Your World Today

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting last Thursday, March 21st. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated that there were 16 COVID-19 cases reported, 34 lead cases, 21 screenings for sexually transmitted infections, 37 cases of Influenza and 2 animal bites. The environmental report by Assistant Administrator Roma Jones showed there were 11 total inspections conducted, she had 4 sewer complaints and 10 environmental questions were fielded. A town hall meeting and informational session is being planned to provide information and answer questions about the new Consumer Food Safety Regulation. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there was one CPR Course, two consultation for Childcare Health, one Show-Me Healthy Women appointment, 27 Title X appointments, five Presumptive Eligibilities (Temporary Medicaid) and 320 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 483 total appointments other than WIC, 169 Nurse Practitioner appointments, 85 treatment court visits, 200 lab appointments and 29 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner Service Details showed no Show-Me Health Women appointments, 3 family plannings, 75 well-child visits, 9 online appointments, 6 other physicals, 23 SEMO physicals, 9 other visits, and 114 acute illness appointments. Laboratory details showed 219 individual patients, 19 appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, two pregnancy tests and two lead tests. Immunizations for February totaled seven for COVID-19, two for Influenza, and 76 other vaccines, including the new RSV vaccine and new formulations of pneumonia vaccine. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that DHSS paid two months of WIC reimbursement in February. He said that an “Extension of Adult Immunization” grant through DHSS and a NACCHO grant was awarded in the amount of $109,000 so an immunization RN position was posted. Moser said that due to a new program as the state level, DCHC will soon begin offering free Hepatitis B and C testing. The Health Center financial reports for February, including the overall results from H & R Block, were reviewed. Discussion was held on the balance sheet, income statement, and budget statements. After these questions were answered, the financial reports and the report from H & R Block were approved. In new business, quotes for a Respiratory Testing Analyzer were presented from GeneXpert and Biofire Spotfire. The Board approved the Biofire Spotfire bid for $34,482.76. A quote from McKesson for a Binx IO analyzer for Chlamydia/Gonorrhea Rapid Testing for $11,500.00 was approved by the Board. Two quotes were considered for counter top autoclave devices and the Board approved the purchase of the automatic door autoclave for $8,039.56. Moser presented the personnel manual which was being revised as part of the strategic plan and previously discussed needs. The changes were discussed line by line and were approved by the Board. He presented the 2023 Annual Report and it was approved by the Board. Moser requested permission to dispose of some assets which were non-inventory assets including a Xerox copier, medical freezer and some chairs. The Board approved disposal of the assets. No closed session was held. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, April 18th at 5:00.

An accident happened Monday afternoon just past 2:45 in Franklin County on westbound Interstate 44 at the 242 mile-marker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Lexus RX 350 being driven by 63-year-old Amanda Irwin of Salem, was stopped in the left hand lane due to an accident that had occurred ahead. At that time, a 2024 Kenworth T680 being driven by 51-year-old Clifford Day of West Plains, was unable to stop his rig and struck the rear of the Lexus. Irwin suffered minor injuries and was taken by Meramec Ambulance District to Mercy Hospital in Washington. Both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Kenworth sustained moderate damage and was towed from the scene by personal conveyance. The Lexus had minor damage but was able to be driven from the scene.

