MALDEN NATIVE AND PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER DERLAND MOORE PASSES AWAY

Derland Moore, a former student of the Poplar Bluff Highschool and pro football player for the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets, passed away yesterday. He was 68 years old.

Moore was born October 7th, 1951, in Malden, and played for the Poplar Bluff varsity football team from 1966-1968. During this time, he also competed in track for shot and discus. He was involved in the Junior Olympics in Poplar Bluff, and both set the record for and won the AAU meet.

He went on to accept a track scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, where he tried out for the Sooners football team as a walk-on player. He was accepted into the freshmen team, and went on to start every game as a defensive tackle, becoming one of the top 100 Sooners in Oklahoma University football history.

During his time with them, the team finished second in the nation twice, losing to Nebraska 35-31, and to Colorado 20-14. When asked about these close defeats, Moore described them as hard fought battles which inspired both himself and his team to push forward with their goals for victory.

Moore was later the 29th second round draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in the 1973 NFL draft, playing for eight head coaches during this time. It was here where he set a team record with 169 games played in 13 seasons with the Saints.

He won the Pro Bowl award in 1983, New Orleans Saints 40th and 50th Anniversary Team, and was inducted into the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame in 1987, the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

ADDITIONAL CASES OF COVID-19 REPORTED ACROSS MISSOURI; STATE TOTAL NOW OVER 118,000

There have been additional cases of the coronavirus reported across Missouri.

According to the Butler County Health Department, as of Thursday, there are now 666 total cases of the virus in the County. Of them, 526 have recovered, 8 are hospitalized, and 124 have recovered. In Dunklin County, there are now 804 cases. 592 of these have recovered, while 10 deaths have been reported, and 202 are currently under isolation.

Stoddard County has reported 533 total cases as of Thursday. Of them, 105 are currently active, while 17 have died, and 411 have recovered. In New Madrid County, there have been 508 cases of the virus reported. 24 of them are currently active, 15 deaths have been reported, and 484 are out of quarantine.

In Missouri, as of Thursday, there are now 118,311 cases of the virus in the state, while 1,952 deaths have been directly linked to the disease.

ROADWAY IN DUNKLIN COUNTY SCHEDULED FOR REDUCTION DURING BRIDGE REPAIRS

A roadway in Dunklin County will be reduced while bridge repairs are underway.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, a section of Westbound US Route 412, from Route U to Route 25 near Kennett, will be reduced to one lane while MODOT crews perform bridge repairs.

The work is set to begin on Monday, and is expected to be completed by Thursday.

WOMAN ARRESTED IN WAYNE COUNTY ON ASSAULT AND DRUG CHARGES

A woman was taken into custody in Wayne County on Wednesday on assault and drug charges.

According to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, 22 year old Starr Mirshak, of Rockford Illinois, was arrested on a felony warrant out of Rockford for assault, as well as possession of marijuana.

Following her arrest, she was transported to the Wayne County Jail, with no bond.

MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON ACTIVATES MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD

Governor Mike Parson signed an executive order to activate the Missouri National Guard.

The Governor announced the decision on Thursday, stating that he signed executive order 20-17, which will activate the National Guard as a precautionary measure to what he reports to be multiple instances of civil unrest across the country.

The order dictates that the Guard will be ready to be mobilized and called in to assist executive officials and authorities in Missouri, to help and protect where necessary.

DRIVER INJURED FOLLOWING VEHICLE CRASH IN RIPLEY COUNTY

A driver was injured following a vehicle crash in Ripley County on Thursday.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident happened on Highway E, where a vehicle struck a deer while it was crossing the roadway.

The driver suffered minor injuries from the crash, and was transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital for treatment.