Posts by Stan Podorski

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library. The meeting began with approval of the agenda and minutes, followed by Brooke Bollman’s CEO’s report on various operational updates. The single audit for grant funding is still in progress, the Medicare cost report for fiscal year 2024 has been desk reviewed, with an expected receivable of $372,000 more than anticipated. Leadership is implementing several improvement initiatives including charge audits, employee onboarding, marketing plans, and workforce development through grants and internship programs. The Board discussed a potential partnership with the local health department to share healthcare providers. The proposal involves a tentative 12-week contract where providers from the health center could serve at the hospital, particularly for acute care cases. Board members expressed support while acknowledging potential concerns about patient confusion and continuity of care. The arrangement was deemed cost-effective and beneficial for both organizations, especially given the current staffing challenges. The financial report showed positive performance with a net profit of $1.1 million, Bollman noted ongoing reconciliation work to improve financial accuracy, including adjustments for payroll taxes and retirement benefits, as well as transitioning to more accrual-based accounting practices. The ambulance department was awarded approximately $62,000 from the Dent County opioid relief settlement to purchase three Lucas devices (automated CPR machines). Staff are updating marketing materials for swing bed services and developing policies to allow LPNs to administer IV medications after appropriate training. Human resources reported hiring a full-time dietary manager and part-time dietary cook/aide in January, while losing four full-time employees including a radiology technician, clinic nurse practitioner, phlebotomist, and CNA. The hospital has been receiving more LPN applications and plans to recruit at Texas County Technical College when nursing students begin their clinicals. The emergency department’s performance metrics were reviewed, showing favorable results compared to state and national averages. Grant activities were discussed, including the Missouri kiosk pilot project which provides Medicaid recipients with access to manage their benefits. The TORCH program has facilitated 57 referrals impacting 41 clients, with 61.4% of referrals being accepted. Community-based organizations servicing Dent County have handled 85 referred cases affecting 71 clients, with 53% successfully resolved. The meeting concluded with scheduling the next board meeting for March 25, at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library, then moving into closed session.

The City of Salem’s Parks and Recreation Board will meet tonight at 5:00 at the Old City Hall Auditorium located at 202 N. Washington Street. After the roll call, the board will hear the director’s report before they get a financial update. The board will discuss filling available board seats before discussing playground ground cover bids and pool prices for the 2025 season. The meeting will then be adjourned. The Salem Park and Recreation Board meeting is tonight at 5:00, called by Parks and Recreation Board President Carlos Lopez, and the meeting is open to the public.

The Creative Arts Center in Salem will hold a “Sign N’ Wine” class this Friday, from 6:30 until 9:00 with Danielle Norris. Participants can come and paint a new front porch welcome sign which will cost $30, or bring your sign from a previous class and paint the back of it for $20. Guests may bring beverages and snacks! All of the art supplies are included. There must be 5 people sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to 16. To sign up, go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center.

On December 12th, 2021, Marvin Rice was charged with two counts of 1st degree murder for the deaths of Annette Durham, his former girlfriend, and Steven Strotkamp, Durham’s boyfriend. The state certified the case for Capital Punishment (potential death sentence) and venue was transferred to St. Charles County after a mistrial in Wayne County, the jury convicted Rice of One Count of Murder in the 1st Degree (Durham) and One Count of Murder in the 2nd Degree (Strotkamp). The jury was unable to unanimously agree on the sentence and by law, the sentencing reverted to Judge Parker, who sentenced Rice to death in Count One and a concurrent sentence of life in Count Two. Rice appealed his convictions and sentences to the Missouri Supreme Court. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Murder in the 1st Degree, but reversed for a new sentencing phase in Count One and a new guilt phase in Count Two. The new sentencing phase was held March 25th – April 1st, 2022. Presiding over the sentencing was Judge Daniel Pelikan of St. Charles, Missouri. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the jury found the existence of statutory required aggravating circumstances and further found that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating circumstances and thereby recommend a sentence of death. On May 23rd, 2022, Judge Pelikan sentenced Rice to life without the possibility of parole. Rice later pled guilty to Count Two and was sentenced to a concurrent 25-year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections. On November 9th, 2022, Rice filed a pro se motion to set aside his conviction of Murder in the 1st degree. Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley filed a response and a motion to dismiss Rice’s motion. By law, the public defender system was appointed to represent Rice. The court appointed attorney amended Rice’s motion on July 10th, 2024, alleging that Rice’s former attorneys failed to exercise the customary skill and diligence that reasonably competent attorneys would have by not investigating and present evidence showing that Rice had not shot Durham was she was lying on the ground; and also failing to consult, retain, and call a pharmacological expert to support Rice’s defense that his prescription drug regiment affected his ability to deliberate. On September 23rd, 2024, a hearing was held in St. Charles concerning prosecutor Curley’s motion to dismiss, which was taken under advisement, but ultimately denied on October 9th, 2024. On December 16th, 2024, an evidentiary hearing was held on Rice’s request for relief. Prosecutor Curley represented the state of Missouri and Marvin Rice appeared, along with his attorney, after being transported from the department of corrections. Rice’s former attorneys, a pharmacy professor and forensic pathologist testified on behalf of Rice at the hearing. Following their testimony, arguments were heard from Prosecutor Curley and Rice’s attorney. On February 18th, 2025, Judge Pelikan overruled and denied Rice’s motion.

