Sports – Tuesday, December 29th, 2020

Ashton Bowers scored 18 points to lead the Salem Girls Basketball Tigers past Dora Monday afternoon at Mountain Grove, 56-36. Salem will play Willow Springs this afternoon at 3:00 in the tournament semi-final. The winner will play in championship Wednesday at 2:30 while the loser will play for 3rd place at 1:00 Wednesday.

The Salem Boys Basketball Tigers fell to the Licking Wildcats Monday night, 68-48. Salem will play Cabool at 3:30 today at Cabool You can hear the game on KSMO and ksmoradio.com.

Due to an increase in positive COVID-19 tests among its student-athletes, coaches and staff following Mizzou Football’s final regular-season game, the team will be unable to participate in Wednesday’s TransPerfect Music City Bowl against the University of Iowa.

The Missouri Basketball Tigers will host Tennessee Wednesday night at 7:30 on KSMO. Missouri is 6-0 on the year.

Weather – Tuesday, December 29th, 2020

Today..Mostly cloudy, high around 40.
Tonight..Cloudy & breezy with a 90% chance for showers after midnight, temperatures rising near 46.
Wednesday..Cloudy and breezy with a 100% chance of showers, high of 48 during the morning hours with slowly dropping temps the rest of the day.
Wednesday night..Cloudy with a 60% chance for rain and snow before midnight, changing to snow and sleet after midnight, low around 27.
Thursday..Cloudy with a chance for sleet and freezing rain early, changing into all rain, high around 37.

Local News – Monday, December 28th, 2020

Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk reminds residents that the Dent County Collector’s office has extended their operating hours beginning Monday. The office will be open today through this Thursday, December 31st from 8:00 in the morning until 5:30. Remember that all mail must be postmarked no later that December 31st. There is also a drop box in the front of the courthouse for your convenience. You can also0 pay your personal property and real estate taxes online by following the instructions on your tax forms. There is a convenience fee to pay your taxes online.

An accident happened in Reynolds County Sunday at 12:55 in the afternoon on Highway 106 at Main Street in Ellington. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Chevy pickup driven northbound by 73-year old Robert Burnett of Eminence, was making a left hand turn onto Highway 106 and pulled in to the path of a 2007 Pontiac G6 driven eastbound by 27-year old Tiffany Cessell of Bunker. The Pontiac struck the Chevy in the side. Suffering minor injuries was a two-year old female infant passenger in the Pontiac. The child was transported to the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center by the Reynolds County Ambulance. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage and were removed from the scene Aissie Towing and Auto. Cessell and the child were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident while Burnett was not.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met for their regular meeting Thursday, December 18th, at the Health Center. Administrator Kendra Mobray updated the Board on the Health Center’s continued response to Covid-19. She reported that cases are steady across Dent County. The 7-day positivity rate has hovered around 15% during the week, which is a decrease from previous weeks. Dent County is currently considered to be in the “Critical Risk” category based on the State Wide Public Health Advisory. Case numbers are being updated on Facebook every Monday and Thursday. As the holidays approach it is important that everyone do their part in preventing further spread of the virus by following CDC guidelines. Pfizer vaccine has been distributed to several areas in Missouri. The Health Center has submitted necessary forms and is pending approval through DHSS to be a COVID-19 vaccinator. Mobray said that the Health Center is hopeful that vaccine for the general public will be released in early spring, but no date has been set at this time. The Heath Center is working with Salem Memorial District Hospital to develop a plan for dispensing once public vaccine is available. She went on to report that Flu shots are being given by appointment and free flu shots are available for uninsured adults and children, as well as high-dose flu shots for seniors and quadrivalent flu shots for anyone over 6 months of age. The Board of Trustees voted to close the Health Center at noon December 31st and re-open Monday January 4th at 8:00. The Administrative Manual and Personnel Manual were reviewed and approved by the Board. Mobray reported that fillings for the one Board seat that will be expiring in April began December 15th and will continue through January 19th. Those interested in filling for the seat must file in person at the County Clerk’s office in the Dent County Courthouse. The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees for the health Center was set for January 21st at 5:00. The meeting was then adjourned.

A three vehicle accident happened Tuesday afternoon just after 2:30 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about five miles south of Rolla. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2007 Chrysler Town and County being driven by 63-year old Sandra Seeger of Foristell, Missouri was entering the highway from Phelps County Road 7160 and pulled into the path of a 1995 Chevrolet Silverado being driven east by 67- year old Clifford King of Rolla. After the Chevrolet struck the Chrysler, it then rolled backward striking a 2017 Ford Escape being driven by 70-year old Carolyn Crow of Licking. Both Seeger and King were transported to Phelps Health in Rolla for treatment of minor injuries. According to the report, all drivers involved were wearing safety restraints. The Chrysler and Chevrolet both sustained extensive damage. The Chrysler was towed from the scene by C & C Towing and the Chevrolet was removed by Taylor’s Towing of Rolla. The Ford had minor damage and was able to be driven from the scene.

Obituaries – Monday, December 28th, 2020

A Graveside service for Mary Katherine Davis of Vichy, age 88, will be held this afternoon at 1:00 in the Davis Cemetery. All the arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Rolla.

