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The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the aldermen approved a request from Scott Radford to hold the MoCHIP child ID program at the Salem City Hall Auditorium on May 19^th from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P M. sponsored by the Salem Masonic Lodge #225, Salem Police Department and Dent County Sheriff’s Department. Air Evac’s Program Director George LaJoie made a presentation in response to some citizens concerns about the helicopter landing at the Dent County Fire Station on Highway 19 for patient pickup. They point out that at the fire station, the element of patient privacy and security is the best because the patient can be transferred from the ambulance to the Air Evac gurney inside away from elements of the weather. They explained the difference of transfer flight and scene flight and who makes that decision. Pilot Joel Fonseca also answered questions about the safety of the kids at William Lynch Elementary School and businesses in the area with the helicopter flying over. He explained how the pilots approach the landing area with their helicopter, and that they are always thinking safety first. Salem City Administrator Clayton Lucas said that two bids had been received for the codification of the city ordinances. One was from Sullivan Publications in Missouri for $12,500 for the initial setup, and the other was from Municode from Tallahassee, Florida for $10,360. The supplemental options costs from Sullivan were less expensive than those of Municode and the board voted 3-0 to go with Sullivan Publications after a discussion with their representative. After the consent agenda was approved, Director of Public Works Bill Huffman said that another electric hoist from the sewer plant could be used in place of the one that does not work anymore, and it could be replaced with a chain hoist. He also discussed the need for a utility truck for the sewer department where $15,000 has been budgeted, but bids for these used trucks in the past were pointless as the truck would already be sold by the time the item got on the agenda. City Attorney Bill Seay said that bids must be taken for the truck, but if the truck is already sold, then that amount and type of truck has been approved by the board and the bid would be open-ended. Huffman said that the old middle school roof does not leak on the east side, but does on all the other sides and is in bad shape. He feels it is not safe to be on it. He stated that he has not yet heard back on the Airport grant from the engineering firm, and that he is working on getting easements for the Housing Authority Storm Water Grant area. City Administrator Clayton Lucas said that a security camera is now in the Salem Freedom Activity Gym to watch for vandals and it is recorded online. He also made a presentation to the board for work at the Al Brown Fields to remove the old baseball field screens, fence and dugout on the south end to allow for an additional soccer field. Lucas said that the city was approved for a $75,000 grant and that a representative from the Department of Natural Resources would have to come down and see if the grant can be transferred for use at that location. The grant has to be used by December of 2012. The board approved him moving forward with that project. Mayor Gary Brown said that there are only two waste carriers that collect commercial waste in Salem and they are Waste Corporation and Family Trash Services. He said that anyone contracting with them may want to not extend their contract past August 31^st of 2014 as that is when the city will put on their next trash collection bid. He stated that SOLVE would like to put out a drop box on the city parking lot across from their door so that people can drop off items instead of leaving them at their door. The request met with no objections. The board approved Bill #3245 for the rezoning of a number of lots in the Hayes Addition and rezoning them to Residential R-2. The board also approved Resolution #23-2011 to upgrade the computer billing software at the City Administrative Offices. The board went on to approve a budget adjustment of $4106.12 for the Special Service Electric Fund as a payment to the Mid-Missouri Municipal Energy Pool for services in looking to change electric providers. The board approved changes made to the employee handbook by Clayton Lucas, approved a new purchasing policy where department heads do not need a purchase order for items under $300, and that the bid amount for items by the board is to be reduced to $3,000. They also approved a travel policy that is based on the guidelines established by the IRS for room charges, food and mileage. The board then went into closed session to discuss personnel.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed in observance of Veterans' Day on Friday, November 11^th. Normal operations will resume on Monday, November 14^th.

Sports [TOP]

Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves to earn his first shutout of the season as the St. Louis Blues took a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Halak's 17th career shutout made a winner of head coach Ken Hitchcock in his season debut with the Blues. Hitchcock took over the reins of the club on Sunday after the team fired Davis Payne following a 6-7-0 start. Vladimir Sobotka, Chris Stewart and T.J. Oshie lit the lamp for St. Louis, which won for the second time in three games. The Blues will host the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night at 7:00.

The Kansas City Royals acquired left handed starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez on Monday, along with pitching prospect Ryan Verdugo, from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera. Sanchez, 28, threw a no-hitter two years ago but struggled to a 4-7 record with a 4.26 earned run average in 19 starts this past season. Verdugo, 24, went 8-6 with a 4.35 ERA in 25 starts for Double-A Richmond this year.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for James R. Cowan of Salem, age 69, will be held today at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Interment will be in the Carty Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Carty Cemetery.

Funeral services for Charles Ray Gibbs of Salem, age 71, will be held Thursday at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Edgar Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Gregory Allen Harrison of Salem, age 40, on Thursday night 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.

Funeral services for Dianna L. Thomason of Salem, age 60, will be held Friday at 1:30 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 11:30 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 starting at 11:00. All arrangements are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel of Salem.

Funeral services for Louie Paul Marlow of Salem, age 90, will be held Saturday at 2:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 12:00 until time of service. Interment will be Wednesday, November 16th at 12:00 with a Military graveside service at the Arni Memorial Cemetery in Lancaster Mo. Memorials are suggested to the Phelps County Hospice or Missouri Veterans Home in St. James.

Funeral services for Wade Lortz of Rolla, age 36, are incomplete at this time and are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary of Rolla. Memorials may be made to the family of Wade Lortz.

Weather [TOP]