Local News – Monday, August 28th, 2023

An accident happened in Texas County Sunday morning at 11:53 on Highway 137 about one mile south of Licking. According to the highway patrol report, a 2017 Chevrolet Trax driven northbound by 58-year-old Deborah Booker of Bucyrus, began to skid and the Trax went off the left side of the roadway, impacted a culvert and then a tree. Booker suffered minor injuries in the accident and sought her own treatment. A passenger in the Trax, 39-year-old Michael Clouse of Licking, suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Neither Clouse or Booker were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Trax was totaled and was removed from the scene by Jay’s Automotive.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, August 24th. The full board was present as were Administrator Zach Moser and Assistant Administrator Roma Jones. After approval of the minutes of the July 17th regular meeting of the Board the Tax Rate Hearing was conducted. The floor was opened for public comment. The 2022 rate was .0959 per $100 assessed valuation and the proposed rate for 2023 was .0959 per $100 assessed valuation, the maximum allowed by statute. The motion was made, seconded and carried to set the 2023 tax rate at .0959 per $100 assessed valuation. The proposed amount is expected to generate estimated revenue of $188,207. Administrator Moser presented the communicable disease report which included 7 reported cases of COVID-19 for July. He said there were 34 active lead cases in July and that 11 sexually transmitted infection screenings were conducted during the month. Moser noted that there were no influenza cases reported in July. Moser also reported that there were 6 animal bites reported last month. In the diagnostics report, Moser said 184 blood draw appointments were completed in July, plus 9 COVID tests and 6 lead tests. There were 7 vaccines for COVID-19 and 136 other vaccinations administered. A total of 378 appointments were held during July, plus WIC appointments that totaled 320. Moser noted that in July there were 95 urine drug screenings conducted on behalf of the Dent County Treatment Court. Assistant Administrator Jones gave the environmental report where she conducted 2 total inspections, addressed one recall, and fielded 5 environmental questions. In the Administrator’s report, Moser noted that Board members had requested bios and descriptions of the jobs each employee does. He said that this information is now available on the at dentcountyhealthcenter.org/about-us. Moser discussed the Patient Satisfaction Survey with the recommended changes to the survey process which were implemented this month. The Board was reminded of upcoming events that the Health Center will be participating in including; Girls Night Out September 14th, the Drive Through Flu/COVID Clinic October 12th and the Fall Health Fair October 26th. The Health Center financial reports for July, including the review 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. The Certificate of Deposit Resolution, which was tabled at the July meeting, was left on the table and Moser was instructed by the Board to put the CD’s out for bid. A Conflict of Interest Resolution (2023-R004) was presented, discussed and adopted by the Board. Matt Griswold with People Centric Consulting Group presented their philosophy of strategic planning and its importance. The Board took no action during open session. At 6:29 the Board went in to closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel and bids/contracts. At 7:27 the Board excited closed session having approved a bid from Victor Heating and Cooling for a mini-split and a HEPA-filtration system for the DCHC facility and a contract with People Centric for consulting services including their Pathfinder Assessment Program and their 1 day strategic planning meeting. The Board also modified the baseline pay rates for registered nurses and adjusted the health insurance policy. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, September 21st at 5:00.

The Missouri Public Service Commission, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) and the telecommunications industry remind customers to continue preparing for a new area code (235) in the current 573 area code in Missouri. As part of that process, customers should prepare for 10-digit local dialing. The 235 area code will be added as an overlay to the 573 region. An overlay is the addition of another area code (235) to the same geographic region served by an existing area code (573). An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code, but does require customers to dial the area code to complete local calls. A six-month permissive dialing period began Saturday to give consumers adequate time to adjust to the dialing changes. During this period, local calls can be made with either 7 or 10 digits, and all calls that are local will continue to be local even though you dial 10 digits. Beginning February 24, 2024, all local calls made within the 573 area code must be placed using 10 digits (area code + the 7-digit telephone number). On and after that date, calls placed using just 7 digits will not be completed. Starting on March 24, 2024, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 235 area code.