Your World Today

Note: Friday, February 4th, we did not print this edition of Your World Today due to tremendous amount of closures and adverse traveling conditions. Printed versions will be available again starting Monday.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports for the start of January. On Tuesday night, January 3rd, at approximately 9:30, officers were dispatched to Wal Mart for a report of a shoplifter who fled the store on foot. Contact was made with the female suspect who was in possession of Fentanyl and meth, plus the items stolen from Wal Mart. As a result, a 38-year-old Fenton female was arrested and later released on summons to appear in court. The next evening at approximately 6:00 officers were investigating an assault when contact with Jared King, 44 of Salem was made. It was found that he had active warrants out for his arrest in Texas County. As a result, Jared King was taken into custody and transported to the Dent County Jail. Then the afternoon of January 7th at approximately 1:00 an officer responded to the 1800 block of South Oak to attempt to locate a male subject with an active warrant for his arrest. Contact was made with a different male subject identified as Dwayne Tresvant 29, of Jacksonville, North Carolina. Tresvant had an active warrant for his arrest out of Crawford County with no bond. As a result, Tresvant was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending extradition. That night at approximately 9:30 officers were dispatched to the laundry mat for a report of a suspicious person sleeping there. Officers arrived and located a male subject who was found to be in possession of syringes, drug paraphernalia and a baggy that contained a crystal substance that field tested positive for Methamphetamine. As a result, a 25-year-old Salem male was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the application of warrants. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information any ongoing investigation.

Come join Patty Burmeister and learn about Sherenschnitte and learn the “old world” craft of paper cutting to create some valentines, decorative wall hangings and more by using paper and special scissors. The two-hour session will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 Monday evening, February 7th at the Creative Arts Center. The cost of the class is $25 for the patterns, scissors and supplies. This class is appropriate for all ages. For more information or to register, call 247-0651 or 247-5306 you can e-mail salemartscouncil@outlook.com.

The powerful winter storm that blanketed parts of Missouri with up to a foot of snow continued to move through the state on Thursday adding more snow and ice to already covered roads. The Missouri Department of Transportation urges drivers to be patient as crews continue to work to get roads back to normal. Bitterly cold temperatures today will slow the efforts to get roads clear. MoDOT crews will still have a lot of work to do on today, clearing all the roads including the smaller routes as well as exit ramps and outer roads. Expect slow travel as conditions will not be clear in many areas for Friday morning’s commute, especially in St. Louis, Springfield and the southern portion of the state. Motorists should be cautious for refreeze on elevated surfaces and on hills and curves. Becky Allmeroth, MoDOT chief safety and operations officer, said that MODOT’s plows have driven nearly 800,000 miles already this storm. That’s three times the distance from the earth to the moon and by today, crews will be on their third 12-hour shift this week. Please be patient and give them room to work. This winter storm has created extremely hazardous driving conditions resulting in a large number of wrecks on the state’s interstate system. Gusting winds will cause drifting snow that will make some roads appear that they haven’t been cleared. To make matters worse, another round of snow and wintry precipitation is forecast for the lower third of the state overnight, primarily affecting areas south of Interstate 44 to the Arkansas state line. Though Friday is expected to be sunny, single-digit temperatures can decrease the effectiveness of chemicals used to clear roads down to the pavement. Allmeroth said that crews have already spread approximately 10,000 tons of salt this week and drivers will continue to see them working shifts through the weekend until roads are mostly clear. Check current Missouri road conditions on the Traveler Information Map at www.modot.org, or through MoDOT’s smartphone app, available for iPhone and Android phones. You can also find road conditions and warnings by following MoDOT on Facebook and Twitter or by calling 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) to speak with a customer service representative 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

