Archive for 2018

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met for the regular meeting Tuesday, May 22nd at the hospital library. Chief Financial Officer Monica Stogsdill gave the summary of operations for April that showed a gain from operations of $41,519 with an excess of revenues over expenses of $53,130 for the month. In April, 75 patients were admitted to the hospital as acute care patients per day for April came in at 10.1. A large amount of swingbed patients occurred during April with 143 in-patient census days being reported. The cash flow statement showed a decrease in cash of $57,852 for the month with days in accounts receivable dropping to 60 due. Chief Nursing Officer Debbie Hines reported during the month there were 670 emergency room visits, 221 ambulance runs with 152 patients being transported to the hospital, 30 surgical procedures, 1,557 outpatient registrations, 334 home health visits, 7,133 lab tests, 1,038 radiological procedures and 650 rehab treatments. The days cash-on-hand for the hospital stands at 89 year-to-date and that continues to be way over the Critical Access Hospital state average of 65 for Critical Access Hospitals. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas gave a report on the “One America” Retirement after using it for one year. Lucas said 60% of all hospital employees use the program that has 32 different investment options. Contributions from April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018 came in at $693,628. The hospital is currently looking at plan pricing on deposit activity. An employee meeting will be held late this summer to review. Chief Operating Officer Chris Strickland reported on the hospital foundation and the board voted to make it into a 501 C 3 non-profit entity that will give the hospital a chance to apply for grants they currently can not at this time. He also said there is still time to be a part of the Annual Foundation Golf Tournament to be held on June 8th at the Spring Creek Golf Club. He also said the sign in front of the hospital is going to be raised and include Family Medicine Clinic, Air Evac, the VA Clinic and Long Term Care. The Hospital Auxiliary met May 1st with nine members present and they will not meet again until September. The board approved Courtesy Staff privileges for Joseph Hime, MD; Scott Klenzak, MD; Dwayne Narayan, MD; George Northrup, MD; Gregory Renck, MD; and Anne-Mare Turnier, MD who are all tele-psych physicians. The board approved active staff privileges for Dr. Naser Almasalmeh, MD for the Emergency Department and as an Internal Medicine physician. The Finance Committee met and the board will review the budget before voting on it in June. The budget shows an increase in rates an average of about 4% across the board. They expect expenses to increase between 1 and 4% in salaries, 4% in the retirement plan, 4% in supply costs and 7.5% in drug costs. The capital budget was also reviewed for the upcoming fiscal year that includes capital purchases of Evident Clinical Module for information technology and software for home health for a total of $112,820, new fire doors for $25,000, an endoscopy for surgery for $50,000 and numerous other items that need replacing or updating. The hospital also has lease obligations that total $128,087 for the next fiscal year. The operating budget showed reductions in the expected in patient admissions of 1% and 2% in the Emergency Department. Total net operating revenue in the 2019 fiscal year is expected to be about $22,795,221 while the expected expenses at $22,665,432 that would leave an expected gain from operations of $129,789 and an excess of revenues after tax revenue at $609,789. The board approved the purchase of a specialized microscope for the Lab from Olympus for $10,246 to replace an old microscope, the purchase of food tray delivery carts for dietary for $3,617 from US Foods, and a new vital sign monitor for Long Term Care from Medline for $3,588. The board then went into closed session.

Nine people died in traffic crashes over the 2018 Memorial Day weekend. In 2017 nine people were killed during the three-day weekend. During the counting period, the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated 294 traffic crashes which included 124 injuries and all eight fatalities. Troopers also arrested 121 people for driving while intoxicated and made 102 drug arrests. There were zero boating fatalities over the 2018 Memorial Day weekend. Marine operations troopers investigated 12 boating crashes involving 10 injuries. There were no drownings during the Memorial Day holiday. Marine troopers arrested 16 boaters for boating while intoxicated and made 29 drug arrests.

The Salem Parks and Recreation Department wants to remind everyone their Outdoor Adventure Camp will begin Monday morning at 8:00. This camp will feature all kinds of outdoor activities including archery, kayaking, crafts, geocaching and more. The cost is $6.00 per day, $25 per week or $150 for the whole camp that lasts until July 27th. For more information or to sign up, contact Tye Lydon at 729-6290.

An accident occurred Saturday afternoon at 5:54 in Crawford County on Highway 49 about 7/10ths of a mile from Sellers Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Harley Davidson, driven by 50-year old Carey Conaway of Salem, failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the right side of the roadway and impacted a ditch. Conaway suffered moderate injuries and was taken to the Missouri Baptist Hospital by Iron County EMS. The Harley sustained extensive damage and was towed by Blacky’s Towing.

