Local News – Wednesday, April 24th, 2019
The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met Monday evening, April 15th. Health Center Director Kendra Mobray reported that the new Helmer pharmaceutical refrigerator had been installed and was working well. She also reported that lab services were provided to 88 clients during the month of March and that a site visit of the Health Center is scheduled with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for today. Mobray went on to report that Chrysta Hinderliter attended Grow and Glow in April and will have additional WIC training May 2nd. Roma Jones reported that lodging inspections will begin soon. Mobray said that the “Choosing the Best” Program is complete at all schools and Ashley Payton attended the Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Conference in St. Louis. One case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and one case of Campylobacteriosis was investigated in March, plus four animal bites. With warmer weather and increased outdoor activities, the Health Center encourages residents to keep their pets current on rabies vaccines and to avoid contact with stray animals. Influenza activity is winding down, but for this flu season there have been 210 confirmed cases of influenza reported for Dent County and one influenza related death. A closed session was conducted with no votes being taken. After the closed session, the board approval of the Dent County Health Center expenses for March was tabled due to a delay in reports from the accountant. The next regular meeting of the Health Center Board of Trustees will be Monday, May 20th at the Health Center at McArthur and Franklin.
The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of March. The Salem Police performed 78 traffic stops for the month and issued 13 equipment repair orders, 9 summons to appear in court, 16 warning tickets, and 10 traffic tickets, plus they also served two city warrants and 9 fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated nine traffic accidents, two assaults, made one death investigation, and investigated two disorderly conduct reports. They also wrote one report on domestic violence, had two driving while being intoxicated charges, and issued four driving while having a license revoked or suspended charges. The police received two lost or stolen license plates reports, and two unlawful use of a firearm or weapon charges. The department investigated a rape, four possessions of a controlled substance charges along with two possession of drug paraphernalia charges, four reports of stealing, three property damage reports and a report of a peace disturbance. The department redirected 40 animal calls while responding to 27 ambulance assist calls, 27 well being checks and 18 requests for information for the month. The department received 971 calls during the month of March and had 76 walk- ins to the station. The department drove 7,827 miles during the month of March and spent 39 hours in court testifying and 14 hours as court Bailiff. There were 20 males and 7 females arrested in March.
The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Monday night at the Salem Community Center @The Armory. At the meeting, Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon reported about 350 children have signed up so far for the softball, baseball and T-ball program this summer with the last day to sign up a child being Friday at 4:30 at the Salem Community Center. He reported the splash pad by Billie’s Playground will be activated on May 15th and the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Swimming Pool will officially open on May 25th. He said the pool will be prepped next week as Westport Pools will come in to prepare the pool after the water is pumped out this week. Lydon said new loungers and chairs have been purchased and the seating has been increased by three times the amount that was available last year. Lydon said the summer camp would be available this year starting June 3rd and lasting until July 19th with special events taking place on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays. Lydon said the camp will include the Summer Food Service Program at the Salem Community Center@The Armory which is available to anyone 18 years of age and under in Dent County. The board then went into closed session to discuss real estate before coming back into open session. The Park Board approved the job description and the hiring of an Assistant Park and Recreation Director to be included in the 2019-2020 fiscal year budget. They also approved acquiring and installing a flag pole for the American flag at the Al Brown Field complex. The meeting was then adjourned.