Your World Today

Salem Park and Recreation Board meeting originally scheduled for tonight has been postponed and rescheduled for Wednesday, February 16th. The meeting will be held at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 5:30 in the Rotary Room. The agenda will remain the same and include a presentation from People Centric about “getting the most out of the board.” Kyle Williams will also discuss the Frisbe Golf Course before any other business is addressed. The meeting will then be adjourned. The Salem Park and Recreation Board meeting is open to the public.

Presiding Circuit Judge of the 42nd Judicial Circuit, Michael Randazzo, has determined that due to the severe weather and hazardous road conditions, the security of court personnel in Dent County in the 42nd Judicial Circuit would best be ensured by closing the office today and tomorrow all day.

A public meeting of the City of Salem’s Utility Committee has been called by Committee Chair Catherine Dent for this evening at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, 1200 West Rolla Road. The board is expected to discuss utility disconnections during the meeting before adjourning. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released reports for the week of January 24th through the 30th. On Wednesday, January 26th, a deputy traveled to a residence on Magnolia Lane in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant. The deputy made contact with a 22-year-old Jadwin man who was arrested on that active warrant out of Dent County. He was transported to the Dent County jail and incarcerated on the warrant. On Friday, January 28th, a deputy traveled to the Dent County Judicial building to serve an arrest warrant. The deputy made contact with a 23-year-old Salem man who was arrested on an active warrant out of Dent County. The man was taken to the Dent County jail and incarcerated on the warrant. On Saturday, January 29th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at Highway 19 and Highway 32. During the stop, a 43-year-old Salem man and a 43-year-old Salem woman were arrested for the possession of marijuana. They were both transported to the Dent County Jail where they were fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. If you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

City of Salem Public Works Director Mark Nash is asking the public to refrain from parking on any snow route within the city limits of Salem with the impeding bad weather being predicted. Routes labeled as “Snow Routes” have priority over other streets for the clearing of snow, ice or other debris: Third Street to the west from Highway 19 to Dilworth Lane, and Third Street to the east from Pershing Avenue to Iron Mountain Road; Fourth Street from Pershing Avenue to McArthur Avenue; Sixth Street (Rolla Road) from McArthur Avenue to Pershing Avenue; Jackson Street to the north from Sixth Street (Rolla Road) to the dead end; Tenth Street from Highway 19 to Walnut Hill Drive; Pershing Avenue from Tenth Street to Highway 32/72 East; Center Street from Highway 19 to Craig Industrial Drive and from Missouri Avenue to Dilworth Lane; Carty Street from Highway 32/72 East to Center Street; Craig Industrial Drive from Highway 32/72 to Iron Mountain Road; Babb Lane from Highway 32/72 West to Roosevelt Street; Doss Road south from Highway 32/72 East to the city limits; Roosevelt Street to the east from Highway 19 to Babb Lane and west from Highway 19 to Wines Street; Wines Street from Roosevelt Street to Highway 32/72 West; Missouri Avenue from Highway 32/72 West to Third Street; Park Street from Highway 32/72 West to Sixth Street (Rolla Road); Franklin Street from Pershing Avenue to Highway 72; Dilworth Lane from Rolla Road to Highway 32 West. Remember to remove your vehicle from these routes when an accumulation of ice and snow is expected so that the route can be cleared. Your car or truck could be towed at your expense, or you could be sited for a parking violation.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on Friday, February 11, in observance of Lincoln’s birthday. Normal operations will resume on Monday, February 14. Examination stations will also be closed on Monday, February 21, in observance of Washington’s birthday. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, February 22. Too many people die in traffic crashes each year in Missouri. The choices you make when you’re behind the wheel matter.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Road Supervisor Jason Akins gave the report for Commissioner Wes Mobray who was not in attendance due to other commitments. Akins said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5610 while only grading would be done on county roads 6380 and 6670. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 4055 while brush would be cut on county roads 5200 and 5225. Larson said crews would be installing a driveway pipe on county road 2315 and workers will be getting the equipment ready for the expected snow on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he attended the MRPC Legislative Day last Tuesday and met with Senator Justin Brown and Senator Elaine Gannon as well as Representatives Ron Copeland, Bennie Cook and numerous others. They addressed the Transportation Advisory Committee prioritized list of improvements that need to be made, and also discussed legislation to protect counties from the Department of Revenue debacle that affected Dent County that could have crippled a county that didn’t have the reserves Dent County did. Then on Thursday, Skiles said he, Larson and Mobray accompanied Representative Jason Smith to the Royal Oak Charcoal plant north of Salem to find out more about their 40-million-dollar expansion. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she has prepared the 2021 Dent County financial statement that will be published in the Salem News. At the last meeting held Thursday after the public hearing, the commissioners approved the contract between the Dent County Jail, Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells and the Ozark Correctional Health Care LLC to provide medical services at the jail. The commission also approved the renewal policy for buildings and their contents for the County of Dent to Savers Property and Casualty Insurance Company through Town and Country Insurance in Salem. It was noted the courthouse will be closed on Friday, February 11th for Lincoln’s Birthday and on Monday, February 21st for Washington’s Birthday. The commission will also start meeting on Thursday mornings again starting this Thursday at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse and that meeting will be open to the public.

