Local News – Friday, August 14th, 2020
On Thursday, the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center announced the VA clinic at Salem will not reopen following its closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interim Medical Center Director Paul Hopkins said it is with sadness and disappointment that the decision was made to not reopen the clinic. In 2017, the VA expanded the hours of the Salem VA clinic to five days per week, hoping to enroll additional Veterans for VA health care. Their minimum goal of 660 Veteran patients to maintain the full-time clinic seemed reasonable, as there are over 1,100 veterans in Dent County. Hopkins went on to explain the patient population of the Salem clinic never exceeded 350 and is now below 300. Hopkins said this is understandable with the new MISSION Act as Salem area veterans can now go to an in-network private urgent care facility at the expense of VA; an option that was not available in 2017. Salem Memorial District Hospital is now an authorized MISSION Act provider. It was also discovered that many local veterans preferred to stay with the Columbia VA Clinic because that is where they received their specialty care. In the end, they just didn’t enroll for health care with the Salem clinic as we expected. Hopkins explained that the current lease with the Salem Hospital is expiring and new national seismic requirements for VA leases prevent VA from remaining at that location. He said a new clinic would have to be constructed to meet national standards. Hopkins noted that veterans who prefer to remain in the VA system can attend either the Columbia VA Clinic or St. James VA Clinic as their providers are anxious to welcome them to either of those locations. Veterans who would like to enroll with the St. James VA system may call (573) 265-0448 or contact the Columbia VA Clinic at (573) 814-6000. The VA clinic in Salem has been closed due to COVID since March.
The Dent County Health Center has announced a 14th Positive COVID-19 test came back in Dent County on Wednesday. On Thursday, the Health Center staff is in the process of investigating COVID-19 cases 15 and 16 for Dent County. Contacts are being identified and contacted as quickly as possible. If any locations of concern are identified, they will update the public with that information as it is obtained. The individuals are in isolation in their home. Close contacts are being identified and contacted at this time. Dent County Health Center Administrator Kendra Mobray wants to remind everyone as cases increase, the risk for community transmission increases. It is important to remember that every activity that involves contact with others has some degree of risk. She also wants to remind people that they only release locations based on the risk of exposure. If they are able to identify how they will proceed. Large scale and mass gathering type events pose much greater risks than things like grocery shopping, where you are able to keep your distance and reduce contact with others. If you are concerned about exposure and think the Health Center has missed identifying you during contact tracing, please call the office at 729-3106. To reduce risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19, they encourage you to please continue to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, wear a mask when a distance of 6 feet cannot be maintained, stay home if you are sick, cover coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports for August 3rd and 5th. On Monday, the 3rd, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 300 block of North Russell Street to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 25-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 Jail where he was incarcerated. Then on Wednesday, August 5th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 500 block of South Jackson Street to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 42-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail where she was incarcerated. Also on the 5th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 900 block of South Main Street. During the course of the traffic stop, a 27-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Greene County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail where he later posted bond and was released. Still on the 5th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at Butler and Hickory Street. During the course of the traffic stop, a 30-year-old Salem man was arrested for the possession of marijuana of 10 grams or less, and the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Finally on the 5th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at Highway 19 North and the Highway 68 intersection. During the course of the traffic stop, a 26-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked, a second or subsequent offense; and for possession of marijuana 10 grams or less. Also arrested during the traffic stop was a 26-year-old Salem man for the possession of marijuana of 10 grams or less. Both men were transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail where they were fingerprinted issued s summons and released. If anyone has information on an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.
Salem R-80 Assistant Principal Clay Moody wants to remind parents of any high school student that did not get registered this week, to please register your child at the high school Monday or Tuesday of next week between 9:00 and 3:00. If you have questions, call 729-6641.