Your World Today

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released several reports. On Sunday, April 25th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 4180. During the traffic stop, a 51-year-old man from Salem was arrested for the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia a prior drug offense. The man was taken to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Friday, April 30th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 3000 block of Dent County Road 2470 to serve an arrest warrant. At that time, a 39-year-old Salem man was arrested for having active warrants in three different counties. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On Thursday, May 6th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Pershing and East 4th Street. During the stop, a 28-year-old Salem woman was arrested for an having an active warrant through the Rolla Police Department. She was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On Tuesday, May 11th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 1000 block of Dent County Road 6470 for the report of a domestic disturbance. Deputies arrived on the scene and after an investigation, a 19-year-old Salem woman was arrested for domestic assault in the 3rd degree and for the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Also arrested during the incident was a 20-year-old Salem woman for domestic assault in the 3rd degree, and possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Both women were transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. If you have any information about an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.

The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of April. They served 18 summonses to appear in court, gave out 69 warning tickets, and 13 traffic tickets, plus they also served two fugitive warrants. The Salem Police department investigated 17 traffic accidents, wrote five property damage reports, 17 stealing reports and investigated two identity thefts. The department also investigated three driving while having a license revoked or suspended charges, a resisting or interfering with an arrest charge, a violation of an exparte or full order of protection, four possessions of a controlled substance charges as well as three domestic violence reports. The police also investigated two nuisance violations and conducted two death investigations. The Salem Police Department was dispatched for 37 animal calls, 21 ambulance assist calls, and performed 88 traffic stops for the month. The Department also conducted 59 follow-up investigations, one leaving the scene of an accident, and responded to 26 suspicious subjects. They also performed 24 well-being checks. The Salem Police received 951 calls for service during the month of April and had 43 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 8,180 miles during the month of April. There were 16 males and 13 females arrested during the month. The Police Department also served 4 hours as court bailiff during the month.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold a special meeting via Zoom at 11:30 this morning. After approval of the consent agenda, the board will consider bids for a high school storage building before adjourning and moving into closed session to discuss personnel. If you wish to attend the meeting you may contact the school for a Zoom link at 729-6642.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $40,000 Clean Water Engineering Report Grant to the city of Eminence to evaluate the city’s wastewater system. The city will use the grant to identify wastewater system improvements needed to continue reliable service to the area, meet permit requirements and reduce stormwater infiltration into sewer collection pipes. The facility’s improvement plan should be complete in November 2022. Through the grant, the city has an opportunity to assess its plant and identify improvements for efficiency, effectiveness and capacity and to satisfy public health and water quality regulations. This will help the community plan for future growth and development and determine what actions are needed to address wastewater needs. The department is committed to assisting Missouri communities with water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. Through its Financial Assistance Center, the department provides funding opportunities for communities with water quality, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure needs. This project will be funded wholly or in part with monies received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on wastewater and drinking water funding opportunities, visit dnr.mo.gov.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed on Monday, May 31st in observance of Memorial Day. Normal Operations will resume June 1st.

On Monday, May 24th in Dent County in front of Judge Randazzo in the 42nd Judicial Court, Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley reported that Brienne Price of Potosi had her probation revoked. She was on probation for the stealing of a controlled substance. Price was then sentenced to serve seven years the Missouri Department of Corrections.

A two-vehicle accident happened Monday morning shortly after 11:00 in Reynolds County on Highway 72 in Bunker. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2006 Chrysler Van being driven by 74-year-old Everett Helvey of Bunker and a 2018 Kenworth T800 being driven by 61-year-old Jimmy Privett of Salem, were both exiting a parking lot at the same time when the van turned into the Kenworth. Helvey suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment. The Chrysler sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Rowdy’s Towing. The Kenworth received minor damage and was driven from the scene. The report went on to state that both drivers were wearing safety restraints.

At the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors meeting held on Tuesday, May 18th, the board approved a preliminary budget for review for the Fiscal Year 2022 that will begin on July 1st of this year. The board reviewed the market assessment presented by the Finance Committee who reviewed the last seven years of data in putting together what they felt was an accurate expectation in the new fiscal year. This data included 720 patients for surgeries and other medical needs with an average stay of 3.3 days for 2,400 census days followed by 120 patients using the swing bed with an average length of stay of 10 days for 1,200 census days. The committee also decided on 360 patients during the year being kept for observation for about 1.3 days per patient for a total of 480 census days. For the outpatient volume, the Finance Committee calculated there would be 21,000 outpatient registrations and 7,800 ER visits. The committee estimated 6,338 census days in Long-Term Care with an average of 17.5 patients per day occupancy. With these estimates, the committee calculated increases in the cost for a semi-private room, private room, swing bed, isolation, intensive care and observation would increase around 3% or so while the ancillary and outpatient services would go up about 5%. The cost at Long-Term Care would increase from $165 to $175 per day. The Finance Committee calculated salary increases from 0 to 2%, looked for an increase in the retirement plan and supply costs of 4%, and expected drug costs to increase 6%. Using these figures, the Finance Committee prepared an operating budget that shows the hospital in the next fiscal year with patient revenues of about $26,978,988 and total operating expenses of $27,603,988, showing a loss from operations of $625,000. The committee expects tax revenues to come in at about $625,000 showing a break-even budget for the Fiscal Year 2022. The committee also performed a personnel analysis at the SMDH Clinic, support staff, ancillary services and nursing that includes bringing the local billing of patients back in house. In the Capital Budget, the Finance Committee tallied the capital leases for equipment as well as the hospital expansion costs that ended up being $501,741. The committee left $123,259 as undesignated capital items in case other capital needs arose in the next fiscal year. After discussing the budget, the board approved it as is. The board was also informed that a new doctor will officially be starting at the SMDH clinic in November and that will be Tiffany Bland, MD. She will begin working at the hospital in June.

An accident happened Sunday afternoon around 4:15 on I-44 in Phelps County at the westbound off ramp in St. James. The report released by the highway patrol states that a 2009 Honda Shadow being operated by 65-year-old Angelo Lettieri of Villa Ridge, slid in loose gravel and overturned ejecting Lettieri and a passenger, 29-year-old Christine Golden, also of Villa Ridge. Golden was transported by St. James ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Lettieri also suffered minor injuries and choose to seek his own treatment. The report went on to state that neither were wearing safety devices. The Honda sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

Are you wanting to learn to fish? MDC offers Discover Nature – Fishing Program that provides a series of free lessons throughout the state. All fishing gear is provided. Learn more at dnf.mdc.mo.gov. If you have a need for fishing equipment, MDC works with numerous libraries and other locations around the state to loan fishing gear for free. Loaner gear includes fishing poles and simple tackle box with hooks, sinkers, and bobbers. Worms, minnows, or other bait are not provided. Find MDC Rod and Reel Loaner Program locations at the MDC website. For information on Missouri fishing regulations, fish identification, and more, get a copy of MDC’s 2021 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations where permits are sold, or online. MDC’s free MO Fishing app can help anglers find the best places to fish in Missouri, access regulation information, identify fish by species, and more. Anglers can also buy, store, and show fishing permits right on their mobile devices. MO Fishing is available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.