A Private Pesticide Applicator Training will be held in Dent County on Thursday, February 24th from 6:00 until 8:30 in the evening at the Dent County Extension Office in the Judicial Building at 112 East 5th Street. The private pesticide applicator license issued by the Missouri Dept of Agriculture is required for producers who want to purchase and apply restricted use pesticides. Application by unlicensed workers under the supervision of licensed applicators will no longer be allowed. Agricultural producers needing to obtain or renew certification of this license must take this pesticide safety training every five years. You must be 18 years of age and directly involved in the production of agricultural commodities to obtain this license. Each person participating in the training is required to have a copy of the Private Pesticide Applicator Manual on their farm. There is a $25 to cover the cost of the manual and you may purchase it at the training with either cash or a check, no credit cards are accepted. In response to COVID-19, the extension in-person training sessions will have masks and sanitizer available for those who wish to use them. They plan to offer both virtual and in-person events this season to better meet your needs. You can register online or contact Dent County Extension Center at 573-729-3196. There is no charge to attend the training. If you have any questions about the training, please contact Gatlin Bunton, 573-775-2135.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met for their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, January 20th. Administrator Zach Moser updated the Board on the current COVID status in Dent County. In December, there were 331 new cases of COVID-19 investigated. According to MoDHSS, as of January 16th, 35.4% of Dent County residents have received their first dose of vaccine and 31.5% have completed the series. Dent County’s 7-day Positivity Rate was 35.4%. Moser noted that Pediatric C19 vaccine is available at the Health Center and adult vaccine is available at Moser Pharmacy, Vandivort Pharmacy, Sinks Pharmacy and Wal-Mart Pharmacy. Moser stated that 79 appointments for blood draws in the lab were held in December and that the Health Center can conduct most blood tests at a reduced cost for those without insurance. Anyone can have their labs done at the Health Center. The number of COVID tests has continued to increase with 355 being done during December. The cost of the rapid antigen test is $10 and PCR test, which can be sent to the state lab and Labcorp under certain circumstances, are now available at the Health Center. Zach reported that 470 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered during the month and that the Health Center continues to offer the $50 gift card to Country Mart through a program funded by the state for anyone getting their first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. There were 528 appointments in CureMD for the month of December, with 613 in Acuity. In the administrator’s report, Moser reported that the Health Center started using the new electronic health record system and is adapting to the system, Monoclonal antibody treatments will be halted due to Omicron, and the Health Center does not have the supplies to administer sotrovimab due to shortages. He informed the Board that new COVID testing resources are coming and the Board set the price of the rapid molecular tests at $105. Moser went on to say that the new health insurance company requires electronic funds transfer (EFT) instead of paper checks. The Board authorized the monthly transfers via EFT. The Board also authorized the biannual audit with the CPA firm that’s done the latest audits at a cost of $4,000. Zach reported on IT difficulties that are due to the state’s firewall and that to fix them the Health Center will need to be closed half a day. It was brought to the Board’s attention that required sinks in the Lab and Pharmacy areas were left off the original plans and that all new flooring needs to be used in the area, rather than reusing the old flooring. The changes were approved by the Board. Health Center financials for the month of December were approved and Moser presented the 2022 budget. The Board moved to postpone adoption of the budget until the February meeting. In contract updates he said that the Increasing Adult COVID-19 Immunization Contract had provided the implementation of the electronic health records system. Moser went on to say that the Enhancing Laboratory Capacity CARES expansion contract was awarded, and the final signed contract has been received. He noted that the Maternal-Child Health (MCH) contract has been renewed and that child safety is the focus of this contract. WIC appointments have picked up and Sho Me Healthy Women, which provides free breast and cervical screenings for women who qualify, can be scheduled by calling the Health Center at (573) 729-3106. Moser reported that he had applied for a C19 Health Disparities Grant which would allow expanding laboratory capabilities. At the December meeting, the Board pre-approved bids for a blood chemistry analyzer and an A1c analyzer in the amounts of $15,714 and $3,896 respectively, if and when the funding becomes available. Zach stated that the roofing replacement has been completed and that the 1006 E Scenic Riverways Blvd construction is underway. The Board viewed the progress after the meeting. In closed session the Board discussed personnel and long-range planning. The Board also authorized a new receptionist position and approved the December 30th closed session minutes. In open session and prior to adjournment the Board set the next regular meeting date for Thursday, February 17th.

Missouri turkey hunters can apply online during February for 2022 spring turkey managed hunts through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) website at mdc.mo.gov. Managed hunt details and application procedures are outlined on the webpage. Drawing results will be posted starting March 15. To apply, you must be 11 years old or older by the date of the managed hunt in order to apply and you must be hunter-education certified or exempt prior to the managed hunt. For a youth managed hunt, you must be between 11 and 15 years of age. Some managed hunts require hunters to attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation. If you cannot attend the orientation, do not apply. The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds everyone that you may apply for only one hunt. You may apply for that hunt individually or as a group of two or three hunters. Those applying for a youth-only hunt may apply individually or with one other youth. The spring turkey hunting youth portion will be April 9 and 10 with the regular spring season running April 18 to May 8.