Archive for 2022

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. Interim CEO Don Babb said patient surveys in each department have been mailed out, the daily cost in Long-Term Care will go from $170 per day to $180 per day, and the new CT should be ready in October. In the summary of operations for the month of May, the hospital had 78 inpatient admissions with 316 inpatient census days. There were 156 days of swingbed which is up from 31 for May of 2021. During the month, there were 612 emergency room visits with 47 admissions, plus there were 166 ambulance runs where 118 patients were transported. In May, there were 24 surgical procedures cases, 1,131 outpatient registrations, 4,862 lab tests, 1,127 radiological procedures, 732 rehab treatments and 215 home health visits with 14 home health admissions. The days cash on hand was at 64 with $5.1 million total cash. The hospital showed a gain from operations of $387,120.86 with an excess of revenues of $391,194. CFO JoAnn Hammond said the hospital net revenues have increased by three million dollars and gross revenues are up six million dollars. She said the hospital has paid back almost 2.8 million dollars of the Medicare Advance and should have it all paid off by mid-August. The reimbursement right now from Medicare is 50%. Hammond also gave a lab department financial report and now that CLIA has signed off on the lab, revenues are rising again with revenues for the month of May at $515,000 with expenses of $149,876. CEO Babb gave the Director of Nursing report for Ashley Sullins who is on vacation. He reported the new Community Health Needs Assessment will be implemented on June 30th, that there are 15 active COVID-19 cases in Dent County, and that the hospital foundation raised $18,070 during their golf tournament with a net profit of $12,032. Two people have been asked to join the foundation as new board members and they are Dru Howard and Marci Relford. Babb said in lieu of a health fair, the hospital is developing cash prices for those who want to get tests done at reduced rates. The final rates have not yet been determined but will be announced soon. Babb reiterated the lab passed the CLIA reinspection with no deficiencies, the lagoon passed the DNR inspection with a new permit being applied for, and that the hospital requested another $75,000 of ARPA funds to help pay for the new transformer from the Dent County Commission which they approved. For the transformer project, two bids were received: one from Meyer Electric for $319,750 and the other from McNew Electric for $302,600. There was an option offered to use aluminum wiring which would have reduced the cost by about $55,000, but board member Mike Swyers insisted that copper wire be used on feeder lines and conductors as it is much more durable and is a better conductor than aluminum. By using copper, the hospital will have to come up with another $25,000 and it was suggested that money may come from the hospital foundation. The board voted and approved the bid to install and connect the transformer with McNew Electric for $302,600 using copper wire. The hospital has hired nine new employees while there are two new employees at the clinic, one in Long-Term Care and two in the Lab Department. They also terminated three hospital employees and one at the clinic. The board approved a new telemetry system for the hospital from Tri-Tec Medical for $3,952.50 per month with the RHG Group discount, and they approved the purchase of a Hemochron PT/APTT Rapid Test Machine for $6,825 that will allow the hospital to use Heparin in the Emergency Department as well as Med/Surg. The board was told the Delta Regional Community Health Systems Development Program Meet and Greet will be held September 20th before the regular board meeting at 5:30. Also at the meeting, Nurse Practitioners Terry Bruno and Shelly Bland, and Dr. Tiffany Bland all talked about the SMDH Family Medicine Clinic. They said numerous changes have been made and how more communication is needed between the hospital administration and the clinic as they feel they should be included on decision-making processes including marketing and physician recruitment. The board said they would like more communication with the clinic so they can be more informed as to what is going on there. The board then went into closed session.

