Stories from Saturday, December 5, 2020

COVID is very bad I know the COVID is very bad. People will not obey and wear a mask. They shouldn’t let them come in the store unless they wear a mask. Yes, I agree (you) need to put in the paper who died from just the COVID. There are many people that die from other health problems. ...

How about some good economic news? According to the just released 2020 edition of Economic Freedom of North America, Missouri ranks as the 12th most economically free state in the country. It is an improvement over last year’s ranking, which was 16th. That’s good news because more economic freedom is associated with better economic outcomes...

When Missouri’s House begins its 2021 session, it may face a fascinating issue of residency which has a long history. The issue arises from a St. Louis Post Dispatch report that Rep. Nick Schroer, R-St. Charles County, purchased a home for his family outside of his House district ­­-- while claiming residency in his district via a lease to live in the basement of another person’s home...

As much as many of us would like the COVID-19 pandemic to move on, it hasn’t yet. Cases are rising around the state, including here in Poplar Bluff and surrounding areas. This week, the Butler County Health Department announced the county has had 2,745 total cases, with more than 800 of those in November, and our death toll is up to 21...

By the end of this year, Missouri will have enough doses of a COVID vaccine to give the initial shot to most of the state’s roughly 350,000 long-term care facility residents and staff and healthcare providers, state health department director Randall Williams said Friday...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Brett Michael Chilton, 36, of the 600 block of Kinzer Street was booked at the Butler County jail Friday, Dec. 4, on suspicion of stealing, a warrant for parole violation and a failure to appear warrant for possession of fewer than 10 grams of marijuana...

City firefighters responded at 9:27 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, to a malfunctioning alarm at the 628 N. Ninth St. residence occupied by Dorian Barker. It was investigation only. _ City firefighters responded at 7:32 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, to a report of a kitchen fire at the 605 Maple St. residence occupied by Melanie Watkins and owned by Marty Michel...