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Firefighters continue to improve containment lines around two large wild fires on Mark Twain National Forest lands near Salem, Missouri on the Salem Ranger District. These wild fires are burning in heavy fuels created by the May 2009 Derecho wind event. Two 20-person crews brought in from outside Missouri, along with Mark Twain National Forest firefighters, are using chainsaws to cut, lop and scatter limbs and downed trees along a 60-foot wide path on the side of the containment lines where wild fires are burning. According to Mark Twain National Forest Salem District Ranger Thom Haines, workers will continue to improve these containment lines over the next several days to help make sure these wild fires stay within these lines. The largest wild fire, the Minninghaw Fire, 5,025 acres in size, started on November 1^st and is located in southern Dent County near the Shannon County line, approximately 7 miles west of Bunker, Missouri.  Currently there are approximately 25 firefighters working this wild fire. The second wild fire, the West Fork Fire, is about 280 acres in size and was started on November 2nd. It is located approximately three miles northwest of Centerville, Missouri in Reynolds County, just north of the West Fork of the Black River. There are approximately 25 firefighters working this wild fire. A third wild fire, the Substation Fire, is less than 6 acres in size and it has been contained. This wild fire will continue to be patrolled and monitored by firefighting personnel. Currently, there are more than 50 firefighters, three bulldozers and four engines assigned to the wild fires. No homes are immediately threatened. Additional law enforcement personnel are assigned to patrol and investigate the suspected arson fires. If you have any information, contact Mark Twain National Forest Salem Ranger District Office at 573-729-6656 or the toll free arson hotline at 1-800-392-1111.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular monthly meeting tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00. After the roll call, a hearing of persons will be held. Scott Radford of the Salem Lodge will discuss the Missouri Child Identification Program, and George LaJoie of Air Evac will give a presentation on Air Evac. After approval of the consent agenda, there will be a report from Bill Huffman, Director of Public Works and Engineer. The City Administrator will then discuss the expansion of the Al Brown Park soccer field and the city owned property on Highway 19 south. Mayor Gary Brown will give his report and discuss the solid waste contract. Bill number 3245 and Resolution number 23-2011 will be introduced. Bill number 3245 is an ordinance to rezone the lots in block 7 of Hayes addition and five feet of the alley to the City of Salem. Resolution number 23-2011authorizes the Mayor to execute an agreement between the city and Tyler Technologies for the purpose of acquiring incode financial management suite, incode personnel management suite, and incode TCM. In new and miscellaneous business, there will be updates to the travel policy and purchasing policy. The employee handbook will also be updated and revised. There will be a budget adjustment to pay MMMPEP. The board will then go into closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel. The monthly meeting of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen is open to the public.

These Salem R-80 students were selected to the SCA Conference Choirs. The Honor Choir participants included Brittany Crocker, Emily Flett, Mitch Lo, Bre Lowrance, and Sarah Watts. The Mass Choir participants included Crystal Birdsong, Josiah Beckett, Ray Ritchey, and Anne-Marie Taysom.  The Salem R80 choirs are under the direction of Elaine Russell. 

Salem High School will be having a College Information Night tonight 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]

Robert Griffin III threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns, and Terrance Ganaway rushed for 186 yards and two more scores as Baylor held off Missouri 42-39 at Floyd Casey Stadium Saturday. Missouri (4-5, 2-4) was led by quarterback James Franklin, who threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Henry Josey added 132 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Missouri will host Texas Saturday.

The Missouri Tiger basketball team will be playing their final exhibition game tonight, as they will host Central Missouri at 7:00.

The Southeastern Conference Presidents and Chancellors, acting unanimously, announced Sunday that the University of Missouri will join the Southeastern Conference effective July 1^st, 2012, with competition to begin in all sports for the 2012-13 academic year.

Guillaume Latendresse scored the eventual game-winning goal in the second period, lifting the Minnesota Wild to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues from Xcel Energy Center Saturday night. Jamie Langenbrunner netted the lone goal for St. Louis, which has lost three of its last four games. The Blues will host the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday.

The St. Louis Blues relieved Davis Payne as head coach and replaced him with Ken Hitchcock, the team announced Sunday night. Hitchcock signed a contract through the 2012-13 season. The 59-year-old Hitchcock led the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup title in 1999 and owns a 534-350-88-70 career record.

Patrick Peterson returned a punt 99 yards for a touchdown in overtime, sending the Arizona Cardinals to a dramatic 19-13 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Sam Bradford returned after missing the last two games for the Rams and Steven Jackson had a big game on the ground, rushing for 130 yards on 29 carries, while Josh Brown kicked three field goals. The Rams play the Cleveland Browns Sunday.

Behind three touchdown passes by Matt Moore and a stellar defensive effort, the Miami Dolphins got their first win of the season, a 31-3 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Matt Cassel passed for 253 yards, but completed only 20-of-39 throws for the Chiefs (4-4), who had won their last four games. The Chiefs host the Denver Broncos this Sunday.

Obituaries   [TOP]

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

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 James R. Cowan of Salem, age 69, will be held Wednesday at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00, with a Masonic service at 6:00. Interment will be in the Carty Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Carty Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Gregory Allen Harrison of Salem, age 40, on Thursday at 7:00 at the Salem United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 5:00 until service time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.

Graveside service for Frieda Morrison of Salem, age 93, will be held Saturday at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Salem at 11:00. All arrangements are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel.

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]