Local News – Friday, October 27th, 2023

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for the regular meeting at the courthouse. Interim CEO of the Salem Memorial Hospital, Jason Edwards, was in attendance to introduce himself to the commission and to thank them for their support. He spoke of the transition the hospital is going through now and the challenges of being a rural hospital. Edwards said as part of the Delta Regional Grant, he attended a summit and found the Salem hospital is seeing the same problems as other rural hospitals in the region and that being nursing and lab tech shortages as well as equal revenues for the services provided. He said the hospital is still working with the Rural Health Group and Michael Smith, the Interim Director of the Revenue Cycle, on increasing billing from what is readily available to get more income to the hospital. He says he wants to bring back the family atmosphere of the hospital and they are getting there. He says their goal is working toward one team, one fight, one family which is his motto for the transition. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5015 and 6670. Mobray said District 1 and District 2 workers are still adding rock to Dent County Road 5600 and they have delivered about half the rock needed for the Title II project. Grading will also be done on county road 5600 knows as the “turtle loop.” District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said materials were being added to county road 4340 and a flat tire is being replaced on county truck #126. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson attended the MRPC Annual Awards Dinner and Banquet Thursday night where Easton May and Deloris Gray Wood were honored for their voluntary contributions to Dent County. He also said Oktoberfest is scheduled to be on the courthouse square this Saturday. Larson said the county was awarded the TAP grant for the sidewalks around the courthouse from MoDOT. The commission has yet to determine where the county’s 20% of the total cost of the project will come from. The commission approved to make no changes on the contribution to the County Employment Retirement Fund as employees will still have to make their own contributions of up to 4% to the retirement fund. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in to present the CART and sales tax monies received this month. The county received this month $82,631.46 in CART funds which is $4,220.88 more than last October and year-to-date, that fund is up over 15% at $105,955.10. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $78,432.52 which is $24,230.98 less than for October of 2022. Year-to-date, the General Revenue Fund and the LEST funds are down $66,920.88. The Road and Bridge Fund received $36,911.91 this month, down $10,169.87 from October of 2022. Year-to-date, that fund is down $31,324.07. The Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $74,251.91 and that is down $19,898.85 from October 2022 receipts. Year-to-date, those funds are down $58,308.35. These figures are all net of the monthly withholding by the Department of Revenue. At the last meeting, Jim Martin with Stars and Stripes from the Historic Region Foundation, discussed the “Veterans in the Region” community and how they honor veterans. They cover 26 counties in Southeast Missouri, and talked with the commission about their history, heritage, service and partnership opportunities. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

If you love Halloween and enjoy decorating your home or business to the max for trick or treaters, you could be rewarded for all your hard work with a free two-night stay at Echo Bluff State Park! Townscreen in Salem is looking for the best spooktacular display in the area in their first ever Halloween decorating contest. Take one or more pictures or take a video of your decorations, then submit them to townscreen.com by midnight, October 31st. Not only could you get a free two-night stay at the Echo Bluff Lodge, but you would also get a $50 restaurant voucher to be used during your stay. To register on the townscreen.com website, click on the Halloween Decorating Contest button at the top of the page which will take you to the registration page. You must be 18 years of age or older to claim the prize. Please read all term and conditions of the contest before submitting your entry. Complete the form and submit it with your pictures or video. Participants are welcome to include a brief description of their display. Contestants must submit clear and well-lit photos or videos of their displays. Multiple images can be submitted at once on the form. Displays should be Halloween oriented and creatively designed. Homemade, store-bought, and DIY decorations are all welcome. If you have trouble submitting the contest form online please email info@townscreen.com or call 636-338-1199. The winner will be announced by Monday, November 6th. See contest entries on Townscreen which has 21 screens in Salem, 11 screens in Houston and screens at Montauk State Park and Echo Bluff State Park.