Stories from Tuesday, April 21, 2020

The demand for food through the Southeast Missouri Food Bank has more than doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic overspread the country in March, according to Chief Advancement Officer Lisa Church. “For example, the Good Neighbor Pantry in Sikeston had 217 families come through in February and 680 in March,” Church said. “That’s an indication of what we’ve seen.”...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Rebekah Alissa Burke, 28, of the 200 block of Thayer Avenue was booked at the Butler County jail Monday, April 20, on suspicion of possession of fewer than 35 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a firearm...

County firefighters responded at 2:53 p.m. Saturday, April 18, to a woods fire at 3896 Highway W. According to the report, about one acre, owned Gayla Goins, burned. _ County firefighters responded at 5:48 p.m. Saturday, April 18, to a woods fire at 897 County Road 431...

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announces additional charges have been filed against James A. Merritt, 32, of Morehouse, who was arrested and initially charged Thursday with trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation...

Arvey Dees, 88, of Poplar Bluff, died Monday, April 20, 2020. Visitation is at 1 p.m., Sunday, April 26, 2020, at Dees Chapel Cemetery, Williamsville, Missouri. Graveside service and burial will follow. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

As the investigation into the weekend deaths of a Poplar Bluff mother and her infant daughter continue, investigators agree their deaths were a murder-suicide. Angela Lemonds, 31, and her 6-month-old daughter, Brooklynn Lemonds, died Sunday after suffering gunshot wounds...

Brooklynn Nichole Lemonds, an earthly angel of 6 months, passed into the loving arms of Jesus Sunday, April 19, 2020, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Brooklynn, the beautiful daughter of Austin James Lemonds, was born September 30, 2019 in Poplar Bluff...

Poplar Bluff R-I teachers are offering office hours to reconnect with students and offer assistance with at-home projects.

A local single-engine aircraft made an off-airport landing Tuesday morning.

Builders in the Poplar Bluff area remain busy with nearly $2 million in commercial renovation and addition permits filed with the city already in April. Contractors, electricians, plumbers and other trades remain in demand, according to city officials...

Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day. A survey of seeking the impact from COVID-19 on the local economy by the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce is finding a "staggering" amount...