JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Gail Vasterling today announced that the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory has been designated as an Ebola Virus Disease testing laboratory as part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Laboratory Response Network. The Missouri State Public Health Laboratory, located in Jefferson City, will now be able to provide presumptive testing of Ebola samples prior to confirmation testing at the CDC in Atlanta. “We stand ready to respond to suspected cases of Ebola should one ever occur in Missouri. This designation will give us the ability to quickly assist health professionals by performing the presumptive test here in Missouri,” Gov. Nixon said. “Missouri’s
- Oct 17,
POPLAR BLUFF - A local court dismissed Doug Bagby's breach of contract case against the City of Poplar Bluff. Judge Kelly Parker ruled that there was no legal basis for former City Manager Bagby's claim that he had a three-year contract for life. In ruling for the City, and as SEMO TIMES reported earlier this year, the court determined that the claim was too weak to require a trial before a jury. The judge determined in Bagby's case that contracts greater than one year were against the law and, therefore, Bagby served at the pleasure of the City Council. This ruling follows longstanding state laws and local city ordinance. The City terminated Bagby's employment earlier this year. After an extensive nationwide
Oct 16,Dhafer’s Mediterranean Steakhouse 117 S. Locust, Dexter For most of my life, if someone would tell me they were eating in Dexter my mind instantly wondered if it was Hickory Log or Dexter BBQ. These two restaurants feature the iconic flavors of hickory-smoked barbeque that made dry-rub famous in these parts, earning their reputations as the very best. But now, the mention of Dexter has a Pavolovian effect on my pallet after one meal at Dhafer’s Mediterranean Steakhouse. After several days of being in downtown Dexter; enjoying getting to know the owners of the local businesses and interviewing the city administrator, chamber director, college director, I stopped at Dhafer’s for dinner. In one meal, this restaurant’s personality, charm and cuisine
Oct 16,Director Tim Thompson of Three Rivers’ Center Stage says it never occurred to him what a topical play “Marvin’s Room” is for October, which is highly recognized as cancer awareness month. “I wish I could say I planned that,” laughed Thompson, “but it honestly never occurred to me.” Thompson recalls that he first saw the play at an International Thespian Festival in the early 1990’s. It was later made into a movie starring Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane Keaton, Hume Cronyn, and Robert DeNiro. Thompson said he immediately loved the play because of the glimpse “into the human condition.” It was written by Scott McPherson, who sadly never really got to see the impact of the play. He died at
Oct 16,When the subject of stream fishing pops up, there are lots of trips that come to mind. Probably the most interesting is one I took with co-worker Al Looper, years ago on upper Black River. What a mistake it was. Al insisted on taking the trip with his 14ft. Lone Star. We were going to fish an area that I was not really familiar with, Mill Springs to Williamsville. I could vaguely remember being on that stretch of water with my brother Richard one time and didn’t remember too much about the river as I did most of the paddling. We had taken two vehicles and left my station wagon at the take-out point and were going to drive back
Oct 16,