The Healthy Dent County Fitness Center will be holding a youth Salem Spring Volleyball League at the Salem Community Center@The Armory Gymnasium at 1200 West Rolla Road for kids age 5 through the 6th grade. This introductory league helps children learn fundamentals, teamwork and sportsmanship while participating in games to get experience. Register your child by Friday, February 28th. Registration forms are only available at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Please complete the forms and return them to Armory. For more information, call 573-247-8085 and talk with Dottie Steelman.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the CART taxes received by the county in February. She said the county received $88,293.83 which is up $10,520.04 from last February, and year-to-date, CART taxes are up $17,477.88 which is an 11.2% increase. Grant Wilson from Representative Jason Smith’s office was in attendance and said congress would be voting on the budget resolution bill today that would continue the Trump tax cuts from his first term; plus eliminate taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security as well as promoting manufacturing. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk presented the bid from Clearbasin for software for $5,000 for the Senate Bill 190 application with the assessor the Homestead Tax Credit available to those who qualify. The software is subscription based with an annual cost for updates and changes. The commissions approved going with Clearbasin. Curt Faigle from the 100-Acre Wood Rally was in and said the Road Rally this year would be on March 14th and 15th with the Parc Expose being held from 8:30 to 11:00 around the courthouse the morning of March 15th. The first car should leave out around 10:30 and the county roads used have all be used before. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said crews were removing a snowplow from a truck and working on a bad cylinder on another. He also said they were doing road maintenance as well as checking roads for any remaining slick spots. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said crews were removing the snowplow on County Truck #122 and removing the spreader box from another truck. He also said crews were using the Ultimate Paving Materials on select chip and seal roads. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the commissioners would be at their annual CCAM training February 26th through the 28th.  Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said excused absentee voting for the April Municipal Election will begin today, and not everyone will need to vote. Curley says elections will be held in April for the City of Salem, Dent County Fire Protection District, Rolla Rural Fire Department, Rolla Schools, Bunker R-3 School, and the Iron County R-4 School. If you vote in those taxing entities and want to vote, don’t forget to bring your photo ID with you. Curley says sample ballots are available in her office, or she can e-mail one to you. You can also keep up to date on election information on the Dent County Election/County Clerk Facebook page. Dave Cowell on Highway 119 would like to put in a family cemetery on his property. The first step is to let the commission know if it’s less than half of an acre as he has already built a road for public access. He will record it in the Recorder of Deeds of office. He also is doing a project called the Confederate Medal of Honor. The men who served in the units would pick someone for that medal and Dent County has one. His name was James Hulsey, and he survived the war. It’s a medal and certificate to be public displayed, they pay for it, no cost to the county. He feels it is one of our men from this county and is a part of history. The commission made no decision at this time. The commission updated the policy handbook for 2025. The handbook was from 2021 and with the two new commissioners, they both signed it. With no meeting Thursday, the next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday, March 3rd at 9:00 at the courthouse and it will be open to the public.

The Board of Directors of Salem Memorial District Hospital will conduct their regular monthly meeting this evening at 7:00. The meeting will take place in the Hospital Library and may be fully conducted and attended by telephone or other electronic means and the public may observe and attend any portion of the meeting not closed to the public pursuant to Chapter 610.021 RSMo. After the call to order, roll call, and approval of the agenda the board will hear public comments and presentations, speakers must sign-in and keep comments to 3 minutes. Then the board will hear the CEO report followed by the Hospital reports. They will discuss old and new business before going into executive session. Any person that would like to attend by telephone or electronic means should contact the SMH Administration office at 573-729-6626 ext. 4005, to obtain access information.

The City of Salem will be testing the storm sirens tomorrow at 10:00. If there is inclement weather the test will be on Wednesday, March 5th.