News – Friday, May 1st, 2026

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. In road reports, First District Commissioner Keith Green shared that crew members would be hauling rock where needed and are planning to grade county roads 6400, 5070, and 5075. Crew members will also be cutting brush on County Road 5690. Second District Commissioner Jimmy Wiliams reported that crew members are planning to haul rock and grade county roads 2380, 2340, and 2330. Cutting brush is planned for county roads 2550 and 2560. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills are to be approved. Collector Shannon VanKirk reminded those that are 62 and over and own their own home to pick up an application for SB190 from the collector’s office. Applications are available until June 30th. Office hours for the collector are Monday through Friday from 8:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. Contact her office at 573-729-3911 if you have any questions. VanKirk further reported that the SB190 software through FOXPRO has been purchased at $5,000. Meanwhile, the commissioners were invited to the latest exhibit at the ONCRC. There will be a historical exhibit featuring Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) artifacts now through the end of May at the ONCRC, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the evening. Visit the ONCRC to learn more. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse, and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors held its regular meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library at the hospital. Prior to approving the agenda, Board Member Mike Swyers made a motion to add an agenda item to swear in Karen Brown for another term on the Board of Directors. The motion was approved. Following approval of the updated agenda and the previous open session meeting minutes, the board heard a presentation from Elizabeth Lawrence, a representative of the Helping Hands Auxiliary. After extensive discussion, three motions were made and approved: to acknowledge and approve the reorganization of the auxiliary; to accept the bylaws, which will be amended to remove the 501(c)(3) designation; and to grant the CEO/acting CEO, as well as one additional administrative staff member, signatory authorization on the auxiliary’s bank account. Karen Brown was then sworn in for another term as a board member. During her report, CEO Brook Bollman highlighted ongoing conversations with Missouri’s independent hospital network: the Show-Me High Value Network; recruitment updates; the completion of the HRSA 340B Audit; and the application for a $5 million DOT grant that, if awarded, would be utilized for emergency services over the course of two years. Bollman noted that Hospital Week will take place May 10–16, and that the hospital’s spring cleanup has been postponed. Inpatient admissions for the month of March totaled 62, with 108 swing bed days. There were 1,026 outpatient registrations, 1,580 cardiopulmonary procedures, and 14 residents in Long-Term Care (LTC). The Emergency Department saw 675 visits in March, along with 175 ambulance runs. Total operating revenue for March was approximately $1.8 million, down slightly from the previous month. Total operating expenses were approximately $2.6 million. This resulted in an overall operating loss of approximately $683,000 and a year-to-date loss of approximately $586,000. Bollman noted that staff are working diligently to close the fiscal year on a positive note. The hospital currently has 24 days of cash on hand. 340B revenue was $55,929, while expenses increased to $99,687, for a net loss of $43,758. Following approval of the financial report, Amber Hogan delivered the Chief Nursing Officer Report. Hogan highlighted updates to LTC’s electronic Medication Administration Record implementation, a luncheon with Texas County Technical College’s RN Program, the update and renewal of the hospital’s Nursing Assistant Site Training Program, ongoing continuing education efforts, and the upcoming Nurses’ Week, May 6–12. The hospital currently has nursing vacancies in several departments. Four new full-time employees were hired in March, while two employees departed. Open positions currently being recruited for include a CEO, paramedic, clinical receptionist, and Infection Control/Employee Health and Education Director. With no Unfinished or New Business items, the meeting adjourned to executive session for legal and personnel matters. The next regular meeting of the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors is scheduled for Monday, May 18, at 7:00 in the Doctor’s Library at the hospital and is open to the public.

The Dent County Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace will be holding its monthly Community Meeting Monday, May 4th, 5:30 – 6:30 in the evening at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory in the Walden Room.  SHP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds, assembles and delivers new, free beds to children in need in our community, ages 3-17, who do not have a bed.