Local News – Friday, October 22nd, 2021
An accident happened at 6:30 Wednesday evening in Dent County on Route C about 3.5 miles west of Highway 72 that took the life of a Dent County woman. According to the highway patrol report, 74-year-old Susie DePriest of Salem was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier eastbound when she lost control of the Chevy in a curve. The vehicle slid off the right side of the roadway, struck a culvert and overturned. DePriest was ejected from the Chevy and was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:15 by Dent County Coroner, Ben Pursifull. DePriest was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevy was totaled and removed from the scene by American Automotive.
An accident happened in Phelps County on Highway 72 about ten miles east of Rolla around 1:14 early Thursday morning. According to the highway patrol report, a 2007 Chevy Equinox driven westbound by 55-year-old Carla Loughridge of Salem, struck a deer in the roadway. Suffering minor injuries was a passenger in the Chevy, 66-year- old Stephen Cochran of Salem. He was transported by an EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla. The Chevy Equinox sustained moderate damages and was secured roadside. Cochran was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident while the driver, Carla Loughridge was.
An accident happened at 3:35 Thursday afternoon in Reynolds County on County Road 762 about six miles west of Ellington. According to the highway patrol report, a Dodge Ram driven northbound by 40-year-old Travis Turner of Bunker, ran off the left side of the road and overturned. Turner suffered serious injuries and was air lifted to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. A 17-year-old male juvenile suffered minor injuries and sought his own treatment. The Dodge Ram was totaled and removed from the scene by Dement’s Towing.
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Director’s meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. In the summary of operations for the month of September, the hospital had 125 inpatient admissions with 506 inpatient census days. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $401,533 and had an excess of expenses over revenues of $399,457. During the month, there were 767 emergency room visits with 91 admissions, plus there were 252 ambulance runs where 183 patients were transported. In September, there were 34 surgery cases, 2,043 outpatient registrations, 10,582 lab tests, 1,422 radiological procedures, 542 rehab treatments and 211 home health visits with 20 home health admissions. The days in account receivable during the month went up to 75 days from 69 in August, and way down from the 108 days last September. The days cash on hand went down to 56 days. The hospital had a cash decrease during the month of $803,209. Chief of Nursing Ashley Sullins gave the Acute Care Staffing by Patient Acuity report that showed the average acuity at 37 per day with an average of almost 17 patients per day. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas reported that as of October 14th, there were nine active COVID cases in Dent County with 20 probable cases. He said Dent County is currently showing 28.3% of the residents are completely vaccinated and 31.7% have initiated the series. At the hospital, 46% of the staff is completely vaccinated and 48% have initiated the series. It was also reported that a total of 58 people in Dent County have died from complications of the COVID Virus. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards said the “Dancing with the Salem Stars” Hospital Foundation Fundraiser has been cancelled in January due to the concerns of COVID in an enclosed space. He said the next foundation board meeting will be November 3rd. He said program scope changes for the USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program grant have been reviewed and forwarded for approval to the USDA. He did say the hospital has scheduled demonstrations at all the rural schools while awaiting the USDA approval for purchase. Lucas said the Cerner Conversion continues at the hospital with the Microsoft Business Central integration starting on November 1st. Lucas said the hospital has talked to the Bank of Salem about a possible letter of credit during the conversion as it may delay billing by as much as 45 additional days. Lucas also said the expansion and renovation is now complete. He reported the laboratory failed the proficiency testing by not filing the report on time. The hospital self-reported the problem and have completed two supplemental proficiency tests of which one has come back at 100% and they are still waiting on the results of the other. The board approved the Annual Bylaw Review and also approved moving the November meeting date to Tuesday, November 23rd at 6:00. The board then went into closed session.