Archive for 2023

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, November 16th. The minutes of the October regular meeting were approved followed by Administrator Zach Moser’s report. There was no Communicable Disease Report due to the resignation of the CD Nurse. In the diagnostics report, Moser said 238 blood draw appointments were completed in October, plus there were 29 COVID tests and 14 lead tests performed. The COVID-19 vaccinations totaled 178, while there were 262 influenza doses, and 75 other types of vaccinations were administered. A total of 758 appointments were held during September, plus WIC appointments totaled 316. There were also two Show-Me Health Women appointments and six Title X Family Planning appointments. Moser noted there were 80 urine drug screenings conducted on behalf of the Dent County Treatment Court. Assistant Administrator Roma Jones gave the environmental report where two total inspections were conducted, there were no recalls, there were two sewer complaints, and ten environmental questions were fielded. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that Miller Glass has ordered the materials for the doors, but they have not been delivered yet. He noted that the Lead (Pb) Project Manager has been hired. and the Youth Vaping Town Hall meeting will be December 14th at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory. The Health Center financial reports for October, including the review from H & R Block, were reviewed. Discussion was held on the balance sheet, income statement, and budget statements. After these questions were answered, the financial reports and the report from H & R Block were approved. In New Business, the Board discussed the public comments relative to the proposed Food Regulations. There were 2 comments opposed and two comments in favor. The “Good” and “Okay” rating system was questioned in several comments, and the licensing period renewal at the beginning of the year was noted to be difficult due to it being a busy time of year. The DCHC staff recommended to the Board to keep the rating system as Good or Okay but to change the licensing period to begin in July instead of January. The Board approved the food regulations with the change from January to July as the licensing period. The 2024 budget was discussed and Secretary-Treasurer Bob Gravely pointed out that it was very important to dive into assumptions made and the sources of the numbers presented. He and Moser will work together to critically evaluate the budget and a tentative date of December 18th at 5:00 was set for a Board Budget meeting. Election filing dates for the two Board seats held by Lori Hasten and Carol Lacy are up for election with the filing dates being December 5th through the 26th. Due to increased personnel costs and the ending of grant funding that had subsidized the cost of lab tests, the cost of those services will have to be increased. Lab order prices will remain the same and lab draw fees will increase to $25.00 effective December 1st. No action was taken on what services the nurse practitioner should be authorized to provide. A motion was made to go into closed session and a roll call vote was taken with all being in favor. The Board exited closed session having approved a revised bid from Evapar regarding the generator. The additional costs for the 48KWH generator were necessary in order to tie into all three service points. The total cost increased from $36,930 to $42,365. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, December 21st at 5:00.

The last signup for the Dent County Toy Drive and the Salvation Army Angel Tree will be TODAY from 3:30 until 5:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. These programs are limited to children from newborn to 12-years of age, and the parent or guardian they live with MUST sign them up. The parent needs to bring with them a birth certificate or shot record or current grade card to prove the child’s age; and the parents must live in Dent County. A current utility bill or a letter from the school the child attends will also work. Only one person per family may register and no children are allowed to be present during the signups. Parents will be asked the interests of each child, and they should know their children’s clothes and shoe sizes. The Dent County Toy Drive and the Salvation Army want all children to have a great Christmas, but they are also asking parents not to sign up unless you truly need the help. If you have questions, message the Dent County Toy Drive on their Facebook page or call 729-8163.

The staff at KSMO Media and Your World Today wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! In lieu of the Thanksgiving holiday, Your World Today will not be published Thursday or Friday this week.

An accident happened Monday evening just after 6:00 in Texas County on Highway 63 about five miles south of Licking. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 Ford F-150 being driven northbound by 49-year-old Sarah Sullings of Salem, struck a parked and unoccupied 2000 Chevrolet 3500. Sullings suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Texas County Memorial Hospital. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Jays Towing. The Chevrolet was totaled and left at the scene. The report went on to state that Sullings was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

An accident happened Tuesday morning at 1:15 in Phelps County on Route O south of Fawn Run Road, south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2021 Nissan Versa being driven south by 37-year-old Luis Martinez of Rolla, crossed over the center line and went off the left side of the road, struck a tree and overturned. Martinez, who was wearing a seat restraint, suffered serious injuries and was taken by Phelps Health ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital. The Nissan was totaled and removed from the scene by C & C Towing.

The Salem Memorial Hospital has announced its has partnered with the Missouri HealthNet Division and Unite Us in the rollout of the Transformation of Rural Community Health Program, better knows as ToRCH. The Missouri HealthNet Division is the agency that administers Missouri’s Medicaid program; and Unite Us is a national leader in software enabling cross-sector collaboration. Through this partnership, the Salem Memorial Hospital will partner with organizations across the community to direct strategy and coordinate efforts to address the social drivers of health. A key focus of the program will involve the rollout of the unite Us Platform which will enable organizations participating in ToRCH to send and receive secure, electronic referrals, address Medicaid participants social needs and improve health across the ToRCH communities. Together the Salem Memorial Hospital and Unite Us will securely connect people in need with community-based resource that could otherwise be difficult to navigate. The network will provide a central point of contact where health and social services providers can securely access and refer people to needed services while monitoring progress and measuring outcomes. If there are non-profits, community-based organizations and other providers who want to connect their clients and patients to services within the UniteUs network, reach out to uniteus.com contact.

At the Salem R-80 Board meeting closed session held last Thursday, the board approved an A Plus appeal for a student before a personnel issue was discussed. The board also accepted the resignation of Jerry Adkins as the Freshman Basketball Coach and Football Coach. The board also approved the SBU building contract before closed session was adjourned.