Local News – Tuesday, October 24th, 2017

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6090, while only grading would be done on county roads 5530, 6380 and 6400. Purcell said a man would be picking up old tires left on a road. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated that his district received about 8/10ths of an inch of rain that allows for grading to be done on Dent County Roads 2620, 2630, 3180, 4280, 4283, 4287 and 4290, while materials will be added and grading done on Dent County Road 4285. He also said brush would be cut on county road 2300. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles attended a special transportation meeting at the Salem Community Center@The Armory to address transportation needs citizens in Dent County have to get the proper medical attention they need. Skiles said the Missouri Foundation for Health funded a pilot project in 11 counties called HealthTRAN that is administered by the Missouri Rural Health Association. HealthTRAN partners with existing transportation services to provide a convenient travel mode for individuals who can’t afford transportation on their own for medical needs. This would include low-income individuals, those with disabilities and senior citizens. The project is available in Shannon County, but it currently does not serve Dent County. The Missouri Foundation for Health is looking at assessing needs in other counties including Dent County to expand these services. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she would be attending the Salem Chamber, City and County website meeting today at the Salem Community Center@The Armory as they continue to work on the new site. The commission also approved renewing their current insurance policy through MO-PERM for 2018. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met for the regular meeting Monday afternoon at the hospital library. Chief Financial Officer Monica Gargus gave the summary of operations for September that showed the hospital had a loss from operations of $17,567 with an excess of expenses over revenues of $14,262. Much of that loss came from additional expenses to the 340B program and hospital foundation. Inpatient admissions were below budget, while outpatient registrations were almost right on budget. The cash flow statement showed a decrease in cash of $204,276 for September with days in accounts receivable rising to 63. Gargus said there was an issue with Medicaid not paying for some specific services that is system wide that caused the days in accounts receivable to go up 10 days from last September. Statistics for the month of September showed inpatient admissions at 47 with impatient census days at 193. There were 802 emergency room visits, 217 ambulance runs with 162 patients being transported to the hospital, 27 surgical procedures, 1,963 outpatient registrations, 183 home health visits, 9,232 lab tests, 914 radiological procedures and 580 rehab treatments. This month, the quality improvement committee reviewed and discussed projects for Surgery, Human Resources, Long Term Care, Pharmacy and Medical Records. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas reported the dates for the Health Screenings at the Salem Community Center@The Armory for 2018 and they are February 7th and 8th, May 23rd and 24th, and September 19th and 20th. It was also announced that balcony tickets for the Dancing with the Salem Stars presented by the Hospital Foundation are now available for $15 in advance. They will be $20 at the door. It was also reported there are four 4-top tables and four 6-top tables that are still available for groups that are on the floor. The 4-top tables are $200 and the 6-top tables are $300. Please contact Ruth Ann Parker at 729-5414 or 247-8600. Lucas said the hospital auxiliary meeting had 11 members attend on October 3rd and the last fund raiser for the season is the holiday wreath sales that are going on until Halloween. He then went over the Emergency Department quarterly surveys for July through September of 2017. A total of 156 surveys were returned and the results were at least 96% and 100% in most categories from being treated professionally as were the explanation of the findings by the doctor. The SMDH Family Medicine Clinic Survey results for the same time period were also reviewed and they were excellent with 100% in almost every category. A total of 89 surveys was returned for the period. The board approved the annual bylaw review with no changes needed. The board set the next meeting for Tuesday, November 14th at 6:00 at which time the annual Hospital Audit Report will be given before going into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released reports from last week. On Monday, October 16th, deputies responded to a call from 8-up Ink to report a theft. They reported that tattoo equipment and ink had been taken from the business. This report is still under investigation. On Friday, October 20th, deputies responded to Dent County Road 4155 for a report of domestic assault. After a short investigation, it was discovered that a 29-year old Salem man had assaulted a family member. He was arrested and charged with Domestic Assault in the 3rd Degree. He was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail on a $10,000 cash only bond. On Saturday, October 21st, deputies responded to the 2000 block of Dent County Road 6220 in reference to a report of a trespasser. Dent County deputies made contact with a 40-year old Salem man matching the description of a trespasser. He was arrested on a Capias warrant and was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail. If you have information regarding any ongoing investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, located at 202 S. Main here in Salem is currently accepting applications for exhibits for the 2017 Trees and Trains. Trees and Trains has been a time- honored tradition in Salem for the past 12 years and is visited each year by over 4,000 people. This year the exhibit begins with an open house on November 19th, and will remain open through December 24th. Applications and guidelines can be picked up at the ONCRC at 202 S. Main or by calling 573-729-6384, or 573-453-6091. They can also be requested by emailing mbcook16@gmail.com. The deadline for submission is November 10th. There is no charge to exhibit a tree or display, and all are invited to do so.