Local News – Wednesday, April 13th, 2022
The Salem Memorial District Hospital is asking the public to go online to the hospital website and complete the Community Health Needs Assessment at SMDH.net or by picking up a paper copy in health organizations including pharmacies and clinics, as well as financial institutions, completing it and leaving it at those health organizations or dropping it by the hospital. The community health assessment gives the Salem Memorial District Hospital comprehensive information about the community’s current health status, needs, and issues. This information can help develop a community health improvement plan by justifying how and where resources should be allocated to best meet community needs. It is required every three years so the assessment will be up to date in addressing local community needs. There are 22 questions to be answered and the survey should take no more than five to ten minutes. The surveys MUST be submitted by this Friday, April 15th. The Salem Memorial District Hospital thanks everyone for their help.
The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of March. They issued 28 summonses to appear in court, 99 warning tickets, and 10 traffic tickets, plus they also served three fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated 16 traffic accidents, one death,wrote six property damage reports and five stealing reports. The department investigated two driving while having their license revoked or suspended charges, six reports for possession of a controlled substance reports, eight possession of drug paraphernalia charges, one report of distribution or delivery of a controlled substance, a domestic violence report and two reports of endangering the welfare of a child. The department was also dispatched for 56 animal calls, 23 ambulance assist calls, and performed 134 traffic stops for the month. The Salem Police Department received 835 calls for service during the month and had 18 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 10,690 miles during the month of March. There were 11 males and 11 females arrested in March.
Healthy Dent County has partnered with the University of Missouri Extension to create a monthly ECHO/webinar that will be beneficial to many different organizations and individuals that work to build healthy communities. These sessions will be held the second Wednesday of each month beginning today from 10:00 to 11:00 in the morning. A team of experts in social determinants of health, health equity, community outreach, health policy and community development will offer the online sessions. If you would like to join, visit showmeecho.org.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is urging drivers to keep a cautious eye on the road this spring and give turtles a brake! Many species of Missouri’s turtles become more active during the spring as they emerge from their burrows and cross the roads in search of food and a mate. Common species crossing the roads include the three-toed box turtle, ornate box turtle, and even snapping turtles. These reptiles are often hit by cars during the warmer months but are at special risk in the spring as they emerge from burrows during warm and wet conditions, which can lead them to cross roadways. Unfortunately, thousands of box turtles are killed every year by vehicles. Young males make up most of the travelers, sometimes wandering as many as six miles searching for territories and mates. Females are also crossing the roads in search of nesting areas. Turtles are cold-blooded and depend on external sources of heat to determine their body temperature. This explains why many see them on warm asphalt during cool, spring days. Vehicles are one of the leading factors in box turtle declines, and MDC urges motorists to be cautious and slow down when they see a turtle in the road. If stopping to help a turtle make it safely across, check for traffic and move the turtle in the direction it is traveling. MDC also encourages the public to leave turtles in the wild. Keeping a wild animal as a pet can lead to a slow death, no matter how good the intentions. Leave turtles in the wild, follow the speed limit, and keep your eyes on the road.
Team members at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park invite the public to hop on over for an Easter Extravaganza from noon to 3:00in the afternoon on this Saturday. Kids of all ages are invited to join us for a fun-filled day of crafts, games and more. All activities will be located at the North Day-Use Area. Be sure to bring a basket or bag to participate in the Easter Egg hunt. The hunt is divided into age categories and are scheduled for three years of age and under at 1:00, four years to six years of age at 1:30 and seven years of age and older at 2:00 in the afternoon. Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is located at 148 Taum Sauk Trail in Middle Brook. For more information, contact the park naturalist at 573-546-2450, ext. 1003.