Local News – Friday, June 12th, 2020
National Park Service Regional Director Bert Frost has announced the selection of Jason Lott as permanent superintendent of Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Lott has been serving as the acting superintendent since January following the retirement of Larry Johnson. Lott said he was very excited about joining the team at Ozark Riverways as he feels the history, folkways, and rivers of the Missouri Ozarks are a special place. He said he is looking forward to working with the communities and staff to serve at the nation’s first scenic riverway. Lott came to the area after most recently serving as the Superintendent for Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. He has been with the National Park Service since 2002. He previously served as the Superintendent for Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Arizona for three years, and as the Resources Program Manager for Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Texas for five years, where he was named the 2005 recipient of the NPS Director’s Award for Natural Resource Management in a Small Park. Lott is a twenty-year veteran with the Army National Guard, having served ten years as an enlisted soldier with a deployment during Desert Storm, and as an officer who served as a Company Commander for the 1086th Transportation Company during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Jason retired as a Captain in 2007. He and his wife, Wendy, have two children who are looking forward to exploring all the area has to offer.
A one vehicle accident happened Wednesday evening at 6:00 in Phelps County on Highway 63 about 12 miles south of Rolla. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2000 Ford Ranger being driven south by 65-year old Christine Brown of Edgar Springs traveled off the right side of the roadway then returned to the highway. The Ford then began skidding and went off the left side of the roadway where the Ranger struck an embankment, became airborne and struck a tree before coming to rest on its wheels. Brown, who was wearing a safety restraint, was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital for the treatment of moderate injuries. The Ranger sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Lucas Garage. The highway patrol was assisted by the Rolla Rural Fire Department and Phelps Health Ambulance.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages drivers to be cautious on the roads this spring and give turtles a brake! These reptiles are often hit by cars during the warmer months, but are at special risk this time of year because they are more active. Common turtles spotted crossing Missouri roads include three-toed box turtles, ornate box turtles, and snapping turtles. Turtles emerge from their burrows and begin the hunt for food and mates during warm and wet conditions, which can lead them to cross roadways, oftentimes resulting in their death. Thousands of box turtles are killed every year by vehicles. Young males make up most of the travelers, sometimes wandering as many as six miles searching for territories and mates. Females are also crossing the roads in search of nesting areas. Turtles are cold-blooded creatures and depend on external sources of heat to determine their body temperature. This explains why people see them on warm asphalt during cool, spring days. Vehicles are one of the leading factors in box turtle declines, and MDC urges motorists to be cautious and slow down when they see a turtle in the road. If helping a turtle make it safely across, check for traffic and move the turtle across the road in the direction it is traveling. Additionally, MDC encourages Missourians to leave turtles in the wild. Did you know that most Missouri turtles can live up to 30 years, but the common box turtle can live up to 80, occasionally living more than a century. For more information on Missouri’s turtles, visit the MDC online Field Guide at nature.mdc.mo.gov.
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will conduct their June meeting Tuesday evening, June 16th in the hospital library beginning at 6:00. After approval of the agenda and minutes of the May 19th regular meeting, Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will report on the summary of the operations for the month of May followed by the Chief of Nursing Report by Debbie Hines. A report on the hospital foundation golf tournament, 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 for the before the Board will discuss the FY’21 Finance Committee Report. Lucas will also update the board on the Hospital Expansion and Renovation. New business will include purchases since the last meeting. The board may vote to go into closed session. Due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, the June meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will be held by telephone/video conference. The meeting is open to anyone to join. For information on how to access the meeting, please email kbrown@smdh.net or call (573) 729-5917, extension 4005.