Through its new affiliation with the Indianapolis Colts, WSLM 97.9 FM and AM 1220 is now broadcasting the 2013 NFL DRAFT LIVE on the radio.

Tune in until 11p tonight for NFL Draft action as the top players in the country are picked up by NFL teams across the league.

Ninth District Congressman Todd Young will meet with senior constituents at the Senior Center on Tuesday, April 30 from Noon to 1:15 p.m. to discuss the Affordable Care Act and the healthcare changes that will affect seniors in 2014.

“As we enter into the new world of healthcare reform, it is difficult to understand how the changes will affect us individually,” said Debi Shipton, manager of the Senior Renewal Center at St.Vincent Salem Hospital. “Bringing Congressman Young in to speak to our senior population is a great way to prepare them for the future changes.”

This event is co-sponsored by the Senior Renewal Center at St.Vincent Salem Hospital and the Salem Senior Center.

“We welcome any and all senior citizens in our community to come to this informative talk,” said Gail Napier, Senior Center Manager. “It is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the future of your healthcare.”

Lunch will be provided for all attendees. The Senior Center is located at 1705 N. Shelby St., Salem, Indiana.

At a press conference earlier this week, St. Vincent Salem Hospital announced its CEO Lee Jaeger will be retired this summer.

Dana Muntz, the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer, will serve as the day to day administrator of the hospital.

The hospital staff was informed about a week ago.

Jaeger’s decision was based on a decision to be closer to family and he will be moving to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. Jaeger has worked in healthcare for 38 years. St. Vincent is the sixth facility he has worked for.

While in Washington County, Jaeger, and his wife, Mary, have served on several local boards and committees.

They have been involved with CASA, SOAR,  the Exchange Club, the hospital auxiliary as well as volunteer work for various groups.

Muntz’s new role will help the hospital save money as well as bring knowledge of day to day patient care to the leadership role.

She came to Washington County Memorial Hospital in 2007 as Quality and Risk Management Director.

Board President Aaron Lee said about Muntz, “Dana is the obvious choice for the next leader of the hospital. She works well with the staff and relates to them well. It is exciting to see her come up from within the organization and to take on this lead role.”

Here’s a Recap of Last Three Years at St. Vincent:

Money/Capital Expenses

• Renovations and Repairs made possible through partnership with St.Vincent Health and Ascension Health
• Leaking roof replaced – $250,000 expense
• Chiller/AC replaced – over $300,000 expense
• New Emergency Generator – over $400,000 expense
• Parking lot repairs, landscaping
• Facility Upgrades – with assistance/funds provided by the Hospital Foundation of Washington County, Inc.
• Repairs/replacement of flooring and lighting – in the entry, chapel
• New Carpeting in the main entrance
• Renovated inpatient unit – new paint, lighting, wall bumpers, furniture and ceiling tiles
• Lobby, ED, Chapel renovations

Programming/Procedures

• Outpatient Behavioral Health Program (Senior Renewal Center)
• Wound Care and Pulmonary Rehab
  • Also help the hospital financially
  • Keeps patients local
  • Emergency Services
    • Changed the ED Management
    • Improved services in ER
    • Improved patient satisfaction

• Very successful, well-used, well-received in the       community
• Great service to keep patients local
• Positive financial impact on the hospital

Procedures

• Barryx – treats Barrett’s esophagus (reflux and heartburn issues) – Used by Jeffrey Morgan, MD, gastroenterologist.
• Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation – used by Rizwan Khan, MD – Pain Management physician. Helps alleviate back pain by using radiofrequency waves to ablate nerve endings.
• TIF – Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication — This procedure reconstructs the anti-reflux valve and restores the body’s natural protection against reflux. This procedure is reserved for those with more advanced cases of GERD, especially those patients who are no longer responding well to drug treatments. This procedure is performed by Dr. Jon Noel, general surgeon.
• Lithotripsy – treatment used to break up kidney stones into smaller pieces so that they can be passed more easily. Used by Dr. Larry Strong, urologist.

New Physicians/NP’s

• Pediatrician, Barbara Sagoe, MD
• Family Medicine, Kristen Ingram, MD (at Pekin)
• Warren Balazs, OD – Ear, Nose and Throat
• GYN – Tiffany Hannigan, MD
• Two Nurse Practitioners – Melinda Clark, NP and Sarah Kuzma, NP
• In addition, the hospital shares physician resources with SV Dunn and SV Jennings hospitals
• The hospital has tried to be a more visible community partner for other organizations.

Financials

• The hospital is well ahead of target and in the black
• Definitely a month to month basis in this type of organization, but we have had an overall successful fiscal year.
• We always have to look at numbers and stay on top of the finances, constantly adjusting when necessary.
• Prior to, and through bankruptcy, then post-bankruptcy, the hospital’s financials have continually seen improvements

Earlier this week,  shortly before 2:15 pm, a white 2007 Dodge utility truck driven by Kenneth A. Downey, 52, from Corydon, IN, was travelling south on Crosby Road just south of State Road 64 in Ramsey, (Harrison County).