A fatality accident happened Tuesday afternoon just after 5:15 in Crawford County on Highway 19 about a mile and a half south of Cuba. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Honda Odyssey being driven by 19-year-old Robert Newkirk of Cook Station, crossed the center line and struck a 2014 GMC Sierra being driven by 41-year-old Amy Ford of Cuba. Newkirk suffered serious injuries and was transported by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Ford was taken by North Crawford Ambulance to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan where she was pronounced dead at 6:57 Tuesday night by Dr. Olusayna. Her body was taken to the Crawford County Morgue. Ford was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident while it wasn’t clear if Newkirk was using a safety restraint. Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Miles & Sons Towing.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold their regular meeting this evening at 6:00 in the Salem R-80 Board Room. After the consent agenda is approved and hearing the Superintendent’s report, the board will hear principal reports from William Lynch, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and high school. Mark McElvy will the give a technology update before the board addresses new business. At that time, the board will approve the amending of the 2021-2022 budget to reflect actual revenues and expenditures; then adopt the 2022-2023 budget with salary schedules, including the state grant for baseline teacher salary of $38,000. Corky Stack will lead the construction trades building discussion before the board discusses and approves the district curriculum. They will go over policy changes for technology usage, student cell phones, sick leave pool, short term leave, and staff fringe benefits for discussion and approval if deemed appropriate. The board will discuss handbook changes and consider engaging the services of Stifel as an underwriter for a new elementary school project. After adjourning the regular meeting, the board will move into closed session.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) is issuing a critical appeal for all blood types as reserves are critically low with less than a two-day supply available. Eligible donors are being asked to give blood at the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks blood drive at the Salem Memorial District Hospital this Friday at the hospital library from 9:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. Giving blood is a big deal and the theme for this blood drive is “Let’s Save a Life.” Free T-Shirts will be given to all donors while supplies, and those who do give blood will have a chance to win a weekly mystery prize valued at $200 or the $5,000 mystery grand prize. They do ask that appointments be made to manage donor flow. Call 1-417-227-5006 to schedule your appointment or go to cbco.org/donate-blood. Masks and a photo ID will be required.

The City of Salem’s Finance Committee will be holding a meeting this evening at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @the Armory. They will discuss the proposed budget for 2022 – 2023. The meeting is open to the public.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to incorporate safety into any plans to enjoy Missouri’s waterways. Nicer weather means an increase in activity regarding boating, swimming, and floating. Missouri’s lakes and rivers can include currents, drop-offs, and floating debris, which makes swimming more challenging. Please, wear a life jacket, take a friend with you, know your swimming ability, and stay sober around water. Pay close attention to children around water. Keep in mind that exhaustion is a very real possibility if you’ve been swimming for a long period of time. Don’t make the mistake of overestimating your swimming ability. Avoid putting yourself at risk when trying to assist someone who is struggling in the water. Assist them by tossing a floatation device or extending an object to them. Keep yourself safe! If you do have to enter the water to assist them, always put on a life jacket first. If you go floating, check the weather and the river level before your trip. A lot of rain affects the speed of the current and amount of debris in the water. Be aware of changing conditions downstream which may endanger yourself or your group. Consider each person’s level of experience and base your float plan on the person with the least experience. Pair inexperienced floaters with those who have more experience, and make sure everyone in your group knows your rescue plan. If you capsize in swift water conditions, hold onto your craft and move immediately to the upstream side to avoid being trapped between the boat and an obstacle. Float on your back, feet together and pointed downstream, and release your craft only if it improves your safety. If you need assistance or witness criminal activity on Missouri’s waterways, contact the nearest Highway Patrol troop headquarters by calling the Patrol Emergency Report Line at 1-800-525- 5555 or *55 on a cell phone. Share the waterway and use common sense, good judgment, and courtesy to ensure the safety of all.

Missouri’s state parks and historic sites offer beautiful vistas, opportunities for outdoor adventures and peaceful spots for reflection. As you spend time at Missouri state parks, take along your camera and submit your favorite photos in the Missouri DNR Photo Contest. The annual contest is open now through October 1st and includes three categories. The natural resources category includes photographs of Missouri’s air, landscapes, and waterways. The category of unique places includes photographs taken within one of Missouri’s state parks or historic sites. The third and final category includes people enjoying and exploring Missouri’s outdoors. Winning photos will be shared on the Missouri Department of Natural Resources website, on social media and showcased at the following year’s Missouri State Fair. For contest rules and to enter your photos, visit dnr.mo.gov/photo-contest. You can also email questions about the photo contest to socialmedia@dnr.mo.gov. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Current River Band just wants to have fun and play music, and they will be performing at Echo Bluff State Park as part of their summer concert series this Saturday evening at 8:00 in the outdoor amphitheater. Bring a blanket or a chair, dress for the occasion, and enjoy a night of music under the stars.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem present this year’s Independence Day Parade theme: Road Trip: Exploring America’s Road and Rivers!” The parade will be held on July 4th starting at 6:00 from the corner of South Grand and Franklin, and then travel east on Franklin to MacArthur. The parade will then go north on MacArthur to 4th Street and will then travel east on 4th Street to the Dent County Courthouse. The parade is to provide a family friendly and fun community event for everyone to enjoy. Applications for entries are now available at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce in the Crossroads Shopping Center, by calling 729-6900 of by e-mailing the chamber at chamber@salemmo.com. All entry applications need to be submitted by July 1st to the chamber. Drop them off or mail them to 1136 South Main, fax to 573-729-6741 or e-mail them in. All entries must abide by the parade rules and regulations. Spaces will be assigned by the chamber after they have received a completed parade entry form. If you have questions, contact Tabitha at the chamber office at 729-6900.

