Stories from Wednesday, April 15, 2020

A phone call sounds like such a small thing. But the sedated man in a Missouri hospital room was gravely ill with COVID-19, and nurses arranged for his family to wish him well, perhaps for the last time. In another hospital, a guitar-playing nurse sings ''Amazing Grace" outside patients' rooms. And in another, doctors show smiling photos of themselves so COVID-19 patients can see the faces behind the masks...

DONIPHAN — Dema Jean Pundsack, 86-year-old resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo., departed this life Friday, April 3, 2020. Mrs. Pundsack was born Oct. 28, 1933, in Ottawa, Wisconsin, to the late Bert Harrison and Olive (Owens) Downing. In addition to her parents, Dema was also preceded in death by her husband, Herbert H. ...

Alvin Ray Fox was born on March 11, 1937 and left this world to be with his Lord on April 13, 2020 at 83. Alvin had been a truck driver for many years (which most people had heard stories about) and worked at Golden Cat in Aquilla for many years, a job he was very proud of. ...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Fredrick Lee Sparks, 43, of the 700 block of Outer Road was booked at the Butler County jail Tuesday, April 14, on a warrant for resisting arrest. _ Brandon H. Smith of the 3100 block of County Road 472 reported Monday, April 13, a calf and baby goat were shot and killed sometime after 7 p.m. Sunday, April 12...

CAPE GIRARDEAU — The community-wide Coronavirus Test Collection Center will close, effective immediately. If the region experiences a surge in positive COVID-19 cases, the Center will reopen to serve the needs of our community. In the past week, the center has experienced a rapid decline in the number of tests performed each day in large part due to the “Stay at Home” order...

Perryville, Missouri, native Londyn Lorenz won’t be advancing to the finals in the “Jeopardy!” College Championship next week. Lorenz, a sophomore studying Arabic and international studies at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, trailed her opponents throughout the game broadcast Tuesday, but came from behind in Final Jeopardy! with the correct answer and an all-in wager...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The communitywide Coronavirus Test Collection Center will close, effective immediately. If the region experiences a surge in positive COVID-19 cases, the Center will reopen to serve the needs of our community.

The Poplar Bluff Regional Business Airport will be the beneficiary of a $69,000 grant from the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, city officials learned Tuesday. “This is welcome news for those who work in Missouri’s aviation industry. These grants will provide much-needed revenue for the state’s airports at a time when revenues are declining due to a decrease in travel,” said Gov. Mike Parson in a news release...

Butler County now has 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to information released Wednesday afternoon by the county’s health department. Butler County’s first positive case of COVID-19 was recorded March 31. The county’s largest single-day number of new patients was Friday, when five were reported...

Missouri’s long-awaited spring turkey season opens Monday, and honestly, that’s the best news I’ve heard in a while. Then again, it’s no secret I’m biased toward turkey hunting. Here’s the deal though - this season promises to be a tough one, with fewer numbers of birds roaming the state (and the entire midwest, for that matter), so hunters likely will have to put some work in the have success...

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri Food Finder (www.MOFoodFinder.org) is a new online tool that easily connects Missouri consumers with people growing and selling locally produced food in their region. Locally, Deer Lick Ranch at 1857 Wayne 406, Williamsville, is one of the verified food sources. It offers fresh and frozen meats (beef, poultry, pork, fish, etc.) on Saturdays by delivery...

VAN BUREN — Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) announces the decision to close all fee-owned land within ONSR to feral swine hunting, based on current scientific studies and in support of other state and local land managers, as well as feedback received during a 30-day public comment period...

The Twin Rivers R-X school board has started the search for a new superintendent after accepting the resignation of Jeremy Siebert last week.

Three Rivers College will continue virtual instruction for summer classes, which are seeing a slow start to registration.

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 a 19th positive test for COVID-19 on Wednesday afternoon while Dunklin County officials announced its first death in the county related to the coronavirus...

Almost 60 cars brought a variety of items and cash donations to the dropoff site at the Libla Family Sports Complex as part of ACTS Day on Wednesday. “Just an outpouring from the community. We’re just very grateful. We will be getting this to the groups and make sure the families get their food and their pet food,” said Robbie Myers, Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director. ...