Stories from Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Shutdowns swept across the United States, with nearly 7 million people in the San Francisco area all but confined to their homes Tuesday, even as spring break crowds flooded a Florida beach and dozens lined up to pose for pictures in front of the world-famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Another case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in western Missouri, bringing the state's total to eight. Cass County health officials announced late Monday that a patient is in self-isolation in Drexel, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Kansas City. No other information was released...

Col. Eric T. Olson announced beginning immediately, Tuesday, March 17, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is suspending driver road testing at all locations through March 31. The patrol is monitoring the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and will update the public on testing after March 31 as more information becomes available...

The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed now to donate to help patients counting on lifesaving blood...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Saint Francis Healthcare System is offering a paid educational opportunity for those looking to start a clinical career in healthcare. Applications for Patient Care Associates, a paid educational opportunity, are currently being accepted for a four-week class through the Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center that begins on May 18, 2020. ...

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — Today, American cybersecurity firm, PC Matic, announced that the company will offer its suite of enterprise-level cybersecurity and remote-management tools free of charge to Missouri companies who are implementing work from home policies in response to the ongoing threats of COVID-19...

CAPE GIRARDEAU — A Poplar Bluff woman was sentenced to more than a year in federal prison for distributing illegal narcotics, including heroin and Fentanyl. Shanesha R. Burns was sentenced Monday to 18 months on three felonies of distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of a controlled substance and distribution of heroin by U.S. District Judge John A. Ross, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Sorrell...

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. (AP) — A clinical lab in Missouri says it has developed a test for the novel coronavirus that is more than 99% accurate.

City firefighters responded at 7:02 p.m. Monday, March 16, to a report of a structure fire at 1328 Tremont St. According to the report, firefighters found the fire was at the 1308 Gardner St. residence, owned by Vernon Barker of Neelyville. Upon their arrival, the home’s attic was fully involved and flames were coming out of its roof...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 51-year-old Malden man was injured in a one-vehicle crash at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 16, on Highway W, five miles north of Poplar Bluff. According to the report, Siera L. Simpson, 32, of Poplar Bluff was operating a southbound 2007 Hummer H3, which was making a left and was struck in the rear by a 2017 Jeep Wrangler being operated by Donald C. Schrieber, 67, of Poplar Bluff...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ahead of an expected surge in coronavirus cases, President Donald Trump on Tuesday moved to blunt the impact of the pandemic on the U.S. economy, fundamentally altered by a push for a nation to stay home. As the global markets fluctuated amid fears of a recession, the president conferred with tourism executives as well as restaurant leaders, retailers and suppliers. ...

SIKESTON — Out of an abundance of caution due to the coronavirus, the Missouri Department of Transportation has decided to hold the Wayne County community briefing as a virtual public meeting. MoDOT plans to replace two Wayne County bridges—the Route A bridge over Small Creek near Greenville, Missouri, and the Route 34 bridge over Black River near Leeper, Missouri. The community briefing scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 at the Greenville High School Library has been cancelled...

Grocery shoppers at Aldi and Kroger in Poplar Bluff on Tuesday were concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the United States and the world, but also balanced that concern with a solid portion of level-headedness in the face of the virus. Poplar Bluff resident Margie Redmond was heading into Kroger at midday to pick up groceries. She said that she believed that making the effort to slow the spread of the virus could make a difference...

The coronavirus outbreak spurred many Americans living and working in China to make an extended trip home, but Poplar Bluff native Ross Whelan decided to stay on the front lines. Whelan, his wife, Liz, and her family live in Guangzhou, located in the water-rich area of southern China...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Mike Parson has ordered the closure of Missouri's 13 casinos through March 30 as part of an effort to limit public gatherings in the public health battle against the coronavirus. Meanwhile, some nonviolent jail inmates are being freed to reduce the risk of transmission behind bars...

A special meeting of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library District Board of Trustees has been scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday, March 19. The board will meet via conference call. Agenda items include public discussion, COVID-19 emergency preparedness and a closed session...

Shirley Ann Livingston, 87, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital, with her family at her side. Shirley was born Oct. 23, 1932, in Flint, Mich., the daughter of Howard and Mary (Jackson) Harrelson. On Aug. 21, 1956, she married Floyd Livingston Sr. Together they shared 59 years of marriage before his passing on Feb. 27, 2016...

GREENVILLE — The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department is taking reservations for a meal service it is providing to those in need during this COVID-19 state of emergency. “Our children are going to be out of school, and there are a lot of kids that get free breakfasts and lunches at school,” explained Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch. “The families may not be able to afford this extra stress of having to provide more meals.”...

“About three out of four Missourians don’t think this is a big deal. This is a big deal,” Dr. Chris Montgomery, MD, said about COVID-19 during the daily Emergency Operations Center meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Bobbie Jo Waddell, 84, of Poplar Bluff, entered her eternal home Sunday, March 15, 2020, at Cedargate Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Bobbie, the daughter of the late Robert and Maggie Ellen Timberman Boyers, was born Dec. 18, 1935, in the Coon Island Township of Butler County. ...

The Butler County Commission will limit building access to the county courthouse, courts and offices in an effort to be proactive against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. “We are asking the public to limit access to the courthouse for urgent business only,” the Commission said in a statement released Tuesday. “We encourage our constituents to use online access, drop boxes or call for any questions.”...