Funeral services for Richard Gary Smith of Salem, age 81 will be Tuesday at 2:00 at the Salem chapel of the James and Gahr Mortuary. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00 until 8:00. Masonic services will be Monday evening at 7:00. Interment with military honors will be in the Northlawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Spring Creek Golf Club and Salem Masonic Lodge #225 AF and AM.

Funeral services for Sam Gorman of Licking, age 65, will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 at the Salem Chapel of James and Gahr Mortuary. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening. Interment will be in the Patterson Cemetery at a later date.

Funeral services for Lola Ruth Clark of Salem, age 93, will be Wednesday at 1:00 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla. Visitation will also be Wednesday from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Upper Morrison Cemetery at Cook Station. Memorials are suggested to the Bible Impact Ministries.

Funeral services for Billy Joe Parker of Salem, age 60, will be held at 1:00 Thursday at the Salem Chapel of the James and Gahr Mortuary. Visitation will be held Thursday from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

A Memorial Gathering for Corey Austin Purcell age 25, formerly of Salem, will be held Thursday from 5:00 until 7:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem.

Memorial services for Garnold "George” Lynn Freeze of Salem, age 87, will be held at 11:00 Saturday morning at the Salem Full Gospel Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shepherd’s Nook Food Pantry. All the arrangements are under the direction of Wilson Mortuary of Salem.

A Funeral Mass for Louis Joseph Nothaus of Salem, age 82, will be held at 11:00 Saturday morning at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 8:00 Friday evening in the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Burial will be Saturday in the North Lawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the B. Oscar Brown Scholarship Fund.

A Celebration of Life for Libby Sanders of Salem, age 69, will be held at a later date. Interment will be at the North Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History. All the arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary of Salem.

Sports – Monday, December 28th, 2020

The Salem Girls Basketball Tigers defeated Seymour Saturday at Mountain Grove, 73-46. Ashton Bowers led the way with 21 points followed by Savannah Manthey with 15 and Bella Jadwin with 13. Salem will play Dora today at 3:00. Salem enters the tournament with a 6-3 record. The winner will play Tuesday at 3:00 and the loser will play Tuesday morning at 9:00.

The Salem Boys Basketball Tigers beat Summersville Saturday night in the Cabool Holiday Tournament, 47-37 for their second straight win. Salem will play Licking tonight at 7:30. The winner will play Tuesday at 6:30 while the loser will play Tuesday at 3:30. KSMO will NOT be broadcasting the game tonight due to previous commitments.

Due to an increase in positive COVID-19 tests among its student-athletes, coaches and staff following Mizzou Football’s final regular-season game, the team will be unable to participate in Wednesday’s TransPerfect Music City Bowl against the University of Iowa.

Patrick Mahomes touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson with just under two minutes left gave the Kansas City Chiefs a 17-14 win over Atlanta and clinched a first round bye in the playoffs. The Chiefs are 14-1 on the season.

Weather – Monday, December 28th, 2020

Today..Partly sunny, high around 40.
Tonight..Partly cloudy, low near 24.
Tuesday..Mostly cloudy and breezy, high of 39.
Tuesday night.. Cloudy & breezy with a 50% chance for showers after midnight, low of 34.
Wednesday..Cloudy with a 90% chance for showers, high around 55.
Wednesday night..Cloudy with an 80% chance for rain to change into snow, low around 24.

Local News – Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

Your friends at KSMO Radio and Your World Today wish everyone a joyous and Merry Christmas. To that end, Your World Today will not be published on Thursday and Friday for the Christmas holiday. The next edition will be on Monday, December 28th.

A two vehicle accident happened Monday afternoon around 5:30 in Reynolds County on Highway 72 about ive miles north of Bunker. According to the report released from the highway patrol, a 2014 Ford Explorer being driven by 23-year old Cathy Piatt of Bunker, was traveling east and was attempting to pass another vehicle. At that time, a 2004 GMC Yukon being driven by 47-year old Derrick Conway of Bunker crested a hill and attempted to avoid the Piatt vehicle. Both vehicles then went off the roadway and struck head-on. Conway was transported to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage and were removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing. According to the report, both drivers were wearing safety restraints. The highway patrol was assisted by both the Dent and Reynolds County Sheriff’s Departments.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the consent agenda was approved, City Administrator Ray Walden reported the materials for the renovation work at the City Administration Offices would be in this week and look for their work to be completed in January with an open house to follow. He said there was no City of Salem Seniority Banquet this year, but Walden did want to salute the longest tenured employee of the city and that is Mary Happel who celebrated her 42nd year working for the city. Walden said they are still working with BHMG engineers on the pre-paid billing options to bring back before the board, and the city offices would be closed this Thursday and Friday for Christmas, and next Friday for New Years. Public Works Director Mark Nash stated the next utility billing is right on time as determined by the utility committee as city workers are getting the manual read counts in. He said there has been some issue in getting the new meter numbers into the system, but they have been in communication with Incode where a bulk update of 225 meters will be done en masse to get them online. Nash said that the billing is working out better now that the city is getting true reads. Nash said the ad will be in the Salem News for the specs on the grinding pump station and the bids will be due in on January 5th. The board approved the sale of two Dodge Charges Pursuit vehicles on Purple Wave as surplus in Resolution 22-2020. One of the vehicles was the old K-9 vehicle while the other as the regular pursuit vehicle. The board also approved the addition of Jon Mahalka to the airport board before going into closed session.

