News
The Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that workers would be performing shop maintenance, checking for downed signs as well as picking up tires and debris on roads. He also reported that workers would be repairing the main belt on the spreader box on Dent County Truck 115. Purcell indicated that a ribbon cutting ceremony would be held today at 2:00 at the Swiney Creek Bridge near Bunker on Dent County Road 5680 with the representatives of Widel Construction, Great Rivers Associates Engineering, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the National Forest Service. Purcell went on to report that the second bill from Widel Construction was received for $39,335.40. This bill is a result of the pilings change order on the bridge project. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said that workers would also be out checking for downed signs, picking up debris along the road and also checking for slick spots on the roads from the thawing and refreezing of the snow and ice. He also mentioned that workers would also be doing some shop maintenance as well. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated that the General Revenue fund balance at the end of the year was up $31,525.20 which could be attributed to the increase in sales tax revenues received by the county in 2012. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that she and the county treasurer balanced on all accounts for the month of December. She also reiterated from the last meeting that the tentative budget for 2013 would be available on January 15th in her office. The commissioners continued to work on the 2013 budget meeting with Sheriff Rick Stallings and Deputy Wayne Becker and also Assessor Brenda Bell. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be held Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.
The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting at the City Hall Council Chambers Monday night. City Administrator Clayton Lucas said that another strategic planning meeting would be held February 5th at 6:00 at the Upper Elementary School. He said that as a result of the previous meetings where citizens asked why Highway 72 had a 60-mile per hour speed limit, MoDOT will be changing the speed limit to 65 miles per hour after an overlay project on the highway in the summer. He also said that the city would be picking up old Christmas trees for residents if they place them curbside. Alderman Powell stated that he received a call concerning the gym at the Salem Community Center at the Armory and Administrator Clayton Lucas said that the gym had been rented out and those who rented the property have the right to the use of the gym, just like renting a pavilion for a family reunion. Alderman Haydn Powell and Kenneth Nash both had reports of loose dogs in the city. Alderman Nash also wanted to know how tall the water tower was in town to see if was exempt from having a beacon light on it. City Attorney William Camm Seay said he would check into it. Mayor Gary Brown reported that the home on McArthur that burnt continues to be tore down, that a distressed home on Gibbs is still being worked on and the residents have until January 15th to get that home down, that a burnt out home on Jack Street is also being worked on, and that the city is waiting on insurance on two other houses at Hunt and Warfel and on First Street that have been destroyed or damaged by fire. Brown said that 1,189 people attended the Salem Fitness Center and 1,063 utilized the Salem TCRC in December. The board approved Bill #3265 creating an ordinance to authorize the mayor to sign a cost share and municipal agreement between the City of Salem and Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for the Route J project; they approved Bill #3266 that amends a section of the City of Salem code of ordinances pertaining to mandating the use of vacation time, and the Board also approved Resolution #1-2013 adopting an amendment to the city of Salem Employee Handbook’s sick leave policy to accommodate catastrophic illness. The meeting was then adjourned.
The Dent County Service Unit of The Salvation Army would like to announce that they have successfully exceeded their $20,000 goal during this year’s Christmas Kettle Campaign by raising $28,573.94. The local Salvation Army Board and this year’s Christmas Campaign Chairman, Libby Sanders, would like to thank everyone who made monetary donations at the kettles or through the local mail appeal. They also extend their greatest appreciation to the dedicated volunteers that took time out of their busy holiday season to ring the bells at the kettles. Your generosity will be distributed throughout 2013 to those less fortunate in Dent County.
Sports [TOP]
The Salem Lady Tiger basketball team lost to Ava Monday night, 59-54. Savannah Hanning and Kristin Hemken led Salem in scoring with 13 points each while Emily Moser added 12 points. Salem falls to 7-7 on the year and 1-1 in the SCA. The Lady Tigers will host Houston on Thursday at with the JV contest at 6:00.
The Salem Tiger boys’ basketball team will be home to face the Sullivan Eagles tonight starting at 6:00 with the JV game with the varsity game to follow. You’ll be able to hear the varsity game at around 7:20 on KSMO Radio 1340 AM, online at ksmoradio.com, and can be seen at fidelitylocal6.com.
The 10th ranked Missouri Tiger basketball team will open up SEC play tonight, as they’ll host Alabama starting at 5:30. Missouri is 11-2 on the year. KSMO will broadcast the second half of the game on a tape-delayed basis following Salem Tiger basketball.
Missouri's Phil Pressey was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday after pouring in a career high 26 points to lead the Tigers to a thrilling 66-64 win over Bucknell. Pressey also dished five assists and is now tied with Atlanta Hawks Head Coach Larry Drew for third on the school's career assists list with 433. Pressey leads the SEC in assists per game and ranks second on the club in scoring (13.8 ppg). He is averaging 22.5 points and 12.0 assists over his last two games.
AJ McCarron threw for 264 yards and four touchdowns as number 2 Alabama earned a dominant 42-14 victory over top-ranked Notre Dame to capture its second straight BCS National Championship. With the win, McCarron became the first-ever quarterback to win back-to-back National Championships. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban recorded his fourth title overall and third in the last four seasons.
Obituaries [TOP]
Funeral services for Erma Dean Bryant of Salem, age 82, will be held today at 3:00 at the Dent County Memorial Chapel in Salem. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Salem.
Funeral services for Ethel Cleone Coad of Salem, age 81, will be Wednesday at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Wednesday from 11:00 until time of service. Interment will be in the Stone Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Stone Hill Cemetery.
Weather [TOP]
