Local News

A fatal accident occurred Friday afternoon around 4:51 in Crawford County on Highway 19 south of Route HH. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Ford Focus driven by 62-year-old Susan Eaton of Cherryville, was travelling northbound and travelled off the right side of the roadway. She overcorrected toward the left side of the road and the Ford returned to the roadway and overturned, travelling off the left side of the roadway and striking a tree. Eaton was pronounced dead by Crawford County Assistant Coroner Nikki Bussell. Her body was transported to Hutson Funeral Home by the Assistant Coroner. Eaton was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and was removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

An accident occurred Friday evening around 5:30 in Dent County on Route B about three miles east of Doss. According to the highway patrol report, a 2003 Honda Shadow driven by 46-year-old James Dorris of Bunker, was traveling eastbound and lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve. The Honda travelled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Dorris suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis. He was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Honda sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by the owner.

The Missouri Hospital Association’s Community Investment Report finds that in 2020, the state’s hospitals provided more than $3.5 billion in total community benefit, an increase of nearly $100 million from 2019, and a 16% increase throughout the last decade. Providing a safety net for care is an essential part of a hospitals’ value to the community they serve. In 2020, hospitals provided $1.8 billion in total uncompensated care, an increase of more than $93 million over 2019. Hospital specific data is available on the association’s consumer data site, FocusOnHospitals.com. Salem Memorial District Hospital provided $121,078 in charity care, $3,244,055 in bad debt, $261,225 in unpaid costs for treatment of Medicare patients for a total of $3,726,358 of uncompensated cost. The hospital spent $14,351,236 on payroll and benefits for their 247 employees. The Salem hospital paid $806,669 in taxes and had $25,343,251 in total operating expenses. Salem Memorial District Hospital’s net revenue was $23,545,340. In 2020, the cost of providing care to low-income Missourians, and the uninsured and underinsured individuals who are eligible under hospitals’ charity care policies e increased by more than $65 million to $1.09 billion statewide. With the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacting hospitals, provider relief funds from the federal government helped offset what might have been devastating financial losses at many hospitals. Despite financial uncertainty, hospitals continued to provide a safety net for care. And, for every $1 in net income, operating revenue, minus expenses hospitals provided $2.13 in uncompensated care in 2020, an increase from $1.54 in 2019. These community investments help strengthen the health care system. They also ripple throughout the economy, creating household income, opportunities to support and build businesses, and increasing revenue for state and local governments.

Fishing and Fish Fry is part of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Women’s Outdoors Program. The class will be held at the lower lake at the Current River State Park tonight from 6:00 until 8:00. During the class women will learn to fish, clean your fish and cook it. For more information or to register call Connie at 573-751-1224 or email connie.weber@dnr.mo.gov.

The City of Salem Planning and Zoning Commission Board of Adjustment met Wednesday evening at 202 North Washington to discuss a variance for a proposed 85-foot sign for the Mobil-Dirt Cheap business located at 1103 South Main Street. The City of Salem Code of Ordinances limit structure height to 60-feet. The board of adjustment voted against the variance as neither the owner of the property, Greg Portell, or the sign company, Ziglin Signs owned by Matt Meyer, were in attendance to present their case.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting at the courthouse. At the meeting, it was determined Salem and Dent County received between two to about three inches of rain on Wednesday. Because of that, both Commissioner Wes Mobray and Gary Larson said they had crews out checking for washouts and fixing road problems. Mobray also said crews were working on a road pipe that washed out in the middle. Larson said truck #124 has now been repaired and is back from St. James. Larson also said crews would be fixing some road issues on Dent County Roads 3350 and 4060 as well as cleaning out debris below a number of bridges in District 2. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported he attended a CCAM Executive Board meeting Wednesday and then went to Jefferson City to address legislative issues. He said they talked about financial relief for the counties from unfunded mandates by the state where the state keeps having counties pick up increasing costs passed by the state without a funding mechanism to pay for the increase. There was some discussion about the state picking up the Prosecuting Attorney’s salary while the counties would continue to pay for their retirement and staff. This suggestion was received well by the legislature and has also been mentioned by the prosecutor’s association in their discussions with counties. Skiles received a phone call from a group that will be coming to Dent County through efforts by the MRPC to clean-up trash on some forest and county roads around the Bunker area Saturday morning. Skiles said he received a request from the Salem Memorial District Hospital to use ARPA Funds for assistance in purchasing a new transformer for the hospital to replace the old one which is over 40-years old. The cost of the new transformer will be around $175,000. After some discussion with Hospital Board Member A.J. Seay, the commission approved up to $200,000 of ARPA funds for the hospital to get the transformer. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she was doing poll-worker training Thursday. She said anyone who has moved since the last election needs to come to the courthouse and get an address change before Tuesday if they intend to vote. Absentee voting continues in the county clerk’s office and will through 5:00 Monday afternoon. The county clerk’s office will be open this Saturday from 8:00 in the morning until noon for absentee voting as well as any address changes people need to make. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