The Salem Police Department has released a report. On Sunday, May 20th, at 8:19 in the evening a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. An investigation of the stop led to the arrest of an 18 year-old female of Rolla for possession of Cocaine. The suspect was released pending a warrant application. At 2:08 p.m. on Monday, May 21st, an officer transported a 25 year-old male of Salem, from the St. Francis County Jail to the Dent County Jail due to an active arrest warrant from the city of Salem. Later that same evening at approximately 9:32 a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The investigation of the stop led to the arrest of a 33-year-old male of Salem for driving while revoked. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and released. At approximately 11:48 that night an officer was dispatched to the Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health Center located on Grand Street and Third Street in reference to a 23 year-old female of Salem who had broken out a window of the building valued at $250. That investigation of the report led to the arrest of the suspect who was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Tuesday evening, May 22nd, at approximately 6:50, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of East Gibbs Street in reference to a domestic disturbance. That investigation led to the arrest of a 63-year-old male and a 51-year-old female, both of Salem, for the possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substances, and the possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspects were released pending the application for warrants. Later that same evening at approximately 9:26, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. That stop led to the arrest of a 47-year old male of Salem for driving while revoked. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and was released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 573-729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Weather permitting, general highway maintenance and construction work will take place in the area during the two-week period starting today and lasting through June 8th. Many projects will include lane closures that could cause delays. Pavement patching will take place Thursday, May 31st, on Highway 32 between Route W and Craig Industrial Drive. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area. Roadway resurfacing continues on Highway 119 between Highway 32 and Dent County Road 6670. One lane will be open. Crews and a pilot car will guide traffic through the work area. A culvert pipe replacement will take place Tuesday, May 29th through Thursday, May 31st on Route DD between Route H and Dent County Road 2210. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area. MoDOT reminds motorists to buckle up, slow down, follow posted signs and drive safely through work areas. For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit their website at www.modot.org/central.

The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District announced four Salem R-80 students were honored with first and second place awards and honorable mentions in the 27th Annual Earth Day Poster, Trash and Graphic Art contest. This year’s contest theme was “Be a Hero: Your Planet Needs You.” Winners from the Salem R-80 District were 8th grader Johnny Scott from the Salem Middle School who took 1st Place in Trash Art; 6th grader Cooper Beeson from the Salem Middle School who captured 2nd Place in Trash Art; senior Emily Nash from the Salem High School who was given Honorable Mention in Poster Art; and junior Nick Stringer from Salem High School who was given Honorable Mention in Trash Art. Salem R-80 students participating in the contest were under the direction of teachers Angela Dingess (Salem Middle School) and Bessie Sanders (Salem High School). Congratulations R-80 students!

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. In the road report District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that materials would be added to and grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6410 and 6580, while grading only would be done on county roads 4220, 6010 and 5420. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2570, 4300 and 2360, plus patch grading would be done to fix washouts on county roads 4430, 2320, 2050 and 2330. He went on to say that materials would be added to Dent County Roads 3270, 4300, 2320 and 2360. Larson said that a man was screening brown rock at the Road and Bridge Department and that the recent numerous washouts had really worked on depleting the supply of brown rock. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that all three Commissioners attended the Hazardous Mitigation Plan meeting Monday afternoon, plus he attended the GRO meeting Tuesday evening. He went on to report that he would be attending the Region I Homeland Security Committee Meeting in St. James Thursday afternoon. Skiles reminded everyone that the Commission is seeking bids on new carpet for the courtroom and for the installation of windows on the third floor of the Courthouse and that the Courthouse would be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment and that Tuesday she attended the website meeting with Tabitha Utley, Ray Walden and others. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in to report that the CART receipts for May were $59,599.54, which is up year-to-date $2,356.32 or nearly .85%. She noted that $59,008.06 was received for May of 2017. Due to the Courthouse being closed on Monday for Memorial Day next regular meeting of the Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Memorial Day weekend is here you and you will have an opportunity to visit family or friends, go to one of Missouri’s lakes, or enjoy any number of recreation opportunities in the state. A safe, fun weekend starts with you. The Missouri State Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) during the long holiday weekend. This means every available trooper will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists. In addition, the Patrol will assign troopers to 20-mile intervals along Interstates 29, 44, 55, and 70, and U.S. Highways 60 and 61 on May 25, 2018 and May 28, 2018. Troopers taking part in the holiday peak travel crash reduction enforcement project will be alert for all traffic offenses, and be especially vigilant to aggressive driving violations. Over the 2017 Memorial Day holiday weekend, nine people died and 496 were injured in 1,122 traffic crashes. Last year, troopers made 107 DWI arrests. This year’s fatality counting period for the holiday weekend begins at 6:00 Friday evening and it ends at 11:59 Monday night. Troopers will focus their attention on seat belt use, use of child safety seats, impaired drivers, hazardous moving violations, and speed violations. Motorists are encouraged to be safe and courteous drivers. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. Please do your part. Obey all traffic laws and make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Motorists in need of assistance Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. For road condition reports, travelers can visit the Patrol’s website at www.mshp.dps.mo.gov. Click on the Road Condition icon to view road construction areas throughout the state or call 1-888-275-6636.

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, joined by 14 other state attorneys general, filed an amicus brief supporting the repeal of the Obama Administration’s 2017 Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule. The brief argues that this Rule, adopted on the very last day of the Obama Administration, was both illegal and economically unjustifiable. The 1990 Organic Foods Production Act was intended to impose specific feed and medicinal production standards for “USDA certified organic” products. In contrast, the 2017 Rule focused almost entirely on animal care and living conditions, imposing stringent requirements that poultry have access to outdoor soil. Legally, the states argue, the Obama USDA did not have statutory authority to enact animal-welfare regulations about outdoor access under the guise of regulating organic foods. Economic analysis also demonstrates that this regulation would have been extremely harmful for small organic farmers and consumers across the country. The high cost of complying with this rule would have likely driven many producers out of the organic farming business, leading to an estimated loss of $80-86 billion. This, in turn, would have driven up the cost of the organic products, harming consumers and reducing consumer choices. Missouri has 302 certified organic farms, totaling 41,078 acres. Missouri farmers produced 386 million organic eggs in 2016, generating over $70 million in revenue.