Posts by Stan Podorski

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse. Grant Wilson from Congressman Jason Smith’s Rolla office was in to visit with the Commission. Wilson reported that Smith conducted a Healthcare Round Table series of meetings from Crystal City through the Bootheel where they met with physicians, administrators and the public to discuss governmental regulations and how they affect rural hospitals and healthcare facilities. One point receiving considerable attention was that urban hospitals receive higher Medicare payments than rural hospitals for the same care and procedures. Wilson also said that the impeachment inquiry would start next week and Congressman Smith would be chairing the inquiry. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson noted that he had been questioned as to what the visits by personnel from Congressman Smith’s office has to do with the business of Dent County. Larson said those visits help make sure the county is aware of federal legislation and actions that could affect it. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6580 and 5680. He said two trucks would be hauling rock to county road 5530 and brush would be cut on county road 6410. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk was not in attendance so the District 2 report was given by Mobray. He said grading would be done and rock would be hauled to Dent County Roads 4270 and 4310, grading only would be done on county road 4300, and brush would be cut on county road 6160. Mobray said that in District 2 Chip and Seal patching with the ultimate patching material would be done on county roads 2300, 2250, 2315, 2630, 2640, 2620 and 2070. Larson reported that he attended the Tourism Tax Committee meeting where 2 applications were approved, 3 reimbursement requests were approved, and 1 reimbursement request was tabled until more information is provided. Larson said that the Committee asked if the Commission would put a limit on the amount of dollars per request that the Committee could approve. He asked County Clerk Angie Curley if the Tourism Tax Committee had bylaws and her response was she wasn’t aware of any. She said the only thing she knew of was the ballot language when the tax was approved by the voters. It was pointed out that in the past the Tourism Tax Committee had only partially funded some requests, plus some events might merit the investment of dollars above a limit. Larson went on to report that on Wednesday he attended the South Central Missouri Commissioner’s Association meeting in Houston. He said he serves as vice president of the association and they worked on planning events. County Clerk Curley reported that the Commissioners were approving bills for payment and her office continues to work on the budget for 2024. Commissioner Mobray reported that the FLAP 77 grant funds are in place for the asphalt to Tan Vat. It is 100% funding in the amount of $800,000.00. Mobray said the only cost to Dent County would be $2,319.08 for initial engineering design. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at the courthouse and it will be open to public.

An accident occurred in Phelps County Thursday morning at 8:15 on M Highway about one mile west of Edgar Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a westbound 2013 Chevrolet School Bus, driven by 60-year-old Judy Harris of Edgar Springs, traveled off the right side of the roadway striking a sign. The vehicle returned to the roadway where it traveled off the left side of the roadway, striking an embankment before coming to rest. Harris, and eight juveniles ranging in age from 4 to 12 years of age, suffered minor injuries. All occupants of the bus were transported by private vehicles to Phelps Health in Rolla. Harris was wearing a safety device at the time of the accident, while the juveniles were exempt. The bus sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by the owner.

The Salem Memorial Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the hospital library. In the Administrators Report, Interim CEO Jason Edwards reported that Health Partners Management Group (HPMG) is on site for Revenue Cycle Management. The hospital has been awarded the Transformation of Rural Community Health (TORCH) grant with implementation to begin soon. Staff is currently completing the MHA’s Population Health Assessment Survey and preparing USDA documentation for state matching funds. The Long Term Care correction plan has been approved and the 340B re-certification has been completed. Staff is working with FORVIS to create an independent audit assistance program and will start their annual audit of the hospital on September 25th. Chrissy Decker then gave a Family Medicine update. Total visits from January thru August have been 14,189 with co-pays totaling $67,773 and total collections of $89,757. There have been 614 new patients, 311 visits for the Saturday clinic, 86 sports physicals and 155 in transitional care management with 318 patients signed up for Chartspan which resulted in $23,000 in additional monthly billing. Doe Run employees have had 457 wellness visits, 120 physicals and 46 pre-employment services. Upcoming for the clinic include the addition of Dr. Brady Floyd in 2025, a clinic remodeling project, possible weight loss clinic, and PDMP compliance. For the month of August, CFO Doug Hoban reported hospital admissions were 85 which included 10 Swingbed admissions with a total of 311 patient census days. In August, there were 1,622, Outpatient Registrations, 1,161 Cardiopulmonary Procedures, 9,026 Lab Tests, 1,357 Radiology Procedures, 738 Rehabilitation Treatments, 46 Surgical Procedures, and 204 Home Health Visits. There were 656 Emergency Room visits with 50 patients being admitted. A total of 219 ambulance runs were made with 137 patients being transported and 82 dry runs. The hospital had an excess of revenues over expenses for August of $3,451 with a gain from operations of $12,117. The 340B plan showed revenues over expenses for August of $44,661. CNO Ashley Sullins said the hospital is looking for full-time nurses in Med-Surg and ER. In the hospital foundation report, the “Dancing with the Salem Stars” fundraiser will be held on February 24th at the high school gym, and the “Volley for a Cure” volleyball tournament will be held on October 21st at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Twenty-five free mammograms will be given out during October. At the recommendation of the medical staff, the board approved staff privileges for Randall Heller, MD and Tracy Hesse, CRNA. The board discussed the revenue cycle and also a new strategic plan that includes administrators, department heads and providers. They also are working on creating a seven-year long range capital plan that will be discussed by the finance committee on October 4th. The board approved using property tax funds to help pay for bonding for the building improvements once the funds are secured. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be holding their regular meeting tonight at 5:30 in the Salem R-80 board room. After approving the agenda, the board will hear the Superintendents report given by Dr. Lynne Reed and Dr. Nathan Wills followed by reports from the principals of William Lynch Elementary, the Upper Elementary, the middle school, and high school. New business to be discussed include approval of the bus routes, CACFP contract and addendum, the final CSIP, MSBA policies, approval of the community engagement plan and names on the scholarship bank account. The board will also consider an overnight trip for FFA. They will hear any resignations before adjourning and moving into executive session to discuss personnel, student issues and real estate. The meeting is open to the public.

