Local News – Monday, January 7th, 2019
An accident occurred Thursday evening about 5:45 in Phelps County on Route F about 2.5 miles east of Highway 72. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 Dodge Ram 1500, driven by 55-year-old Jeffrey Butler of Rolla, was westbound when a pedestrian who had stopped his vehicle in the eastbound lane walked across to the westbound lane. Butler was unable to see the pedestrian, 61-year old Jason Brown of Rolla, due to headlights obstructing his vision, which resulted in the Dodge striking Brown. Brown suffered serious injuries and was air lifted by Phelps Air to Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur. There was only minor damage to the Dodge and it was driven from the scene.
Under the Affordable Care Act, every hospital with a tax exempt status is required to complete a Community Health Needs Assessment every three years. The goal is to get input from persons who represent the broad interests of the community served by the hospital, including those with special knowledge of, or expertise in, public health. The last survey completed by the Salem Memorial District Hospital was completed on June 30th, 2016. The top areas of greatest need identified were Alcohol/Drug Abuse, Obesity, Cancer, and Heart Disease & Stroke. The hospital partnered with Healthy Dent County and programs were developed to address the ongoing needs of the community. It is once again time to seek community input into the health needs of the hospital district. A committee has been established and we have been working hard to develop appropriate questions, load the survey into “survey monkey”, which is an electronic means to collect survey responses, and distribute the paper surveys around town. Folks will be seeing the survey collection boxes for the paper surveys in some local businesses from now through March 31, 2019. The link to the electronic survey is on the SMDH website at www.smdh.net at the bottom of the home page on the right. Please take the time to complete the survey and help us identify health needs of the hospital district. If you have questions or comments about the survey process, please feel free to contact Debbie Hines, CNO at Salem Memorial District Hospital 573-729-5917 (Ext 4030).
The Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 7:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers. Bids will be opened to dispose of a 1993 John Deere 310D, a 2010 John Deere 310SJ, a 2003 John Deere 410G, a 2002 John Deere, 310SE, a 1993 John Deere 2000 and repairs to a 2005 John Deere 310SG. Other bids to be reviewed include a request by the City for interest rates for the lease/purchase of two 2019 John Deere 310SL Backhoes and for a utility body for a 2006 Ford F-250. After the consent agenda, the board will address unfinished business relative to the Cancellation of Board Meetings, which will be followed by a report from City Administrator Ray Walden. In new and miscellaneous business the Board will hear from Park Director Tye Lydon seeking permission to apply for a Land & Water Conservation Fund Grant and to use some of the hours that are offered to the City of Salem to help with grant writing for the development of the soccer park complex on Highway 19 South. City Administrator Walden will request permission from the Board of Aldermen to sell more vehicles on Purple Wave Surplus Auction Site. The regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen is open to the public.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a number of reports. On Wednesday, December 26th a deputy conducted a traffic stop at New Harmony Church parking lot. During the course of the traffic stop, a 56-year old Salem woman was arrested for operating a vehicle on the highway without a valid license. This was a 1st offense. The female was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. On Thursday, December 27th, deputies traveled to the 500 block of Dent County Road 6620 for a warrant check. During the course of the investigation, a 27-year old Salem man was arrested for possession of controlled substance except for 35 grams or less of marijuana/synthetic cannabinoid and active arrest warrants through the Salem Police Department. A 32-year old Salem woman was also arrested for an active warrant through probation and parole. Both subjects were transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. On Friday, December 28th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at New Harmony Church parking lot. During the course of the traffic stop, a 30-year old Salem woman was arrested for operating a vehicle on the highway without a valid license, her 3rd offense. The female was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. On Saturday, December 29th, deputies traveled to Dent County Road 3200 and Dent County Road 3120 for reports of trash being dumped on the county road. These reports are open and still under investigation. If you have any information on the illegal dumping of trash or any other ongoing investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.