Your World Today

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. District 2 Board member Mike Swyers was sworn in by Hospital Attorney Mark Weaver after running unopposed in the Municipal Election. In the summary of operations for the month of March, the hospital had 105 inpatient admissions with 211 inpatient census days. The average amount of patients per day in Acute Care was 6.8. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $613,362 and expenses over revenues after taxes of $584,707. During the month, there were 593 emergency room visits to go with 202 ambulance runs where 148 patients were transported, 39 surgery cases, 2,098 outpatient registrations, 9,033 lab tests, 1,184 radiological procedures, 286 Home Health visits and 725 rehab treatments. The cash flow statement showed the hospital had a cash decrease for the month of $243,308 and the days in accounts receivable remained at 92 for the second straight month. Chief of Nursing Debbie Hines gave the Acute Care Staffing by Patient Acuity report that showed the average acuity at 17 per day with seven patients per day. Hines said That only 95 people were vaccinated at the fire station on April 16th as the hospital had 600 vaccinations available. The hospital redistributed 400 of those to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan and Phelps Health took the remaining doses back. Since January 15th, the hospital has had 19 events and 3,600 people have been vaccinated and another 135 have not yet had their second dose. Hines also said there are two active COVID-19 cases in Dent County as of Tuesday so there will be no changes to their visitor policy. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas said it has been a year since the COVID-19 pandemic and he said one of the biggest concerns is the deductions from revenue. This is being discussed internally on a weekly basis and the hospital has a plan on how to reduce this amount. Lucas said he would be meeting with auditors BKD next week to discuss this further. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards said the Golf Tournament is scheduled for June 4th and the hospital has received $8,100 in sponsorships so far and five teams have signed up. Another round of sponsorship letters will be going out soon. Edwards said the TytoCare Product has been tested and evaluated in house, and all up-to-date documentation has been sent to the USDA. Edwards has spoken to a rural school to start piloting the program and the hope is to have the program in all the schools at the beginning of the next school year. Lucas reported on the hospital expansion and said the new water heater electric has been installed. The new water heater will be installed soon followed by the water softeners and that will finish the expansion project. Lucas said the Cerner Conversion for payroll is underway as they are currently running dual payrolls to make sure all the deduction codes the hospital has are recognized and the first payroll using Cerner will be dated July 2nd. He also said the departments are all working on creating workbooks for the conversion to be done in early fall with Microsoft Dynamics 365. Lucas said the next finance committee meeting is pending as they are trying to get more accurate numbers for the budget preparation. Once they feel they have an accurate prediction, the committee will meet. There were no purchases for the month and the board went into closed session.

The 6th Annual Veteran Affairs Day will be held Friday from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon at the American Legion Walker Roney Post 99 and All-American VFW Post 6280 on Highway 32 West in Salem. The Veteran Affairs Day is an annual outreach to all veterans from parts of central rural Missouri to provide easier access to VA services. It includes the American Legion District 16 and the VFW District 2 which includes Camden, Cole, Crawford, Dent, Howell, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Phelps, Osage, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas and Wright counties. Representatives from the Department of Veteran Affairs, including enrollment and claims processing specialists as well as benefit advisors, will be in attendance. The Truman VA Hospital will also have the COVID vaccine available for veterans and their spouses. The Columbia Veteran Center will have counselors and advisors on hand in their mobile unit. In addition, the Missouri Veterans Commission will have Service Officers at the event. A light lunch will be provided around noon. It doesn’t matter when you served, if you are a veteran and have questions, have a claim or need to enroll into the VA healthcare system or get the COVID vaccine, please attend. Don’t miss out on your hard-earned benefits. Truman VA Hospital has confirmed that they will NOT be using the Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccine (presumably due to recommendations by FDA & CDC). They will now be administering the Pfizer two dose vaccine. The second dose will be administered on Friday, May 14th from 10:30 in the morning until 2:00 that afternoon in the Bingo Hall in the Legion/VFW building. Call the American Legion Post 99/VFW Post 6280 at (573) 729-3710 for questions, to get vaccinated or to schedule a private time with a counselor.

