Your World Today – Thursday, October 20, 2016
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NEWS: Thursday, October 20, 2016
LOCAL NEWS:
The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library and began with the audit report from Andrew Williams from BKD, LLP. Williams said for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2016, the hospital had a loss from operations of over $873,244 with an excess of expenses over revenues of $350,300. Williams indicated that inpatient and swing bed volumes were up 11% with an increase in cash during the year of $1,140,037. He said the hospital had cash on hand to operate for 58 days which is better than last year when it was 46 days of cash on hand, but Williams said the hospital will have to give back about $400,000 in the Medicare cost report settlement which will reduce the actual days of cash on hand to 51 which is still a very good improvement. Williams said the operating margin from the previous year improved 40% over 2015 as the net operating margin went from -7.68% in 2015 to -4.5% in 2016. Williams said the long-term debt to capitalization ratio increased with the new CT machine purchase to 7.9% from 5.5%, but that is head and shoulders better than the average for Critical Access Hospitals on the whole where their ratio is 28.9%. Williams feels that hospital still has to work on reducing costs not associated with patient care, maximizing the non-governmental payer contracts and increase the level of collections of co-pays and deductibles on government plans, possibly asking customers to prepay those co-pays and deductibles. This will provide for an increase in cash for the hospital and help reduce the accounts receivable in private pay. Overall, Williams said the hospital’s financial situation is solid and they continue to offer health care at an extremely affordable rate with the average gross revenue of $7,993 per adjusted discharge and $3,878 operating expenses per adjusted discharge which are both far below the average rural Missouri charges. He wanted to thank Chief Financial Officer Monica Gargus and Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas for their help in preparing this year’s audit.
The Salem Police Department at 500 North Jackson will be holding a semi annual DEA drug take back program on Saturday October 22nd between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Anyone may drop of unused, out of date, unwanted and/or unneeded drugs and/or medication that they want disposed of. These items will be disposed of safely by professionals in an environmentally friendly manner. The Dent County Sheriff's Department has a drug and medication disposal box. This allows the public to stop by anytime to drop off any unused drugs and/or medication. The disposal box gives the community the opportunity to dispose of drugs and/or medication at any time without needing to wait. This will get the drugs and/or medication out of your homes when it is not needed. Please do not drop any biohazard materials or syringes. The box is located in the lobby at the Dent County Sheriff's Office at 112 East 5th Street and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On Sunday, October 16th, deputies observed a vehicle near the entrance of Shawnee Mac Conservation area, attempting to exit the park. Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Upon making contact with the driver, 23-year old Kevin M. Coon of Salem, it was determined Coon had three active warrants for his arrest. Coon was taken into custody without incident and is being held at the Dent County Jail on $910.00 cash only bond. At 5:30 that afternoon, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit was requested for a male subject who had fled from a residence on North Hickory. The subject was identified as Joseph Scheck and had a parole warrant for his arrest out of Phelps County. The Dent County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit arrived a short time later and began tracking into the Bonebrake area on North Hickory. After approximately a half mile chase, Scheck was found hiding in a culvert near Rolla Road. The K9 was deployed into the culvert and Scheck was apprehended, taken into custody and later transported to Phelps County and incarcerated.
Several members of the Salem High School Marching Blue traveled to Camdenton High School on October 11th to audition for a position in the 2016 Central District Honor Band. Salem placed four students in the Concert Band and they are Emma Schott as the 2nd Chair Flute; Faith Roberts as a 21st Chair Clarinet; Kira Lacy as a 6th Chair Trombone, and Maddie Van Dien was given 1st Chair Tuba. Three Salem students were selected for the Honors Band and they were Jacob Stacy as a 4th Chair Alto Sax; Laura Benowitz was named 19th Chair Clarinet, and Abby Payne was the 1st Chair Piccolo. Both bands will perform November 5th at Camdenton High School. The bands are comprised of outstanding students from nearly 20 schools.
SPORTS [TOP]
The St. Louis Blues will be in Edmonton tonight to face the Oilers at 7:30 on KSMO Radio. The Blues are 3-0-1 on the season.
The City of Salem Youth Basketball League signups for all boys and girls in 1st thru 6th grade and are going on now through November 18th at the Salem Administrative Office located at 400 North Iron. Leagues will be held December 17th & 31st and January 7th and 14th at the Salem High School Gym. The cost is $25 per player. For more information call Parks & Recreation Director Tye Lydon at 729-6290.
OBITUARIES [TOP]
Funeral services for Zelda Parker of Boss, age 98, will be held this morning at 10:00 at the Macedonia Baptist Church in Boss. Interment will be in the Boss Cemetery. All arrangements are under the direction of the McSpadden Funeral Home in Bunker.
Funeral services for Iva May Fernandes of Salem, age 74, will be held today at noon at the Wilson Mortuary Salem Chapel. Visitation will be from 10:00 until service time. Memorials may be made the New Harmony Cemetery. Interment will be in the New Harmony Cemetery.
Funeral services for Bill Krewson of Licking, age 76, will be held today at 2:00 at the United Methodist Church in Licking. Visitation will be from 12:00 until service time. All arrangements are under the direction of the Fox Funeral Home in Licking.
Graveside services for Catherine G. Sheppard of Boss, age 82, will be held today at 1:00 at the Myers Cemetery in Oates Missouri. Interment will be in the New Harmony Cemetery. All arrangements are under the direction of the McSpadden Funeral Home in Bunker.
Memorial services for William Michael Click Jr. of Sullivan, age 49, will be Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Memorial may be made to the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James for funeral expenses.
Graveside Memorial Services for Joe Ray of Salem, age 68, will be held Saturday at 3:00 at the Patterson Cemetery. All arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary in Salem.
WEATHER [TOP]
Today..Cloudy early with a 30% chance for showers, then becoming mostly sunny, high of 61.
Tonight..Mostly clear, low around 40.
Friday..Mostly sunny, high around 60.
Friday night.. Clear, low of 41.
Saturday..Sunny, high of 68.
