Archive for 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Road Supervisor Jason Akins gave the report for Commissioner Wes Mobray who was not in attendance due to other commitments. Akins said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5610 while only grading would be done on county roads 6380 and 6670. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 4055 while brush would be cut on county roads 5200 and 5225. Larson said crews would be installing a driveway pipe on county road 2315 and workers will be getting the equipment ready for the expected snow on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he attended the MRPC Legislative Day last Tuesday and met with Senator Justin Brown and Senator Elaine Gannon as well as Representatives Ron Copeland, Bennie Cook and numerous others. They addressed the Transportation Advisory Committee prioritized list of improvements that need to be made, and also discussed legislation to protect counties from the Department of Revenue debacle that affected Dent County that could have crippled a county that didn’t have the reserves Dent County did. Then on Thursday, Skiles said he, Larson and Mobray accompanied Representative Jason Smith to the Royal Oak Charcoal plant north of Salem to find out more about their 40-million-dollar expansion. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she has prepared the 2021 Dent County financial statement that will be published in the Salem News. At the last meeting held Thursday after the public hearing, the commissioners approved the contract between the Dent County Jail, Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells and the Ozark Correctional Health Care LLC to provide medical services at the jail. The commission also approved the renewal policy for buildings and their contents for the County of Dent to Savers Property and Casualty Insurance Company through Town and Country Insurance in Salem. It was noted the courthouse will be closed on Friday, February 11th for Lincoln’s Birthday and on Monday, February 21st for Washington’s Birthday. The commission will also start meeting on Thursday mornings again starting this Thursday at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse and that meeting will be open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports for the end of December. On Monday, December 27th, at approximately 3:30 in the morning officers were dispatched to the area of Third and Iron Mountain Road for a report of a possible gunshot. Upon arrival officers contacted a suspicious male walking in the area. As contact was made with the subject it was found the subject, later identified as Issac Ghormley, had three felony warrants out for his arrest. Ghormley fled from officers on foot. After a short foot pursuit Ghormley was taken into custody and incarcerated at the Dent Couty Jail. No evidence of a gunshot was located. That afternoon, at approximately 4:30, an officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Askins and International for improper registration. As a result, it was found the driver, identified as 40-year-old Sarah Folgate of Bunker, had an active warrant out of Reynolds County. Folgate was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. Then on Friday evening, December 31st, at approximately 8:00, an officer was dispatched to Third and Iron Mountain Road for a report of a disturbance. Upon further investigation contact was made with a male subject identified as Brandon Conklin. Conklin was intoxicated and combative, plus it was found that Conklin had an active warrant for his arrest for 1st Degree Assault out of Wright County. Conklin resisted arrest and forced officers to utilize a taser to subdue him. Conklin was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending extradition. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Producers selling local foods at farmers markets can learn about best practices, marketing tips, state regulations and available resources in a five-part webinar series presented in February by University of Missouri Extension. Participants will hear from extension specialists, successful producers and representatives from the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas. The five sessions, held via Zoom, will be from noon-1:00, Monday through Friday, February 7-11. The sessions include growing “niche produce” to reach new customers; boosting sales by participating in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and/or Double Up Food Bucks; learning the state regulations you need to know to sell your product at the market; discovering the best marketing and customer service practices; and finding out about resources available from MU Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The cost is $20 for the entire five-part series. All sessions will be recorded and available for a period of time after the event. Register at extension.missouri.edu/events, go to the search bar and type in farmers market and go the “2022 Selling at the Farmers Market” entry. For more information, contact Leslie Bertsch at bertschl@missouri.edu or 314-400-2115.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control and the Shannon County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of human remains on January 12th. The remains were discovered on the state right of way on Highway 60 near Winona. An autopsy performed on the remains determined the cause of death was homicide. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is requesting the public’s help in determining the person’s identity and any information that could be pertinent to the investigation. The victim is a female, approximately 55-years of age, and has two legible tattoos. Photos of the tattoos can be found with this news release on the Patrol’s website. Anyone with information should contact Troop G Headquarters at (417) 469-3121.

