Archive for 2022

The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. In the road report Jason Akins was in to give the District One report in the absence of Commissioner Wes Mobray. Akins said that they were hauling Title II Rock to Dent County Road 5600 and repair work was being done on Cutter #8 and Cutter #10. A bearing and pin were being replaced on #8 and a tire was being replaced on #10. District II Commissioner Gary Larson reported that brush was being cut on Dent County Road 2240, while materials were being hauled to and crossover pipes were being installed on county roads 2090 and 2500. Larson went on to say he had a man patching chip and seal on county road 6150 and another man loading chips for the chip and seal contractor. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he failed to report on Monday that at the South Central District Commissioners’ meeting last week he was elected to serve as President from January through March of 2023 because Howell County Commissioner Mark Collins was stepping down at the end of December. Skiles will be serving on the CCAM Board during that time. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reminded voters that absentee voting with an excuse continues through November 7th, that No Excuse Absentee Voting begins October 25th, and that October 26th is the last day to request a mail out absentee ballot. She noted that her office will be open November 5th from 8:00 until noon for absentee voting, that sample ballots are available in her office, plus she remined voters that they are required to present a photo ID. Corky Stack was in and the Commissioners approved the balance of the bid by Alexander Construction for work on the Courthouse. The Commission signed the Notice to Proceed with the previously approved portion and the Notice of Award for the balance of the bid. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

There will be a special meeting of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen Monday evening at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, 1200 West Rolla Road. After the call to order and roll call, the board will immediately move into closed session pursuant to section 610.021 of the revised statutes of the State of Missouri pertaining to sealed proposals and related documents, or any documents related to a negotiated contract until a contract is executed or all proposals are rejected. The meeting will then be adjourned.

The Creative Arts Center will be holding a two-day barn quilt class with Terrie Welch and Tana Kettner on Monday and Tuesday evenings October 24th and 25th from 5:30 to 8:30. Participants will design their own plywood painted quilt to be displayed on your barn or home. Quilt patterns will be painted on 2X2 plywood squares. Participants must register by TODAY and the cost is $55 per person and all supplies are provided. For more information call or text 573-247-0651 or go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center.

Join the park team at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park from 5:00 until 8:30 during the evening of Saturday as they host their annual Halloween Happenings event. Come dressed as your favorite movie characters, supernatural creatures or in other extravagant costumes. Games, interpretive tables, costume judging and more will fill the evening. The night will end with an evening program about Missouri’s most disgusting and vile creatures. Participants are encouraged to bring a flashlight. The event will be at the campground near the park store. Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is located at 148 Taum Sauk Trail in Middle Brook. For more information, contact the Black River Center at 573-546-2450 and for more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

Two felony cases investigated by Law Enforcement Rangers within Ozark National Scenic Riverways resulted in federal prison sentences. On January 5, 2022, 64-year-old Jackie Delashmit of Salem, pled guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to possess a firearm as a convicted felon. According to court records, on April 20th of 2020, a National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Ranger encountered Delashmit near Parker Hollow in Dent County, consuming alcohol in his vehicle. During the contact, Delashmit was found to be in possession of a firearm and had previously been convicted of more than one felony offense. Delashmit was arrested, booked and released at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office following Covid-19 protocols in place at the time. He was subsequently indicted by a grand jury for the Eastern District of Missouri. On July 18th this year, Delashmit was sentenced to serve 18 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, followed by two years of supervised release. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, St. Louis Division with the Honorable Audrey Fleissig, United States District Judge, presiding. On February 8th of this year, 55-year-old James Piatt of Bunker, pled guilty to one felony count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. According to court records, on July 16th of 2021, a National Park Service Law Enforcement Ranger conducted a traffic stop on Piatt for operating a UTV on Highway 19 near Round Spring. During the contact Piatt was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. He was searched and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. During the stop, Park Rangers learned Piatt had previously been convicted of more than one felony offense. Piatt was arrested, booked at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, and subsequently indicted by a grand jury for the Eastern District of Missouri. On August 18th this year, Piatt was sentenced to serve 41 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, followed by two years of supervised release. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, Cape Girardeau Division with the Honorable Rodney Sippel, United States District Judge, presiding.

The Farmer’s Almanac is forecasting a “Hibernation Zone” across the Midwest for the winter season. Though it’s still too early to tell what the winter will bring, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is preparing for the worst. The department will hold its annual statewide winter operations drill today. With high turnover rates and many positions still open, driver training on this day is more critical than ever as MoDOT is facing a critical shortage of qualified plow operators going into the winter season. This drill gives MoDOT the opportunity to train their new snowplow operators on their designated routes so they are aware of curbs and raised islands that might be hidden when the snow or ice starts to fall. During the drill, motorists will notice increased numbers of MoDOT vehicles on state routes. In rural areas, crews will deploy after 8:00. In urban areas, the drill will not begin until after 9:00. The exercise should be completed by 3:00 in the afternoon. MoDOT employees will react to a simulated forecast of significant snow for the entire state. The department’s emergency operations centers will be activated, and maintenance employees will be deployed to their trucks. Emergency communications systems will also be tested.