The Dent County “Love Thy Neighbor” program is now taking applications for their community home repair service provided by the local church body. The purpose of this program is to improve improvements to houses in Dent for people who have no other means in which to make the improvements or repairs like the elderly, veterans, disabled or financially challenged. All work projects are done outside such as decks, roofing, painting, and yard work, all at no charge to the homeowner. The “Love Thy Neighbor” projects will take place the week of June 5th through 9th. Volunteers will work on homes Monday through Thursday. Who is Eligible for the “Love Thy Neighbor” Program? Residents who are unable to do the work themselves due to physical and/or financial situations, those who have no other means of getting the work completed and those who can provide an environment that will be socially and physically safe for all volunteers. If you are interested in participating in the program, you must fill out an application that can be downloaded from the ltndent.com website. Then drop off the application in the First Baptist Church office on Third Street during regular business hours from 8:00 until 4:00, Monday through Thursday; the Edward Jones Office at 907 S. Pershing between 8:00 and 5:00, Monday through Friday; the New Harmony Church at 5841 Highway 32 West from 9:00 to 4:00, Monday through Thursday; or mail your application to “Love Thy Neighbor,” P.O. Box 732, Salem, MO 65560. Applications are due before April 24th. Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Those homeowners meeting the qualifications will receive a phone call from someone on the “Love Thy Neighbor” committee before anyone comes to inspect your home. Homeowners will be notified by mid-May if their home has been chosen by the Love Thy Neighbor committee.

The Salem Police Department has released the following report. On Tuesday evening, March 29th at approximately 8:53, officers were dispatched to the 300 block of East Truman for a domestic disturbance. It was reported that a male subject at the residence was being confrontational with neighbors and fighting with other people in the residence. Firearms were reported to be involved. Officers from the Salem Police Department arrived on the scene and attempted to secure a perimeter. While evacuating neighboring residences, the male approached the officers and shots were fired. The male then fled back into the residence at which time other agencies were called in to assist. Upon arrival of additional responding agencies, entry was made into the residence where the male subject was found deceased. In accordance with the policy of the Salem Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control has been contacted to investigate this matter.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking opportunities to partner with and support the efforts of natural resource conservation partners in Missouri. The overall intent is to solicit partnerships which help provide education and technical assistance to agricultural producers utilizing USDA-NRCS programs. Activities may include assisting landowners with development and implementation of conservation plans and beneficial conservation practices, development of conservation partnerships, assisting urban agricultural producers, and efforts to educate Missouri’s farm community, private landowners, conservation organizations, cooperating agencies, and general citizenry. Proposals will be accepted for projects performed in Missouri and focus on Farm Bill conservation. Research proposals will not be accepted, nor considered. The NRCS anticipates the amount available for support of these programs in Fiscal Year 2022 will be approximately $500,000. Agreements awarded in pursuant to this funding opportunity may be 1 to 3 years in duration. Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 10:59 pm Central Time on Monday, April 4th. The agency anticipates making selections by May 1st, 2022 and expects to execute awards by September 15, 2022. These dates are estimates and are subject to change. To learn more about or apply, visit https://go.usa.gov. For more information, call the USDA Service Center in Houston at 417-967-2028 or in Rolla at in Rolla at 364-2088

The Salem Community Garden will be offering a variety of Growing Green Educational Workshops from April to October. The garden is a place for residents to grow and harvest healthy food for their families, friends, or to donate to those in need. Watch the garden bulletin board and the Salem Community Garden Facebook page for additional special events throughout the season. The first Workshop will be Saturday morning April 9th at 9:00. Plots are available at the Salem Community Garden and the first plot is FREE! If you would like to register for a plot, volunteer at the garden, or have any questions, contact Charlie Grimm at 573-368-9902 or Sarah Masengale at 729-3196. Workdays at the garden as well as your chance to ask Master Gardeners questions will be held the third Saturday of every month from 10:00 until 11;00 in the morning. The Salem Community Garden is located behind the Salem Methodist Church at 801 East Scenic Rivers Blvd.

