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The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual awards banquet Thursday night at the Youth Building at The Commons. The winner of the 2009 Youth Visionary Award was Jessica Raulston as she was nominated along with Matt Sirois and Dalton Smith. Stan Podorski from KSMO Radio was presented with the Visionary Award for an Individual in a category that also included nominees Carl Williams and Kim Stephens. The Visionary Award for a Business was given to Common Grounds. The other nominees in that category were the Salem Memorial District Hospital and the Salem R-80 School District. Angie Siers from Sonic Drive-In was the winner of the Customer Service Award as she was nominated along with Shawna Settles and Colleen Cutchin. The Small Business of the Year Award was presented to Phil-Mart with owners Dan and Julie Salyer accepting the award. Other nominees in that category included the Flat Nasty Off Road Park and Common Grounds. The Business of the Year Award was presented to the Salem Memorial District Hospital and was accepted on behalf of the hospital by Hospital Administrator Dennis Pryor. The other nominees in that category were Country Mart and the Salem R-80 School District. Also awarded at the banquet was the Past Presidents Award that was presented to Dustin Howard. The banquet featured a live and silent auction to benefit the chamber, and the meal was provided by Salem Catering.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated that grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 5110, 5130, 5410 and 5440; and that rock was going to be added and grading would be done on Dent County Road 2460. He went on to say that brush cutting would be done on Dent County Road 2400 and that service would be done on dumptruck #115. Purcell said that he attended a Bridge Replacement Off-System meeting to discuss what the monies in that account can be used for. Purcell said that low- water crossings that are 21 feet with descending pipes size may qualify or crossings with multiple pipes. Rick Pelcher, the MoDOT bridge inspector, will be in town on November 19^th at 1:00 to visit with the commissioners. Dent County currently has $141,000 in their BRO account. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that workers have completed the repairs on the chip and seal roads in the district and will be grading Dent County Roads 2500, 3260, 3270, 4283 and 5200. He further stated that rock would be hauled and grading will be done on Dent County Road 2200. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles congratulated Terry Bruno and Byron Burke for being saluted at the MRPC Awards Dinner on Monday in Rolla for their work with CERT training, and congratulated George A. Barnitz on being presented the Eugene E. Northern Award for his outstanding public service to both Dent and Phelps counties. The commissioners then heard from Clark Willey from Health Information Technology Systems about how they could digitize county records. 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.

Jimmie Steelman, Base Pilot Supervisor for the Salem, Missouri, Air Evac Lifeteam crew, was selected as the 2009 National Pilot of the Year during the Air Evac Lifeteam National Awards banquet in West Plains. The award was presented Saturday, October 3^rd during the Homecoming events for Air Evac Lifeteam. The Pilot of the Year of the Award is presented to the pilot who has exceeded job expectations by presenting a professional image, is a team player, demonstrates a desire to increase knowledge and skills, and actively pursues opportunities to promote Air Evac through community involvement. Steelman has been a pilot with Air Evac Lifeteam since October 2005.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen in closed session Tuesday night voted to hire Gary Cook as the Electric Department Superintendent. Cook has been a city employee for 33 years. The closed session meeting was then adjourned. Cook was notified of the decision by the board on Wednesday.

An accident occurred at 10:56 Thursday morning in Dent County on Highway 72 near the Salem City limits. According to the highway patrol report, a 1997 Ford F-250 driven by 37-year old David Lansing of Salem was traveling southbound on Highway 72. A deer ran into the passenger side of the Ford and the deer’s head then busted through the passenger window and struck 28-year old Jason Lansing of Salem in the chest. Jason Lansing suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene. The Ford sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene by the owner.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Tigers placed a number of players on the All-SCA teams chosen by the SCA coaches. Named to the All-SCA First Team were offensive lineman Phil Bradley, offensive lineman Kelby Pryor, quarterback Andy Kissir, linebacker Ty Floyd, defensive back Jake Schafer and punter Kevin Presley. Making the All-SCA Second Team were offensive lineman Ryan Lundy, defensive back Ryan Smith and running back Derek Freeman. The SCA Honorable Mention team include defensive lineman Levi Arnett, linebacker Justin Moore and back Ashton Karr.

Jordin Tootoo's goal late in regulation sent Nashville over St. Louis, 3-1, at Scottrade Center. Brad Boyes lit the lamp for the Blues, who have dropped six of seven. Chris Mason allowed two goals on 36 shots in the loss. The Blues will play San Jose Saturday night at 7:00 and you can hear the game on KSMO Radio.

The Missouri Football Tigers will be at Kansas State tomorrow starting at 11:30. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio.

Albert Pujols was named the winner of a Silver Slugger Award, a trophy presented to the top offensive player at each position in each league. Pujols was the only Cardinals player to win one this year. It's the fifth Silver Slugger Award for Pujols, and his second in a row. He's won the award at three different positions: three times at first base, once in the outfield, and once at third base.

The Kansas City Royals have agreed to a minor league deal with infielder Wilson Betemit. Betemit split last season between the Chicago White Sox and their Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte.

After an outstanding season for the Royals' Omaha club, left-handed pitcher Lenny DiNardo was named on Thursday to the Topps Triple-A All-Star Team. That could help DiNardo, 30, as he sifts through the marketplace in the offseason. The Royals announced that DiNardo opted to take free agency on Wednesday night instead of accepting an outright assignment to Omaha.

Obituaries   [TOP]