Stories from Wednesday, April 1, 2020

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Jordan J. King, 24, of Poplar Bluff was arrested at 4:29 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of defaced firearm. He was booked at the Butler County jail and released...

City firefighters responded at 6:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, to a report of an unauthorized burn behind 424 Homer St. According to the report, firefighters found a small fire with wire being burnt and put out the fire. _____

The Board of Trustees of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library voted unanimously Wednesday to keep the library closed until further notice, in the best interests of patrons and staff, because of the current national health emergency.

OGLESVILLE — Butler County authorities apprehended the suspect they spent much of the day Tuesday looking for after he allegedly fled during a second attempted stop. Steven Don Rick, 48, of the 3100 block of Highway N was arrested at about 7:40 p.m. on suspicion of failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and resisting arrest by Deputy Dakota Loggains...

In the mood for gardening, but you are sheltering in for a few weeks? Juan Cabrera, field specialist in horticulture for the University Extesion, will offer a free online class on Microgreens from 11 a.m. - noon Thursday, April 2. Microgreens are versatile, quick to grow, loaded with health promoting compounds, and packed full of flavor, Cabrera said...

Sam “Samella” Eller Starks, 105, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. entered Heaven’s gates March 31, 2020. She was born to the late Sam and Nellie Starks Oct. 12, 1914 in Holly Springs, Miss. She accepted Christ at a very young age. She is a member of the Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo. ...

ST. LOUIS — MERS Goodwill has shifted its programs, store and donation center policies to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Goodwill stores and donation centers closed last week and will reopen once the quarantine has ended and the virus threat has passed. Please be aware that any donations, left at the door or any drop off location, may be subject to theft or damage and will not be useful for the organization...

An article in the Wednesday edition of the Daily American Republic about the candidates filing for the Aug. 4 primary election has caused confusion regarding those running for committee men and women in Butler County’s townships. Butler County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall said all those who have filed for the positions will run unopposed for either committee man or woman in their township, and those names will not appear on the ballot...

Poplar Bluff R-I and Twin Rivers R-X will join the growing list of school districts extending the break due to COVID-19.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Supreme Court issued an order Wednesday extending its precautionary measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Supreme Court has extended the suspension of most in-person proceedings, with certain listed exceptions for urgent matters under the Constitution or state law, through Friday, May 1...

The Animal Welfare Alliance (AWA) is opening a temporary Corona Crisis Pet Food Pantry starting Thursday, April 2. Free pet food will be distributed to area pet owners who are suffering financially because of layoffs or other problems created by the current virus emergency. Recipients will be limited to residents of Butler, Carter, Ripley and Wayne Counties...

The Stoddard County Health Department has confirmed three new cases of COVID-19 in Stoddard County, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to six. All are in quarantine at their respective homes. The health department is working to contact individuals the new patients may have come into contact with.

Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day. Area pet owners struggling financially because of layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic can find help from a temporary Coronavirus Crisis Pet Food Pantry starting Thursday...

Dexter – Bank of Advance officials reported Wednesday morning that two staff members at the branch in Dexter recently tested positive for COVID-19. "In order to minimize the spread, and for the safety of our staff, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close the Dexter branch as of Thursday, April 2 to allow for thorough sterilization of the facility. We plan to reopen no later than Tuesday, April 7," according to a press release from bank officials.

The Wappapello Civic Center dances for the April are canceled because of the COVID-19 restrictions created by federal and state government.

Missouri’s youth turkey season, for young hunters age 6-15, will go on as planned this weekend, despite what the myriad of bogus posts on Facebook and elsewhere may tell you. “The recent rumor on Facebook that Missouri’s spring turkey season has been canceled is just that ... a rumor,” said Department of Conservation News Services Coordinator Joe Jerek. “Don’t believe everything you see on social media.”...

SIKESTON, Mo. — The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded contracts for the Southeast District projects during an electronic ballot held on Wednesday. Contracts awarded include pavement improvements, bridge repairs, a bridge replacement and concrete pavement repairs...