Register for Salem Public Library’s Hibernation Reading Challenge and settle in for winter fun! All ages are encouraged to participate! This challenge begins on December 28, 2020 and ends on February 6, 2021. Registration is quick and easy. Simply click on the Beanstack link located on the library’s home page, salempubliclibrary.net. Readers will earn tickets for prize drawings as they log reading minutes in the Beanstack software. Extra tickets may be earned by completing creative boredom-busting activities! Prize baskets will include items for cozy at-home winter entertainment like a snuggly fleece throw, tasty cocoa, along with terrific books and movies. This program is free!”

A three vehicle accident happened Tuesday afternoon just after 2:30 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about five miles south of Rolla. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2007 Chrysler Town and County being driven by 63-year old Sandra Seeger of Foristell, Missouri was entering the highway from Phelps County Road 7160 and pulled into the path of a 1995 Chevrolet Silverado being driven east by 67- year old Clifford King of Rolla. After the Chevrolet struck the Chrysler, it then rolled backward striking a 2017 Ford Escape being driven by 70-year old Carolyn Crow of Licking. Both Seeger and King were transported to Phelps Health in Rolla for treatment of minor injuries. According to the report, all drivers involved were wearing safety restraints. The Chrysler and Chevrolet both sustained extensive damage. The Chrysler was towed from the scene by C & C Towing and the Chevrolet was removed by Taylor’s Towing of Rolla. The Ford had minor damage and was able to be driven from the scene.

Obituaries – Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

Graveside services for Ronald Eugene Gibbs of Nixa, age 70, will be held this morning at 11:00 at the Dry Fork Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. All arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary of Salem.

Funeral services for Vernon Henry Lamkey of Cuba, age 78, will be Saturday at 1:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation will be Saturday from 11:00 until service time. Interment will be in the Reedville Cemetery, Sullivan.

Funeral service for Earlene Stella Fowler of Fenton, age 85, will be held at 2:00 Sunday afternoon in the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Visitation will be held from 2:00 until 4:00 Saturday afternoon in the Jay B. Smith Funeral Home in Fenton, and on Sunday from 1:00 until service time in the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Burial will follow in the Green Forest Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life for Libby Sanders of Salem, age 69, will be held at a later date. Interment will be at the North Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History. All the arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary of Salem.

Funeral services for Richard Gary Smith of Salem, age 81 will be Tuesday at 2:00 at the Salem chapel of the James and Gahr Mortuary. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00 until 8:00. Masonic servies will be Monday evening at 7:00. Interment with military honors will be in the Northlawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Spring Creek Golf Club and Salem Masonic Lodge #225 AF and AM.

Funeral services for Sam Gorman of Licking, age 65, will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 at the Salem Chapel of James and Gahr Mortuary. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening. Interment will be in the Patterson Cemetery at a later date.

A private graveside service in the Rolla City Cemetery for Patricia Ellen Mesko of Rolla, age 80, will be held later. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice or the Rolla Salvation Army. Arrangements are entrusted to the James and Gahr Mortuary of Rolla.

Private family services will be held for Bertha “Marteen” (Glenn) Manjarrez of Salem, age 90. Burial will be in the New Hope Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary of Salem.

Sports – Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

Xavier Pinson scored 15 points and Jeremiah Tilmon netted 12 more as Missouri edged Bradley, 54-53. Missouri is now 6-0 on the season and they will play Tennessee on Wednesday at 8:00.

On Sunday, the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association reached an agreement to play a 56-game regular season starting on January 13th and end on May 8th. The Blues will shift to the West Division, which includes the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights. At the start of the season, fans will NOT be allowed to attend any games.

The Salem Girls Basketball Tigers will play in the Mountain Grove Holiday Tournament Saturday morning against Seymour at 10:30 at Mountain Grove. Salem is seeded 1st in that tournament. The winner will play Monday at 3:00 against the winner of the Dora/Plato game. The loser will play at 9:00 Monday morning against the loser of that game. Salem enters the tournament with a 5-3 record.

The Salem Boys Basketball Tigers will play in the Cabool Holiday Tournament Saturday night at 7:30 against Summersville at the Cabool High School Gym. Salem is seeded 6th in the tournament. The winner will play the winner of the Licking/Plato game on Monday at 7:30, while the loser will play the loser of that game at 1:30 Monday afternoon. Salem is 1-3 going into the tournament. KSMO will NOT be broadcasting the game on Saturday night or on Monday.

Weather – Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

Today..Cloudy with a 50% chance for showers, high near 53.
Tonight..Partly cloudy, low near 20.
Christmas Eve..Mostly sunny, high around 31.
Thursday night..Mostly clear, low of 14.
Christmas Day..Mostly sunny, high near 36.
Friday night..Partly cloudy, low around 24.