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The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting Tuesday in the city hall council chambers. At the meeting, the board approved the four trailer court license applications and 12 liquor license applications before hearing a petition for annexation for a home owned by Ralph and Laura Yohai at 300 South Dilworth Lane. The board approved the annexation petition and a public hearing of the City of Salem Planning and Zoning Committee followed by a public meeting will have to be held before any ordinance can be drawn up. The board also approved a number of budget adjustments that need to be made to account for items that were under budget and over budget throughout the year. The total amount of the budget did not change with any of the adjustments. The board then approved Bill #3169 by a 3-1 vote which is an ordinance that establishes new rates for electrical services in Salem. Salem was hit with a 10.87% rate increase from Sho-Me Power effective April 1^st and they have absorbed all those costs to date. Alderman Kenneth Nash felt that the city should charge for electric at the Salem Freedom Activity Center and Salem Fitness Center rather than pass on a rate increase of seven percent and voted against the bill. Bill #3170 was then approved unanimously to raise the rates for the sewer and water service in Salem by seven percent. Mayor Gary Brown then went over the budget for the city for the fiscal year 2009-2010 that showed expected revenues of $10,335,436 and expected expenses of $10,131,305 which would leave the city with a surplus of just under $204,000. The largest expense for the city is the cost of purchasing power at $4,100,919 with the sale of electric being the highest revenue generator at $5,879,768. There were no raises this year for the employees as they opted instead to change retirement plans through LAGERS that cost the city additional funds. This year’s budget features transfers of $100,000 each to the Water and Sewer Reserve Fund and the Electrical Reserve Fund. Other major income sources will be sales tax revenue of $1,075,288, the sale of water for about $483,000, the sale of sewer services of $453,025, personal property and real estate taxes of $290,538, communication license tax income of $158,000 and franchise taxes of $100,000. Money has been earmarked for a new fuel system at the airport that could cost about $40,000, plus $175,000 for street asphalting, storm water work at $90,000, soccer field work at $50,000, a new police vehicle for $54,000, $60,000 for water infiltration and mapping of the water system, and a new backhoe for $16,500. Alderman Kenneth Nash preferred that more money be spent on storm water problems in the city in place of other budgeted items like the fuel system at the airport, but no other alderman agreed so there were no adjustments made to the proposed budget. The budget was then approved by a vote of 3-1 with Kenneth Nash the dissenting vote; and Bill # 3168 adopting the budget was also approved by a 3-1 vote with Nash again the dissenting vote. The meeting was then adjourned.

An accident happened at 3:00 Tuesday afternoon in Dent County on Highway 32 about two miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2004 Ford Ranger driven by 47-year old Steven Pryor of Salem was traveling eastbound on highway 32. While trying to avoid an unknown westbound vehicle, the Ford Ranger traveled off the right side of the roadway. Pryor overcorrected causing the Ford Ranger to travel off the left side of the roadway, strike an embankment and overturn. Pryor and a passenger, 7-year old Dylan Pryor both suffered minor injuries and was transported by the Salem ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Both were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Ford Ranger sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

Businesses who suffered property damage or loss from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 8^th through the 16th can register for federal disaster assistance. Registration is available by calling 1-800 621-3362 from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, or at www.disasterassistance.gov. In order to complete an application, the following information is necessary: a phone number, address of the damaged property, a brief description of damages, a Social Security number, any insurance information and a current mailing address. The counties in which residents are eligible to register for disaster assistance are: Dent, Shannon, Texas, and surrounding counties. Businesses of any size and private, non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets The U.S. Small Business Administration also sends loss verifiers to inspect damaged property of those who have submitted completed loan applications. And local building and safety inspectors may come to see if damaged structures are safe. All of these inspectors should have photo identification

Residents who suffered property damage or loss from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 8^th through the 16th can register for federal disaster assistance. Registration is available by calling 1-800 621-3362 or at www.disasterassistance.gov from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. In order to complete an application, the following information is necessary: a phone number, address of the damaged property, a brief description of damages, a Social Security number, any insurance information and a current mailing address. The counties in which residents are eligible to register for disaster assistance are: Dent, Shannon, Texas, and surrounding counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, in addition to grants for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate victims for their entire loss. For those with insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered by insurance. Residents who applied for disaster assistance and are not insured can expect to hear from an inspector who will schedule a visit to look at damaged property. FEMA schedules inspections within 7 to 10 days to verify losses.

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Funeral services for Jerline White of Black, age 82, will be held this morning at 11:00 at the Locust Grove United Baptist Church in Oates. Interment will be in the Myers Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

Funeral services for Steve J. Sheffield of St. James, age 50, will be held today at 2:30 at Jefferson Barracks National Chapel in St. Louis. Visitation will be this morning from 9:00 to 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Interment will be in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. 

Graveside services for Helen McCall Jackson of Springfield, formerly of Salem, age 82, will be held Thursday morning at 11:00 at the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Paralyzed Veterans. All the arrangements are under the direction of the Dent County Memorial Chapel.

Funeral services for Raymond W. Hopkins of Salem, age 90, will be held Thursday morning at 11:00 at the James & Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery with full Military Honors. 

Funeral services for Larry Ray Patterson of Bunker, age 47, will be held Thursday at 1:00 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Bunker. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 today. Interment will be in the Blair’s Creek Cemetery in Shannon County. Memorials may be made to the Patterson family to cover funeral expenses.

Funeral services for Winifred “Phyllis” Cooley of Rolla, age 70, will be held Thursday at 2:00 at James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla.  Visitation will be Thursday from 12:00 until service time.  Interment will be in the Ozark Memorial Gardens. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society for Cancer Research. Eastern Star services will be held at 2:00 prior to the funeral services.

Funeral services for Johnny Eugene Elliott of Salem, age 62, will be held Friday at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary Chapel in Salem. Visitation will be held from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Anutt Cemetery with full military honors.

Funeral services for Walter Thomas Claus “Tom” of St. James, age 62, will be held Friday at 2:00 at James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James.  Visitation will be Thursday from 11:00 until service time.  Interment will be in the Wishon Cemetery in St. James.  Memorials are suggested to the family.

Funeral services for Dorothy Kahn of Salem are incomplete at this time, but are under the direction of Dent County Memorial Chapel.

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