Stories from Saturday, April 4, 2020

Missouri joined the growing list of states with stay-at-home orders Friday as Gov. Mike Parson took direction from medical professionals. While we may be somewhat late to the party, we still need to be thankful for the decision. “Together, we must continue to control and to contain and fight this virus to stay ahead of the battle,” Parson announced. ...

Our region has experienced it’s first death from COVID-19. The Carter County Health Department has reported that one of it’s residents died early Saturday morning in a Springfield hospital. The 59-year-old male tested positive March 23. His case was not travel related, officials said...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Additional medical professionals are needed by hospitals across Missouri to help meet the challenges posed by COVID-19. To supplement the state’s current health care workforce, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, and the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Missouri One Start Division are teaming up to recruit medical professionals not currently part of the workforce to join a specialized state team that responds to critical health emergencies.. ...

City firefighters responded at 1:20 a.m. Saturday, April 4, to a report of a structure fire on Homer Avenue. According to the report, firefighters found an unauthorized burn involving wire being burnt at 424 Homer Ave. A detective with the department’s Criminal Investigation Division processed the scene...

A Bernie police officer was injured in a two-vehicle crash at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 3, on West Allis Street at North Allen Street in Bernie. According to the report, Jonathan T. McGowan, 35, of Bernie was operating a 2012 Ford pickup eastbound on Allis Street at the same time Edward R. Champion was operating a 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe northbound on Allen Street. Champion’s SUV allegedly struck McGowan’s truck in the intersection...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Roger Dale Greer, 66, of Williamsville was booked at the Butler County jail Friday, April 3, on a warrant for third-degree domestic assault. He was released on bond. _ Sierra Nicole Handschumacher, 20, of the 800 block of Hart Street was booked at the Butler County jail Friday, April 3, on a warrant for violation of an order of protection...

Thursday afternoon the Poplar Bluff Police Department responded to an assault complaint at the grocery entrance to the Wal-Mart Supercenter. "A female customer reported that she wore an N95 face mask due to a compromised respiratory system," Capt. Dave Sutton said in a news release. "She complained a male customer confronted her about the mask, then stood in front of her and intentionally coughed in her face."...

Local officials were awaiting further guidance Saturday regarding Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s stay-at-home order, which was issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The governor announced he would be issuing some other guidance later this afternoon or early this evening for certain areas,” Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers said at the 2 p.m. ...

The Poplar Bluff community is continuing to come together to protect emergency responders and health care professionals at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. With hand sanitizer in short supply, one local pharmacy has began making it to ensure officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department are protected...