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The Dent County Historical Society will sponsor a Civil War Battle of Salem Sesquicentennial Ceremony, Saturday, December 3^rd at 2 p.m., in the Dent County Courthouse Courtroom. The Ceremony will be held on the same day that the Battle of Salem took place. It was just one year after Dent County established its County Seat and called it Salem. The Battle of Salem put Salem, Missouri on the map and into history books and magazines and made it famous. The Battle was reported to have taken place in the dark at 4 a.m. The Confederate forces, under Col. Freeman led an attack on the Union led by Major Bowen’s forces that were occupying Salem. An artist, attached to General Halleck’s Command, did the famous sketch of the Battle of Salem. The ceremony will start with Kent Nichols firing his cannon on the courthouse lawn. Politicians and readers will give presentations and at the end of the ceremony, Nichols will show a short film and end with another firing of the cannon. Troops from both the North and the South moved in and out of Dent County during the Civil War. Dennis Purcell, who represents the southern part of Dent County as a Commissioner, will represent the Confederate States of America. He will be seated with Southern Sympathizers on the South side of the courtroom. Gary Larson, who represents the northern part of Dent County as a Commissioner, will present The Union. He will be seated with the Northern sympathizers during the ceremony on the North side of the courtroom. Darrell Skiles, Presiding Commissioner, will represent the Dent County Courthouse where the Union Soldiers were occupying during the early morning raid. The Courthouse Square was where the second Dent County Courthouse burned during the Civil War. The Sesquicentennial Ceremony is a time when we can honor and pay respect to those Americans whose lives were lost in the Battle of Salem. Come in full Blue or Gray period dress and help make this a reflection of the time when the Battle of Salem took place or just come and join the South and the North. For more information call Deloris Gray Wood, president of the Dent County Historical Society at 729-2545.

The Salem Police Department released their reports involving disturbances and a stalking. On Wednesday, November 23^rd at 10:27 at night, an officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Truman in reference to a disturbance involving an intoxicated female. The investigation led to the arrest of a 24-year old female of Salem for disorderly conduct. She was incarcerated and will be issued a summons upon her release. On Thursday, November 24^th at 5:44 in the evening, an officer was contacted at the police station in reference to stalking. The investigation revealed that a 28-year old male of Salem had been stalking a 26-year old female of Salem.  The suspect was arrested, issued a summons to appear in court, and released. Later that night at 10:14, an officer was detailed to Wal-Mart in reference a disturbance involving an intoxicated male. The investigation led to the arrest of a 37-year old male of St. Louis for disorderly conduct. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation or one previously mentioned. 

The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold an open-house community briefing on Wednesday, December 7th to discuss plans to replace three bridges located in Dent County. The bridges to be replaced include the Spring Creek Bridge on Highway 32, just east of Salem; the Holt Creek Bridge on Route H, located one mile west of Route DD; and the Dry Fork Bridge on Route NN, approximately three miles west of Route F. The community briefing will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Salem High School cafeteria at 1400 Tiger Pride Drive in Salem. The meeting facility is accessible to those with disabilities. The public may attend the briefing at any time during the advertised hours.  No formal presentations will be made.  Staff from MoDOT will be available to address questions, as well as talk with the public about project plans and schedules, and estimated closure durations. Each bridge will close during construction.  Work will take place during the 2012 construction season. The bridge replacements are part of MoDOT’s Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program, which will improve 800 of Missouri’s worst bridges in five years - by the end of 2013. So far, over 620 bridges have been replaced statewide. For more information about the community briefing, call toll free 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).

Ozark National Scenic Riverways will be hosting an old fashioned Christmas celebration for the public at the Alley Mill General Store on Saturday, December 10^th beginning at 10:00 a.m. You’ll be able to bring the whole family and your friends to view Alley Mill and the store all dressed up in holiday decorations and feast on cookies, cider, and hot chocolate. You can try out your creativity by making old-time ornaments that you can take home and hang on your Christmas tree to enjoy. The free old-time festivities end at noon, so come early to allow plenty of time for cookie munching and ornament crafting. Alley Mill General Store is located at Alley Spring six miles west of Eminence on State Route 106. For more information you can call (573) 323-8093 or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozar. 

The 2011 Chamber Christmas Parade will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3^rd.  This year’s theme is “An Animated Christmas.”  The Grand Marshal will be James Coffman. Coffman, a lifelong resident and businessman in Dent County, recently received the Eugene E. Northern Award during the Meramec Regional Planning Commission's annual banquet. Coffman has served on numerous boards and committees during decades as a businessman and is owner of Roberts-Judson Lumber Company in Salem. The parade route begins at the corner of Franklin and South Grand Streets and finishes at the Dent County Courthouse. For more information, call the chamber office at 729-6900.

Sports [TOP]

The St. Louis Cardinals announced the club’s selections for 2011 Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year honors, tabbing right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller for the second consecutive year and first baseman Matt Adams. Miller went 11-6 with a 2.77 ERA and Adams hit .300 with a 32 home runs and 101 RBIs in 115 games, setting Springfield franchise records in homers and RBIs.

The Kansas City Royals have agreed to a one-year deal with right-handed reliever Jonathan Broxton. Armed with a 100 mph fastball, Broxton was a two-time All-Star for the Dodgers and was 25-20 with 84 saves and a 3.19 ERA in 386 games for them, but has been injured the past two season.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Funeral service for Teresa Arlene (Walker) Wells of Salem, age 54, will be held this morning at 11:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family.

Funeral service for Charles E. Victor of Salem, age 85, will be held Friday at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be tonight from 5:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery.

Funeral service for Leonard Brazzle of Rolla, age 84, will be held Friday at 1:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Rolla. Visitation will be from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Macedonia Cemetery in Rolla.

Funeral service for Liary S. Chitwood of Salem, age 69, will be held Saturday at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the Jadwin Cemetery.

Weather [TOP]