News – Tuesday, May 27th 2025

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will be meeting this evening at 7:00 in the hospital library. After public comments by speakers who must sign in and are limited to 3 minutes, the Board will approve minutes of the April regular meeting and the May special meeting, plus hear a FY2024 Audit presentation. Chief Executive Officer Brooke Bollman will present her report before hearing the summary of operations for the month of April as well as reviewing and approving the monthly financials. The Board will hear the Chief of Nursing Report, the Human Resources report, and the Chief of Staff Report. Old business will include the Election of Officers. In new business, the Board will get an update on a memorial and a shed. The Board may then go into Executive Session for discussion with legal counsel and consider personnel matters. The regular meeting of the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public.

An accident occurred Friday afternoon at 1:06 on Highway 32 four miles east of Salem. According to the Highway Patrol report a 2002 Peterbilt 379, operated by a 54-year-old Salem man, swerved to avoid another vehicle, ran off the right side of the roadway, striking a tree and a fence. The report stated that the man suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Salem Ambulance to Salem Memorial Hospital. The report went on to state that the man may be flown by unknown helicopter to Mercy St. Louis. It was unknown whether the driver was wearing a seat restraint. The Peterbilt was totaled and left roadside on Highway 32 at Dent County Road 4237 to be towed by Chris and Sons Towing.

The Finance Committee held a workshop Thursday evening at 6:00 in the Old City Hall Auditorium located at 202 N. Washington, to review the draft budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, presented by City Administrator, Sally Burbridge, and Finance Director Stacy Houston. The proposed budget totals $29 million and is balanced, reflecting a 17% increase over the 2024–2025 fiscal year. This increase is primarily due to grant-funded projects, which account for approximately $10.4 million in total expenditures. The draft includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for all City employees, along with merit-based increases of up to 1% for eligible staff based on performance evaluations. In preparing the budget, staff incorporated several key assumptions, including the adoption of a new employee health insurance plan and adjustments to the pay schedule to maintain market competitiveness with minimum wage requirements. After presenting the draft budgets for the different committees in the City, Houston noted that several of these committees have not yet convened to approve their respective budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports. On Monday May 12th deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 3800 block of E. Highway 32. During the course of the stop, a 43-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while suspended/revoked and other traffic violations. The subject was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was booked and released. Then on Wednesday May 14th deputies responded to Shawnee Mac Lakes for a report of a possible assault. During the course of the investigation, a 20-year-old Salem man was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. The next day Thursday May 15th deputies arrested a 31-year-old Salem man on an active arrest warrant. The subject was transported to the Dent County Jail where he bonded out on the warrant. Later the same day deputies took a report for a fraud that occurred in the 200 block of County Road 3040. The victim, a 29-year-old Salem man, advised he was scammed out of over $9,000 online. The investigation is pending. If you have any information relative to these ongoing investigations, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced another extension of an allowance for heavier-than-normal truckloads of rock, sand and gravel on Missouri highways for flood relief, levees and other public infrastructure flood repair. The waiver allows private and for-hire motor carriers to haul up to 10% more than their licensed weight on Missouri highways. The waiver will remain in effect through June 30, 2025. While the waiver is in effect, participating motor carriers must abide by the following limitations. A loaded, gross weight is not to exceed 10% above the gross licensed weight of the commercial motor vehicle. The waiver applies to transportation of rock, sand and gravel only within the state of Missouri. Drivers must obey posted bridge weight limits. When crossing a bridge, the driver must restrict the vehicle speed to no more than 30 mph. Travel under this allowance is only allowed on non-interstate highways. Those taking advantage of the weight allowance cannot operate on any portion of the interstate highway system. Drivers can check the Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org for up-to-date road closure information.