Stories from Friday, March 27, 2020

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Staff Writer A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the persons involved in an armed robbery in south Poplar Bluff Thursday morning. Poplar Bluff Police officers were sent to a home in the 1000 block of Delano Street at 7:14 a.m. in reference to a robbery complaint, Capt. Dave Sutton said in a news release...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Little Rock District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has assembled field assessment teams tasked with evaluating existing sites for the possible conversion into alternate-care-sites in Arkansas. The Corps’ teams, at the request of FEMA and the State of Arkansas, are evaluating facilities within its military construction boundary area, which encompasses the entire state...

Connie Ella Hodge (Connie-Mom to her family and friends) passed away on Tuesday, March 17, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, surrounded by family and friends. She resided in Miramar Beach, Fla. Connie was born Oct. 16, 1937 near Fisk, Mo. to Robert Lee Brewington and Velma Warren Brewington. ...

Annette Eaton has to turn an old curtain into a vest and a cape for the music teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School. There’s going to be a play in April. Well … there was going to be a play in April. Now, who knows. Like so many things, Eaton’s plans for that old curtain are on hold while she, along with Myra McKnight, Lil Ginger and Patty Cates, are busy making cotton masks to help with the COVID-19 pandemic. Four ladies joining a nationwide surge to answer the pleas of medical providers...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting with exceptional resolve in an extraordinary time, the House rushed President Donald Trump a $2.2 trillion rescue package Friday, tossing a life preserver to a U.S. economy and health care system left flailing by the coronavirus pandemic...

Floyd Curtis Wilson, 86, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Floyd was born on May 26, 1933 in Qulin, Mo., the son of John William and Louise Mae (Patterson) Wilson. Floyd worked as a regional salesman for Case tractors for more than 20 years after which Floyd owned and operated a farm equipment supply store in Mayslick, Ky., called “Mayslick Farm Supply.” Following that he managed an equipment supply store “Honey Creek Tractors” in Terra Haute, Ind.. ...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Two Poplar Bluff residents were injured in a two-vehicle crash at 10:40 p.m. Thursday, March 26, on Highway 142, north of County Road 312, in Butler County. According to the report, Austin R. Dodson, 23, was operating a southbound 2001 Ford ZX2, which was attempting to make a left turn when it was struck by a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz being operated southbound by Phillip J. Chatman, 24, of Poplar Bluff...

City firefighters responded at 10:38 p.m. Thursday, March 26, to a motor-vehicle crash at 1148 Highway 142. According to the report, firefighters assisted emergency-medical-services personnel in packaging and loading patients for transport. _ City firefighters responded at 9:50 p.m. Thursday, March 26, to a report of an unauthorized burn at the intersection of Wilson and Victor streets...

The City Council of Poplar Bluff has scheduled a special meeting, to be held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 30, in the council chambers, located at 301 S. 5th St. Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic and orders from Gov. Mike Parson, no more than 10 citizens may attend the meeting...

Jefferson City — On Tuesday, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft attended a videoconference with more than 100 public library leaders across the state. Hosted by the Missouri State Library, a division of Ashcroft’s office, the open forum provided an opportunity for library directors and key staff to discuss creative ways they continue to offer services after facilities closed due to public health concerns related to COVID-19...

The MU Soil Testing Lab is open and continues to offer its services. However, some of the Extension county offices are closed and employees are working remotely in response to COVID-19. You can submit samples directly to the MU Soil Testing Lab to the following address:...

Bonnie Jean Lloyd, 83, of Broseley, died Thursday, March 26, 2020 at her residence in Broseley, Mo. Mrs. Lloyd was born Tuesday, July 8, 1936 in Poplar Bluff, daughter of the late John William Wilson and Louise Culbertson. On Jan. 22, 1955, she married Carl E. Lloyd. He preceded her in death Aug. 25, 2017...

POPLAR BLUFF - Dr. John Paul Christy, 82, of Poplar Bluff passed away March 24, 2020. Services are pending under the direction of Cozean Memorial Chapel in Farmington. View the online obituary and share your condolences at cozeanfuneralhome.com...

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an unprecedented $2.2 trillion economic rescue package into law Friday, after swift and near-unanimous action by Congress this week to support businesses, rush resources to overburdened health care providers and help struggling families during the deepening coronavirus epidemic...

Butler County’s prosecuting attorney and sheriff, along with their respective associations, are speaking out against a recent request to the Missouri Supreme Court asking it order local courts to release certain inmates. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Missouri State Public Defender Director Mary Fox and others signed a letter Thursday asking the state’s high court to “immediately release from confinement” five groups of inmates...

After multiple days of negotiations, Congress and President Trump have approved a relief package that holds promise for those of us who live and work in rural America. While certainly not perfect (no legislation truly is), the bill addresses many areas of concern that have been highlighted as we continue to navigate the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19...

Irma Houts Epps, 92, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed away Monday, March 23, 2020 on the farm built by her father, James Earl Houts. Born on Sept. 18, 1927, she spent her childhood in Poplar Bluff before marrying her late husband Grady Epps. Together they traveled the world as Mr. Epps built oil refineries while Mrs. Epps raised a family, worked as a Registered Nurse and collected art and items for her museum, which she built on the farm during her retirement...

The Ripley County Health Center has confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in Ripley County. Local health center staff will be monitoring the case and follow up contacts will be done. No other information will be provided about the patient, the health center said in a prepared news release issued late Friday afternoon...

Trying to stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 outbreak may help us realize what health care workers go through every day. These health care workers, a unique group of people, leave their homes and families daily, trained to expect the unexpected...

As the number of positive COVID-19 test results rise in Missouri and around the world, Poplar Bluff physician Dr. Steve Nagy said people should act as though there is a confirmed case near them.

Butler County received a shipment of 2,400 N95 masks Thursday, a welcome relief for many health care workers who have been reusing or using less effective masks while treating patients. The masks came in a shipment of supplies from state officials that also included 30 gowns...

Churches from the area are embracing technology to spread their message during the COVID-19 pandemic. Westwood Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff, Sacred Heart Church of Dexter; St. Ann Church of Malden, St. Teresa Church of Glennonville and Doniphan Church of Christ are making Sunday sermons available online...

Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day. As area counties see their first positive case of COVID-19, Emily Goodin of the Butler County Health Department said no residents have yet to test positive Friday afternoon during a meeting of county officials...

Gov. Mike Parson has signed an executive order to begin mobilizing the Missouri Army National Guard to assist in the state’s COVID-19 response efforts. This will increase the amount of coordination among state government partners in combating the spread of the coronavirus...