Stories from Monday, March 23, 2020

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. SCRAMBLE FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES AS VIRUS SPREADS The hunt for ventilators and other medical supplies is consuming the U.S. and Europe, as new virus infections soar...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF Derek Ian Hillis, 47, of Willamsville was arrested Friday, March 20, on a failure to appear warrant for stealing $750 or more. He was booked into the Butler County jail. _ Jeremy Klinder Rankin, 42, of Poplar Bluff was booked Friday, March 20, for 48 hours of shock detention and placed into the Butler County jail...

Members(s) of a local family held an Indiana man at gunpoint early Monday morning after he was caught on their property, where it is believed he had set a barn on fire. Eric Michael Bell, 33, of Pendleton, Indiana, was arrested at about 12:40 a.m. on the Boyer family property off of Shelby Road. A barn was destroyed by the fire, along with a tractor and several tons of feed...

The state’s courts remain open; however, the Missouri Supreme Court issued an order Sunday extending its suspension of all in-person proceedings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett also issued a similar administrative order on Monday for the 36th Judicial Circuit. It applies to all circuit and municipal courts in Butler and Ripley counties. Anyone with a case on Tuesday’s felony docket reportedly is not required to appear, according to press releases from the state and Butler County officials...

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri rose by 38 Sunday night, including at least five cases tied to one suburban St. Louis preschool and evidence of community transmission in one county. The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, was up to 128, according to statistics released by state and county health officials, an increase from 75 on Saturday. ...

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Residents of Missouri's biggest cities have been ordered to stay home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, which sickened nearly 130 people statewide, including at least five people linked to a suburban St. Louis preschool.

Mark Antawayne Currie was born Dec. 31, 1989 at Poplar Bluff, Mo. in Lucy Lee Hospital, to Michelle (Currie) Griffin (Benjamin) and Thomas Eskridge, Jr. He departed his life March 17, 2020 at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mark confessed his life to Christ in the early 2000s at New Home Missionary Baptist Church...

CAMPBELL — Christina Lee Finder, 62, of Campbell, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2020, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Tina, daughter of Leroy Finder and Joyce Thrasher Todd, was born on Wednesday, July 24, 1957, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri...

Three Rivers College implemented a work-from-home policy for employees and closed all campuses Monday. The move is an effort to take a proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This move is currently scheduled to be through April 6. Last week, the college announced a move to remote and virtual instruction for the remainder of the semester. It has also canceled or postponed all public events for the rest of the semester, including commencement...

A 21-year-old Poplar Bluff woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash at 1:48 a.m. Sunday, March 22, at the intersection of Barron Road and 14th Street. According to the report, Travis Lee Jordan, 40, of the 2600 block of Linda was operating a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox eastbound on Barron Road and had began making a left turn onto 14th...

Melba Loretta Wilson-Elsworth, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, March 21, 2020, at her residence in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Elsworth was born July 02, 1941, in Fisk, Mo., daughter of the late Algre and Dorothy Brannon. She was a registered nurse and spent her career working in nursing homes and home health care. She enjoyed dancing...

Nathan Dwayne Montgomery, 33, of the 1000 block of Marylane was arrested at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, March 21, in the 300 block of South Westwood Boulevard on three municipal failure to appear warrants for two counts of peace disturbance and property damage. He was booked at the Butler County jail...

City firefighters responded at 2:30 a.m. Monday, March 23, to a structure fire at the 1108 Mary St. residence, owned by Demonte Grant, 1909 Sanders St. According to the report, firefighters found heavy smoke and fire showing upon their arrival and used 2,000 gallons of water to put out the fie...

John David Davidson, 80, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, March 23, 2020, at Oakdale Care Center. A graveside service will be held at New Oakhill Cemetery at a later date. Cotrell Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of John David Davidson; online condolences may be expressed at www.cotrellfuneralservice.com...

Editors note: We will update area closures and cancellations as they become available. Several local agencies and organizations are changing how they provide services to area residents amid COVID-19 concerns. These include: The Stage Company Board of Directors have canceled the remainder of the 2019-2020 season. The canceled shows are “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ and “Cheaper by the Dozen.”...

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage. The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center is looking for a way to help.

Members(s) of a local family held an Indiana man at gunpoint early Monday morning after he was caught on their property, where it is believed he had set a barn on fire.

The second largest employer in Butler County will temporarily shutter operations as area factories feel the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Others report they have halted hiring and could see more repercussions. Rumors began circulating early Monday about a possible closure at Poplar Bluff’s Briggs & Stratton plant on Tuesday, but company officials would not comment. More than 500 people are employed there from around the region...

BLOOMFIELD -- Stoddard County Commissioners voted Monday morning to issue a state of emergency for the county in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While no cases of COVID-19 had been diagnosed (as of 10 a.m. Monday) in the county, the commissioners voted 3-0 to begin a state of emergency immediately...