SUPPLY OF COVID-19 VACCINATIONS ARRIVING AT THE JOHN J PERSHING MEDICAL CENTER IN POPLAR BLUFF
A supply of the Pfizer Coronavirus vaccination, which began shipping to Missouri earlier in the month, will be arriving at the local John J. Pershing Medical Center.
According to center director Drew Dewitt, the first dosages of the vaccine will be arriving by the end of December, possibly by next week. The center will be striving to deliver the vaccinations with safety and efficiency in mind when the first shipment arrives.
He also stated that after the first round of vaccines are administered to healthcare personnel and long-term facility residents, veteran patients will be given the opportunity to schedule an appointment for a vaccination.
Veterans at the center are being asked to not put themselves at risk by going to the center, but should wait to be contacted by center staff.
CARTER COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO TIME IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR STOLEN EQUIPMENT FROM MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD
A Carter County man was sentenced to time in federal prison for possessing equipment stolen from the Missouri National Guard.
According to the Carter County Sheriff’s Department, Darrel Doss was charged with possessing a homemade silencer, several firearms, and two thermal imagery devices valued at $16,000, that were stolen from the United States Army during his time employed with the Guard.
The charges stem from an investigation made by authorities in November of 2018, where Doss was trespassing on the Peck Ranch Conservation Area. He was found after being identified and stopped by conservation officers with the stolen equipment.
He will be spending six months in federal prison on these charges.
COURTHOUSES IN DUNKLIN AND STODDARD COUNTIES REMAINING IN PHASE ZERO
Courthouses in Dunklin and Stoddard County will remain in phase zero for the rest of December.
According to Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer, the courts, which reverted to operating phase zero on December 2nd, will continue under phase zero due to continuing concerns over the coronavirus.
Under phase zero, all in-person court proceedings will be suspended, with exceptions to proceedings protected under the constitutional rights of criminal defendants, civil cases, and rights to speedy trials and bonds.
The courts will remain under phase zero until the end of the month, and the situation will continue to be monitored so that a decision can be made on future court cases.
DRIVER SERIOUSLY INJURED FOLLOWING VEHICLE CRASH IN RIPLEY COUNTY
A driver suffered severe injuries after her vehicle crashed in Ripley County on Thursday.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash happened at 9:00 pm on US 160, five miles west of Doniphan. The vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway, before striking an embankment and overturning.
The driver of the vehicle, 31 year old Bobbie Harber, was flown to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee for treatment.
BLOOD DRIVE BEING HOSTED BY AMERICAN RED CROSS IN POPLAR BLUFF TODAY
There will be an opportunity to donate blood today in Poplar Bluff.
According to officials with the American Red Cross, the drive will be held at the First United Methodist Church, located on 5th and North Main Street, and will be open from 1 to 6 pm. All presenting donors will receive a complimentary shirt for their donations.
For more information or to schedule for future blood drives, visit RedCrossBlood.Org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS all blood donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies.
ADDITIONAL CASES OF COVID-19 REPORTED THROUGH SOUTHEAST MISSOURI; STATE TOTAL NOW OVER 356,000
Additional cases of the coronavirus have been reported across Southeast Missouri, while the state total has passed 356,000.
According to the Butler County Health Department, 2 new cases were reported on Thursday, bringing the County’s total to 3,255 cases. Another death was contributed to the virus in the County, making it the 32nd death in the County.
Stoddard County reported 12 new cases on Thursday, and now stands at a total of 2,516 cases. Of them, 121 are active, and 2,339 have recovered. Dunklin County now stands at 2,372 cases. Of them, 2,372 have recovered, and 65 are still active.
In Missouri, as of Thursday, there are now 356,607 cases of the virus in the state, while 4,834 deaths have been directly linked to the disease.
