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The Salem Board of Aldermen at their regular meeting Monday evening at the city hall council chambers voted to cease and stop all negotiations with ProEnergy to establish a BioMass plant in Salem. According to a statement by Mayor Gary Brown, the board of alderman was supposed to have received a proposal from ProEnergy two to three months after the memorandum of understanding. Instead it took more than six months and they stated that the plant would need to be on 15 to 30 acres of land, use 500,000 gallons of water per day, use 315,000 tons of green trees and would provide a rate of 10 cents per kilowatt hour with a rebate of 1.2 cents for 8.8 cents per kilowatt hour. At the last meeting of the coop of towns that currently use Sho-Me Power, the lowest rate offered to that coop was 6.44 cents per kilowatt hour for five years starting in 2013 that included wheeling charges and other costs of fuel from electric companies. Alderman Randell said that there were concerns about air quality, the long-term availability of water, current employers that use timber, the effect of a higher electric rate on US Foods, and the possible impact on property tax values that could affect schools. ProEnergy was also asked by the city to review their proposed rate and get back with the city by 5:00 Monday with a new proposal, but they did not respond. The alderman with their vote said that they did what they felt was best for the citizens of Salem. Alderman Randell even amended his motion to state that the city would not honor any future proposal on electric rates from ProEnergy since they did not offer a response to the city’s request. In other business, the board approved the purchase of a Pipeline Television Inspection System from COE Equipment from Rochester, Illinois for $58,000 less the trade-in of $8,007 from the city’s Pro Scout Sewer Camera System for a total of $49,993. The city had budgeted $65,000 for this purchase. City Attorney Nanci Wisdom reported on the public hearing and meeting of the Salem Planning and Zoning Commission for a Conditional Use Permit for a pool hall and arcade at 511 North Main Street owned by Randy Link. The Planning and Zoning Board recommend the issuance of the conditional use permit, the alderman agreed and approved the recommendation. After the consent agenda, the board approved a one-hour time limit on the parking lot where the Virgil Parker Memorial is located between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Mayor Brown said that he has been asked to name three streets as being “historical” and City of Salem Economic Development Director Sharon Tubbs said that she would provide the mayor with a list of about 22 homes that are historical to help with his decision. Brown said that trash has been found at the Al Brown Field and City Park from residents in the county as the city was able to identify them from their trash. He also said that a number of household furniture pieces were taken to the yard waste area and burned which is illegal. Mayor Brown wanted to remind everyone that limbs placed on the curb for pickup in the city need to be no more than four feet in length. Brown stated that signups for an east ward and a west ward aldermanic seat will begin next Tuesday at 8:00 at the City Administrative Offices. Brown reported that in closed session at the last meeting, the board agreed to purchase property from Barbara Fiebelman adjoining the cemetery for $20,000, split the closing costs and purchase title insurance. The board approved the purchase in Bill #3210 and also approved a budget adjustment of $20,500 from the Park and Soccer Field Capital Improvement Fund into the Cemetery Capital Improvement Fund. The board also postponed taking any action on the request from the Cozumel Restaurant on a permanent liquor license. After the bills were approved, the meeting was adjourned.

The Salvation Army Service Unit of Dent County would like to announce that this year’s Christmas kettle campaign is going on now through Friday, 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, David Dittman, a Vice-President at the Bank of Salem, will serve as the Honorary Christmas Campaign Chairman and he thanks everyone for their donation on money, time or both during this Christmas season to make it a brighter 2011 for hose 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 2011. 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.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Lady Basketball Tigers fall to 0-3 on the year as they lost to 2^nd seeded Ava in the Cabool Tournament last night, 41-32. Salem was led in scoring by Bailey Barnes with 12 points. They will face Mountain Grove Friday night at Cabool in the second round of the tournament.

Obituaries   [TOP]