Archive for 2020

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met August 20th at the Health Center. Health Center Administrator Kendra Mobray updated the Board on the Health Center’s response to COVID-19. She reported she met with local school administrators to discuss all the schools re-opening and has been in frequent communication with them since the meeting. Mobray noted that she presented COVID training to the staff at all the rural schools on Tuesday, August 18th and Wednesday, August 19th. She reported to the Board that there are currently 9 active cases in Dent County and 21 cases released from isolation, 1 case has required hospitalization. Mobray went on to say that to date the Health Center has isolated 30 laboratory confirmed cases and that case numbers are bring released on Facebook every Monday and Thursday. She said Health Center clients are being seen by appointment only. Mobray said that no realtors submitted bids for to list the MacArthur facility. The Board voted to list the property with Elwood Real Estate. Mobray reported that outpatient lab services were provided for 115 clients in July. Health Center Staff was present at Senior Registration on August 10th giving required immunizations to seniors, and immunizations continue to be available by appointment only. In contract updates she noted that the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Cares contract was received, signed and sent back to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Mobray said that all seven staff members have had to work overtime the last few weeks to complete case investigations and contract tracings, plus as cases increase, the staff time dedicated to COVID will increase as well. The ELC Contract, which runs through March of 2022, will allow for one additional part-time employee to assist with response efforts. The Board voted to offer a temporary part-time nurse position. Subsequent to the Board meeting, an internal employee decided to take the part-time position and a full time nursing position will be advertised. WIC appointments and communications continue to be conducted via phone and mail. Roma Jones, Assistant Administrator, reported that the transition from WIC checks to cards has been successful so clients are being asked to come into the office to pick up their eWIC card by appointment only. This process will continue through September. Mobray reported that the first SHOW-ME Health Women’s clinic is scheduled for August 31st from 8:00 until 12:00 noon. In collaboration with SMDH, Sandra Headrick, FNP, will see qualifying patients at the once monthly clinic. Uninsured and under-insured women ages 35-64, that meet income guidelines, can receive “well woman care” at no cost through the program. The Health Center investigated two animal bites, ten cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, one case of Erlichia Chaffeensis, and one case of E. Coli in July. The Board voted to adopt the tax-rate for the coming year of 0.0959 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The health center expenses were then approved and the next regular board meeting was set for September 17th at 5:00. The meeting was adjourned.

The City of Salem’s Finance Committee will be meeting this evening at 6:00 at the Community Center@ the Armory, 1200 West Rolla Road. The committee will hear preliminary 2019-2020 fiscal year end financials and anticipated year end budget adjustments before addressing the 2020-2021year to date sales tax and utility revenue and capital projects status. The finance committee will also be discussing city engineering before discussing the preliminary financial objectives for the 2021-2022 fiscal year before adjourning. The meeting of the city of Salem’s finance committee is open to the public.

A Rolla woman was injured in an accident in Oregon County Tuesday morning shortly before 6:00 on Highway 142 about 20 miles east of Thayer. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2013 Ford pickup being driven by 26-year old Angelica Otero was traveling westbound when she ran off the right side of the road. Otero then overcorrected and traveled off the left side of the road before striking a tree and a house. Otero was transported by Oregon County Ambulance to Ozarks Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. The Ford was totaled and was removed from the scene by Wickers Towing.

An accident happened in Phelps County Tuesday morning just before 7:30 on Phelps County Road 6120 about three miles west of Highway 63. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado being driven by 37-year old Kayla Woods of Edgar Springs was westbound when she traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment and then overturned. Woods suffered moderate injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Chevrolet sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by Lucas Towing.

The Dent County Health Center reports more COVID-19 cases were identified since last Thursday which brings the Dent County total to 35. There are currently six active cases. To reduce risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19, they encourage you to please continue to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, wear a mask when a distance of 6 feet cannot be maintained, stay home if you are sick, cover coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. If you have any questions, please call the office at 729-3106.

The following reports from August 14th and 15th have been released by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. On Friday, August 14th, a deputy was near a residence on North Hickory Street when he observed a 41-year-old Salem man the he knew to have active warrants through Dent County. The man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated. Later that same day, Deputies arrived in the 1700 block of Dent County Road 4110 and located a 46-year-old Salem man who had active arrest warrants through Dent County. The man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated. On Saturday, August 15th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 600 block of West Jack Street to serve an arrest warrant. Deputies arrived at the residence and during the course of the incident, a 35-year-old Salem man was arrested for active warrants through Probation and Parole. He was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. Finally on the 15th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 42000 block of Highway 72. During the course of the traffic stop, a 25-year-old Springfield woman was arrested for an active warrant through Cabool Police Department. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail where she later posted bond and was released. If anyone has information on an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s office at 729-3241.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) Rural Opioid Initiative in partnership with Mid-MO Addiction Awareness Group (MAAG) will host an opioid use disorder awareness walk in Salem this Saturday, August 29th, beginning at 10:00. The walk aims at providing awareness for opioid use disorder. The MRPC’s rural initiative works to educate, increase awareness and identify prevention strategies for opioid use disorder throughout the Meramec Region. Resource information will be available at the walk. Area residents are encouraged to join the walk or stop by the information booth to learn about resources for persons and families suffering from opioid use disorder. Participants will meet at the Dent County Health Department, 1010 E. Scenic Rivers Blvd. in Salem, where sign-ups will be available. The walkers will then travel right out of the parking lot and proceed straight along East Scenic Rivers Blvd. A water break is planned at the Dent County Family Services. Participants will then return to the health department utilizing the same route. It is requested that all pets be left at home. Bonnie Prigge, executive director of MRPC, said they are excited to work with MAAG to bring SUD awareness walks to our region. From 2014-2018, 22 people in Dent County died of drug overdoses. Twelve of those were opioid overdoses. When we look at Dent and its neighboring counties of Crawford, Maries and Phelps, there were 117 overdose deaths for that timeframe with 72 of those deaths being opioid overdoses. She noted that those who lose their lives to opioids are only a small portion of those who suffer from Substance Use Disorder, and it has a tremendous impact on families and communities. The purpose of the walk is making others aware of SUD in our communities as MRPC and its partners look for solutions that will aid with prevention, treatment and recovery. Persons needing more information about the walk should contact Christa Harmon, the MRPC Community Development Specialist Assistant, at 573-265-2993 or you can e-mail her at charmon@meramecregion.org. Pre-registration is not required.

Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District announced that three Dent County students were honored with first and second place awards and honorable mentions in the 29th Annual Earth Day Poster, Trash and Graphic Art contest. This year’s contest theme was “One Positive Change Will Make a Difference for Planet Earth. The winners from Dent County were Emmett Headrick, a 7th grader at Salem Middle School for Honorable Mention Poster Art; Lindsey Hinderliter, a 7th grader from the Salem Middle School who took 1st Place in Trash Art; and Isabell Crannell, a 7th grader from the Salem Middle School who captured 2nd Place in Trash Art. The Dent County students were under the direction of teacher Angela Dingess. The contest required participants to re-purpose trash into three-dimensional pieces of art or create posters either hand drawn or graphically designed, based on the year’s theme. There were 567 entries from 13 schools in the district and several home schooled students. The contest was open to students who reside or attend school in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles had a prior commitment and was not in attendance so Commissioner Gary Larson was appointed Acting Presiding Commissioner by Dent County Clerk Angie Curley. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said virtually his entire crew continues to work on the road rebuilding project on Dent County Road 5520 and they hope to have the road back open by the end of the day on Wednesday. Purcell said brush would also be cut on county road 5410. He mentioned he attended the tourism tax committee meeting on Monday where four reimbursements were approved and one proposal was rejected. He also reported on Tuesday he attended the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency meeting. He said they still have openings for children in the Early Headstart and Headstart programs. He also mentioned they are looking for additional staff members including a teacher’s aide/bus driver as well as two class aides/bus monitors. If you are interested in those positions or would like to find out if your child can attend Headstart or Early Headstart, please contact Sara at 729-3500. District 2 Commissioner Larson said grading would be done on county road 3260 while brush would be cut on county roads 3110, 3140 and 3310. Larson mentioned that pipes would be installed on Dent County Roads 2180 and 3200 and materials would also be added to those roads. He went on to say he had a man helping District 1 with their road rebuilding on county road 5520. The commission voted to do phone bids for diesel and the low bid went to County Fuels who came in at $1.337 a gallon for 7,000 gallons. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind everyone the last day to register to vote will be October 7th for the General Election. She said this is also a good time to update your voting information if you have moved or had a name change. Curley also said if anyone has questions about absentee voting, they could call her office at 729-4144. The commission opened propane bids to supply the courthouse this winter at 10:00 and the low bid went to Chilton Oil Company at $1.09 per gallon. At the last meeting, the commissioners approved a CARES Act application reimbursement of $3,804.72 from the Salem R-80 School District. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

With school districts starting at different times, and with the possible modification of school schedules due to COVID-19 precautions, drivers are urged to be extra vigilant as students begin returning to class. Motorists are urged to slow down and pay attention as more children will be on or near roadways, walking and bicycling to school or waiting for the bus, many for the first time in several months. With many students returning to Missouri’s colleges and universities, motorists could experience increased traffic on major highways over the next two weeks. Here are some back to school safe driving reminders: Remember Buckle Up Phone Down! These four words are never more important than during the school year. Looking away from the roadway to send a text message doubles the chance of being involved in a crash. Avoid using your cellphone or any other activity that might take attention away from the roadway. And set a good example for your young passengers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled in. Always expect the unexpected! When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school. Remember, children in groups or who are arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic. Never pass a stopped school bus. It’s a state law that vehicles in both lanes must stop when a school bus has its red warning lights flashing and the stop sign is extended. And be sure to watch for school zones where speed limits are reduced. Parents and caregivers should talk to children about bus stop and traffic safety rules. Here are a few tips: Always stay in sight of the bus driver. Make eye contact when possible. Assume drivers cannot see you and never walk behind a school bux. Don’t hurry off the bus. Make sure to check traffic first. Use sidewalks where available. If you must walk in the street, walk single file facing traffic. Avoid using cellphones, ear buds and hand-held games as they can be a distraction. And remember when crossing a street, whether in a crosswalk or at a corner, to look left, then right, then left again and wait until all cars are stopped or the road is clear before stepping out. More information on school bus and pedestrian safety can be found at www.savemolives.com.

Between the dates of August 5th and 12th, the Salem Police reported the following incidents. On Wednesday August 5th at about 9:05 in the morning, an officer was dispatched to the intersection of Pershing and Center Streets for a report of a suspicious vehicle. During the investigation, one of the occupants was seen to be in possession of a syringe that later field tested positive for methamphetamine. As a result of the stop, a 23-year-old male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending the application of warrants. Then on Sunday morning, August 9th, at approximately 2:50, an officer was dispatched to a disturbance call in the 500 block of North Jackson. As a result of the investigation, it was found that one of the parties involved had an active Phelps County warrant for their arrest. As result a 28-year-old Salem female was arrested and incarcerated on the warrant. On Wednesday evening, August 12th, at about 7:25 an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of a shoplifter. It was reported that a 23-year-old West Plains female had stolen $23.38 worth of merchandise. She was arrested and then later released on a summons to appear in court. If anyone has information on an ongoing investigation, please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.