News – Monday, July 29th, 2024

The City of Salem’s Parks and Recreation Board will hold a workshop Monday at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. After the call to order and roll call the Board will be updated on the City Pool and address 3-5-year plan goals. The meeting was called by Parks and Recreation Board President Carlos Lopez.

The Dent County Health Center will host a Town Hall Meeting on lead poisoning at the Salem Community Center at The Armory on Thursday at 5:30 pm. The event aims to educate residents about lead exposure risks and prevention, particularly for children. Health officials stress that any amount of lead is toxic in a child’s blood, with irreversible effects. They recommend annual testing for children ages 1-3, noting that Missouri has above-average blood lead levels nationally and is the country’s top lead-producing state. The meeting will cover lead exposure sources, health impacts, and ways to reduce risk. Topics include proper protective equipment use and hygiene practices for adults who may inadvertently bring lead home from work. The event is open to the public and limited to 50 participants due to space constraints. Light refreshments will be provided, and free lead testing will be available. For more information or to register, visit https://bit.ly/DCHClead/ or call 573-729-3106.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Tuesday, July 16th. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated that there were 5 COVID-19 cases reported and the new strain is circulating, 41 lead cases, 21 screenings for sexually transmitted infections, one case of Influenza and 4 animal bites. The environmental report showed there where 7 total inspections conducted, no recalls, no sewer complaints, and 12 environmental questions were fielded. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there was no CPR Course, one consultation for Childcare Health, 3 Show-Me Healthy Women appointments, 23 Title X appointments, 2 Presumptive Eligibilities (Temporary Medicaid) and 326 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 402 total appointments other than WIC, 118 Nurse Practitioner appointments, 118 treatment court visits, 155 lab appointments and 20 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner Service Details showed 4 Show-Me Healthy Women appointments, 4 family plannings, 2 well-child visits, 12 online appointments, 2 other well-woman exams, 7 other physicals, 22 SEMO physicals, 11 other visits, and 54 acute illness appointments. Laboratory details showed 210 individual patients, 3 appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, 21 pregnancy tests and 9 lead tests. Immunizations for June totaled none for COVID-19 or for Influenza, and 44 for other vaccines, including the new RSV vaccine and new formulations of pneumonia vaccine. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that there will be a Lead Poisoning Townhall meeting that is open to the public on August 1st at 5:30 at the Community Center @ the Armory and Back to School Festival Teacher Immunization on August 3rd from 9:00-12:00. Activities of the DCHC included staff attendance at the National NACCHO IPC Summit and Administrators’ Training in Jefferson City. Progress on the DCHC Strategic Plan was discussed. The Health Center financial reports for June, including the overall results from H & R Block, were reviewed and were approved. In new business a table of CD rates was presented from all four local banks. The Board moved to purchase a $250,000 12-month CD from Progressive Ozark Bank at 4.75%. The Board also approved the creation of an Administrative Assistant/Marketing/Public Relations/Accreditation Coordinator position. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, August 22nd at 5:00.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley has released information on a number of cases heard in front of Judge Michael Randazzo on Wednesday, July 24th. In the first case heard, Rocky Barton of Salem pled guilty to the felony possession of a controlled substance and sodomy in the 2nd degree. Barton was sentenced to twelve years in the Missouri Department of Corrections as requested by Prosecutor Curley. The case of Trent Corbett of Waynesville was heard where he pled guilty to felony driving while having his license revoked. Corbett was sentenced to four months in prison as requested by the prosecutor. In the last case heard, Joshua Black of Salem pled guilty to felony charges of driving with a revoked license and the possession of a controlled substance, fentanyl. Black was sentenced to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections under the Section 217.362 long term drug treatment program.

An accident occurred Thursday afternoon at 1:20 in Dent County on Highway 32 near County Road 5110. According to the Highway Patrol report an eastbound 2013 Harley Davidson, operated by 82-year-old James Shull of Salem, went off the left side of the roadway striking a tree and ejecting the driver. Shull suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy St. Louis. The report stated that Shull was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. The motorcycle was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.