News – Wednesday January 22, 2025
The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors have called for a special meeting this evening at 7:00 in the Hospital Library. After the call to order, roll call and approval of the agenda will be Public Comments/Presentations. Speakers must sign in and will be limited to a time limit of 3 minutes. No old or new business is scheduled and there will be an Executive Session for discussion with Legal Counsel. Any person that would like to attend by telephone or electronic means should contact the SMH Administration office at 573-729-6626, extension 4005, to obtain access information.
An accident occurred in Phelps County Monday afternoon at 2:58 on eastbound I-44 near the 183-mile marker. According to the Highway Patrol report a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by a 46-year-old Rolla male, lost a tire, traveled off the left side of the roadway, overturned and struck a group of trees. A passenger, a 14-year-old Rolla male juvenile, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health. Another passenger, a 49-year-old Rolla female, suffered moderate injuries and was also transported to Phelps Health. The report stated that none of the three occupants were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Pontiac was totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman Towing.
The Doe Run Company and its employees showed support for local communities in 2024 through food drives, event sponsorships, and charitable activities. Throughout the Southeast Missouri region, the company and its employees closed out the year collectively donating nearly $92,000 and devoting more than 545 hours to help a variety of local charities. As part of this charitable initiative, Doe Run’s Buick Resource Recycling Division and Southeast Missouri Mining and Milling teams collectively donated $10,000 to the Old Miners’ Day Committee, and $5,000 to the Salem Community Center at the Armory. These teams made additional donations to the Dent County Trunk or Treat event, Viburnum Sports Club and Salem High School Project Graduation. Leading up to the holidays, Doe Run employees contributed more than 1,300 canned and dry goods to the Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence food drive in Viburnum. Through the “Santas for Seniors” program, Doe Run employees donated $800 worth of gifts to the Guardian Angel Settlement Association, and by donating $537 worth of toys and gifts to children in need through the Iron County School District’s adopt-a-family program. Throughout the year, volunteer hours were devoted to these organizations as well as a variety of additional community events, including Trash Bashes at Sweetwater, Casteel and Buick sites, and organizing and staffing the Spring Rocks ‘n Roll event at the Missouri Mines State Historic Site. Additional donations were made to the Missouri University of Science & Technology for STEM summer camps, VFW Post 6660 of Reynolds County, Reynolds County Sheltered Workshop, Reynolds County Rotary Club, Bunker Volunteer Fire Department, Bunker R-3 School District, Valley R-6 School District, backpack programs at local schools, the Iron County Fair Board, Shriners Hospital, Ellington Chamber of Commerce, Viburnum Lions Club, multiple community sports teams, as well as school band programs and more.
The Dent County Health Center is providing warming items for those in need with winter coats, gloves, mittens, hats and NEW socks. They will continue to provide the service this year. If you would like to help restock the items people have already picked up, you can donate gloves, mittens, all sizes of hats, new socks and blankets. For more information, to donate items or to make monetary donations for staff to purchase items for the warming center at the Dent County Health Center, or if you need someone to pick up your donations, feel free to call them at 729-3106 or stop by the Dent County Health Center on Highway 32-72 East.