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The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual banquet Thursday evening at the Youth Building at The Commons. Bobby Thompson served as the master of ceremonies for the evening that feature a silent and live auction for the first time. After a fine meal prepared and served by My Place Restaurant, the live auction produced over a $1,000 for the chamber with Col. Larry Edwards providing the auctioneering service. The total number of dollars raised from the live and silent auction was not available. The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the ‘Teen of the Year” award, the “Citizen of the Year” award, and the “Lifetime Achievement” award. Nominated for the “Teen of the Year” award were Alivia Elliot, Bethany Kellerman and Katie Walden. Salem Junior High Principal John McColluch presented the award to Katie Walden. Nominated for the  “Citizen of the Year” award were Becki Godi, Liz Gruendel and Doug Walter. Sherry Lea presented the award to Liz Gruendel. The final award for the evening was the “Lifetime Achievement” award and the nominees included Willie Chafin, Bonnie Gray and Rebecca Mitchell. Shirley Larson announced that the winner was Willie Chafin, but due to poor health he was unable to attend the banquet. Accepting the award on his behalf was Brian Larson. The Chamber thanks everyone who attended the banquet and all those who bid on the items to make the event a success.

The Dent County Commissioners regular meeting was held Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, Commissioner Bobby Simpson said that grading in District 1 would be done on Dent County Roads 2400, 2430, 5520 and 6160, and materials would be hauled to many of those roads. He also said that brush was being cut on Dent County Road 5680 in the Sinkin’ Township. Simpson did report that the siding has been completed on the judicial building annex east side. Commissioner J.J. Tune said that grading would be done in District 2 on Dent County Roads 6160, 3250, 3260 and 4060 with materials being added to 6160. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that the he attended the MRPC Annual Awards Dinner Wednesday evening where KSMO Radio owner Stan Podorski and student Katie Hunt were presented leadership awards representing Dent County. Skiles said that Judge Ralph Haslag was presented the Eugene Northern Award which is the highest award presented by the MRPC for volunteerism. Donnie Gray from Gray Construction told the commissioners that the front door problem has been corrected, but a secondary inside door was only 30 inches wide and did not know if that should be made 36 inches wide to conform with ADA standards. Commissioner Skiles said he would check on that. He also had some other questions about a light fixture, and paint for the bathroom and doorframe. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reminded the commissioners that Judge Bill Seay, Sheila Kunkel and Dennis Medlock would be at the meeting on Monday at 10:00 to discuss some tax issue, and that the road rally representative would be at the meeting at 10:30. At the last meeting, Elquin Auala and Mike Cards from MoDOT came by to discuss the Highway 32 project west of town. They will need agreements signed by the county for the repairs and adjustments that will need to me made to the county roads that will be involved in the moving of the highway. 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 Ranger District is seeking your comments on a proposal for the Blair Creek Raised fen Natural Area Project. This project is located on 285 acres of National Forest System lands in Shannon County. The Blair Creek Raised Fen is a deep muck fen and is unique in that it is the only “raised” fen known to occur in Missouri. Fens are mucky, wet areas fed by mineralized groundwater. Fens are ecologically important in that they provide habitat for many sensitive species including several plants species that are restricted to fens. The primary purpose of the Blair Creek Raise Fen Natural Area Project is to remove the effects of flooding caused by beaver activity, and improve open woodland wildlife habitat. The Salem Ranger District is proposing to breach the beaver dam on Blair Creek with hand tools and install levelers (pipes) in the beaver dam in order to lower the water level of the beaver pond, also to construct a fence around the fen (if needed) to protect the fen, and prescribe burn of the 285 acres on a 3 to 5 year rotation to improve fen and open woodland vegetation, wildlife habitat and reduce hazardous fuels. The public is invited to comment on the proposal. Those wishing to comment or if you would like more information on the proposal, you can contact James Turner, Environmental Coordinator by calling 729-6656, Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Written comments can be sent to Thomas Haines, District Ranger, Salem Ranger District, 1301 South Main Street, P.O. Box 460, Salem, MO. 65560.

Sports [TOP]

The St. Louis Blues will travel to Chicago to face the Blackhawks tonight starting at 7:30. The Blues have gone 0-4-1 on this six game road trip and they will be home Sunday afternoon to face the Montreal Canadians at 5:00. You can hear both games on KSMO Radio.

Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwig were named winners of the Silver Slugger award this season. This was the first time that Ludwig has been awarded the Silver Slugger and it is the fourth time that Pujols has received the honor.

The Missouri Football Tigers will face Iowa State tomorrow afternoon starting at 5:30. The pre-game show will begin at 4:30 and you can both on KSMO Radio. Missouri enters the game with an 8-2 record and 4-2 in the Big 12 North Division. A win by Missouri would clinch the Big 12 North title.

The Missouri Basketball game with Prairie View A & M Saturday afternoon will not be aired due to the football game. It is the first regular season game for Missouri.

In NFL action this weekend, the St. Louis Rams will travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers, while the New Orleans Saints will visit Kansas City and take on the Chiefs. Both games will be held Sunday afternoon.

Obituaries   [TOP]