Local News – Monday, April 24th, 2023

An accident occurred Friday afternoon around 4:10 in Texas in County on the Big Piney River about 5.6 miles west of Licking. According to the water patrol report, a 1984 Lowe Utility Boat being operated by 44-year-old Jarrell Neal of Salem, was traveling northbound and going downstream when he lost control on a shoal and sharp bend in the river. The utility boat struck a bluff and sunk in the river. A passenger in the boat, 50-year-old Darren Neal of Houston, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston. He was not wear a flotation device at the time of the accident. The utility boat was a total loss and is at the bottom of the Big Piney River.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, April 20th. In attendance were trustees Bob Gravely, Dennis Floyd and Bob Parsons, plus Administrator Zach Moser and Assistant Administrator Roma Jones. Board members Sandra Headrick and Kim Smith were not in attendance. Zach Moser, a notary public, administered the oath of office to trustee to Dennis Floyd and Bob Gravely. An Oath of Office to be used in future swearing-in ceremonies was officially adopted. A letter addressed to the Trustees from Board Member Sandra Headrick was read tendering her resignation after 16 years of service to the Dent County Health Center. Headrick’s resignation was reluctantly accepted. The Board expressed their sincere appreciation of Headrick’s many years of service, which included years of volunteering for the Show Me Healthy Women’s Program and work with the family planning program in prior years. Her medical and nursing expertise has been relied upon by the Board during her tenure. Officer elections were held with Parsons being re-elected Chairman, Kim Smith was elected Vice-Chair, and Dennis Floyd was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer. Administrator Moser presented the communicable disease report which included 34 new COVID-19 cases for March. He said there were 28 active lead cases in March. Eight sexually transmitted infection screenings were also conducted during the month. Moser noted that a total of two influenza cases were reported in March. In the diagnostics report, Moser said that 241 blood draw appointments were completed in March, plus 26 tests and 16 vaccines for COVID-19, and there were two Influenza vaccines along with 100 other vaccinations administered. There was a total of 495 appointments held during March plus WIC appointments that totaled 327. Moser noted that in March there were 143 urine drug screenings conducted on behalf of the Dent County Treatment Court. Assistant Administrator Jones gave the environmental report where she conducted 10 total inspections and fielded six environmental questions. In the Administrator’s report, Moser said that 328 children are currently enrolled with 22 providers in the Childcare Subsidy Program and the program is winding down and will be ending May 31st, 2023. He reported the new accounting procedures were working well and providing better insight for management of the Health Center’s finances, plus the onsite portion of the 2022 financial audit would take place May 4th. Moser said that the Title X (Ten) Family Planning Program started accepting patients April 3rd. The program will offer free and reduced cost birth control, IUDs, STD testing and treatment, basic infertility consultations, and more. It was pointed out that Title X does not pay for abortion or sterilization services and that the Dent County Health Center would not provide those services even if they were paid for. Moser reported that the first ever DCHC Health Fair, combined with an Open House, on April 13th was a success with over 140 people attending. There was discussion on the possibility of having a second health fair in October. The March financial reports featuring income and expenses were reviewed and approved. A number of budget overages and requests for modification were reviewed and approved by the Board. The next regular meeting of the Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees was set for Thursday, May 18th at 5:00.

On Friday at the Missouri State Capitol’s south lawn in front of her classmates, teachers and other children at the capital, Rolla Middle School fifth grader Harlee Tanner was recognized for writing this year’s winning Earth Day slogan, “Join the race to make the world a better place.” It was selected by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources from 260 other entries sent by fifth graders from 21 different Missouri schools. Harlee will receive a $50 gift card donated by Central Bank in Jefferson City and a Missouri rock and mineral set donated by Missouri Geological Survey. Making the attendance of Harlee and her classmates possible is the Missouri State Parks Bus Grant Program. Available to schools and nonprofit organizations, the program assists with the transportation expenses of field trips and outdoor learning opportunities at Missouri state parks and historic sites. Applications and more information on the Missouri State Parks Bus Grant Program is available online at the Missouri State Parks website.