Stories from Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Van Buren — Ozark National Scenic Riverways asks for assistance from the public to identify those responsible for a recent wildfire and to prevent future arson in the park. Each year, several wildfires within the Riverways are caused by arson. While carefully planned prescribed burning has a variety of benefits for Ozark landscapes and ecosystems, wildfires caused by arson have the potential to damage natural and cultural resources, historic structures, and private dwellings within the park boundary. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The University of Missouri Psychological Services Clinic is offering teleservices to help adults and children cope with anxiety and stress related to COVID-19. The clinic offers up to five brief sessions through videoconferencing or telephone, said Debora Bell, longtime director of the clinic...

The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced on April 1 that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive an economic impact payment. The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 to generate $1,200 economic impact payments to Social Security beneficiaries who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 46-year-old Winona man was injured in a one-vehicle crash at 7:15 a.m. Friday, April 3, on U.S. 60, five miles west of Van Buren. According to the report, Brian K. Gillingham was operating a 2007 Chevrolet pickup eastbound when it ran off the left side of the road in a curve and struck embankment and a tree...

City firefighters responded at 10:39 a.m. Monday, April 6, to a report of a structure fire on Price Street. According to the report, firefighters found a small fire on a back porch at the 726 Price St. residence occupied by Melissa Hays. Firefighters used 10 gallons of water to put out the fire, which was contained to a box of decorations...

Two more positive case of COVID-19 have been announced for Butler County, for a total of six. The two recent individuals are self isolating, said Emily Goodin of the Butler County Health Department. The health department is not releasing any additional information about the patients...

The application deadline has been extended to June 15 for the Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. In addition, the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) entrance examination requirement has been waived at this time.

The donation of blood has seen a sharp decline in recent weeks as Red Cross drives have been cancelled across the region. But volunteers are coming together this week at the Black River Coliseum to help. A blood drive that started Monday will continue through 6 p.m. Wednesday through a partnership between the Wake Foundation, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, the BRC and the Red Cross...

While most people are concerned with social distancing and limiting potential expose to COVID-19, there are medical professionals and scientists focused on improving the situation long term. This comes in the form of better testing, a treatment method and a potential vaccine.

Butler County 4-H will have an aeroponic gardening class at 6 p.m. April 21 on Zoom. Anyone interested in the free class is asked to log into the Zoom session to learn how to grow their own aeroponic garden with Sheri Farmer. The link is: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8454529720?pwd=Wng2NlNZRGZDSjlwQzBsLzIwcTVzdz09 ...

Ruby Ann (Brommer) McFadden, 91, of Poplar Bluff, went to her eternal home on Sunday, April 5, 2020. Ruby Ann was born May 21, 1928 in Chicago, Ill. Her parents passed away when she was young and she was raised by Merl and Ruby Shewman of Peru, Ind. They, her two brothers and a sister preceded her in death...

Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day. During his daily briefing, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced that first responders who contract COVID-19 are covered by workers compensation while Anna Hui of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations provided an update on unemployment benefits for Missourians...

Reynolds County commissioners extended Gov. Mike Parson’s stay-at-home order through May 11 and closed the county to non-residents starting Tuesday in response to the coronavirus pandemic. “Reynolds County has implemented this Order to try to decrease the number of county visitors during this time of Stay at Home,” writes Frances Vermillion, administrator of the Reynolds County Health Center, in a letter to residents. ...

While the Twin Rivers R-X school district continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic and after making a decision about next year’s calendar, the school board will face another challenge before the start of the 2020-21 school year — a superintendent search.