Local News- Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 5510, 6245 and 6460 while materials would be added and grading done on county road 4090. Purcell also indicated brush would be cut on county road 6410. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 4020, 4050, 4055 and 53000 while materials were going to be added and grading done on county road 2320. Larson went on to say the county was cutting the brush along the City of Salem walking trail down on the old railroad track right-of way. The county has been working with the city on providing this service for years. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles on behalf of the commissioners congratulated the Salem Memorial District Hospital on their donation of a new 3-D mammography machine and new local mammography services. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to register to vote is October 10th. She also said absentee voting is going on now through November 5th in her office and the last day to mail out an absentee ballot will be October 31st. Curley said her office will be open in the courthouse on Saturday, November 3rd from 8:00 in the morning until noon. She also wanted to remind voters if you have changed your address since the last election, please come and report that change to the clerk’s office at the courthouse or call 729-4144. Dent County Collector Dennis Medlock told the commissioners that all real estate taxes, personal property taxes and utility assessments have been approved by his office, the clerk and assessor’s office. At the last meeting, MFA Oil Company had the lowest bid for 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel at $2.38.9 for the Road and Bridge Department. Sheriff Bob Wells was in to tell the commission the jail needs a new washer and dryer and he is getting quotes. Larry Hart from Hart and Company held a conference call with the commissioners last Thursday along with John Kenward of Standard and Poor’s Global to determine the county bond rating for the issues of then lease certificates of participation. The county is expected to receive an A category rating and the Series 2018 Certificates in the amount of $7.185 million dollars are scheduled to mature between 2022 through 2039 with interest rates expected to range from three to four percent. The interest income from these certificates will be exempt from federal and Missouri state income taxes and will be available in $5,000 denominations. These certificates will be available to the general public in increments of $5,000. A second financing that is currently estimated to be about $5,150,000 is planned for 2019 once all the known modifications and corresponding costs are finalized. These certificates will also be made available to local investors. For more information about the certificates, contact the Dent County Clerk’s Office at 729-4144 or the office of L.J. Hart and Company at 800-264-4477. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital held a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday morning at the hospital for the donation of their new 3-D Hologic Mammography machine and newly created mammography service area. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas thanked a large crowd that attended and reminded everyone that the hospital provided mobile mammography for years through Missouri Baptist Hospital and will still work through Missouri Baptist for additional treatment for patients if it is needed. He told the crowd the hospital has been blessed by the donation of the machine by Steven and Sally Di Perdomenico whose daughter is Julie Moser of Salem. They not only donated the machine, but also funds to help those who need mammography services and who meet certain qualifications to get those services. Lucas also thanked Hologic Corporation for their contribution when they found out this was to be a charitable donation to the hospital. Lucas said the hospital has had over 100 mammograms once the machine was installed to get the needed certification. Lucas thanked Hospital Chief Operating Officer Chris Strickland for being the project manager on this addition to the hospital and mammogram coordinator Julie Malone for getting all the paperwork submitted and in scheduling appointments. Lucas also thanked the radiology department for their help and Director of Facilities Todd Workman and his crew for getting the room ready for the addition. Hospital Board of Directors Chairman Sue Terry, along with Hershel and Julie Moser, cut the ribbon to officially open the new mammography services to the Salem Memorial District Hospital to a round of applause by all those in attendance. Guests then toured the area to see the machine and the dressing department before enjoying refreshments in the cafeteria.

At their annual fundraising gala and capital contribution celebration held last Tuesday night, Healthy Dent County presented an update on their $1.2 million Capital Campaign. A total of $860,950 has been raised to date. This campaign is being conducted to build a regulation size gymnasium onto the north end of the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The completion date for this new construction is estimated to be fall of 2019. Additional local funds are needed to complete the $1.2 million dollar campaign. Some NAP tax credits totaling $55,000 are still available for local businesses to take advantage of as well. For additional information on this or any Healthy Dent County project, please call 729-8163 or e-mail sherry@salemcommunitycenter.org.