Archive for 2017

The University of Missouri Extension economists urge farmers to complete the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2017 Census of Agriculture. The census should arrive in farmers’ mailboxes this month. It can be returned by mail or securely submitted online. MU Extension economist Ryan Milhollin says federal, state and local governments as well as agribusinesses, trade associations, researchers and others use the data to serve farmers and rural communities. The USDA conducts the survey every five years. It is the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial data for every county in the U.S. The law requires a response. Even if you are no longer farming, please return the census form you receive. Otherwise, USDA continues to follow up with mailed questionnaires, phone calls or visits from a USDA enumerator. Milhollin says information from the Census of Agriculture shapes programs, including MU Extension programs that benefit many farm groups. It gives a picture of the economic impact of agriculture in the country. This data strengthens numerous farm groups, large and small, helping policymakers see emerging trends such as young and beginning farmers and ranchers; women, veteran and minority farmers and ranchers; specialty crops; and organic production. You can find the survey online at agcensus.usda.gov. For more information, call 888-424-7828 (toll free) or contact Robert Garino at 573-876-0950.

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways comment period on the Preliminary Alternatives for the Roads and Trails Management Plan has been extended a month until January 15th for comments from the public. Hard copies of the plan are available for public review at the Salem Public Library at 4th and Jackson Streets. You can also view the plan online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/OZAR_RTplan where you can submit your comments. Maps will also be available for review at the park headquarters in Van Buren, located at 404 Watercress Drive, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The Preliminary Alternatives include detailed maps illustrating a No-Action Alternative and two Action Alternatives. A Preliminary Alternatives Newsletter accompanies the maps and provides a description of each alternative. The comments will be analyzed to determine possible changes and help inform the selection of the National Park Service’s preferred alternative. The preferred alternative will be presented in the Draft Roads and Trails Management Plan and Environmental Assessment, which is expected to be released for public review and comment in approximately 18 months. The public is encouraged to provide comments online or through the mail to: Roads and Trails Planning Team, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, P. O. Box 490, Van Buren, MO 63965.

Winning classes that brought the most candy from William Lynch, Salem Upper Elementary, and North Wood schools recently enjoyed a visit from Bandit, the USO therapy dog. Bandit is a 6-year old European Blue Great Dane and his job is to comfort our troops, and at times he travels the nation to work with wounded warriors. He has been recognized the last four years as one of the top 25 hero dogs in the country for his service. In 2017, National Geographic published the book “Loyal” where they picked Bandit as one of the world’s 31 top extraordinary dogs. His chapter within the book is filled with stories from military service members and what he means to them and their recovery. The special visit was a “Thank You” from the USO for the continued candy donations from the annual SpookBACKular event. For the last 4 years, students and the community have donated a portion of their candy to this event. Who really needs that much candy lying around? This year students from Salem and North Wood Schools donated over 150 pounds of Halloween candy to the USO of Ft. Leonard Wood.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met Tuesday afternoon for their regular December meeting. The summary of operations for the month of November showed the hospital had a loss from operations of $35,869 with an excess of expenses over revenues of $34,155. Inpatient admissions were above budget as were outpatient registrations. The cash flow statement showed a decrease in cash of $754,532 for November with days in accounts receivable at 61. The hospital is still waiting on a $300,000 United Health Care Medicaid payment but they feel they will see at least some of that payment by the end of the calendar year. Statistics for the month of November show inpatient admissions at 59 with impatient census days at 216. There were 760 emergency room visits, 214 ambulance runs with 157 patients being transported to the hospital, 29 surgical procedures, 1,533 outpatient registrations, 196 home health visits, 7,267 lab tests, 934 radiological procedures and 575 rehab treatments. Days cash on hand for the hospital for this fiscal year currently stands at 74. In November, the quality improvement committee reviewed and discussed projects for Rehab, Medical Records and Business Office, Dietary, Home Health, Radiology and the Lab. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas reported the Hospital Foundation raised approximately $12,000 from the “Dancing with the Salem Stars” fundraiser held Saturday night at the Salem City hall Auditorium. Their next event will be a golf tournament to be held on June 8th, 2018. He also stated the hospital auxiliary had 16 members attend their December meeting which ended up being a Christmas lunch social. Their next meeting will be held January 2nd at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Tuesday begin the election filing period for the District #5 board member who currently is Ray Bruno. People can sign up at the hospital for District #5 through January 16th, 2018. The board approved lock box changes adding Linda Maledy and Amber Price. Lucas explained to the board about a concrete project budgeted in 2017 for some repair and alterations at the hospital for the sidewalks between Professional Office Building 3 and the hospital entrance as well as the sidewalk between the entrance and the circle curve to remove the step, and also to provide additional handicapped cut outs in the curbing at the hospital. A pre-bid meeting will be held February 5th at 9:00 at the hospital main entrance with the bid date set for February 21st. The board of directors approved the purchase of a digital X-Ray Room and Readers from RadSource at the hospital for $226,485. This is being done to comply with new requirements set by CMS for the radiology department as they will go from computed radiography to digital radiography. Lucas said the hospital will do a five-year lease purchase agreement that will cost about $4,000 per month. By financing the project locally, the hospital will save about $21,000 in interest. The bid also includes an extended four-year warranty and other additions for an additional $76,000 that will be paid out of a different fund and not capital projects. The board then went into closed session.

A 2018 Planning meeting for “I Heart Salem” will be held Thursday, December 14th from 5:00-6:00 PM at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The “Goal of the Event” is to outline the 2018 calendar of events for “I Heart Salem.” The group has expressed some ideas, but they want to hear from you too! They also want to try to build more partnerships and share volunteers and projects, so if you represent another group that has some clean-up or housing projects scheduled on your calendar, “I Heart Salem” wants to know how we can help! Please plan to attend if you can or send a representative from your organization if you can’t make it! We’ll have some light snacks available. For questions or more information, please call Sarah Massengale at 729-3196.

The Dent County Service Unit of the Salvation Army Welfare Secretary Sherry Lea reports that ALL of the Angels on the Angel Tree were adopted as of 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. For all those who have adopted an Angel. For all those who have adopted an angel, please remember to have the items you have collected for your Angel at the Salem Community Center@The Armory by 4:30 this Friday!