Sherry Lea, Executive Director of Healthy Dent County is pleased to announce the appointment of Carlos Lopez as the non-profits new Prevention Coordinator. The Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition received a $100,000 grant from the Department of Mental Health to reduce youth substance use. As a Prevention Coordinator Lopez will teach the evidence-based “Too Good for Drugs” curriculum in all Salem and Dent County schools in grades 6th to 8th. This curriculum is a comprehensive family of substance use and prevention curricula designed to mitigate the risk factors associated with risky behavior and build protection within the child. “Too Good” develops a framework of Social Emotional skills through the development of goal-setting, decision-making, and effective communication skills in addition to peer pressure refusal, pro-social bonding, conflict resolution, and media literacy. The “Too Good” curriculum builds the basis for a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment. Recognizing that local problems need local solutions, this grant funds local coalitions to engage multiple sectors of the community and employ a variety of environmental strategies to address local substance use problems. For additional information about the HDC Prevention Coalition, you may reach Carlos by e-mailing him at carlos@salemcommunitycenter.org or by calling 729-8163.

The Creative Arts Center will be holding a Ceramics Painting Party with Isabella Knaack on Wednesday night at 7:00. All ages are welcome to the party. Come for a relaxing few hours of painting ceramic figurines, plates, bowls, cups, etc. The cost is $5 per person plus pay per piece to paint. Prices are marked on the ceramic pieces, they run from $3 to $30. There will be an additional 40% of that cost if you glaze the piece and want it fired. The Creative Arts Center has 2 easy ways to sign up for events! First call or text 573-247-0651. You can also pay ahead with Square at 573-247-5306. All square transactions will be charged a $1.50 transaction fee. You can also visit the SACBA website to sign up and prepay for classes online at: www.salemcommunitybetterment.com

The Salem Community Garden will be offering a variety of Growing Green Educational Workshops led by Master Gardeners. The workshop this evening at 6:00 is “Weed Warfare.” The garden is located behind the Salem Methodist Church at 801 East Scenic Rivers Bld. For more information contact Charlie Grimm at 573-368-9902. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Producers can learn about using native warm-season grasses to improve grazing and wildlife systems at a workshop offered by University of Missouri Extension. The in-person workshop is this Friday morning from 8:00 until 1:00 at the Davisville American Legion Hall located at 194 State Route V in southeastern Crawford County. Native warm-season grasses fill the “summer slump” caused by the dormancy of cool-season grasses. During the workshop, attendees will learn how to successfully establish warm-season grasses that have high nutritive value, fill an important gap in forage production and adapt well to climate, soils and pest pressure. Native grasses also aid erosion control and provide cover for wildlife. Gatlin Bunton and MU Extension agriculture business specialist Rachel Hopkins will tell how to use warm-season grasses in grazing systems to reduce exposure to fescue toxicosis, which reduces calving rates and weaning weights. During a tour of established fields, attendees will learn how to identify the various plants. Lunch will be served after the field tour. The cost is $30 per person or $50 for a farm couple. For question or more information, call 573-438-2671 or 573-775-2135 or you can register online at extension.missouri.edu/events.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is offering a chance for eight youngsters to come and learn about fisheries, wildlife, and protection management at Shawnee Mac Lakes Conservation Area on July 1st. Experience fishing from a boat with Conservation Department staff, complete a lake to fork shoreline meal of fish and frog legs, followed by frog gigging from a Jon boat after sunset. You will learn not only how to harvest aquatic game but how to clean and prepare a meal with it. The program will start at 5:00 in the afternoon and conclude at 11:00 the evening on July 1st. A parent or guardian must be present during the entire event. This opportunity is for eight young people between the ages of 8-15 years old. Interested youth are being asked to apply by submitting a short 100-word essay as to why they should be selected. The application essay must include the full name of the youth, their date of birth, home address, e-mail of a parent or guardian, a phone number and why you want to participate in the event. To qualify for the event, the application essay must be submitted TODAY to: Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov. The eight selected participants will be notified by Thursday, June 23rd with full program details.