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The Salvation Army Service Unit of Dent County would like to announce that this year’s Christmas kettle campaign will begin on Wednesday, November 23^rd and run until Saturday, December 24^th. The kettles will be located at Wal-Mart, Country Mart and Dollar General. Counter Kettles will be placed at various locations around Dent County. This year’s goal is $21,000 and, with the continuation of a local mail appeal and the hundreds of volunteer hours donated by individuals, businesses, and clubs to ring the bell at the Christmas kettle, The Salvation Army is hopeful that local citizens will support this campaign generously as they have in the past. This year US Bank Branch Manager, Michael McCluskey, will serve as the Honorary Christmas Campaign Chairman and proclaims thanks to everyone for their donation of money, time, or both during the Christmas season to help make a brighter 2012 for those less fortunate. The funds raised during this campaign will be used to assist the citizens of Dent County with utility assistance, and prescriptions. The Salvation Army also supplies local school children with backpacks, and provides assistance to families who have lost everything due to a fire. The generosity of the citizens of Dent County will enable the local Salvation Army to continue to meet the needs of those who need assistance in 2012. If you would like to help by ringing the bell as the Christmas kettle or need additional information about the local Salvation Army, please call Jim and Diane Boulware at 729-6685 or Sherry Lea at 729-8163.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will conduct their monthly meeting tonight at the district administrative offices boardroom beginning at 6:00 p.m. After a Board yearbook group picture, approval of the agenda, program evaluations on the library/media and special education will be communications. Superintendent Cindy Rumpf will then update the Board on Parent/Teacher conferences, Professional Development Day, an Exxon Mobil Grant, and the State Choir selections. Carrie Snider will give a report on the MSBA/MASA Regional meeting and the 7^th grade team will report on the 7^th grade Thematic Unit.In new business, the Board will set the Board election filing dates, address the selection of the MSBA Belcher Scholarship recipient, approve the auditor’s report, change the December meeting time and address budget revisions. The Board will then adjourn and go into Executive Session for the purpose of addressing student issues. The regular monthly meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open to the public.

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service reminds Missouri landowners that the deadline for submitting applications for the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is Wednesday, November 30^th. To participate in the GRP, applicants must own at least 40 contiguous acres of grassland and have a grazing management plan. Landowners who have their GRP applications accepted will receive annual, per-acre payments in exchange for their agreement to keep the land as grassland for 10, 15, or 20 years. Harold Deckerd, NRCS assistant state conservationist, says applications for the program are accepted on a continuous basis, but only applications received through November 30^th will be included in the ranking process for current funding. Landowners who have their GRP applications accepted may continue to graze the land or harvest hay and seed from the land, with a few exceptions: haying or seed harvest activities are not permitted during the primary nesting season  (May 1^st ­through July 15^th) on warm season grasses; and haying, seed harvest, or grazing activities are not permitted on 25% of cool-season grasses during the primary nesting season. In Missouri, soil erosion claims 1.3  tons of topsoil each year from every acre of grassland, compared with a soil-loss rate of 5.3 tons per acre for cultivated cropland. To apply for the GRP, contact your local USDA service center. You can find the office nearest you by looking in the phone book under "U.S. Government, Department of Agriculture," or access this website: http://offices.usda.gov.

The Salem Police Department released their reports for Thursday, November 10^th involving theft, a suspicious person, and a traffic violation. At 6:12 in the evening, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of South Oak in reference to a theft. The investigation revealed that a person or persons unknown took items from a residence valued at $841.92. At 9:20 that evening, an officer was detailed to Wal-Mart in reference to a suspicious subject in the parking lot. The investigation led to the arrest of a 29-year old Salem male for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Later that same night at 10:56, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 28-year old Salem female for driving while intoxicated, property damage, assault on a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest. She was incarcerated pending the application for warrants. Anyone with any information regarding the theft report, which is still under investigation, is asked to please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Fall Athletic Banquet will be held tonight at 6:30 at the high school cafeteria. The sports to be honored include softball, volleyball, and football.

The Missouri Tiger basketball team will play Niagara tonight as part of the CBE Classic. You can hear it on KSMO Radio starting with the pre-game show at 6:30. Missouri is 2-0 on the year.

The St. Louis Blues will host the Florida Panthers tonight at 7:00. The game will be joined in progress following the Missouri basketball game on KSMO Radio.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral services for Larry Beck of Rolla, age 68, will be held today at 11:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Choices for People of Rolla.

A Memorial services for Anita L. Hanes of St. James, age 53, will be held Friday morning at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until service time.

A Memorial with visitation services for Betty Brasure of Bland, age 78, will be held Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Memorials are suggested to the Brasure family.

Funeral Mass for Lester Thomas Adamick of Salem, age 79, will be Saturday at 11:00 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 with a Rosary Service at 6:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial services for Barbara Caroline (Turner) Walters of Salem, age 91, will be held at a later date in Santa Monica, California, and are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel in Salem.

Memorial services for Sharon Kay Kinsley Magnus of San Antonio, Texas, age 67, will be held Saturday, November 26^th at 11:00 at the Ridgeview Christian Church in Rolla. All Arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla.

Weather [TOP]