned to the wildfire. Although the wildfire has burned some private lands, no homes are immediately threatened. Rainfall has helped suppression. However, predicted weather for the next few days shows a drying trend, and the wildfire is expected to become active again within the next few days. Salem Ranger District had two other suspected arson wild fires, one wild fire was five acres and a second wild fire approximately 310 acres in size. Two wildland fire engines and two dozers were assigned to the larger West Fork Fire. For more information about the about the fires, you can visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that it was too wet for grading. He said that brush was going to be cut on Dent County Road 2470. One man was screening gravel and two trucks were hauling brown rock. Due to the rain various maintenance tasks were being done around the shop. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said that he also had one man screening gravel and two trucks hauling brown rock. Larson stated that maintenance was being performed on truck number 68. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that the MAGIC Insurance Consortium that Dent County is a part of met Wednesday in Springfield to discuss renewal rates. He was pleased to report that the current carrier, Cox Health Systems, was the low bidder so there would be no change in Dent County’s health insurance. Jennifer Kasten of Senator Blunt’s office stopped by the Commissioner’s office at 1:30 Thursday. She was passing through the area and just wanted to have the opportunity to meet with the commissioners. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley had nothing to report. Sandy Hogan dropped by to ask for information about obtaining a new forklift for the Sheltered Workshop. They currently have a 2850-pound capacity forklift which is not adequate for their jobs. Commissioner Purcell provided her contact information. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public. 

The Salem Police Department has released their reports for Tuesday, November 1^st. At 11:30 in the morning, an officer made contact with a 33-year old female of Salem who had two active warrants from the City of Salem. She was taken into custody and incarcerated on the warrants. At 5:01 in the evening, an officer was dispatched to a residence on North Park in reference to a domestic disturbance. The investigation led the officer to an accident scene in the 300 block of West Franklin. It was discovered that a 32-year old male of Salem had assaulted a 32-year old female and a 24-year old female, both of Salem, causing the accident. He was arrested and charged with 2^nd degree domestic assault, 2^nd degree assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. He was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. Later that evening at 8:42, a vehicle was stopped for an investigation of a disturbance that had occurred at an earlier time same date. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of the driver of the vehicle for driving while intoxicated. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Later that night at 10:14, an officer was dispatched to the 1400 block of Highway 32 in reference to a fight in progress. The investigation led to the arrest of a 26-year old female of Salem for disorderly conduct. She was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an investigation ongoing or previously mentioned.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Awards Banquet at the Salem City Hall Auditorium Thursday night. The Small Business of Year Award went to Century 21 South Central Realty while the larger Business of the Year Award went to Montauk Lodge. The Customer Service Award went to Frank Langford from Park Street Tire and the Non-Profit Organization of the Year went to the Enrichment Services of Dent County. Congratulations to all the award winners.

The Dent County Health Center would like to encourage those persons who have not gotten their flu shot to do so before the holiday travel and celebrations begin.  Protect yourself and your loved ones from influenza and its complications. Flu shots are given on a walk-in basis Monday thru Friday at a cost of $25. The Health Center will bill Medicaid and Medicare, but you must bring your card. The Health Center is located at 601 S. MacArthur here in Salem. For additional information, contact the Dent County Health Center at 729-3106 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Salem High School will be having a College Information Night on Monday, November 7 from 6-8 PM. We will discuss financial aid, A+, and the transition to college. A chili dinner will be provided for a small donation, and childcare can be arranged upon request. For more information, contact Salem’s College Adviser, Kelly Sample, at 573-729-5990.

Sports [TOP]

Salem Lady Tiger softball catcher Mackenzie Wulff has been chosen to play in the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association Senior Showcase on Saturday, November 5^th in Moberly. The players are placed on teams from all over the state of Missouri, and college coaches have been invited to come and watch. Additionally, Salem Softball Coach Carey Davidson will be helping to coach the team that Mackenzie will be playing on.

The St. Louis Blues will host the Vancouver Canucks tonight at 7:00. The Blues will then be in Minnesota to face the Wild on Saturday at 7:00. You can hear both of those games on KSMO with Saturday’s game being on a tape delay basis due to the Missouri football game.

The Missouri Tiger football team will be in Waco, Texas Saturday for a Big 12 clash with the Baylor Bears. You can hear that game on KSMO starting with the pre-game show at 5:00.

The Kansas City Chiefs will be looking for their fifth straight win on Sunday as they will be hosting the winless Miami Dolphins at noon.

The St. Louis Rams will head to Arizona Sunday for their first conference game of the year. The Rams will be looking for their second win and that game gets underway at 3:15.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Iona Mae Stephens of Salem, age 91, will be held today at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Interment will be in the New Hope Cemetery in Salem. Memorials may be made to the New Hope Cemetery.

Funeral services for James “Jim” L. Martin of Steelville, age 72, will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation will be tonight from 5:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Martin-Trask Cemetery in Cherryville. Memorials may be to the Martin-Trask Cemetery.

Funeral services for Lloyd Tyree of Salem, age 91, will be held Sunday at 4:00 at the Salem United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held from 2:00 until time for the service at the church. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Salem United Methodist Church. All arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem.

Funeral services for Ruth E. Light of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, age 81, will be held Monday at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be held Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the Pilgrims Rest Cemetery in Shannon County.

Graveside service for Frieda Morrison, age 93, of Salem will be held Saturday, November 12th at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Salem. Arrangements are incomplete at this time but are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel.

Funeral services for Donald “Don” Ray Harmon of Steelville, age 64, will be held Tuesday at 2:00 at the First Assembly of God Church in Steelville. Visitation will be at the church tonight from 5:00 to 9:00. Interment will be in the Pleasant Point Cemetery in Steelville. Memorials may be made to the St. Judes Children Research Hospital or Assembly of God Royal Rangers. All arrangements are under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville.

Funeral services for Lloyd Franklin Wilson of Jerome, age 63, are incomplete at this time but under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla.

Weather [TOP]