An accident happened in Dent County at 4:30 Monday afternoon on Highway 32 about 15 miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Hyundai Elantra driven westbound by 40-year-old Deanna Helms of Viburnum, went off the north side of the roadway and Helms overcorrected, the vehicle then went off the south side of the road where the Hyundai struck an embankment. Helms suffered serious injuries and was transported to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur by Air Evac Air Ambulance. A passenger in the Hyundai, 23-year-old Brittany Helms of Viburnum, suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Iron County Ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. No one in the vehicle was wearing a seat restraint. The Hyundai was totaled and removed from the scene by Abney’s Towing.

The City of Salem held their Board of Aldermen meeting Monday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. In the hearing of persons, Mark Bottomley asked for additional lighting to be installed at the Roadside Park for security purposes. Public Works Director Mark Nash will look into the matter. Also heard was Ted and Crystal Kiddy requesting additional no parking and children at play signs on North Jackson Street and an alley near their residence. Speeding is also an issue on this street and Chief Joe Chase will assign officers to do a traffic study in the morning and afternoon to survey the problem. Teresa Stark once again discussed the continued loud music, fire burning and other ordinance and building violations of her neighbor. Chief Chase explained that his department has enforced all ordinance violations. Attorney Webber advised Ms. Stark to contact law enforcement and file complaints that will then be given to his office for possible violations. Temporary City Clerk, Tammy Koller read Bill #3476 an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to sign all documents to enter into a lease purchase funding agreement with Signature Public Funding Corporation for guaranteed energy savings project improvements recently included in Resolution #4-2021. This project would have made improvements to city owned buildings that reduce utility consumption, maintenance costs and operation costs. The bill did not get a vote due to lack of a second by the board. Then Bill #3477 regarding the mayor signing and executing task order #10 pertaining to the Phase 2 Improvements to the wastewater treatment facility was tabled due to an error noted during the reading. The board approved the canvassing of the election results that confirmed the position of East Ward Alderman went to Shawn Bolerjack and the West Ward Aldermanic seat went to Kenny Nash. Mayor Brad Nash presented outgoing West Ward Alderman Kevin James with an appreciation plaque and James thanked everyone that supported him as he tried to support the citizens of Salem during his tenure on the City Council. Koller gave the oath of office to Bolerjack and Nash. The board approved making East Ward Alderman Kim Shelton the President of the Board of Alderman. City Administrator Ray Walden explained that the city has received inquiries from utility customers asking how the city plans to handle utility billing given the recent extreme weather event in February. Staff have been compiling information on available options to present to the city’s Utility Committee. The city’s electric provider MPUA has made arrangements for the city to pay the $1.3 million over a 24-month period. The city could also pay the total out of reserves. Governor Parson has made a supplemental budget request for a $50 million loan fund to allow citizen-led utilities to borrow for up to five years without interest to address the impact of the February storm. Mayor Nash asked, and Walden clarified that no citizen will be asked to pay up to six times their normal utility bill to make up for the storm usage which has been rumored about town. Walden reported that this month’s billing will be for January 9th to February 8th. He reported that the city’s sales tax has come in above budget in every fund and he thanked the citizens for shopping locally. The City Wide Yard Sale will be held Saturday, May 1st and that parking spaces are still available at the City Administration parking lot at 4th and Iron Streets for $8 per space. To reserve a space, call the city hall at 729-4811. The City Wide spring cleanup week for extra trash will be May 3rd through 7th and May 10th through the 14th. The meeting was then adjourned.

Congratulations goes out to these Salem High School SCA Choir members for being named to the SCA Honor Choir. They include Micah Bobbitt, Eli Brakensiek, Kaitlyn Brooks, Audrey Crocker, Avery Erway, Christian Fredrickson, Christopher Harris, Irvin Johnson, Neely Leathers, Alyssa Russell, Gabrielle McDonald, McKenzie Norfolk, Annabelle Pryor, Miles Skaggs, Savannah Skaggs and Bryce Stewart.

“Take Back Day” for unused and expired medications will be this Saturday, April 24th, at Country Mart and Walmart parking lots. The event will be from 10:30 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon. “Take Back Day” is sponsored by a partnership with the DEA, Salem Police Department, Dent County Sheriff’s Department, and Health Dent County Prevention Coalition.

