Your World Today-Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016
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NEWS: Wednesday, November 23, 2016
LOCAL NEWS:
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors held a special meeting Tuesday afternoon. Most of the board members were on a conference call with only Judy Thompson in attendance at the meeting. SMDH Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas discussed employee health insurance and currently the hospital does not offer a wellness program. He suggested a wellness program be included with their health insurance that would get employees engaged in their own well being and provide a financial incentive. The program would provide biometric testing, on-site coaching, disease educational services and other screenings if needed. If employees choose to be in the wellness program, the hospital would continue to provide the health insurance at no cost to the employee. If the employee did not want to participate, there would be a $40 per period premium supplement they would pay for their health insurance. This wellness program would be provided for the employee only initially and Lucas felt the program in time would be available to spouses at an additional cost. The board approved incorporating the wellness program as part of the employee health insurance plan. Lucas also spoke on the SMDH Hospital Retirement Plan. Currently, there is a blanket 4% benefit provided to all employees who exceed 1,000 hours in a year. This program did not allow for employees to contribute to the plan. Also the fund was managed by the hospital through MetLife. The hospital will be changing programs that will allow the employee to be in charge of the retirement fund as it will be a contributory fund. Lucas said the hospital would match employee contributions to the new fund dollar-for-dollar up to the 4% of the employees’ total gross pay. This will promote participation in the plan by the hospital employees and where they can actually invest up to eight percent per year. The hospital budgeted just over $300,000 for this benefit and expects the dollar figure to drop a little until the employees figure out how to maximize this benefit. The board approved changing the retirement plan from being paid for by the hospital solely to a contributory plan. The meeting was then adjourned.
Colonel J. Bret Johnson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages motorists to include safety in their plans for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The counting period for the 2016 Thanksgiving holiday weekend is from 6:00 tonight until 11:59 pm Sunday, November 27th. During the 2015 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 13 people were killed and another 627 were injured in 1,817 traffic crashes. If you will be traveling this holiday, please make sure your car is in good condition before beginning your trip. It is also important that you are well rested before you start driving. The Patrol will participate in Operation C.A.R.E (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) during this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. As part of this operation, all available troopers will be assigned to Missouri’s roadways to enforce traffic laws, especially those related to impaired driving, driving over the speed limit, and seat belt/child restraint use. Troopers will be available to assist motorists as needed. Over the past several years, the Patrol has used special traffic enforcement projects to further their efforts to decrease traffic crashes and fatalities. The Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number is 1-800-525-5555 (or *55 on a cellular phone). Motorists should use this emergency assistance number to report traffic crashes, crimes being committed, or other emergencies on Missouri’s highways. When you dial this number anywhere in the state, it rings directly into the closest Patrol headquarters.
Today will be the first day for bell ringers for the Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit. The Salvation Army raises funds locally with the familiar red kettle at Christmas time. The famous red kettles are located at Country Mart, Dollar General and Wal-Mart starting TODAY until Christmas Eve (every Friday and Saturday) and counter kettles are located at various locations throughout the community. The kettles are the primary way that funds are raised to continue to meet the needs of the less fortunate in our community. Volunteer bell ringers are needed each year to help raise funds. To volunteer to ring the bell at the red kettle, please call Jan at 729-6355 or The Salvation Army office at 729-8163. The Salvation Army doesn’t just help during the holidays, as their assistance is needed throughout the year. Every donation is important to the community and is needed to reach the 2016 goal of $30,000. The Dent County Service Unit members are responsible for meeting emergency and supplementary needs of individuals and families struggling to make ends meet in Dent County.
The Salem Police Department released reports involving a flat tire, and a disturbance. On Sunday, November 13th at 3:31 in the early morning, an officer was detailed to MFA fuel stop located on West Highway 32 in reference to someone with a flat tire. The report revealed a 20-year old male driver of a 1996 Chevrolet struck a stop sign at the Highway 32 and 72 junctions and ran off the road. Further investigation led to the arrest of the male for driving while intoxicated and other related traffic charges. He was issued summonses to appear in court and was released. Later that night at 8:49, an officer located a 37-year old female of Salem in the 500 block of West Dillon who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. She was taken into custody on the warrant and later released after paying all fines and court cost. On Monday, November 14th at 7:35 in the evening, an officer was dispatched to the Fifth Street Pub in reference to a female causing a disturbance. The report led to the arrest of a 46-year old female of Salem for disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was issued a summons to appear in court and was released. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.
SPORTS [TOP]
Jori Lehtera netted two goals while defensemen Robert Bortuzzo got his 1st goal of the year and Paul Stastny scored the eventual game winner as the St. Louis Blues beat Boston, 4-2 to end a four game road losing streak. The Blues will be in Washington tonight to face the Capitals at 5:30, then come home Saturday night to face the Minnesota Wild at 6:30. You can hear both games on KSMO Radio.
The Missouri Football Tigers will host Arkansas Friday afternoon at 1:30 in the final game of the 2016 season. Missouri is 3-8 on the year. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio starting at 11:30 Friday morning with the pre-game show.
The Missouri Basketball Tigers will host Northwestern Saturday at 1:30. Missouri enters the game with a 2-2 record. You can hear the game on KSMO Radio.
OBITUARIES [TOP]
Funeral services for Virginia Byington of Salem, age 87, will be held at a later date. All arrangements are under the direction of the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem.
Memorial services for Joyce Louis Dunlap of Viburnum will be Wednesday at 12:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Viburnum. Memorial visitation will be from 10:00 until service time. Interment will be at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Joyce Dunlap family for funeral expenses.
Funeral services for Lawrence Bates of Licking, age 86, will be held Thursday at 11:00 at the Fox Funeral Home in Licking. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Boone Creek Cemetery.
WEATHER [TOP]
Today..Mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of morning showers, high of 56.
Tonight..Mostly cloudy, low near 35.
Thanksgiving Day..Partly cloudy, high of 57.
Thursday night..Partly cloudy, low of 36.
Friday..Sunny, high of 55.
Friday night..Clear, low of 28.
Saturday..Sunny, high of 58.
Saturday night..Partly cloudy, low of 36.
Sunday..Chance for showers, high of 57.
