Local News- Thursday, September 21, 2017
The Midwest Blue Oval Club held their annual car show in Salem on Saturday, September 9th around the courthouse square. The show this year was a great success and all the money they raised from the show goes back into the community. Club Vice President Randy League reports this year the club was able to give $1,000 to Salem Band Parents Organization, $1,000 to the Shepherd’s Nook Food Pantry and $1,258 to the Love Pack Back Pack program. League said this is the most money raised from any of their car shows in Salem and he looks forward to the challenge of doing even better next year! Congratulations to the Midwest Blue Oval Club on a great show and a big thank you for helping out our community!
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met for the regular meeting Tuesday evening at the hospital library. Chief Financial Officer Monica Gargus gave the summary of operations for August that showed the hospital had a gain from operations of $128,236 and an excess of revenues over expenses of $130,088. The cash flow statement showed a gain in cash of $52,824 for the month with days in accounts receivable at 62. Chief Nursing Officer Deb Hines reported during the month there were 67 acute care admissions and 733 emergency room visits.Also during the month, there were 212 ambulance runs with 153 patients being transported to the hospital, 32 surgery cases, 1,625 outpatient registrations, 279 home health visits, 8,084 lab tests and 973 radiological procedures. Hines went over the Quality Improvement project that focuses on four departments that have selected areas where improvement is needed. She also reviewed the hospitals performance report with target rates being compared to the hospitals baseline rate. A Patient Engagement Quality Report with a total of 101 surveys received was reviewed that gave the hospital an overall 4 star rating out of 5 stars. In the Chief of Staffs report, Courtesy Staff privileges were approved for Dr. Camala Porter, MD and Dr. Anthony Cauchi, MD, both for the Emergency Room. The SMDH Foundation will have a Dancing with the Salem Stars on December 9th at the Salem City Hall Auditorium and a golf tournament on June 8, 2018 at the Spring Creek Golf Club. There are two high schools students serving as interns through the Salem R-80 High School Internship Program. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas reported a total of 443 people took advantage of the September health fair at the Salem Community Center@The Armory which brings the total of participants for the year to 1,270. Lucas gave the Auxiliary Report that shows Wreath Sales will be held through October 31st and a Scrub Hub sale will be held on October 18th in the SMDH parking lot. The board approved a budgeted purchase for the Dietary Department for the replacement of a commercial conveyor toaster totaling $1,324 from US Foods. The board then went into closed session.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education will meet this evening at 6:00 at the Salem District Administrative Offices Boardroom. At the meeting, the board will hear from Superintendent John McColloch about facilities, Board Student Liaison, MAP/EOC results and FFA. The principals from all the schools will give their reports. In new business, the board will approve bus routes, the Special Education Compliance Plan, and set graduation date. The board will then adjourn and go into closed session. The Salem R-80 Board of Education meeting will be held at the District Administrative Office tonight and the meeting is open to the public.
The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Wednesday, September 6th at approximately 11:15 in the morning, an officer was contacted in reference to a forgery. The investigation revealed a check for $41.69 was forged on a closed account to Whitaker Building Supply. The report is currently under investigation. On Thursday, September 7th at 3:05 in the afternoon, an officer was detailed to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter. The report led to the arrest of a 23-year old male of Salem for stealing merchandise valued at $3.00. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Friday, September 8th at approximately 7:23 in the morning, an officer was sent to the city park in reference to property damage. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown did damage totaling $820.00 to the bathrooms and caused damage to an equipment trailer totaling $1,000.00. This report is under investigation. On Saturday, September 9th at approximately 3:09 in the morning, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. That investigation led to the arrest of a 31-year old male of Salem on active arrest warrants from St. Charles County and for the possession of methamphetamine. The suspect was released pending the application of warrants due to a medical condition and also for not being fit for confinement. On Sunday, September 10th, at approximately 2:55 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 1200 block of South Gertrude in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed a 34-year old male of Salem had stolen a bicycle valued at $700.00 from the yard of a residence. Upon further investigation, the suspect was located and stopped for a traffic violation. The bike was located and returned to the owner. The suspect was taken into custody for stealing and driving while having his license suspended. He was issued summonses to appear in court and was released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have information regarding any ongoing investigation.