Stories from Thursday, March 26, 2020

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Chad E. Kesler, 46, of Oran was arrested at 5:13 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, on suspicion of DWI. He was booked at the Stoddard County Jail and released. _ BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT James Joseph Cassin, 35, of St. Charles, Missouri, was booked at the Butler County jail Wednesday, March 25, on suspicion of third-degree domestic assault, second-degree kidnapping and first-degree sexual misconduct. He later was released...

City firefighters responded at 2:24 a.m. Thursday, March 26, to report of smoke in the area of 3607 Palm Tree Drive. It was investigation only. _____

Nearly 170 young and old 4-H members from Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Iron, Perry, Oregon, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne counties attended the 10th anniversary and biggest 4-H Southeast Regional Energizer to date recently in Advance. Opening speaker Richard Rickman talked about “Our Health to Better Living.” He is a University of Missouri Extension County Engagement Specialist in 4-H Youth Development...

BLOOMFIELD — Stoddard County officials began setting up video-conferencing systems in the county’s courtrooms this week amid the continuing concerns over COVID-19. Circuit clerk personnel and the Office of State Court Administrator are setting up “video conferencing in our two courtrooms,” said Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield...

WAPPAPELLO LAKE — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recreation areas, including campgrounds, visitor centers, beaches, fish cleaning stations, and the lake management office areas at Wappapello Lake will continue to remain closed. Day use areas and boat ramps will remain open until further notice...

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – Governor Mike Parson, in coordination with the Missouri Departments of Health and Senior Services and Agriculture, has approved a request from Dr. Randall Williams to create a consistent directive across local governments for any individual or business that is part of the food supply chain...

Stoddard County F closed for pipe replacement Stoddard County Route F will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert under the roadway. This section of roadway is located between County Road 420 and County Road 424. Weather permitting, work will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 30...

All the rain lately has raised local lakes and rivers yet again. I crossed the Current River at Van Buren the other day and it was up higher than I’ve seen it in a while. The river crested there early Saturday at 15.34 feet and now is hovering around 8 feet. The current projection from the National Weather Service has it slowly falling to around 6 feet by Sunday...

JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Commission announce they are temporarily waiving permit requirements for sport fishing and daily trout tags for Missouri residents and nonresidents whose fishing privileges are not otherwise suspended...

Even though the Poplar Bluff and West Plains Job Centers have suspended service to the public in their offices, Job Center staffs are still there working behind their doors serving Missouri customers online and over the phone, according to a press release from the South Central Workforce Investment Board...

Local factories and businesses continue to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic, while finding ways to keep their customers and employees safe. Poplar Bluff’s Gates Corporation factory has established what it calls a “robust safety and business continuity plan,” which can be implemented if the need to shut down arises because of the COVID-19 pandemic...

Even as their stores and restaurants struggle with far lower numbers of customers than normal because people are staying home, area business owners are stepping up to support their neighbors in the community through free meals, discounts and other measures...

Editor note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day. US DEATHS: 994 Mo. Deaths: 8 Mo. Cases: 502 Butler County: 0 Stoddard: 1 Carter: 1 Ripley: 0 Wayne: 0...

Missouri was included in President Donald Trump’s declaration of a federal major disaster declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday. It makes federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance Program available for the state, local governments and nonprofit organizations in Missouri responding to the coronavirus from Jan. 20 and continuing...

Communities around the nation have spent the past week rallying medical supplies like masks and respirators as they try to prepare for an illness that has, as of Wednesday, claimed more than 1,000 lives in the United States. For Butler County, that means pooling supplies where possible and hoping the state follows through on the promise of other resources, even as national shortages dominate the headlines...

While there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Butler County, those without the infection can still feel the impact of it. Local mental health officials are encouraging people to practice self-care and seek help if needed during the outbreak.

The Poplar Bluff R-I school board denied a request Thursday for an adjustment to the essential employee pay rate during the COVID-19 closure.