Stories from Saturday, January 23, 2021

“Substantial improvement” in the number of COVID-19 cases in Butler and Ripley counties will allow the 36th Judicial Circuit to reduce some precautions next week. The courts will move from phase 1 to phase 2 of state guidelines, Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett said Friday...

Missouri’s first mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Friday didn’t exactly go off without a hiccup. But hiccups are, for the most part, small, brief annoyances. In this case, traffic was bumper to bumper for about two miles, more than an hour before the clinic opened. This lasted for quite a while, unfortunately...

Some of those who were registered for the mass vaccination event Friday at the former Hydro Adventures water park did not receive their vaccine. Those people can go to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center between noon and 3 p.m. today to receive their vaccine from the Missouri National Guard, according to an announcement Saturday morning...

Police Eric Gale Smiley, 38, of the 1500 block of N 10th St. was arrested at 12: 42 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, in the 2300 block of Baugh Lane on a warrant for aggravated assault, two warrants for resisting an officer and on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance...

Over 400 more people received the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as a follow up to Friday’s mass vaccination clinic.

One of my favorite movies is “Support Your Local Sheriff” starring James Garner. There is a scene right before a gunfight where the sheriff is talking to Joe Danby and says, “Joe, you make me tired all over.”

Jason Jordan, senior pastor for West Side Church of God in Poplar Bluff, is leading his congregation from the old year into the new with hope and optimism despite the widespread changes wrought in 2020.