Local News – Thursday, March 19th, 2020

Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 20-03 ordering all Missouri municipal elections previously scheduled for April 7th, 2020, to be postponed to June 2nd, 2020 due to the concern over the coronavirus and the large number of people elections attract. The Executive Order declares that ballots already printed for the April 7th election may be used at the postponed date of June 2nd. Voters who have attained the age of 18 by April 7th will be allowed to cast a ballot. Section 44.100, RSMo, provides that during a state of emergency, the Governor is authorized to “waive or suspend the operation of any statutory requirement or administrative rule prescribing procedures for conducting state business, where strict compliance with such requirements and rules would prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action by the department of health and senior services to respond to a declared emergency or increased health threat to the population.” The Executive Order requires local election authorities to publish notice of the June 2 election. In addition, the Executive Order also includes the following: the closing date to register to vote in this election remains March 11th, the deadline for filing as a write-in candidate for office remains March 27th at 5:00 PM, the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot shall be May 20, a public test of voting equipment shall be completed no later than June 1st, in-person absentee ballots may be cast until 5:00 PM June 1st, and the deadline by which absentee ballots must be received by the election authority shall be 7:00 in the evening on June 2nd. Military and overseas voters must request a ballot from an election authority by 5:00 PM Friday, May 29th, and the deadline for local election authorities to make ballots available to such voters is April 18th. Military and overseas ballots must be received by the election authority by June 5th.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas gave the summary of operations for the month of February where the hospital had 127 inpatient admissions with 365 inpatient census days. There were 2,157 outpatient registrations, 1,457 cardiopulmonary procedures, 10,794 lab tests, 1,351 radiology procedures, 831 rehabilitation treatments, 40 surgeries, 232 home health visits and 848 emergency room visits. There were a total of 214 ambulance runs in February with 169 patients transported and 45 dry runs. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $30,660 and revenues over expenses after taxes of $7,392. Hospital Administrator Lucas said the contractuals led expenses with the contracted nursing, coding and billing services. This and low receivables for the month created a cash decrease in the month of $445,949. Lucas said the days cash on hand has dipped to 35 which is where the hospital was back in 2015. He also said the days in net accounts receivable are 107 and that is 16 more days than in February. Chief Nursing Officer Debbie Hines gave the Acute Care report and the update on the flu. She said that as of February, 285 total flu cases had been reported in Dent County. Lucas gave the Auxiliary report where at their March meeting the 2020 fundraisers discussed were the Scrub Hub on March 25th, the Hospital Week Bar-B-Que on May 12th and the Shoe Roads Productions on May 27th. Their next meeting will be held on April 7th at noon at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards reported on the Hospital Foundation’s Golf Tournament scheduled on June 5th has raised $6,775 to date with sponsorships and donations and prizes. He said they are working on getting the bands for Wings and Strings 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 wil be delayed due to the coronavirus protocol now in effect at the hospital. Administrator Lucas said the hospital has made adjustments to its visitor admission policy for Long-Term Care and Acute Care and they are in the process of re-routing outpatient services with those in need of emergency services. They also are taking steps to make sure employees are healthy while they are at work. The board approved the Courtesy Staff Privileges for Michael Stadnyk, MD for teleradiology and approved the Home Health Bylaw Change introduced in January. The Finance Committee met March 3rd. The market assessment and tentative capital budget were reviewed with the committee recommending to moving forward with the budget. Lucas will be meeting with each department director in April to get their input. The board discussed the COVID-19 protocol where people should call the primary caregiver, the health department or hospital if they feel they have symptoms of the virus. Do NOT arrive at your healthcare provider or the emergency room without contacting them first. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Wednesday, March 11th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Highway 19 and Rolla Road. During the course of the traffic stop, a 22-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 2nd or 3rd offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued summons and released. On Thursday, March 12th, a deputy spoke to a 26-year-old Edgar Springs woman who was the reported victim of a theft. The woman believed her wallet had been stolen. Suspect information was gathered and during the course of an investigation, a 22-year-old Salem man was arrested for stealing and for the possession of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid of 10 grams or less, a prior drug offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and was released. On Saturday, March 14th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of North Main Street. During the course of the traffic stop a 29-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active arrest warrant through the Licking Police Department. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. If anyone has information regarding an investigation, call 729-3241.

The Salem Public Library will be closed temporarily from 5:00 PM this Friday until 10:00 AM on Monday, April 6th. This closure is subject to reevaluation. Updates will be posted on the library’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Library staff will work throughout the closure. Please call 729-4331 with questions.