MU Extension’s new Freezer Meal Solutions course invites locals of all skill levels into the kitchen. The interactive cooking class, taught by registered dietitian Rachel Buenemann and scheduled for five Tuesday evenings starting April 5th and lasting through May 3rd from 5:00 to 7:00 at The Salem Community Center@ The Armory, will take home-cooks through each stage of the prep., freezing, and cooking process for flavor packed freezer meals. Participants will practice time saving measures of bulk meal preparation and planning. Recipes will incorporate a variety of fresh, canned, or previously frozen ingredients just like a real home kitchen. The Freezer Meal Solutions program is hosted by MU Extension with support from the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District to instruct on key skills of food waste management through food preservation techniques. The course also supports healthy life choices. Attendees will receive a four-portion take-home meal each class composed of that lesson’s recipes. Participants will also receive an activity guide featuring key freezer-meal and waste reduction tips taught in class. The class is $40.00 per person and the class is filing up fast!! If you are interested, call the Dent County Extension at 573-729-3196. If you need accommodations to attend this course, please contact the Dent County Extension Center.

The City of Salem Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustments will be holding a public meeting this evening at 6:30 at the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington to consider a request for a variance from the city Code of Ordinances regarding height restriction. The board will consider a proposed 85-foot sign to be located at 1103 South Main at the Mobil-Dirt Cheap location owned by Greg Portell. The Salem Code of Ordinances does not allow for a structure to exceed 60-feet. The meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened in Phelps County around midnight Monday night on Phelps County Road 3410 near county road 3520. According to the highway patrol report, 50-year-old Dale Hayes of St. James was driving a YCF Dirt Buke southbound when he traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned, ejecting Hayes from the dirt bike. Hayes suffered serious injuries and was transported to Phelps Health in Rolla. He was not wearing protective gear at the time of the accident. The dirt bike was removed by the owner with minor damage.

An accident happened in Texas County on Highway 137 about two miles south of Licking Monday afternoon around 5:15. According to the highway patrol report, a 2002 Ford F-150 driven southbound by 56-year-old Glenda Sellars of Licking, turned into the path of a 2020 Kawasaki EX400 GJ driven by 26-year-old Collin Floyd of Houston, Missouri. Floyd suffered serious injuries and was flown by the Phelps Regional Air Ambulance to Mercy Hospital. Floyd was wearing protective gear at the time of the accident. The Kawasaki sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Jay’s Automotive while the Ford F-150 had minor damage and was driven from the scene.

An accident occurred Monday afternoon at 12:03 in Phelps County on eastbound I-44 at the 193-mile marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, driven by 24-year-old Edward Courtway of Rolla, traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck the guard rail, became airborne, and came to rest in the westbound lanes. Courtway suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Phelps Health in Rolla by EMS. It was unknown whether Courtway was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Hyundai was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.