The Salem Police Department has released the following reports for the end of December. On Monday, December 27th, at approximately 3:30 in the morning officers were dispatched to the area of Third and Iron Mountain Road for a report of a possible gunshot. Upon arrival officers contacted a suspicious male walking in the area. As contact was made with the subject it was found the subject, later identified as Issac Ghormley, had three felony warrants out for his arrest. Ghormley fled from officers on foot. After a short foot pursuit Ghormley was taken into custody and incarcerated at the Dent Couty Jail. No evidence of a gunshot was located. That afternoon, at approximately 4:30, an officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Askins and International for improper registration. As a result, it was found the driver, identified as 40-year-old Sarah Folgate of Bunker, had an active warrant out of Reynolds County. Folgate was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. Then on Friday evening, December 31st, at approximately 8:00, an officer was dispatched to Third and Iron Mountain Road for a report of a disturbance. Upon further investigation contact was made with a male subject identified as Brandon Conklin. Conklin was intoxicated and combative, plus it was found that Conklin had an active warrant for his arrest for 1st Degree Assault out of Wright County. Conklin resisted arrest and forced officers to utilize a taser to subdue him. Conklin was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending extradition. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.

Producers selling local foods at farmers markets can learn about best practices, marketing tips, state regulations and available resources in a five-part webinar series presented in February by University of Missouri Extension. Participants will hear from extension specialists, successful producers and representatives from the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas. The five sessions, held via Zoom, will be from noon-1:00, Monday through Friday, February 7-11. The sessions include growing “niche produce” to reach new customers; boosting sales by participating in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and/or Double Up Food Bucks; learning the state regulations you need to know to sell your product at the market; discovering the best marketing and customer service practices; and finding out about resources available from MU Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The cost is $20 for the entire five-part series. All sessions will be recorded and available for a period of time after the event. Register at extension.missouri.edu/events, go to the search bar and type in farmers market and go the “2022 Selling at the Farmers Market” entry. For more information, contact Leslie Bertsch at bertschl@missouri.edu or 314-400-2115.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control and the Shannon County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of human remains on January 12th. The remains were discovered on the state right of way on Highway 60 near Winona. An autopsy performed on the remains determined the cause of death was homicide. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is requesting the public’s help in determining the person’s identity and any information that could be pertinent to the investigation. The victim is a female, approximately 55-years of age, and has two legible tattoos. Photos of the tattoos can be found with this news release on the Patrol’s website. Anyone with information should contact Troop G Headquarters at (417) 469-3121.

The Houston Police Department responded to a scene Thursday evening to assist EMS with an unresponsive male. Upon arrival, they found three people inside a residence with fatal gunshot wounds. Officers investigated and they believe that 66-year-old Gregory Pardun died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting and killing 57-year-old Deborah German and 16-year-old Benjamin Pardun. The Houston Police Department worked with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Texas County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston Fire Department, and the Texas County Coroner’s Office. The investigation of the incident is still ongoing.

A one vehicle accident happened Friday night just before 8:00 in Dent County on Dent County Road 2060 about a mile east of Lake Springs. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Honda Element being driven east by 17-year-old female from Salem, was traveling eastbound too fast for conditions, lost control of the vehicle and overturned. The teenager was transported by a private vehicle to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. She was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Honda was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors held a special meeting Friday afternoon at the hospital library. At the meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas updated the board on the status of hospital employees with the COVID-19 vaccination mandate. As of Friday, there are 251 total employees of which 141 are fully vaccinated, 19 are partially vaccinated and 66 are exempt from the vaccination. Lucas said of the 25 employees who have yet to be vaccinated, 16 are scheduled to have their first vaccination at the next hospital clinic, while five have filled out an exemption application and it is not known what the other four employees are planning to do. Those employees must have their first vaccination by February 13th. Lucas reported on the hospital revenue cycle that will now be in house and the changes that are being made in Phase 1 and Phase 2. First, the contract with Trubridge for collection efforts expired on December 31st and it will not be renewed. Secondly, when a patient goes for pre-registration, their latest information will be collected including their insurance benefit eligibility. Patients will be notified of the services their physician has requested and will also be notified of their financial responsibility based on their insurance coverage and their deductible. At registration, the service collection of the co-pay and/or their deductible will be discussed, and there will be a review of the insurance authorization before services are provided. Many of these changes are being created from the new Managed Medicare accounts. The Billing and Accounts Receivable Management personnel will then follow through on the patient accounts. In Phase 2 which will begin March 1st, the department will review the charge capture and cash posting including revenue cycle meetings to ensure accounts are sent and returned in a timely fashion. Lucas then updated the board on the Laboratory and that a complete contract for Emergency Blood Release post transfusion has been reached with the Texas County Memorial Hospital, with complete release policy and procedures to be done by February 1st. Lucas said training for Emergency Blood Release Evaluation and Training will be held February 8th and will be recorded for future training sessions. By February 11th, completion of the Vitros Chemical Analyzer online training will be done with the completion of the Vitros validation and quality control study to be completed by February 28th. By March 15th, the complete remaining patient remediation of the lab is to be completed. This plan will allow for 90% of the laboratory services the hospital provides to be available for patients. The hospital is still looking for a new lab director and a technical supervisor as they continue to fill open lab positions such as the hiring of a new full time evening phlebotomist. The board then went into closed session. The hospital board will meet in closed session tonight at 7:00 at the hospital library.