The Bees Knees Kids Paint Party with Danielle Norris at the Creative Arts Center will be Friday from 4:30 in the afternoon till 7:00. Bees are very cute and important, one could say they are the bees knees ! Let’s paint some cute Bees! Grab a parent and/ or a friend and let’s paint! All ages are welcome but smaller children under 5 must have an adult present! A minimum of 6 participants is required and a maximum of 25. The cost is $15 for adults and kids are $5 (with a paying adult) or $15 without. Interested persons can sign up under “Programs” at the salemcommunitybetterment.com website for activities at the Creative Arts Center.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has release several reports. On Thursday, September 7th, deputies responded to the 2900 block of Highway 19 North for a reported violation of ex-parte order. During the course of the investigation, a 37-year-old Salem man was found hiding on the property and was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was placed on a 24-hour hold pending the issuance of formal charges. On September 11th, a 24-year-old Salem woman came to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office to report her estranged husband was harassing and threatening her. The suspect was a 37-year-old East Prairie man. That investigation is ongoing. On Wednesday, September 13th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 2700 block of East Highway 32. The driver, a 44-year-old Salem man, was found to be driving with an excessive blood alcohol content. He was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was processed per departmental procedures, issued multiple citations and released from custody. The next day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Highway 19 North. As a result, a 35-year-old Salem woman was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance. She was arrested and transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. Finally on Friday, September 15th, deputies responded to the 9300 block of Highway 19 South for a report of shots fired near a residence. Following an investigation, a 41-year-old woman was arrested for discharging a firearm while being intoxicated. She was taken to the Dent County Jail where she was placed on a 24-hour hold pending the issuance of formal charges. If you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Tuesday afternoon at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, the board accepted the written resignation of Tiffin Felkerson from the Park Board. The board then agreed to accept applications from individuals interested in serving on the Park Board. They can fill out the committee volunteer form on the City of Salem website at salemmo.com. Go to the government heading, click on the heading “Board of Aldermen,” then click on the subtopic of committees, fill out the form and print it out. You can deliver the form to Park Board President Carlos Lopez at the Salem Community Center@The Armory by this Friday afternoon. In her report, Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois said she had 22 kids for the two week Kids Summer Camp this summer. She said 154 children signed up for flag football this year which is nine athletes less from last year. There are three 1st/2nd grade teams, four 3rd/4th grade teams and two 5th/6th grade teams as well as four cheer teams. Flag Football games will be at Al Brown Field starting in October. Basketball registrations will begin soon and the “Skills and Drills” football camp signups will be announced soon. Dubois gave her report on the pool this summer and said the wire and conduit for the light stanchions at Al Brown is now in. She said the “Light Up the Park” event will be held from December 2nd through the 31st at the Salem City Park. For the first two months of the fiscal year, the sales tax money received and the charges for the programs have generated $130,076 in revenues while the total expenses come to $105,843 leaving an excess of revenues over expenses of $24,233. The board heard from Jay Anderson and John Hambacker about suggested improvements to the Salem Walking Trail where the railroad tracks used to be from 3rd and Grand Streets to the treatment plant. The improvements include signs showing the beginning of the trail as well as signs placed along the trail at numerous points of interest from days gone by like the McGrath Dairy, Elmer Park, Salem Bottle Works and more. The board took no action until more research is done. The board then went into closed session.

Want to be part of National Public Lands Day? Join Ozark Riverways Foundation volunteers at 10:00 this Saturday morning at Alley Spring to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism with the painting of the old historic Storys Creek School. The project is expected to conclude by 1:00 in the afternoon. Volunteers will clean and oil the old desks and furnishings inside the school. Be sure to wear your painting clothes! In appreciation for your help, volunteers for this “National Public Lands Day” event will receive a “fee-free” coupon for free one-day entrance into a federal recreation site, in addition to an ONSR Volunteer t-shirt. The Storys Creek one-room school was built in 1896 just west of Eminence and welcomed area students until Shannon County schools were consolidated in 1957. The school was donated to the National Park Service and moved to Alley Spring in 1971. It withstood the 2017 historic flood which has contributed to paint peeling on the lower sections of clapboard siding. Alley Spring is located five miles west of Eminence on Highway 106. For more information on the event, call (573) 226-3945.