The Missouri Department of Conservation invites people to celebrate the value of Missouri trees and forests during Arbor Days in April by planting native trees and practicing proper tree care. Missouri Arbor Day is Friday, April 1st. Missouri has been observing the state’s official Arbor Day on the first Friday in April since 1886 when the General Assembly declared that day be set aside for the appreciation and planting of trees. National Arbor Day is recognized on the last Friday of April, which is April 29th this year. Get information on backyard tree care, including types of trees for urban and other landscapes, selecting the right tree for the right place, planting tips, watering and pruning info, and more at mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-care. The MDC George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife food and cover. Orders are accepted to April 15th. For more info, visit mdc.mo.gov/seedlings. Communities around the state also hold local Arbor Day activities. For more information on Arbor Day and Missouri’s Tree City USA communities, visit the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org. Missouri forests cover about one-third of the state and provide outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and watersheds for stream and rivers. Spending time in Missouri forests can provide a natural health benefit, too. Exposure to nature contributes to physical well-being, reducing blood pressure and heart rate, relieving stress, and boosting energy levels.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams shared with the commission the amount of CART funds received by the county this month. Williams said the county received $54,803.50 while for the same time period last year, the county received $53,437.66. That comes to an increase in 2022 of $1,365.84. Year-to-date, the CART funds are up $18,272.01. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2470, 5110 and 5610. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said materials would be added and grading done on county roads 4370, 4380, 6130 and 6140 while only grading would be done on county road 6160. Larson went on to say brush would be cut on county roads 5260 and 6140 while workers would be repairing a wire on truck #1167 and a hydraulic line on tractor #9. Larson also said a crew would be going to St. James today to get the dump truck which was repaired. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said on Wednesday he would be attending a CCAM executive committee board meeting to review legislative issues before going to Jefferson City to visit with legislators. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported absentee voting continues at her office this week and on April 4th until 5:00. She also said her office will also be open from 8:00 in the morning until noon Saturday for absentee voting. At 10:00 Monday morning, the commission opened bids for a 2011 Dodge Charger that was property of the Dent County Sheriff’s Department that had over 149,000 miles on it. One bid was received from Bonita Bailey for $2,000 and the bid was accepted by the commission. Bids were also opened for grader blades for the county. They received four bids. They were from: Woolf Equipment for $9,845,00, Viebrock Sales & Service for $14,225.00, McCoy Construction for $16,460.59 and Fabick Cat for $8,949.00. The commission agreed to go with the low bid from Fabick Cat. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is now testing for new troopers. The Patrol is encouraging qualified individuals of all backgrounds to apply and will offer testing at nine different locations in Missouri. Those who successfully complete testing will be eligible to continue in the selection process for the 117th Recruit Class, scheduled to begin training on January 3rd, 2023. The application deadline is June 24th, 2022. To be eligible, candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent and be 21 years of age upon graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy. Upon graduating from the Patrol’s Academy, members of the 117th Recruit Class are eligible to receive 46 college credit hours from Mineral Area College in Park Hills, MO, for the courses they complete during training. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has updated its uniform guidelines to allow troopers to have tattoos or brands as long as they meet two requirements, the first is that the tattoos or brands cannot depict or support criminal behavior, drug usage, nudity, profanity, promiscuity, subversive groups, bigotry, etc., and tattoos or brands cannot be located on the head, neck, hands, wrists, or any part of the body which would be visible during movements in the performance of their duties while wearing an official uniform. Troopers with tattoos on the arms that would be visible in the class B short sleeve uniform will wear the class A long sleeve uniforms. The starting annual salary for trooper is $53,328, and following three years of service, the trooper first class salary is increased to $56,208. Other benefits include group health insurance, contributory retirement, career advancement, and more. The selection process is a multi-phase testing procedure, including a written examination, a physical fitness for duty assessment, polygraph examination, background investigation, and oral interview board. Written and physical examinations take place in each troop area across the state. After a conditional offer of employment, the applicant must successfully complete a medical examination to include vision and hearing, psychological examination, a psychological interview, drug screening, and final applicant review. Interested persons can find out more about the qualifications by contacting a Patrol recruiter at 1-800-796-7000, or may apply online at www.motrooper.com.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital has revised their visitor restrictions effective last Tuesday. Although you still must wear a mask while visiting anyone at the hospital unless you have respiratory issues doing so, many of the former restrictions have been lifted with visitor hours now from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday and from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. There are different rules for patients with or without COVID-19. You can view all the revised visitor instructions online at SMDH.net or contact the hospital at 729-6626 if you have questions.

An accident occurred on the morning of Saturday, March 19th in Salem on Highway 32. According to the Salem Police Report, a 2020 Ford F-150 driven by Joseph Nelson of Ava, was traveling west towards the intersection of Highway 72 where a deer was standing in the road. The Ford traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a MODOT yield sign and began sliding in the grass. The Ford then struck a ditch and overturned. During the accident, damage was caused to the fence owned by American Muffler and Tire. Nelson indicated he had hip pain but declined medical attention. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by American Muffler and Tire.

