BUTLER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES ORDER FOR COVID-19 VACCINE
The Butler County Health Department is making progress on having a vaccine for the coronavirus readily available by the end of December.
According to Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers, the FDA panel recommended the Moderna vaccine for Butler County on Thursday, and if passed, should be available in the County before Christmas.
Once the vaccine arrives, under the current COVID-19 guidelines, they will be administered to healthcare and essential workers, and will become available to local residents as they become readily available.
Local hospitals are expecting to have shipments of the vaccinations by the end of the week.
Until they arrive, officials are urging residents to remember proper social distancing guidelines, wear face masks, avoid large gatherings, and to limit travel as much as possible.
For more information on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, visit the Butler County Health Center’s Facebook page.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN ORDERED TO TRIAL FOR 2018 MURDER CHARGE;
A trial has been set for a Poplar Bluff man in regards to a 2018 murder charge.
According to officials with the Butler County Sheriff’s Department, local resident James Johnson Jr. was charged with the felony charges of armed criminal action and 1st degree murder, in relation to the death of 32 year old Jermaine Johnson.
Johnson’s body was found in May of 2018, in a ditch near County Road 612 in Butler County. He was found with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, which reportedly caused his death.
Johnson Jr. appeared in court on Friday, and after filing a waiver to a preliminary hearing, he was ordered to a review of his case on January 12th.
He was previously sentenced to 30 years in federal prison in August for assaulting law enforcement officers.
The assault charge was issued when authorities were attempting to arrest him at his apartment on Kinzer Street on a federal arrest warrant, where he shot Poplar Bluff Detective Corey Mitchell.
In connection to Jermaine Johnson’s death, Shanesha Burns has also been charged with 1st and 2nd degree murder, and will stand trial from July 7th to 9th in Butler County.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN CHARGED ON SEVERAL OFFENSES IN RIPLEY COUNTY
A Poplar Bluff man was arrested on multiple charges in Ripley County on Thursday.
According to the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, 39 year old Rickey Tropf Jr. was booked on a Butler County felony warrant for stealing, and resisting arrest or interfering with an arrest for a felony.
Tropf was also charged with possession of marijuana.
He was transported to the Ripley County Jail following his arrest.
HOME DESTROYED FOLLOWING STRUCTURE FIRE IN PORTAGEVILLE
A home was destroyed by a structure fire on Sunday in Portageville.
According to the Portageville Fire Department, officials received a call Sunday evening around 7 pm about a structure fire at State Highway KK.
Firefighter crews responded to the scene, where a single story brick home was heavily engulfed from all sides by the time crews arrived.
All occupants were outside of the home at the time of the fire, and authorities were able to put out the last of the flames at 11:30 pm. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
No injuries were reported from the fire, however the home was completely destroyed by the flames.
DONIPHAN MAN ARRESTED IN RIPLEY COUNTY ON DRUG POSSESSION CHARGES
A Doniphan man was taken into custody in Ripley County on Friday on a meth charge.
According to the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, 37 year old Misty Millis was arrested on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine.
Millis is also facing a charge of possession of marijuana, and several traffic related warrants out of Carter County and Poplar Bluff.
Following his arrest, he was held at the Ripley County Jail.
POPLAR BLUFF POLICE DEPARTMENT SEARCHING FOR SUSPECT IN LOCAL THEFT
The Poplar Bluff Police Department is searching for a suspect in a local theft that took place on Friday.
According to the Department, a woman was seen on video surveillance stealing multiple wreaths from a local business around 5 am Friday morning. The video of the theft is available on the Poplar Bluff Police Department’s facebook page.
If you know the identity of the woman, you are asked to contact Detective Dan Mustain by calling 573-686-8632.
