Local News – Thursday, June 18th, 2020
The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. Hospital Attorney Mark Weaver administered the oath of office to Judy Thompson in District 1 and Willie Strader in District 4. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas introduced Doug Hoban as the hospitals new Chief Financial Officer. Hoban then gave the summary of operations for the month of May where the hospital had 117 inpatient admissions with 296 inpatient census days. There were 1,419 outpatient registrations, 922 cardiopulmonary procedures, 6,918 lab tests, 1,061 radiology procedures, 426 rehabilitation treatments, 3 surgeries, 234 home health visits and 544 emergency room visits. There were a total of 184 ambulance runs with 126 patients transported with 58 dry runs. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $294,561 and revenues over expenses after taxes of $3,381,654 after receiving $3,672,747 in COVID-19 stimulus funds. Total long-term liabilities increased to $5,530,340 which accounts for PPP and construction bond funds. The hospital has received $3.2 million in accelerated payments from CMS. Lucas gave the Auxiliary report where at their last meeting the 2020 fundraisers discussed with the Shoe Roads Productions being rescheduled for July 9th in the hospital library. The Auxiliary does not meet in June, July or August so their next meeting will be September 1st at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards reported on the Hospital Foundation’s Golf Tournament that was held on June 5th with 17 teams. He said they are working on getting the bands for Wings and trings on September 12. The foundation has submitted the initial Project Performance Activity report for the USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant. Edwards also said the replacement of the floor in Acute Care has been delayed due to the pandemic. Administrator Lucas said the hospital has made revisions to its 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. A free COVID-19 testing will be held today at Aranda’s Mexican Restaurant parking lot from 7 AM to 7 PM. This testing is in cooperation with the VA and the Dent County Health Center. The proposed budget that the Finance Committee presented at the last meeting was approved. This budget showed total operating revenue of $27,745,060 and total operating expenses of $27,733,620. Capital lease agreements totaled $589,468 and included the MRI expansion project. Lucas gave an update on the current expansion and renovation project for the MRI building, Surgery Department, Administration and Acute Care. They are all behind schedule due to the pandemic. The board approved a non-budgeted purchase of extricating equipment totaling $16,250 from Sudden Rescue. Approval was given to add new CFO Doug Hoban to the checking account authorization. The board then went into closed session.
An accident happened in Crawford County Tuesday afternoon at 2:50 on Highway 19 about five miles south of Cherryville. According to the highway patrol report, 56-year old Harvey Pewitt of Salem was driving a 2013 Mazda 3 southbound when he failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Pewitt suffered moderate injuries and transported by EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. The Mazda sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On June 5th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of Dent County Road 5015. During the course of the traffic stop, a 36-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. And finally on June 6th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 10500 block of South Highway 19 to serve an arrest warrant. A 29-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active warrant through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was transported to the Dent County jail and incarcerated. On Tuesday, June 9th, a Deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 9500 block of East Highway 32. During the course of the traffic stop, a 23 year-old Salem man was arrested for operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license, a 1st offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. If anyone has information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.
Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley reports two cases from Tuesday, June 16th in front of Judge Kelly Parker in Crawford County. In the first case, Jeffrey Bollinger of Salem pled guilty to a Class D felony for driving while being intoxicated, a 4th offense, and also resisting arrest. He was sentenced to 11 years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO Section 217.362. Also Tuesday, Travis Parker of Salem pled guilty to felony charges of the distribution of meth, the unlawful use of a weapon and keeping a public nuisance. Judge Parker sentenced Parker to 10 years in the Department of Corrections under RSMO section 559.115.