Volunteers for AARP continue to offer free tax filing assistance at the Salem Community Center@The Armory computer lab on Fridays, but appointments are filling up fast. New appointments will continue to be made on Fridays now through April 15th and times are still available. This local service is provided entirely by AARP trained volunteers and will be the 18th year that Healthy Dent County has partnered with AARP to provide this free tax service to our community. The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained in filing certain tax forms and schedules, including the Form 1040. However, the Volunteer Protection Act requires that the volunteers stay in the scope of the program. If counselors feel they do not have adequate knowledge or your return is too complex, you may need to seek another qualified counselor or get paid tax assistance. Items you will need to bring with you to have your tax returns prepared include: Proof of identification such as a picture ID; Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents; or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration. You should also bring birth dates for you, your spouse, and dependents on the tax return. Also needed are wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099- Misc from all employers; year-end Social Security Statements showing total SS received and Medicare payments; and interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099). You should bring a copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available; plus proof of your bank account routing numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit, such as a blank check or deposit slip. To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms. The Salem Community Center @ the Armory is located at 1200 West Rolla Road. If you still need tax help, make an appointment by calling 729-8163.

Team members at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park invite the public on a spring wildflower hike at 10:00 Saturday morning, April 2nd. This informational trek will provide details on the types of flowers, their medicinal uses and some wild edibles that can be found right in your own backyard. Participants should meet at the Horseshoe Trailhead for a 1.5-mile guided hike. Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather, bring water and wear sturdy shoes and insect repellent. In the event of inclement weather, the hike will be canceled. The public is strongly encouraged to follow social-distancing guidelines and be proactive in protecting themselves and others. For more information, contact the park naturalist at 573-546-2450, ext. 1003. You can also find more information on state parks and historic sites, by visiting mostateparks.com.

The Dent County Commission met the morning of March 24th in the courthouse for their regular meeting. Sally Burbridge, Salem, and Dent County Economic Development Director was in to answer questions about the new Tourism Tax Commission logo. She indicated that the commission wanted a new logo that would be consistent with the rest of the Salem and Dent County branding. The Commission approved the logo unanimously. In the road report, District One Commissioner Wes Mobray said that his crew was checking for washouts, downed trees, and limbs. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that weather permitting, brush would be cut on Dent County Road 6140 while service was being done on grader #37 and truck #68. He noted that bridges would be cleaned out on county roads 3180 and 2330. Larson reported on the Tourism Tax Commission meeting where five reimbursement requests and one request for funding were submitted. He also talked on the new Tourism Tax Logo, which the Commission approved. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that Corky Stack of Stack and Associates had been contacted about the sewer problems at the jail and that Corky had gotten the Muffin Monster pump and equipment ordered to solve the problem. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that the Commissioners were approving bills for payment. She noted that absentee voting continues in her office through April 4th and that her office will be open Saturday, April 2nd, from 8:00 in the morning until noon for absentee voting. The next commissioner meeting will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

A Youth Paint Party will be held Saturday at the Creative Arts Center behind the ONCRC with Danielle Norris. This paint party is for boys and girls ages five and older, even those young at heart! There is a maximum of 20 students so register now! Those in attendance will paint a spring themed painting and experiment with mixing colors and trying different types of brush stroke techniques. For more information or to register, call 247-0651. Message them on Facebook or you can e-mail salemartscouncil@outlook.com.

The Salem Acoustic Jam will be held this Saturday at the Creative Arts Center at 6:30. Come on out, bring your instrument and join in, or just come to listen to the music. All types of music are played, everyone is welcome to participate and there is NO CHARGE to attend.