An accident happened Monday morning at 2:30 in Phelps County on the old Wire Outer Road about one mile west of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2019 Ford Fusion driven westbound by 22-year-old Zak Eplin of St. Louis, went off the left side of the roadway, struck a concrete culvert and overturned. A passenger in the vehicle, 25-year-old Shelby Sapaugh of Salem, suffered serious injuries and was life flighted to the University Hospital in Columbia. Eplin suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to Phelps Health and will be transferred to the University Hospital in Columbia. Eplin was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident while Sapaugh was not. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing.

A one vehicle accident happened Monday afternoon just after 3:30 on Route M in Jasper County about five miles north of Alba. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2001 Ford F-150 being driven by 21-year-old Dakota Patton of Rolla was eastbound when he ran off the left side of the roadway, overturned and struck a tree. Patton, who was wearing a safety restraint, was taken by ambulance to Freeman West Hospital in Joplin for treatment of moderate injuries. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by S and S Wrecker Service.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening for their reorganizational meeting following the Municipal Election as well as their regular meeting. Assistant Superintendent John Smith swore in board members Chris Heavin and Steven Patterson. Superintendent Lynne Reed then served as the temporary chairperson during the election of the new board president and vice president. The board elected Dustin Howard as the President of the board and Holly Erway as the Vice-President. The board also elected Amanda Walker as secretary and Chris Heavin as the board treasurer. The board also appointed Steven Patterson as the MSBA delegate and Andrew Wynn as the alternate MSBA delegate. In the regular meeting, Superintendent Lynne Reed explained to the Board that budget revisions would be completed in June. After the building reports from each principal, the board approved the bid from Schultz, Wood, and Rapp to provide audit services in the amount of $9,500, and they selected Energy Solution Professionals as a performance contractor. After some discussion, the board selected Scott Schroepfer Insurance as the school district’s insurance broker. They also set the 2021-2022 tuition rate at $8,000 per student and approved the surplus list of equipment to be sold. The items that are available are on the Salem R-80 website. The board approved lifting the mask mandate for the rest of the year and also approve allowing field trips with certain restrictions. The board also accepted the bid from CDWG for 375 chromebooks in the amount of $96,000. The board then accepted the retirement of Robin Wells from the Central Office specializing in Payroll and Human Resources; Jordan Conway who served as an alternative school paraprofessional; and Will Hubbs as a quiz bowl sponsor. In closed session, extra-duty contracts were approved for Robyn Taylor for the high school yearbook; Amy Halinar for the upper elementary yearbook; Tania Wood for the middle school yearbook; Mary Beth Patrick for the William Lynch Elementary school yearbook; Alec Conner for high school student council; Elaine Russell in music; Scott Frederickson for the band; Charles Mosley as assistant band director; Susan Sheeley and Sarah Sanders as quiz bowl sponsors; Robyn Taylor as the junior class sponsor, and Herman Blau in federal programs. The board approved the employment of Makayla Schafer as a high school art instructor. The board also approved employing Phillip Karr as the High School Head Football Coach by a 5-2 vote, but Karr declined the position. The meeting was then adjourned.

Congratulations to Mr. Marty Anderson who was named South Central Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals high school principal of the year. Dr. Jim Pritchett surprised him during the school assembly Friday.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their April meeting this evening in the hospital library beginning at 6:00. After the call to order and roll call, District 2 board member Mike Swyers will be sworn in by Hospital Attorney Mark Weaver. Following the approval of the minutes from the March 16th meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations and statistics for the month of March followed by the Chief of Nursing Report from Debbie Hines. A report on the hospital foundation, plus the marketing and community perception report will be given by Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards. Lucas will then go over the COVID-19 update and provide an update to the board on the Hospital expansion and renovation, Cerner conversion, the Conflict of Interest Policy and the Finance Committee Meeting report. New business may consist of the review of purchases since the last meeting. The board may vote to go into closed session. The SMDH Board meeting is open to the public provided they wear a mask to the meeting.