News
The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their monthly meeting Thursday evening at the district administrative offices. At the meeting, all the building principals described was going on at their schools. Superintendent Steve Carvajal stated that more dual enrollment courses will be offered including Spanish and the first checks for ACT reimbursement have now been issued. Carvajal stated that improvements to the playgrounds have been received positively from the public and students. He went on to say that tile work has been done around the doors at the high school, that a “wrap” will be put on the High School Gym that will make it look better, the cancellation procedures have all been updated, the summer school in 2013 will again feature Edison curriculum, applications for employment in the district will all be going online and that Salem will participate in another baseball game at Busch Stadium. The date of the game will be June 2nd on a Sunday afternoon after the Cardinals play the San Francisco Giants. Carvajal wanted to thank Mike Godi for removing the concrete pillars that used to hold the propane tanks behind the school. He also congratulated Becky Smith on winning the Salem Chamber of Commerce Customer Service Award, and the R-80 district for winning the chamber’s Not-For-Profit Association of the Year Award. He reported that the school is looking to begin an after school program that could possibly include the rural schools through a 21st Century Learning Grant that would be a five-year plan worth about $250,000. The deadline to apply is March 15th. Carvajal said that the Salem district is going to coop with the rural schools for Junior High track where the students from outside the R-80 district would be responsible for the cost of uniforms if there are not enough uniforms for everyone. Assistant Superintendent John McCulluch said that the Professional Development Day went well as he indicated that more assessments would be required over the next few years with a concentration on literacy. The board heard a CIA report from the 6th grade teachers at the Upper Elementary and how they use data to help students who are struggling to reach acceptable proficiency levels. The board approved the board filing dates of December 11th through January 15th during regular business hours at the district administrative offices. Board seats up this election include Carol Jordan and Bernie Sirois. Senior High Principal John Smith suggested that graduation be held this year on May 17th and the board approved that date. Joel Gundelfinger from McKinstry made a thorough presentation on what his firm could do to in improving the school from building additions to needed HVAC changes. They are basically a management company that will collect all the information needed to create a plan for the improvements that the board would approve, and then follow through to the project completion which includes using local labor and materials wherever possible. McKinstry has been around for over 50 years. After the presentation, Superintendent Steve Carvajal recommended the district go with McKinstry as the schools Energy Service Company. The board then discussed the differences between McKinstry and CTS for changes needed at the school and working with them to get a bond issue passed. After a lengthy discussion, the board unanimously elected to go with McKinstry and they will be going over the school in detail to determine the best course to get the needed work done for the school district. The board then accepted the resignation of Andrew Karr as a custodian before going into closed session to address student issues.
The Public Water Supply District #1 of Dent County will conduct their monthly meeting on tonight at the Dent County Community Center beginning at 7:00 pm. After approval of the agenda, the minutes from the previous meeting and disbursements, the Board will then hear reports including; financial reports, the water testing report, the President’s report and a bookkeeping report. After a general discussion and any new business, the Board may vote to go into Closed Session. The monthly meeting of the Public Water Supply District #1 of Dent County is open to the public.
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their regular monthly meeting on tonight in the hospital library beginning at 6:00 pm. After approval of the agenda and the minutes from the meeting held October 23rd, Hospital Administrator Dennis Pryor will update the Board with an auxiliary report, the hospital activity calendar, legislative and construction updates along with the summary of operations and statistics reports for October. Director of Nursing Carol Lacy will then update the Board with the nursing and ancillary service reports, followed by the Chief of Staff report. In Old business, there will be a 2011 strategic planning goals update; the Board will address the Community Health Needs Assessment and an annual bylaw review. During new business, the December Board meeting will be moved to December 11th in the library beginning at 5:30, and the Joint Board of Directors/Medical Staff Dinner will follow that meeting at 6:30. The Board will then address hospital purchases and election filings that will begin December 11th and end on January 15,2013. The meeting of the SMDH Board of Directors is open to the public.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol wants to remind motorists that many will travel over the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend. If you will be traveling this holiday, remember to buckle up and drive safe. The Patrol will participate in Operation C.A.R.E (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) during this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. As part of this operation, all available officers will be assigned to Missouri’s roadways to enforce traffic laws, especially those related to drunk driving, speeding, and seat belt use. The counting period for the 2012 Thanksgiving holiday weekend is from 6:00 Wednesday evening until 11:59 Sunday night. During the 2011 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, four persons were killed and another 464 were injured in 1,372 traffic crashes. That means traffic crashes killed or injured one person every 12.8 minutes in Missouri over last year's Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number is 1-800-525-5555 (or *55 on a cellular phone).
Sports [TOP]
The Kansas City Royals have signed four players, all with Major League experience, to Minor League contracts, including infielder Brandon Wood and pitchers Brian Sanches, Anthony Ortega, and Atahualpa Severino.
Obituaries [TOP]
Funeral services for Franklin E. Dunham of Edgar Springs, age 83, will be held this morning at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Interment will be in the Pilot Knob Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Church of Christ in Licking.
Funeral services for Valerie Dee Raulston of Salem, age 75, will be held Wednesday evening at 6:00 at the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 2:00 until service time. Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association.
Funeral services for Billy P. Rosenburg of Rolla, age 80, will be held Friday at 1:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla with full military honors. Visitation will be held from noon until time of service. Memorials may be made to the Rolla Veterans Memorial Park.
No funeral services will be held for Robert Fleeman of Salem, formerly of St. Louis, age 68, who passed away on November 16th. All arrangements are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel.
Weather [TOP]