When the driver approached the rail road tracks that cross Crosby Road going east and west he failed to yield to an oncoming west bound Norfolk Southern Locomotive, pulling several train cars. The train and truck collided and the driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene by the Harrison County Coroner’s Office. His death was due to the injuries he received from the impact of the locomotive. No one on the locomotive was injured.

The truck Kenneth A Downey was driving belonged to the Ramsey Water Company, where he was an employee.

“Forests at Work,” a video collaboration of the DNR Division of Forestry and WFYI Public Television has received a first-place “Best in Indiana Award” in the category of environmental reporting for 2012.

The award was presented by the Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). The SPJ awards recognize the most outstanding work of the year in Indiana print, broadcast and online journalism. Submissions from Indiana are judged by SPJ members from throughout the United States to maintain impartiality.

In 2011 the DNR Forestry started working with WFYI to produce the hour-long show as part of WFYI’s “Indiana Expeditions” series. The show aired in April 2012.

“It is evident that great preparation and research went into this report,” said SPJ’s announcement of the award.  “Wonderful storytelling and very informative.”

The SPJ award is the second first-place award the video has won. Last year, the national Society of American Foresters named Indiana a first-place winner for the video as a “State Society Success Story” of 2012.

Copies of the DVD can be purchased for $10 with checks made out to “IFEF-PLT” and sent to “Forests At Work” Video, Division of Forestry, 402 W. Washington, Rm. W296, Indianapolis, IN  46204.

Outdoor Indiana magazine’s May-June issue features a cover article on the state’s historic fire towers.

With modern technology, the fire towers have emerged as a tourist attraction rather than a fire-detection tool.

The 48-page full-color magazine also includes a removable eight-page insert on Versailles State Park, one of the state’s top mountain biking destinations. That article continues the magazine’s series in which one state park or reservoir property will be portrayed through 2016, the 100th anniversary of Indiana state parks. To view a short video on fire towers and Versailles State Park, see the Outdoor Indiana playlist at youtube.com/idnrvideos.

Outdoor Indiana is available now at most DNR properties and Barnes & Noble stores in Indiana for $3 a copy. Save 33 percent off the cover price when you buy a one-year, six-issue subscription for $12.

To subscribe or read excerpts from the May-June magazine, go to OutdoorIndiana.org. Subscriptions also can be purchased by calling (317) 233-3046.

This morning the start of the flushing area will be at Kimball Blvd working toward E. Market Street.

The National Weather Service had issued a frost advisory for the WSLM listening area for in the morning.

Today shortly after 3:00 p.m., Larry Motsinger, 66, from Pekin, IN, turned himself into the Washington County Jail after an arrest warrant was issued from the Washington County Circuit Court for Animal Cruelty, Class A Misdemeanor, (14 Counts) and Improper Disposal of a Dead Animal, Class D Felony, (Two Counts).

IN CONJUNCTION WITH INDIANA STATE POLICE AND INDIANA STATE VET JODI LOVEJOY, HARRISON COUNTY PROS. OTTO SCHALK, ACTING AS A SPECIAL PROSECTUOR, FILED CRIMINAL CHARGES ON WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY LARRY MOTSINGER TODAY.

MOTSINGER WAS CHARGED WITH 2 COUNTS OF FAILURE TO DISPOSE OF A DEAD ANIMAL, CLASS D FELONY AND 14 COUNTS OF ANIMAL NEGLECT, CLASS A MISDEMANORS.

MR. SCHALK WAS APPOINTED SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO HANDLE THE CASE DUE TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH THE WASHINGTON COUNTY PROSECUTER’S OFFICE.

IN EARLY MARCH, ISP TROOPER KEVING BOLWING AND INDIANA STATE VET JODI LOVEJOY CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO CLAIMS OF ANIMAL NEGLECT

REGARDING OVER 30 CATTLE ON MOTSINGER’S PROPERTY ON EASTERN SCHOOL ROAD AND CATTLE THAT HE CARED FOR ON HIS MOTHER’S PROPERTY, LOCATED ON FARABEE RD.

IT WAS FURTHER NOTICED THAT THERE WERE DEAD COW CARCASSES ON THE PROPERTY.

IF CONVICTED, THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE EACH FELONY CARRIES IS THREE YEARS.

MR. SCHALK STATED:  “REGARDLESS OF MR. MOTSINGER BEING A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY, HE WILL BE TREATED NO DIFFERENTLY. THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE EXPECT AND JUSTICE REQUIRES”

A drug drop will take place on Saturday, April 27, 9 – 11 am at Salem City Hall.  All unused, outdated medications will be taken and disposed of, no questions asked.

This event is sponsored by:  The Washington County Substance Abuse Council, City of Salem, Hoosier Hills PACT, Salem Police and Fire Depts, Washington Co. Prosecutor’s Office, Washington Co. Sheriff’s Dept and The Wash Co Prevent Child Abuse Council