News
The City of Salem Board of Alderman will conduct their meeting tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers located at 202 North Washington beginning at 7:00. After approval of the agenda, during the hearing of persons, VerKamp & Malone, CPA’s, will give a report to the Board on their annual audit for the physical year FYE 2011/12. City Administrator Clayton Lucas will then update the Board on various items concerning the City of Salem, along with Alderman Kenneth Nash, Haydn Powell, Phillip Giacomelli and Ryan Whitaker. The City of Salem Mayor, Gary Brown will then address items also concerning the City of Salem. During the Introduction and Reading of Bills and Resolutions, Bill #3267, an ordinance to rezone all of Lot 51, Block “W” of Douglas Park Addition to the City of Salem from residential R-3 to commercial will be presented. The Board voted to approve this Bill at their last meeting and this ordinance is required to change the zoning. In New and Miscellaneous Business, the term of James Coffman, a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority will expire on February 15,2013. The Housing Authority Board recommends that Mr. Coffman be reappointed for a term of four years effective February 16,2013. Mr. Coffman has stated that he will gladly accept the reappointment. Also in new and miscellaneous business, the Council for a Healthy Dent County financials will be presented for the Board’s review. The Board will then vote to go into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing litigation. The Board of Alderman meeting is open to the public.
Attorney General Chris Koster announced that his office has awarded $8,239 to a Medicaid fraud whistleblower who alerted the state to fraudulent billings by a group of dental clinics. The award money is 10 percent of $82,000 that the dental provider is paying in restitution and penalties to the state of Missouri, as allowed by Missouri law. Koster stated the whistleblower contacted his office in January 2011 with concerns about Ozark Family Dentistry, and the clinics’ owner, Dr. Arrash Ahmadnia. Dr. Ahmadnia, based in Rolla, owns dental clinics in Rolla, Thayer, Osceola and Springfield. The whistleblower, who worked briefly at one of the clinics, alerted the Attorney General’s Office that Dr. Ahmadnia had instructed him to perform unnecessary work on patients, presumably to bill the costs to Missouri Medicaid. The Attorney General’s investigation found that the clinics had billed Medicaid for treatments under the code for dental fillings, but had actually performed different procedures – preventative resin restorations, which are not covered by Medicaid. The investigation also found some instances of double billing and billing for ineligible adults. Under a settlement, Dr. Ahmadnia is required to pay more than $208,000 in restitution and penalties to the state and federal Medicaid programs. He is also required to immediately stop submitting reimbursement claims to Medicaid for the preventive resin restoration treatments. The agreement is a compromise of disputed claims and does not contain an admission of wrongdoing by Dr. Ahmadnia. The Attorney General’s Office is continuing to review billing procedures at the clinics.
The Salem Police Department released their reports. On Friday, January 25th at 4:25 in the afternoon, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to a runaway juvenile. Investigation of the report revealed a 13-year old female of Salem had run away from home. After further investigation, the juvenile was located at McDonalds restaurant and released to her mother. On Sunday, January 27th at 6:35 in the evening, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to a fraudulent charge on a credit card. The investigation of the report revealed that someone unknown made an unauthorized purchase of $114.00 using a credit card of another. On Monday, January 28th at 5:50 in the evening, an officer was contacted at the station in reference to stalking. The investigation of the report revealed that a 25-year old Salem female was being followed, threatened, and harassed by telephone by a 21-year old Salem female. On Tuesday, January 29th at 9:15 in the morning, an officer was dispatched to the 1200 block of South Hickory in reference to property damage. The investigation revealed that someone unknown cut the sidewall of a tire valued at $99 on a blue 2005 Ford Focus. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 573-729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation or one that was previously mentioned.
Sports [TOP]
Chad Elliott scored 19 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead the Salem Tigers to a 53-39 win over Houston Friday night at the SHS Gym. Cody Whitaker netted 13 for Salem as they improve to 8-12 on the year and 2-1in the SCA. Devin Coulter scored 24 for Houston in the loss. Salem will host the Cabool Bulldogs in SCA play tomorrow night starting at 6:00.
The Salem Lady Tigers will face Viburnum in the first round of the Newburg Lady Wolf Tournament this afternoon at 5:30. Salem is seeded 5th in the tournament behind the Lady Jays of Viburnum who captured the 4th seed. The winner will play Thursday night at 7:00 while the loser of the game will play Thursday afternoon at 4:00. Salem enters the game with an 8-11 record overall.
Henrik Zetterberg scored an empty-net goal in the final seconds to complete a hat trick, as the Detroit Red Wings cooled off the St. Louis Blues, 5-3, on Friday. Kevin Shattenkirk, Matt D'Agostini, and Patrik Berglund scored for the Blues, who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Jaroslav Halak gave up two goals on 11 shots before leaving late in the first period with an injury. Brian Elliott stopped 17-of-19 shots in relief. The Blues will host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
Keion Bell had 24 points in 17th-ranked Missouri's 91-77 rout of Auburn on Saturday afternoon. Phil Pressey dished out 10 assists and Earnest Ross netted 23 points against his former team for the Tigers (16-5, 5-3 SEC), who will play at Texas A&M on Thursday.
The St. Louis Cardinals and relief pitcher Marc Rzepczynski agreed to terms on a contract for the 2013 season on Friday. A 27-year-old left-hander, Rzepczynski went 1-3 with a 4.24 earned run average in 70 appearances for the Cards last season. With the signing, infielder David Freese is the lone player eligible for arbitration on the Cardinals.
Joe Flacco delivered a lights-out performance at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and the Baltimore Ravens warded off a furious comeback attempt by the San Francisco 49ers to hold on for a 34-31 victory in a thrill-packed Super Bowl XLVII that every bit lived up to its advance billing. Flacco finished with 287 yards and no turnovers on a crisp 22-of-33 passing to earn Most Valuable Player honors.
Obituaries [TOP]
Graveside service for Audrey Lois Jorgenson of Rolla, age 80, will be today at 11:00 at the North Lawn Cemetery in Salem.
Funeral services for Brenda Shaw of Salem, age 52, will be held Thursday at 2:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be from 11:00 until time of service. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery in Salem.
Graveside services for Jennie Catherine Ortmann of Salem, age 93, will be held Friday at 11:00 at the Jadwin Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 10:30 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Memorials may be made to the Salem Nutrition Site.
Celebration of Life for William E. Seay of Salem, age 91, will be held Saturday, February 16th, at 1:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Memorials may be made to the Salem Public Library Building Fund.
Weather [TOP]
