Stories from Tuesday, April 14, 2020

To the editor: China lied, people died. So, what are we going to do about it? Who could have guessed that an outbreak in China would lead to a global pandemic? Well, according to the United States intelligence community, Chinese leadership did. More information keeps coming out that China lied to the world about the seriousness of COVID-19. ...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 54-year-old Poplar Bluff man was injured in a one-vehicle crash at 5:35 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, on County Road 451, four miles north of Stringtown. According to the report, Francisco T. Villa was operating a 1997 Ford pickup northbound when he swerved to miss a deer, which caused his truck to run off the road and overturn...

KENNETT — Those who knew Steve Sharp describe him as a mentor and a decisive judge, who always listened to all parties before quietly making his decisions. The longest serving presiding circuit judge for the 35th Judicial Circuit prior to his 2012 retirement, Sharp died Saturday at a Memphis, Tennessee, hospital. He was 75...

The Butler County Health Department had added an additional positive COVID-19 result Tuesday afternoon. According to the BCHD, 18 people in Butler County have now tested positive for the coronavirus. There were also two positive tests during Easter weekend for 17 total as of Monday...

U.S. 160 in Butler County will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform bridge repairs. The bridges are located between Route F and County Road 485. Weather permitting, work will be performed from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15...

A Poplar Bluff woman is accused of shooting her boyfriend Monday night after he allegedly assaulted her during an argument over money. At about 7:15 p.m., a 23-year-old woman arrived at the Butler County Sheriff’s Department and reported “she just shot her boyfriend in the stomach” and turned over a handgun, Cpl. Cody Wilson wrote in his report...

Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day. The Butler County Health Department announced an 18th positive test for COVID-19 on Tuesday. Amanda Fitzwater with the Health Department said the patient is self quarantining and that the department has started its investigation to contact anyone who may have been exposed to the virus...

Michael “Mike” Wayne Burgess, 52, of Naylor, departed this life on April 13, 2020 at his residence. He was born February 1, 1968 in Kennett to Jerry Don Burgess and Linda McMurtry. He is survived by one daughter; Ashley Burgess of Corning, Arkansas as well as his mother Linda, two sisters; Sherry Lane and Gina Burgess both of Naylor; one brother Jeff Burgess and fiance’ Robin Fisher of Harviell, as well as several nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews...

Lamont Savalas Green, 46, died Saturday, April 11, 2020 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born January 5, 1974 in Poplar Bluff, Mo to the late Billy R. Green Sr. and Ney Ruth Clemons (Green). Lamont was a graduate of Poplar Bluff Senior High School and attended St. Charles Community College in St. Charles, Mo. He was an employee of Crawford Security in Poplar Bluff at the time of his death. His childhood was spent attending Plesant Hill Missionary Baptist Church...