News – Friday, April 25th 2025

The 10th Annual Veteran Affairs Day will be held today from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon at the American Legion Post 99 located at 2522 Highway 32 West in Salem. Come out and learn about changes and requirements for benefits, and enroll in the VA health care. Veteran Affairs Day is an annual outreach to Veterans of central rural Missouri to provide easier access to VA services. It includes American Legion District 16 and VFW District 2 which includes Camden, Cole, Crawford, Dent, Howell, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Phelps, Osage, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas and Wright counties. Representatives from the Department of Veteran Affairs will include enrollment, claims processing specialists, suicide prevention and a community employment coordinator from the Truman VA Medical Center, as well as benefit advisors from the Veteran Benefit Administration St Louis Regional Office. The Columbia Veteran Center will have a counselor and advisors on hand in their mobile unit. Don’t miss out on your hard-earned benefits.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees met on April 17th, where Administrator Zach Moser presented statistics for March. Highlights included no COVID-19 cases, 47 active lead cases, 16 Influenza A cases, and 24 STI tests. Environmental reports noted six inspections without issues. Maternal-child health data indicated low activity except for 334 WIC appointments. Community-specific services totaled 456 appointments outside of WIC. Nurse Practitioner services accounted for 101 visits, while Physician services totaled 94 visits. Laboratory appointments numbered 182, including 203 lab draws and 17 lead tests. Immunizations included 82 doses administered during 44 appointments. Moser announced a Health Fair scheduled for May 2nd and encouraged community participation in the ongoing Community Health Assessment survey. The Board approved a $5,000 budget for new HR management software to improve efficiency. March financials were reviewed and approved. The next meeting is scheduled for May 15.

This Saturday at the Creative Arts Center on Highway 19 behind the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, the Spring Fest Art show and Sale starting at 9:00 in the morning and lasting until 3:00 in the afternoon with the Ozark Heritage Artisans. You are invited to stop by and shop for unique handcrafted gifts and home accessories created by local artists at the annual Spring Fest Art Show and Sale! There will be demonstrations, free snacks and a free kid’s craft table, an elementary art show, and more!  Thanks for supporting the Arts and shopping local in our community!

Don’t know what to do with unused or expired medications? They can be properly disposed of safely in Salem at drop off boxes the Salem Police Department and Dent County Sheriff’s Department everyday. This reminder is being brought to you by the Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition as some communities are holding their drug “Take Back Day” Saturday. Salem and Dent County are fortunate to have drop boxes available to the public on a daily basis. Please make sure that you have your medications in pill bottles or a plastic bag, and no syringes will be accepted.