Local News – Thursday, July 23rd, 2020

Tuesday on a change of venue to Crawford County in front of Judge Kelly Parker, 40-year old Michael Chilton pled guilty to one count of statutory rape in the first degree and three counts of statutory rape in the second degree from charges stemming from a Salem Police Department investigation held June 28th, 2018. A sentencing hearing was conducted and both victims gave victim impact statements in a packed courtroom to Judge Parker for his consideration. At the conclusion of the hearing Chilton, who had a minimal criminal history, was sentenced to 28 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as requested by Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley. The charges came from an investigation after a victim reported to a Salem Police Officer that she had been having sexual contact including sexual intercourse with Chilton since before she was 13 years old. She had said she and her sister were involved in sexual intercourse when both were present. Her sister was over 13 and under 17 when the incident took place. A search warrant was issued on June 28, 2018, and a search of the defendant’s and victim’s residence was executed by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department, the Division of Drug and Crime Control of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and members of the Salem Police Department. The search resulted in the seizure of a phone that was used to send and receive coded messages and a piece of carpet beside the victim’s bed that appeared to contain a bodily fluid. The carpet was tested and was confirmed to contain seminal fluid consistent with the DNA of Chilton. Another victim reported to the Salem Police on June 30, 2018, that she also had sexual contact and intercourse with Chilton as well as with the other victim plus her sister when they were all together. The second victim was between 15 and 17 years of age when that incident occurred. Curley said the 28-year sentence recommendation was developed over many days of preparation and with the consent and approval of the victims.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. Hospital Chief Financial Officer Doug Hoban gave the summary of operations for the month of June where the hospital had 105 inpatient admissions with 373 inpatient census days. There were 1,631 outpatient registrations, 1,069 cardiopulmonary procedures, 6,626 lab tests, 1,173 radiology procedures, 726 rehabilitation treatments, 18 surgeries, 233 home health visits and 634 emergency room visits. There were a total of 226 ambulance runs with 155 patients transported with 71 dry runs. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $1,662,153 with expenses over revenues after taxes of $1,560,584. Hoban said the days in net Accounts Receivable went down to 103 from 106 last month and work continues to improve those numbers. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas gave the Auxiliary report and said the Shoe Road Productions was at the hospital on July 9th and it went very well. The auxiliary will not meet again until September 1st at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at noon and lunch will be provided. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards reported on the Hospital Foundation’s Golf Tournament and said it raised $10,867. He also said the Wings and strings event in September was cancelled as due to the unavailability of bands. The foundation will start doing demos for the USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant. Edwards also said the replacement of the floor in Acute Care is now finished and came in a cost of $28,360. He also said the community CPR Training would be restarting this month. The SMDH Emergency Department and SMDH Family Medicine Patient Satisfaction Quarterly Surveys were discussed and they were way down from previous quarters. The Emergency Department received only five surveys back and all were excellent, while 46 surveys were returned for the Family Medicine and they also were excellent in all categories. The board approved Courtesy Staff Privileges for Michael Stadnyk, MD for mammography privileges as requested by the medical staff. Administrator Lucas reviewed the hospital visitor admission policy that includes one patient per day for Acute Care, one visitor allowed for ER patients and all visitors must be 16 years of age or older. Exceptions would be made for end-of-life situations or if there were other extenuating circumstances. Lucas said the Department of Health and Senior Services will be providing the hospital with a SHIP COVID 19 grant of $84,317. Lucas gave an update on the current expansion and renovation project for the MRI building, Surgery Department, Acute Care and Administration. The MRI magnet is scheduled to be delivered August 17th. The board approved a budgeted purchase of a portable X-Ray Unit for Radiology for $116,000 from Canon Medical. The board also elected new officers with Judy Thompson elected Chairman of the Board with Ray Bruno being elected Vice-Chairman. Mike Swyers was elected to serve as Secretary. The board set the hospital tax rate hearing for August 18th at 5:45 before the next regular meeting. The board then went into closed session.

An accident happened early Wednesday morning around 4:30 in Dent County on Highway 32 in Boss. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2018 Hyundai Elantra owned 62-year old Rahonda Wingfield of Salem was traveling west when Wingfield fell asleep and left the right side of the roadway where the Hyundai struck a tree and an embankment. Wingfield, who was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, suffered minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene. The Hyundai sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office.