The Missouri Public Service Commission has adopted recommendations made by the Public Service Commission Staff which reduces the current surcharge that appears on the monthly telephone bills of Missourians to fund Relay Missouri. The surcharge will drop from $0.10 a month per telephone line to $0.06 a month per telephone line. The surcharge is used to fund a statewide dual-party telephone relay service for qualifying Missourians who are unable to use traditional telecommunications equipment. Relay Missouri is funded through a monthly, per telephone line surcharge. Missouri statutes require the Commission to review the surcharge no less frequently than every two years. It also requires the Commission to order changes in the amount of the surcharge as necessary to assure available funds for the programs supported by that fund. After reviewing the PSC Staff pleadings and comments from the Office of the Public Counsel, the Commission adopted the PSC Staff’s recommendations. The Missouri General Assembly established Relay Missouri in 1990. The surcharge level is periodically reviewed by the Commission according to the requirements established by Missouri statutes.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Lancer Blair was in attendance and told the commission he plans to run for State Representative of the 120th District that serves Dent and Crawford counties. Blair has been attending quite a few commissioner meetings the last several months and feels he has been educated on a lot of the needs counties have that he would like to bring to the attention of the legislature. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said his crew would be out checking roads from the winds and rains and performing shop maintenance. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said maintenance was being done on county truck #120 and road signs were being installed on county road 2210. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said Mike’s Generator would be in town today to check on the emergency backup generator at the Oak Grove Baptist Church. The generator is tested once a month to make sure the transfer switch is working properly, but Mike’s Generator will check the fuel mixture, change oil if needed, and test other aspects of the generator for proper operation. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said today is the last day to register to run for a county office for the August 6th primary for anyone interested, and they will have until 5:00 this afternoon in her office to do so. She also said “No-Excuse” absentee voting will continue until Monday, April 1st in her office including this Saturday in her office from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon. She also said the courthouse would be closed for Good Friday this Friday. Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer wanted to make sure the public knew that there have been NO re-assessments in Dent County since 2019 unless someone has made additions or improvements to their property, or removed a structure from their property. She said on the interview program Friday morning on KSMO, she felt the discussion on Senate Bill 190 and assessments about other counties and even other states may have been confusing to listeners where they may have thought re-assessments were happening locally in Dent County, but that is not the case. At 10:00, the commission opened bids for a used truck for the Road and Bridge Department and received only one bid from Sapaugh Classic Joyride. The truck bid they received was for a 2015 Ford F-250 Superduty XL Crewcab 4×4 featuring a 6.2 litre gas engine with 162,000 miles on it for $16,000. A decision will be made on Thursday on the vehicle. The commission also approved purchasing a 2024 John Deere 310P Backhoe from McCoy Forestry and Construction for $127,703.78 which is the state bid. The commission approved seeking bank bids on the backhoe from local banks on a lease/purchase agreement for three years with no pre-payment penalty. The bids from the banks will be due by 10:00 Thursday morning, April 18th at the county clerk’s office. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and it is open to the public.

The City of Salem Administrative Office has announced that City Clerk Tammy Koller will be out of the office until May 6th. As a result, this will result in reduced hours for the city clerks office. This will have an impact on getting Business Licenses, UTV permits and Cemetery business. During that time, records requests may be submitted to Assistant Clerk, Wanda Suhr. The Assistant City Clerk office hours will Monday, Tuesday and Friday, from 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon. For more information or any questions, please call 573-729-5211 or you can send an email to administration@salemmo.com. The City of Salem thanks you for your understanding.

Have you got your tickets for the Healthy Dent County fun community event called the “Non-Newlywed Game” Show on April 12th? Tickets and tables are going fast!! This will be the 6th year Healthy Dent County has held this fundraiser where it’s “couple vs. couple” in this hilarious version of the classic game show. You will discover just how much our couples know (or don’t know!) about their spouse! The four local married couples who volunteered to play the game are: Tom and Traci Wulff, Matt and Rachel Moncrief, Jon and Danella Roos and Luke and Hannah Heithold. VIP sponsored tables can still be reserved with a $300 donation. The VI PTables includes reserved seating for eight people as well as numerous table refreshments. A concession stand and cash bar will be open during the evening. A limited number of individual tickets will be sold for $25 per ticket. The individual tickets will not have reserved seating. This fundraising event will be held Friday, April 12th at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory beginning at 6:30 PM. Get your tickets by calling 729-8163 or stopping by the Salem Community Center @ the Armory at 1200 W. Rolla Road in Salem.

This Saturday at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center on Highway 19 at the exhibit called “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” historian Harold Hamilton will present a discussion on “Who Lives in Salem? A Look Back and a Look Ahead.” This discussion will begin at 10:00 followed by Antiques “Road-Show and Tell” where the public is encouraged to bring in a family artifact and share memories. The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday and there is no charge to visit the exhibit. The “Crossroads” exhibit is part of the “Museum on Main Street,” a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.