Your World Today

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. County office holders Shannon VanKirk, Collector, Assessor Jamie Homeyer and County Clerk Angie Curley discussed with the Commissioners guidelines to keep the public and their staffs safe from the COVID-19 virus. They, along with the Commissioners, are discouraging people from coming in to their offices without first calling to get information, directions about a problem, et cetera. In addition to phoning, the commission encouraged communicating by electronic media if available. VanKirk noted that taxes can be paid electronically or can be left in the drop box on the southwest corner of the Courthouse lawn. She said that if it’s something that needs immediate attention, just call her office at (573) 729-3911. Homeyer said that individuals needing to turn in assessment forms can leave those in the drop box as well or they can be mailed in, plus her office will schedule an appointment if you absolutely need to see her. If the assessment form has been lost, call her office at (573) 729-6010 and one will be mailed. To contact Curley’s office call (573) 729-4144. District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency has closed their offices, plus Head Start Centers, to the public in order to protect the health and safety of staff. He noted that the Missouri Job Centers remain open and accessible. Purcell noted that any individuals that are adversely affected by current events including utilities, employment, housing, etcetera, should contact their local county SCMCAA Outreach Office. The Outreach Office phone number for Dent County is (573) 729-3500, Reynolds County is (573) 663-2855, and Shannon County is (573) 325-8271. Both Purcell and District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that due to excessive moisture grading was on hold until some drying occurred. Their crews are cleaning pipes, culverts and crossovers, plus checking for downed limbs. They noted that the Road and Bridge Department realizes there are pot holes, washboards, and ruts needing attention, but current conditions just won’t permit it. Larson said they hoped to get some gravel spread today. Purcell also reported that at Monday’s Tourism Committee meeting, three reimbursement proposals were submitted and approved, one event proposal was submitted and tabled, and four event proposals were submitted and approved. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that Tuesday he attended the COVIC-19 conference call at the Dent County Firehouse conducted by Governor Mike Parson. At that time, there was 15 confirmed cases in Missouri. Angie Curley said the April 7th Municipal Elections have been postponed until June 2nd due to the COVID-19 virus and that absentee voting continues until June 1st at 5:00 pm. The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed out is May 20th. Curley said if there are questions call her office at (573) 729-4144. She noted that current elected municipal office holders remain in office until the June 2nd election returns are certified. Bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment, and the Road and Bridge Department was seeking phone bids for 7,000 gallons of diesel. Bids were opened for 96 Cat and 48 John Deere grader blades. Bids were submitted by Erb Equipment, Viebrock Sales and Services, LLC, and Woolf Diesel Repair. The low bid of $12,369.60 from Viebrock Sales was approved 3-0. The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it has cancelled most public events and programs at its nature centers, shooting ranges, and other locations around the state until April 15th. The cancellations are effective immediately and include scheduled hunter education classes, nature center programs and events, shooting range programs and events, and landowner workshops. MDC scheduled managed hunts, mentored spring turkey hunts, and native plant sales at nature centers will continue as planned.

Due to the rising number of school closures amidst the Coronavirus concerns, Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District has moved the deadline for submitting projects from March 20th to April 10th. Entries for all categories which includes trash art, hand-drawn poster and graphic arts poster may be dropped off at the county clerk offices at the nearest courthouse or at Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), located at 4 Industrial Dr., St. James. If submitting five or more projects, contact MRPC to arrange transport. The Ozark Rivers Earth Day contest is a poster and trash art competition open to all students in grades kindergarten through 12th in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. Homeschool students meeting these criteria are eligible and encouraged to participate. The graphic art portion of the contest is also open to post-secondary students. This year’s theme focuses on protecting the planet and reducing the use of single purpose plastics, such as straws, bags and cups. Students have the opportunity to participate in multiple contest categories, including posters (hand-drawn and graphic arts), and re-purposing recyclables and trash into three-dimensional pieces of trash art. All art entries should echo the theme of the contest and an underlying solid waste reduction theme to rethink, refuse, reduce, re-purpose, reuse and then recycle. First and second place contest winners will each receive prizes, provided by sponsor donations. Honorable mention projects will also be recognized. All prizes will be earth-friendly, with the first prize valued at $30, second prize valued at $10 and honorable mention prizes valued at $5. Full contest rules are available at www.ozarkrivers.org.

Captain Eddie A. Blaylock, the commanding officer of Troop I, announces that some remote driver examination locations in Troop I will be temporarily closed. The driver’s license testing sites scheduled in Cuba, Salem and Vienna will be closed through April 1st, 2020. Please visit the Patrol website to determine the nearest open testing location. The website includes the station location and hours of operation. The written test will be available at Troop I Headquarters each Friday from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. No road tests will be given. When entering the driver’s license examination building, please come to the window and sign in. Only applicants will be allowed in the testing area.

Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 20-03 ordering all Missouri municipal elections previously scheduled for April 7th, 2020, to be postponed to June 2nd, 2020 due to the concern over the coronavirus and the large number of people elections attract. The Executive Order declares that ballots already printed for the April 7th election may be used at the postponed date of June 2nd. Voters who have attained the age of 18 by April 7th will be allowed to cast a ballot. Section 44.100, RSMo, provides that during a state of emergency, the Governor is authorized to “waive or suspend the operation of any statutory requirement or administrative rule prescribing procedures for conducting state business, where strict compliance with such requirements and rules would prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action by the department of health and senior services to respond to a declared emergency or increased health threat to the population.” The Executive Order requires local election authorities to publish notice of the June 2 election. In addition, the Executive Order also includes the following: the closing date to register to vote in this election remains March 11th, the deadline for filing as a write-in candidate for office remains March 27th at 5:00 PM, the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot shall be May 20, a public test of voting equipment shall be completed no later than June 1st, in-person absentee ballots may be cast until 5:00 PM June 1st, and the deadline by which absentee ballots must be received by the election authority shall be 7:00 in the evening on June 2nd. Military and overseas voters must request a ballot from an election authority by 5:00 PM Friday, May 29th, and the deadline for local election authorities to make ballots available to such voters is April 18th. Military and overseas ballots must be received by the election authority by June 5th.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas gave the summary of operations for the month of February where the hospital had 127 inpatient admissions with 365 inpatient census days. There were 2,157 outpatient registrations, 1,457 cardiopulmonary procedures, 10,794 lab tests, 1,351 radiology procedures, 831 rehabilitation treatments, 40 surgeries, 232 home health visits and 848 emergency room visits. There were a total of 214 ambulance runs in February with 169 patients transported and 45 dry runs. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $30,660 and revenues over expenses after taxes of $7,392. Hospital Administrator Lucas said the contractuals led expenses with the contracted nursing, coding and billing services. This and low receivables for the month created a cash decrease in the month of $445,949. Lucas said the days cash on hand has dipped to 35 which is where the hospital was back in 2015. He also said the days in net accounts receivable are 107 and that is 16 more days than in February. Chief Nursing Officer Debbie Hines gave the Acute Care report and the update on the flu. She said that as of February, 285 total flu cases had been reported in Dent County. Lucas gave the Auxiliary report where at their March meeting the 2020 fundraisers discussed were the Scrub Hub on March 25th, the Hospital Week Bar-B-Que on May 12th and the Shoe Roads Productions on May 27th. Their next meeting will be held on April 7th at noon at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards reported on the Hospital Foundation’s Golf Tournament scheduled on June 5th has raised $6,775 to date with sponsorships and donations and prizes. He said they are working on getting the bands for Wings and Strings on September 12. The foundation has submitted the initial Project Performance Activity report for the USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant. Edwards also said the replacement of the floor in Acute Care wil be delayed due to the coronavirus protocol now in effect at the hospital. Administrator Lucas said the hospital has made adjustments to its visitor admission policy for Long-Term Care and Acute Care and they are in the process of re-routing outpatient services with those in need of emergency services. They also are taking steps to make sure employees are healthy while they are at work. The board approved the Courtesy Staff Privileges for Michael Stadnyk, MD for teleradiology and approved the Home Health Bylaw Change introduced in January. The Finance Committee met March 3rd. The market assessment and tentative capital budget were reviewed with the committee recommending to moving forward with the budget. Lucas will be meeting with each department director in April to get their input. The board discussed the COVID-19 protocol where people should call the primary caregiver, the health department or hospital if they feel they have symptoms of the virus. Do NOT arrive at your healthcare provider or the emergency room without contacting them first. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Wednesday, March 11th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Highway 19 and Rolla Road. During the course of the traffic stop, a 22-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 2nd or 3rd offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued summons and released. On Thursday, March 12th, a deputy spoke to a 26-year-old Edgar Springs woman who was the reported victim of a theft. The woman believed her wallet had been stolen. Suspect information was gathered and during the course of an investigation, a 22-year-old Salem man was arrested for stealing and for the possession of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid of 10 grams or less, a prior drug offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and was released. On Saturday, March 14th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of North Main Street. During the course of the traffic stop a 29-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active arrest warrant through the Licking Police Department. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. If anyone has information regarding an investigation, call 729-3241.

