Your World Today – Wednesday, May 11, 2016
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NEWS: Wednesday, May 11, 2016
LOCAL NEWS:
A number of representatives from the Missouri Department of Economic Development agencies and the Missouri Community Betterment Association came to Salem Tuesday as part of the “Feels Like Home” Tour. This is the 4th city for the group out of five they will visit this year. This group took a tour of the city and heard presentations from civic leaders, business leaders, students, the Salem Initiative and others in order to put together their insight into Salem’s infrastructure, tourism business, work force and housing as well as what they see as a need in Salem. Their findings found the people of Salem have strong organizations and have people who truly care about their community. They found good diversity and were impressed with the business base, many of which they said have been here for over 30 years. But they did see that there have been economic base changes over the last 10 to 15 years, mostly in the form of technology where Salem needs to catch up some. Much of that adjustment it was reported could come from the youth of Salem, but it will be the task of the community to find or create those jobs to keep those youngsters from moving elsewhere. Much of this starts with taking care of the existing businesses in town and helping them move forward by meeting their immediate needs while at the same time look for new business to addressing needs not currently met in the city. It will take a community effort to research and determine what attractions or businesses are needed locally and then look to fill those needs, but also to make sure new businesses will have the appropriate real estate available to fill their needs, both business and personal including housing. Community leaders will need to develop and put a system in place. One of their recommendations was to create internships and apprenticeships that could help cultivate new opportunities for the youth of Salem as well as provide technological business opportunities since youngsters are more in tune with how to reach the teenage market through social media. It was said there are programs like the Summer Youth Program for the state parks and other employment opportunities for the youth, but there is no one location young people can go to get that information. A full time economic director would be great asset in this field as their liason. Dan Lennon, Director of the Missouri Division of Tourism, said Salem embraces their outdoor activities as tourism amounts for over $37 million dollars of economic impact for the city, but he felt the city has not made enough effort to create businesses or attractions that will make people stop on their way through town. This will increase the economic impact of the natural resources already here. He also said Salem is not taking full advantage of all avenues of marketing available such as cooperative marketing dollars, free listings in the Missouri Division of Tourism publications and website as well as developing social media strategies. It was brought out that downtown Salem buildings are mostly filled, but development work to make the downtown area more attractive to locals and well as visitors would be a major plus to the area. In the areas of concern discussed by the team, the state has some funds or other technical assistance available that the community could use. In summation, the group felt Salem has the assets they need to more forward, but there has not been much coordination amongst the groups involved. It was their suggestion that these groups all need to meet at a roundtable and set a list of priorities to be met in the short term and long term, then work together toward reaching those goals.
This Saturday, the US Postal Service will hold their Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Just collect non-perishable food items such as canned meats, vegetables, soups, juice or boxed foods like cereal, pasta or rice from your home, place them in bags by your mailbox, and the letter carriers will pick them up and deliver them to our local food pantries. Your contributions are appreciated. Again, that is the Stamp Out Hunger Program going on this Saturday.
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that statewide turkey hunters checked 44,187 birds during Missouri’s 2016 regular spring turkey season April 18 through May 8. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 961 birds checked, St. Clair with 878, and Texas with 861. Young turkey hunters harvested 4,167 birds during the 2016 spring youth season on April 9th and 10th, bringing the overall spring 2016 turkey harvest to 48,354. In the local area, Phelps County had 641 turkeys taken, while Dent County had 630 birds checked and Crawford County had 475 turkeys harvested.
SPORTS [TOP]
The Salem Baseball Tigers game with Union Tuesday was postponed due to wet grounds and will not be made up. The Tigers are scheduled to face the Rolla Bulldogs at Rolla Thursday afternoon at 4:30. Salem enters the game with an 11-10 record. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio and online at ksmoradio.com. The game will be recorded for Fidelity Local 6.
Keion Owen from the Salem Golf Team failed to qualify for the MSHSAA State Golf Tournament on Monday at the sectional tournament hosted by Marshfield at the Whispering Oaks Country Club. Owen shot a 96 and the cut to make it to state was an 80.
The St. Louis Blues will meet the Dallas Stars tonight in Game 7 of the best-of-seven semi-final Stanley Cup Playoff series. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio starting at 6:30 with the pre-game show and the play-by-play starting at 7:00. The winner of the game will move on to the Western Conference Championships again either Nashville or San Jose who will play Thursday in their Game 7 match-up.
Matt Carpenter homered twice, including a leadoff shot on the fifth pitch of the game, and the St. Louis Cardinals had nine extra-base hits Tuesday night in an 8-1 rout of the Los Angeles Angels. St. Louis plays the Angels tonight at 9:05. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio after Blues hockey.
Brett Gardner doubled home the tiebreaking run off Kelvin Herrera in the eighth inning, and the New York Yankees overcame three home runs by Lorenzo Cain to beat the reeling Kansas City Royals 10-7 Tuesday night. The Royals will play the Yankees tonight at 6:05.
Signups for the City of Salem Baseball, Softball and T-Ball leagues are now under way at the Salem City Administrative Offices at 400 North Iron Street. The program is open to boys and girls from age 4 through 14. Signups are also underway for the Salem Senior Games for those who are age 55 and above. The cost per player is $25 and the league will begin on June 6th. For more information, contact Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon at 729-6290. Signups for both programs will end this Friday, May 13th!
OBITUARIES [TOP]
Graveside services for infant, Dakota Michael Givens of Salem, will be held Friday at 11:00 at the Gladden Empire Cemetery. All arrangements are under the direction of the Dent County James and Gahr Chapel in Salem.
Funeral services for Jack W. Greig of St. James, age 78, will be held Friday at 11:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00. Interment will be in the Adams Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Adams Cemetery.
WEATHER [TOP]
Today..Partly cloudy early with a 40% chance for showers and thunderstorms by late morning, high of 84.
Tonight..Mostly cloudy with a 40% chance for showers & thunderstorms, low around 60.
Thursday..Cloudy early with a 30% chance for rain, then partly sunny, high of 73.
Thursday night..Mostly clear, low of 48.