The Dent County Commissioners conducted a road closure hearing March 24th in the morning at 10:00 in the Judicial Building Associate Court Room. The hearing was to consider the petition submitted by Donny Hodges for the closing of 1.2 miles of Dent County Road 5490. District One Commissioner Wes Mobray outlined that 1/2 mile of the road was bordered on both sides by property owned by Hodges, but 1.2 miles would require closure to provide turn arounds. Hodges noted that the roadbed is a partial creek bed since it is approximately 5 feet lower than the hay fields on both sides so that flooding runs right down the road. Irvin Halbrook, Russell Flowers, Janelle Harrison, and Judy Harris were among those who spoke in opposition to the closure. Halbrook questioned why the hearing was being held since the requirements as to abandonment were not met. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles pointed out that the Commission had to follow the law once a petition was presented. Mobray made a motion to leave the road open, seconded by 2nd District Commissioner Gary Larson, and approved by the commissioners, 3-0. The hearing was then adjourned.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri thank the thousands of Missouri deer hunters who donated 242,774 pounds of venison to the state’s Share the Harvest program this past deer season, including 5,053 whole deer. They also want to thank the participating meat processors throughout the state who grind the donated deer meat into ready-to-use packages, and the many sponsors who financially support the program. Meat-processing fees are covered entirely or in part by numerous local sponsors, along with statewide sponsors that include Shelter Insurance, Bass Pro Shops, Feeding Missouri and Missouri Department of Conservation. The donated deer meat goes to local food banks and food pantries to help feed hungry Missourians all around the state. To get Share the Harvest venison, contact local food banks or food pantries. Share the Harvest is coordinated by MDC and CFM and is celebrating 30 years of helping to feed hungry Missourians. Since the program was started in 1992, it has provided nearly 5 million pounds of lean, healthy venison to help feed hungry Missourians, including this past season’s donations.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. In the summary of operations for the month of February, the hospital had only 70 inpatient admissions with 219 inpatient census days which is the lowest this fiscal year. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $1,018,306, but received American Relief Fund monies well as Phase 4 monies as non-operating revenues of $2,336,196 to have an excess of revenues over expenses of $1,361,497. During the month, there were 516 emergency room visits with 55 admissions, plus there were 176 ambulance runs where 129 patients were transported. In February, there were 32 surgery cases, 1,070 outpatient registrations, 4,814 lab tests, 901 radiological procedures, 406 rehab treatments and 155 home health visits with 16 home health admissions. The days in account receivable during the month went up to 81 which is the same as January and days cash on hand was back at 53 which is normal for critical access hospitals. The hospital had a cash increase in February of $2,918,352. Hospital Administrator CFO Doug Hoban said the hospital had additional expenses with temporary employees, the CHC extension and RHG contract as well as higher than normal maintenance costs. Chief Nursing Officer Ashley Sullins gave the Acute Care Staffing by Patient Acuity report that showed the average acuity at 20 per day with 8 patients per day. She also gave the six-month Home Health Report that showed 92% overall care in the patient satisfaction survey. Sullins also gave the COVID-19 update and said the number of COVID cases as of Tuesday in Dent County was 5 with a positivity rate of about 2% of those tested. As of Tuesday, the community vaccination rate is 36.4% for the first dose and 32.7% fully vaccinated. Sullins stated the Community Health Needs Assessment that must be updated every three years is now available at the SMDH.net website with paper copies available at local financial institutions and health care offices. Those surveys are due by April 15th. In the lab update, the CLIA survey from March 9th showed no deficiencies. The new Vitros Chemical Analyzer is scheduled to be in April 4th and it will take two to three weeks to calibrate before CLIA will return for full certification. Right now, staffing is a problem in the lab as they have a lab director, a full time temp and a weekend person. CEO Bill May reported Tabitha Stanfast will be the RN Program Coordinator for the Delta Regional Community Health System Development Program. The board heard from Reese Baker from RHG who said the hospital will not submit attestation in March and will wait until CMS opens the hardship window. The hospital will file under the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances and CMS looks at these on a case-by-case basis. Baker will have a full risk assessment complete by June for the board who approved this strategy for the hospital. The board talked about the closure of the lagoon and the estimated cost to create a closure plan of $4,640 came from Darren-Krehbiel Consultants. The board felt that they were told by City Administrator Ray Walden that the city would pay for the closure of the lagoon in a presentation to the board a few years ago if the hospital agreed to become part of the city’s wastewater system. The administration will follow up on that. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released a number of reports. On Sunday, March 13th, a deputy investigated a suspicious subject at Shawnee Mac Conservation Area. During the investigation, a 34-year-old Salem woman was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail where she was placed on a 24-hour hold pending issuance of a warrant. On Tuesday, March 15th, a deputy investigated a report of property damage on Dent County Road 2560. The investigation revealed that an unknown person or persons had damaged a mailbox belonging to the reporting party. No further information was available, pending further investigative leads. Later in the week on Thursday, March 17th, an employee of the Dent County Road and Bridge Department reported the theft of fuel from a tractor on Dent County Road 5240. Evidence at the scene revealed unknown person or persons siphoned approximately twenty gallons of diesel fuel from the vehicle. The investigation will continue from the evidence found. Later that day, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Pershing Avenue. During the stop a 46-year-old man was arrested for resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony, the possession of a controlled substance except for 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia from a prior drug offense and driving while having their license revoked or suspended. He was also found to have an active arrest warrant through Greene County. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was held on the warrant and placed on a 24-hour-hold. If you have any information on any ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.