Your World Today – Tuesday, February 2, 2016
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NEWS: Tuesday, February 2, 2016
The Doe Run Company has announced it is reducing mine production at its southeastern Missouri mines, and reducing its workforce by 75 positions as of last Friday, January 29th, as a result of sustained low metal prices and declining ore grade. Doe Run operations in Missouri represent the second largest lead mining district in the world, and its lead concentrates are recognized by the industry as among the purest lead concentrates available globally. According to President and CEO Jerry Pyatt, laying off employees is a always a last resort as the company has taken a number of other actions throughout the last 12 months. However, with depressed metal prices, increased operational expenses and other uncertainties related to regulatory requirements, there is less flexibility for the company during extended periods of low metal prices. Pyatt stated the rising cost of regulation has a dramatic impact on business, and contributes to decisions that companies make all the time including Doe Run. According to a report for the National Association of Manufacturers, on average, companies in the manufacturing sector annually spend $13,750 per employee to meet federal regulations. During the last six years, Doe Run has incurred more than $343 million in environmental expenses, including $54 million in 2015 when lead prices began the most recent downward trend. Doe Run vice president of human resources and community relations, Mark Coomes said when Doe Run loses these skilled employees, they often take their skills out of the region to other mining operations. As one of the largest employers in Iron and Reynolds counties, they understand that the loss of these employees not only hurts our business, but also has an impact on the region. He went on to say where possible, they intend to reassign many of the employees to open positions in other areas of the company.
The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report in District 1, materials are going to be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6580 while only grading will be performed to county roads 4210 and 6220, according to Commissioner Dennis Purcell. He went on to say brush would be cut on Dent County Road 6600. In District 2, Commissioner Gary Larson indicated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2120 and 5240 while materials would be added and grading done on county road 2240. Larson said two brush cutters would be working on county road 2070. Commissioner Larson reported that he and Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles went to check out Private Drive 401 after Barbara LaPointe came to the commission meeting last Thursday saying she thought the road used to be a county road and was vacated without the residents knowing. She brought in a petition signed by the residents to ask the county to maintain it. Larson, road supervisor Sam Gorman and Thom Haines from the Forest Service met out at the road Monday to discuss it. In his report, Skiles wanted to remind people on their CenturyLink personal and business phone bills to check to see what county they are paying local and 9-1-1 taxes to. If it doesn’t say Dent County, please contact CenturyLink at either of these numbers: 1-800-786-6272 or 1-866-519-7885. You will have to be persistent and insistent as the problem is theirs to correct. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley stated that absentee voting for the March 15th Presidential Preference Primary begins today at the courthouse and you must have a legitimate reason. The last day to register to vote for the March election will be February 17th at the clerk’s office from 8:00 to 4:30. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse.
On Friday, January 22nd, Dent County Deputies arrived at the 40 block of Route EE in attempt to locate Jessica Warnke who had an outstanding warrant for her arrest for failure to obey a judge's order. The deputies made contact with Warnke inside of the residence. During a search of Warnke's person, deputies found suspected methamphetamine, suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Warnke was then arrested and incarcerated in the Dent County Jail without incident. On Monday, January 25th, Dent County Deputies responded to 600 block of Route WW in attempt to locate Kenneth Girten who has one misdemeanor and one felony warrant for his arrest. Deputies had received information that Girten was staying at a residence in that location. While talking to the occupants of the residence, Girten fled from the deputies. The deputies gave chase but were unable to located Girten. As a result, David Gipson and Rebecca Quick were arrested for Hindering Prosecution. Both were transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated pending warrant application. On Thursday, January 28th, deputies contacted an officer from the Rolla Police Department and requested their assistance in locating Rebekah Gipson who had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants for her arrest. The Rolla Police was able to locate Gipson and she was subsequently arrested. Gipson was later transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated.
The City of Salem Finance Committee will hold a meeting, called by Alderman Haydn Powell, tonight at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory located at 1200 West Rolla Road beginning at 6:00 PM. The purpose of the meeting will be to review the 2014-2015 audit, and the financial performance for July through December 2015. At the meeting will be a discussion of tentative budgeting assumptions for 2016-2017 including: projected revenues (sales tax, property tax, cart tax, utilities revenue, parks and recreation fees, etc), proposed Capital Projects from the Capital Projects Committee and proposed staffing and benefit levels (health Insurance, etc). The meeting of the City of Salem Finance Committee is open to the public.
SPORTS [TOP]
Payton Curley scored 30 points to lead the Salem Lady Basketball Tigers in a come-from-behind 63-57 win over Houston in a huge SCA Conference contest. Entering the game, both teams were 3-0 in the conference. Baylee Bilyeu added 13 points for Salem who improve to 16-3 on the year and they are 4-0 in the SCA. The Lady Tigers will be at Cabool Thursday in another SCA tilt.
The Salem Boys Basketball Tigers will be at Mountain Grove tonight to face the Panthers in a key SCA Conference match up starting with the JV game at 6:00 with the varsity game to follow. You can hear the varsity game on KSMO and online at ksmoraodio.com. Salem is 9-9 on the year and 1-0 in the SCA. Salem has won five of their last seven games.
The St. Louis Blues are coming off a long All-Star break and will be on the road at Nashville where they will face the Predators to finish up a four game road trip. The Blues are currently in 3rd place in the Central Division. The game will air on KSMO after Boys Basketball game.
The Salem Youth Basketball League is accepting signups now until February 12th from 8:00 to 5:00 at the City Administrative Offices at 400 North Iron Street. The Youth basketball League is open to boys and girls in 1st through the 6th grades. The cost is $20 per player. New Salem Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon is emphasizing good sportsmanship and the development of skills in this non-competitive, recreational basketball league. The league is for children of all skill levels. All games will be played at the Salem High School on Saturdays starting February 27th and lasting until March 19th. Lydon is also inviting men and women who are 18 years of age and older and no longer in high school to participate in a Men’s and Women’s Adult Basketball League at the Salem High School that will start on February 28th. That registration is also going on now until February 15th at the City Administrative Offices from 8:00 to 5:00. The fee for a team of up to 12 players is $300 if signed up by February 15th and $325 if signing up late. If you need more information about either league, contact Lydon at the City Administrative Offices at 729-6290 or e-mail him at salemparks@salemmo.com.
OBITUARIES [TOP]
Funeral services for Lucille Pearl Lane of St. James, age 87, will be held at 11:00 Thursday morning at the Rolla First Assembly of God Church in Rolla. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 Wednesday night. Interment will be in the Hudgens Cemetery in Rolla. Memorials may be made to the Amazing Moms at the 1st Assembly of God Church.
WEATHER [TOP]
Today..Cloudy with a 70% chance for showers before noon, then windy in the afternoon, high of 65.
Tonight..Mostly cloudy, low of 33.
Wednesday..Mostly cloudy high near 39.
Wednesday night..Partly cloudy, low near 21.
Thursday..Sunny, high near 43.
Thursday night..Mostly clear, low around 25.