For the sixth year this Friday, October 21st, the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, along with various safety partners, schools and businesses throughout the state, are encouraging better driving behaviors as part of “Buckle Up Phone Down Day” and this year, they are aiming for the goal of zero traffic fatalities throughout the day. Missouri’s 2022 Seat Belt Usage Survey showed 89% of vehicle occupants use a seat belt, matching the highest rate the state has ever recorded. But the unbuckled 11% make up a majority of the state’s roadway fatalities, which reached a 15-year high in 2021. Cellphone use continues to be one of the most concerning behaviors for all roadway users. In 2021, over half of the distracted driving fatalities in Missouri claimed the life of someone besides the distracted driver. Since the program began in 2017, the BUPD movement has spread steadily across Missouri. More than 20,000 Missouri individuals and businesses have accepted the BUPD challenge, and more than a dozen other states are actively sharing the messages along their highways. Missourians can accept the challenge to BUPD at modot.org/bupd

The Spring Creek Artisans’ will be celebrating Pumpkin Day on this Saturday from 9:00 in the morning till 3:00 in the afternoon at the Creative Arts Center. Everyone is welcome to come out and shop local arts, crafts, baked goods and watch demonstrations.

The “Haunting at the Mill” event at Montauk State Park will be held this Saturday and presents history from a unique perspective of historic local people who impacted the Montauk valley. Three separate tours run starting at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Space is limited, so come early for one of the tours.

The Creative Arts Center will be having a spooky cute kitties kids paint party this Friday morning from 10:00 till 2:00. The Creative Arts Center has two easy ways to sign up for events! Call or text the center at 573-247-0651, or go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. Hospital CEO Wayne Reid said the new CT Scanner has been installed and is working incredibly. Reid said he and hospital staff members met with the Doe Run Human Resources Department about utilizing the SMDH services such as for employee physicals. Construction of the new patient registration stations at the clinic are done, but counters still need to be installed for the operators. Dr. Nabil Munfakh, cardiothoracic surgeon, saw his first patient and has 20 more scheduled before the end of this month. In the pharmacy 340B audit, the only issue noted was that some swing bed patients were getting the 340b credit and that is not allowed. Home Health Director Kristie Gorman gave her six-month report and said 26 of 63 surveys were returned showing an 81% overall rating of care with an 83% likelihood of the patient recommending their services. They had 82 admissions from January to June of this year and received a four-star rating from Care Compare who rates all home health agencies in the area. Chief Financial Officer JoeAnn Hammond gave the summary of operations for the month of September showing the hospital had 78 inpatient admissions with 219 inpatient census days. There were 78 swingbed days with an average length of stay of 13 days. The hospital showed a gain from operations of $108,315. During the month, there were 668 emergency room visits with 50 admissions, plus there were 225 ambulance runs where 166 patients were transported. In September, there were 32 surgery cases, 1,365 outpatient registrations, 5,921 lab tests, 1,208 radiological procedures, 545 rehab treatments and 194 home health visits with 16 home health admissions. The days cash on hand was at 50 with $3.86 million in total cash. Chief Nursing Officer Ashley Sullins gave a staffing update that showed a vacancy of four nurses. She said flu vaccinations are now available for the employees and the current cases of COVID in Dent County are at seven with the community indicator being green which is good. The Hospital Foundation has scheduled a cornhole tournament for March 11, 2023 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory and the return of “Dancing with the Salem Stars” on February 17, 2024. Reid complimented Maintenance Director Todd Workman and his work with running the new electric service lines to the maintenance room and replacing fuses as part of the transformer work. Reid said the administration is talking with an architect about running a drain line to the back of the building where the grease trap could be put in, with the feed going into the lagoon. He also said an architectural analysis of the SMDH Clinic is being done to improve traffic flow. The board approved the replacing the current phone system with an Avaya Phone PBX system with an annual cost of $5,885 after the initial set up costs of $63,870 from 3CX out of Springfield which was a non-budgeted purchase; approved the Allscripts data conversion of SMDH Clinic files at $16,606 from BCS Enterprises which was budgeted, and the board approved the purchase of a new pressure regulator valve to replace the current valve for $4,931. The board approved a resolution indicating the legal name of the hospital is the “Salem Memorial District Hospital” with a fictitious name of Salem Memorial Hospital. Reid said the training for Tiffin Felkerson as the Community Champion through the Delta Regional Authority is complete, and a Community Connection Event has been scheduled for November 10th at the Salem Community Center@The Armory to develop community partnerships and find out what the community feels the needs are to improve health outcomes. The hospital board’s next meeting will be November 22nd with a strategic planning meeting to be held on December 8th. The December board meeting has been scheduled for December 14th. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold their regular meeting Thursday evening at 5:30 in the Salem R-80 Boardroom. After the approval of the agenda, the Board will move into Executive Session to hear parent comments related to personnel issues. In open session, the board will hear the Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed’s report. The board will also hear reports from William Lynch Elementary School, the upper elementary school, the middle school, the senior high, on special education, on technology and on athletics and transportation. New business will include the Request for Qualifications for an Architect/Engineer for the new elementary school, approval of the SRCSP policy, discuss bus driver pay, and consider Dent Family Scholarship Authorized Signatures. The board will hear resignations, if there are any, before adjourning. Except for the Executive Session, the meeting Thursday evening will be open to the public.

A one vehicle accident happened Monday morning at 5:30 in Texas County on Highway 137, just south of Licking. According to the highway patrol report, a 2003 Ford Ranger driven south by 29-year-old Bobby Williams of Licking, traveled off the right side of the road, struck a mailbox, then overcorrected and traveled off the left side of the road. Williams, who was not wearing a safety restraint, suffered minor injuries, and was taken to the Texas County Memorial hospital for treatment. The Ford sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by Jay’s Automotive.

An accident occurred Monday morning just before 9:00 in Crawford County on Highway P about three miles north of Cuba. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2008 Harley Davidson Sportster, being operated by 49-year-old Shawn Kline of Cuba, struck a deer in the roadway. Kline went off the right side of the roadway and was ejected from the motorcycle. Kline suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Creve Coeur. The Harley Davidson was totaled and removed from the scene by Chuck’s Towing. The report went on state that Kline was wearing any safety equipment at the time of the accident.