Archive for 2020

The Dent County Health Center has confirmed its second positive case of COVID-19 in Dent County. The patient’s identity will remain confidential; as they will not be releasing any personal information about this case. The person has been notified that they have tested positive for COVID-19. They are working with this person to insure they are following Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines in regards to isolation. The Dent County Health Center is also working with this individual to identify any close contacts in order to monitor them for symptoms and contain spread. If you are identified as a potentially exposed person, you will be contacted by the Dent County Health Center. No locations of possible exposure were identified within Dent County. The Dent County Health Center is taking necessary precautions to keep our patients and community safe and will continue to diligently monitor the COVID-19 situation and follow CDC guidelines to help protect the public health and limit spread of this infection. It is important that each and every one of us continue to practice basic preventative measures to help decrease the spread. These measures, as outlined by the CDC, include: avoiding contact with people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, proper hand-washing, cleaning frequently used surfaces, and staying home if you are sick. The Dent County Health Center highly encourage you call your health care provider before seeking care if you suspect that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

An accident occurred in Shannon County Saturday evening at 7:20 on Highway 19 about fifteen miles north of Eminence. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 36-year old Aleshia Weber from Salem was traveling southbound when the Chevy ran off the roadway and struck a tree. Weber suffered minor injuries and was transported to Salem Memorial Hospital by ambulance. She was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Silverado sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem.

An accident happened Sunday morning at 8:15 on Highway 32 about two miles west of Licking that took the life of a woman from Licking. According to the highway patrol report, a 2019 Nissan Versa driven eastbound by 58-year old Beulah Warren of Licking drove off the roadway and struck a tree. Warren was pronounced dead at the scene by the Texas County Coroner Marie Lasater. Her body was taken to the Fox Funeral Home in Licking. Warren was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Nissan as totaled abnd removed from the scene by Jay’s Automotive of Houston. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Licking Police Department, the Texas County Sheriff’s Department and the Licking Fire Department.

The Salem Police department has released several reports. On May 23rd shortly after 2:30 in the afternoon an officer conducted a traffic stop at Center and Pershing Streets for expired license plates. An investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle, a 36-year-old man from Salem had a revoked driver’s license. The man was arrested and released on a summons to appear in court. On May 25th at approximately in the morning an officer was dispatched to the 700 block of North Washington for a report of a disturbance. Upon arrival it was found that a 31-year-old Salem female had an active warrant for her arrest from the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. During the afternoon of May 28th at approximately 2:49 an officer was dispatched to the 1000 block of south Warfel Street for a report of a disturbance. Upon investigating the incident, police learned that an intoxicated male was acting irate trying to cause a fight between people in the area. The 31-year-old Salem male was arrested and issued a summons for disorderly conduct. He was released to a sober family member. On Sunday the 30th shortly before noon, an officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Russell and Third Streets for the driver failing to signal a turn. It was found that the driver, a 30-year-old Salem female was found to not have a valid driver’s license. The driver also had two active warrants for driving while having their license suspended from the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The driver was arrested and issued a summons for driving with no license. She was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail on the two active warrants. That same evening at 9:20, an officer was dispatched to the McDonald’s parking lot for possible drug activity. The officer arrived and contacted people in the vehicle in question. As the driver of the vehicle opened the window a strong odor of Marijuana was detected. Further investigation led to a search of the vehicle where Marijuana and items of Marijuana paraphernalia were located. As a result, two 19-year-old Salem females were arrested and released on a summons for possession of Marijuana and Paraphernalia. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their re-organizational meeting Tuesday night at the Salem R-80 District Administrative Offices. The board of education first thanked Larry Maxwell and Drew Whitaker for their service to the board and had plaques made for them as well as for Superintendent John McColloch who was attending his last meeting as the Salem R-80 Superintendent. Newly elected board members Andrew Wynn and Amanda Walker along with incumbent Holly Erway were all sworn in before the board elected new officers. The new Salem R-80 Board President is Dustin Howard with Holly Erway elected Vice-President. The Secretary of the Board is Carrie Snider with Chris Heavin being elected treasurer. The new MSBA delegate is Bernie Sirois and the alternate MSBA delegate is Amanda Walker. The board then adjourned the re-organizational meeting and began their regular meeting. Superintendent McColloch made the Board of Education Committee appointments for the 2020-2021 school year and they are Holly Erway with CSIP, Amanda Walker with Federal Programs, Andrew Wynn with A-Plus Programs, Dustin Howard with Safety Programs, Chris Heavin with Technology Programs and Carrie Snider with Health Services. Lane Howard from the Salem FFA Chapter was in attendance toupdate the board on the 4-H and FFA Expo heldin July. He said the Jr. Livestock Committee intends to hold the auction but there will be changes. He said there would be no record books at the new expo, plus there will be no talent show, meal or movie night. Howard said the sale was going to be moved up to begin at 9:00 in the morning on Saturday, July 18th. He said there would be meat processors available at the sale and that buyers are welcome to attend. McColloch stated his budget revisions for the 2019-2020 school year and Salem will be deficit spending this current school year. The big blow was the health assessment of $550,000 charged to the district plus some salaries were added and McColloch elected to purchase the Chrome Books this year as well as some other adjustments. The board approved the budget revisions, and approved the surplus property bids from Nick Gover and Savannah Jadwin for gym equipment. McColloch reviewed the 2020-2021 budget numbers and said there would be 15 new instructors with 13 of them being first time teachers, plus there were a number of positions that are not being refilled that will save some $200,000 in salaries. McColloch said the Ag Building improvement project will continue while the school will only be replacing four HVAC units instead of ten in the district. McColloch felt these changes would help save the district about $400,000 with the cutback of funds from the state. McColloch said with these changes, the expected revenues would now be $12,883,170 with expected expenses of $12,871,853. The board approved the updated 2020-2021 budget, then approved to continue with the Healthy Dent County partnership for $10,000, and also approved to accept a one year bus lease extension for two 77 passengers busses that were coming off their lease for $13,750 each. The board accepted the resignation of preschool instructor Joey Crossgrove, high school physical education instructor and head football coach Dylan Wyrick, and first grade teacher Kelsey Wyrick. The board then went into executive session where they agreed to employ Megan Lawrence as a kindergarten instructor, Destiny Hill as a 1st grade instructor, Julie Harris as an art instructor and in intervention, and Alicia Gallagher for color guard. The board also approved the extended counselor contract for Chelsey Brakefield and employed Lane Howard as the interim head football coach before adjourning.

Phelps Health is pleased to offer free drive-through antibody testing in addition to testing individuals for COVID-19 this Saturday in Salem. Both types of testing will be available to residents in Dent County and surrounding areas from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the Phelps Health Medical Group-Salem clinic located at 1415 West Scenic Rivers Boulevard in Salem. Phelps Health will test individuals to see if they currently have COVID-19. This type of test involves a swab to take a sample from inside the nose. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 serology antibody testing, which involves taking a blood sample from a person and identifies possible past infection with the COVID-19 virus, will be available for ages 12 and up. Having symptoms of COVID-19 is not required for people interested in being tested. Individuals who have previously been tested for COVID-19 can sign up to receive antibody testing. Individuals will not be charged for this testing, and Phelps Health will be responsible for notifying these individuals of their test results. Pre-registration is required. Dent County residents interested in being tested for COVID-19 must pre-register online at https://health.mo.gov/communitytest or can call (877) 735-8411 for help.