The Houston Police Department responded to a scene Thursday evening to assist EMS with an unresponsive male. Upon arrival, they found three people inside a residence with fatal gunshot wounds. Officers investigated and they believe that 66-year-old Gregory Pardun died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting and killing 57-year-old Deborah German and 16-year-old Benjamin Pardun. The Houston Police Department worked with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Texas County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston Fire Department, and the Texas County Coroner’s Office. The investigation of the incident is still ongoing.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday night just before 8:00 in Dent County on Dent County Road 2060 about a mile east of Lake Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Honda Element being driven east by 17-year-old female from Salem, was traveling eastbound too fast for conditions, lost control of the vehicle and overturned. The teenager was transported by a private vehicle to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. She was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Honda was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors held a special meeting Friday afternoon at the hospital library. At the meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas updated the board on the status of hospital employees with the COVID-19 vaccination mandate. As of Friday, there are 251 total employees of which 141 are fully vaccinated, 19 are partially vaccinated and 66 are exempt from the vaccination. Lucas said of the 25 employees who have yet to be vaccinated, 16 are scheduled to have their first vaccination at the next hospital clinic, while five have filled out an exemption application and it is not known what the other four employees are planning to do. Those employees must have their first vaccination by February 13th. Lucas reported on the hospital revenue cycle that will now be in house and the changes that are being made in Phase 1 and Phase 2. First, the contract with Trubridge for collection efforts expired on December 31st and it will not be renewed. Secondly, when a patient goes for pre-registration, their latest information will be collected including their insurance benefit eligibility. Patients will be notified of the services their physician has requested and will also be notified of their financial responsibility based on their insurance coverage and their deductible. At registration, the service collection of the co-pay and/or their deductible will be discussed, and there will be a review of the insurance authorization before services are provided. Many of these changes are being created from the new Managed Medicare accounts. The Billing and Accounts Receivable Management personnel will then follow through on the patient accounts. In Phase 2 which will begin March 1st, the department will review the charge capture and cash posting including revenue cycle meetings to ensure accounts are sent and returned in a timely fashion. Lucas then updated the board on the Laboratory and that a complete contract for Emergency Blood Release post transfusion has been reached with the Texas County Memorial Hospital, with complete release policy and procedures to be done by February 1st. Lucas said training for Emergency Blood Release Evaluation and Training will be held February 8th and will be recorded for future training sessions. By February 11th, completion of the Vitros Chemical Analyzer online training will be done with the completion of the Vitros validation and quality control study to be completed by February 28th. By March 15th, the complete remaining patient remediation of the lab is to be completed. This plan will allow for 90% of the laboratory services the hospital provides to be available for patients. The hospital is still looking for a new lab director and a technical supervisor as they continue to fill open lab positions such as the hiring of a new full time evening phlebotomist. The board then went into closed session. The hospital board will meet in closed session tonight at 7:00 at the hospital library.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met for the regular meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. After approval of the consent agenda, Bill #3498 that would create an ordinance amending Chapter 700, Article 1 of the code of ordinances pertaining to the disconnection of utility services was read by City Clerk Tammy Koller. The board did not approve this bill that clarified some of the language on a previous bill concerning reconnections during extreme weather conditions. The board recommended the ordinance be sent to the Utility Committee for further clarification. The board approved the purchase of a new police car for $45,579 with a trade allowance of $31,000 and an administration fee of $399 for a balance of $14,978. A total of $8,000 will come from the Capital Improvement Sales Tax fund and the remainder would need to come from a budget adjustment. The board approved purchasing 20 class two 30-foot and 20 class four 45-foot utility poles for the Electric Department at a cost of $14,520. This is a budgeted expense. City Administrator Ray Walden asked Tod Kinerk and Tabitha Utley to provide an update on the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. They thanked the city for their financial support to promote tourism. They reported that the Tourism Tax has provided funding for the digital display sign as well as rent for the new chamber office. The Chambers revenue comes from member dues, corporate sponsorships as well as the rodeo, which is their largest fundraising event. Walden reported that the Salem Community Center @ the Armory had a total of 5,359 participants for the month of December. There will be a Park Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 2nd at 5:30 pm at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. A joint Utility and Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for February 15th. Bids are being requested for the Fourth of July fireworks display as well as designs for the new Soccer Complex. Mayor Kim Steelman encouraged citizens that have had their electric restored during cold weather, that was previously disconnected for non-payment, to make every effort to pay as much on their bills as possible. She reminded citizens that payment plans are available. Public Works Director Mark Nash reported that the Street Department building roof is getting repairs and that there have been several water line breaks in the past week. Alderman Shawn Bolerjack wanted to remind citizens of the text blast service that is available to get important alerts and reminders from the city. Alderman Greg Parker recently met with the Airport Board and that they are working on bids for a card reader, a motor for the gate and a fuel pump that will be brought to a future board meeting. Finance Director, Stacey Houston presented a financial statement for the 6-month period from July 1st through December 31st, 2021.Total fund balances for all funds are $5,234,395. Major Revenue sources for the first six months of the fiscal year were the 1% General Revenue sales tax at $699,608, the Park and Recreation 3/8ths of a cent sales tax total at $262,366, the Capital Improvement 1/2 cent sales tax at $349,804, electricity sales of $2,623,829, water sales of $524,030 and sewer sales at $499,670. All are expected to exceed the budgeted amount. The board then went into closed session.