The Salem Public Library will be closed temporarily from 5:00 PM this Friday until 10:00 AM on Monday, April 6th. This closure is subject to reevaluation. Updates will be posted on the library’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Library staff will work throughout the closure. Please call 729-4331 with questions.

As of Tuesday morning, March 17th, the City of Salem Administration Building has posted a sign on the front door of the building that indicates the lobby is currently closed in response to the coronavirus. The sign mentions using the drive-through or drop box to make utility payments. You can call the office at 729-4117, e-mail administration@salemmo.com, or visit the City of Salem Facebook page for all other needs.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a meeting Monday at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the consent agenda, the board heard from Public Works Director Mark Nash about Fire Hydrant Saver Equipment that can save the city the cost of replacing three to five fire hydrants a year. The bid from Schulte Supply, Inc of Edwardsville, Illinois, was for $12,155.24. The bid was approved by a 3-2 vote with Mayor Brad Nash breaking the 2-2 tie vote thatn was caused when Aldermen Nash and James voting for the purchase and Alderwoman Hinderlighter and Steelman voted against it. In the Planning and Zoning Commission hearing and meeting, Chairman Gary Brown brought the results to the alderman of the vote taken on two proposed bills before the Board of Alderman meeting. The results were three votes for and three against to recommend to the aldermen to approve the proposed bills. The City Attorney said the aldermen may override any recommendation or non-recommendation by the committee with at least a 2/3rds majority vote as per current city ordinances. After the consent agenda, City Administrator Ray Walden wanted to remind everyone to use good hygiene, wash your hands and stay home if you are feeling ill. The board approved Bill #3439 that approved establishing rules for licensing domestic wineries within the city of Salem and the zoning of those establishments by a 3-1 vote with Alderman Nash voting against the bill. The board also approved Bill #3440 that approved establishing rules for licensing microbeweries, microwineries and meaderies within the city limits of Salem and the zoning of those establishments by a 3-1 vote with Alderman Nash voting against the bill. The board approved Bill #3441 that will annex the land between Southtown Furniture and Tiny’s Automotive owned by the Charles and Janet Cunnngham Trust by a 4-0 vote. The board approved the re-appointment of Rose Kinerk to the Salem Housing Authority Board of Commissioners for another four-year term effective February 16th, 2020. The board also approved leaving the MPR Pool Insurance Group for property and liability insurance coverage before going into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released reports for March 6th and 7th. On Friday, March 6th, a deputy traveled to an apartment on Odom Drive in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 22- year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. Finally on Saturday, March 7th, deputies responded to a residence in the 6500 block of East Highway 32 for a report of a 46- year-old Salem man who was in possession of a firearm and was acting erratic. While deputies were enroute to the residence, further information was received that said the man was now holding two subjects at gunpoint inside the residence. Deputies arrived on scene and set up a perimeter around the residence. After a short time, the Salem man walked out of the residence and surrendered himself. The man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail. He was charged with the unlawful use of a weapon, subsection 4 –exhibiting, unlawful use of a weapon, subsection 11 – possession of a weapon with a felony controlled substance, plus harassment in the 1st degree, armed criminal action, kidnapping in the 3rd degree, possession of controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana and/or synthetic cannabinoid, and the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The Salem man is currently being held on a $100,000 cash or professional surety bond. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information about an investigation.

With an increasing number of school closures around the state in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Missouri Department of Conservation announces that it must cancel its Missouri National Archery in the Schools (MoNASP) virtual state tournament. MDC MoNASP Coordinator Eric Edwards added that all teams and student archers who competed in a state-qualifying event will be eligible to pre-register for the National Archery in the Schools (NASP) national championship and will be placed in their tier based on their highest score in a state-qualifying tournament that took place this season, including the current virtual qualifying tournament listed at nasptournaments.org. The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) national tournament is scheduled for May 7-9 in Louisville, Kentucky. Edwards added that schools will only be eligible to have one team qualify for nationals. He says if you were an individual shooter, your high score will count. If you were part of a team, your individual score for the national-tier setting will be the score you shot when your team posted its highest score.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it has cancelled most public events and programs at its nature centers, shooting ranges, and other locations around the state until April 15th. The cancellations are effective immediately and include scheduled hunter education classes, nature center programs and events, shooting range programs and events, and landowner workshops. MDC scheduled managed hunts, mentored spring turkey hunts, and native plant sales at nature centers will continue as planned. All conservation areas remain open to the public. MDC offices, nature centers, and shooting ranges also remain open under normal operating hours. According to MDC, the cancellations are in effect immediately to protect the safety of the public amid ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns. People can contact their local MDC office, nature center, or shooting range with questions on specific events or programs.