A respiratory viral infection new to the Midwest struck a northern Missouri city during the past month, according to reports. The virus, human enterovirus 68 (HEV68) caused concern for staff at Kansas City's Children's Mercy Hospital, reports indicate. SEMO parents with children who are asthmatic might watch for symptoms to become more acute than normal. There is no vaccine to prevent HEV68. Antiviral drugs to treat the illness still are on drawing boards. Those who suffer from HEV68 display asthma-like symptoms, and those hardest hit seem to be asthmatic children, doctors said. Their usual symptoms are aggravated and breathing becomes more difficult. Although the virus usually manifests in clusters of four to 30 people, the Kansas City hospital was overrun
- Aug 30,
Poplar Bluff, Mo. - When the nation's Veterans Affairs Health system came under fire because of a scandal that grew out of a Phoenix, Az., VA Hospital, U.S. Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill stepped to the forefront immediately to work to improve healthcare for U.S. Veterans. The scandal arose because veterans were not getting treatment soon enough, and because fraudulent records were being used to keep track of how long it was taking veterans to get the help they needed. McCaskill visited the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff on Tuesday to announce that the Poplar Bluff facility is being added to a survey system to keep track of how VA Centers are performing in the eyes of
Aug 27,The Butler County Republican Party met at the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce to nominate a replacement candidate for the upcoming November election for County Collector. The office was vacated earlier this month when County Collector Brenda Fox passed away. In a very cordial yet extremely professional meeting, Chairman Eddy Justice and Secretary Joe Leahy laid out the ground rules for the evening's nominations and voting. With 22 of the 24 Butler County Delegates present, Justice informed the room that 12 votes was necessary to carry the nomination. Tammy Marler, Larry Kimbrow, Emily Parks and Jerrica Fox were nominated by the delegates. Once the nominations were closed each candidate was given up to 3 minutes to stump for the party's
Aug 25,Malden, Mo. - At Monday's city council meeting, Councilwoman Donna Prenger challenged the residents and other members regarding the Malden Dog Pound. Acoording to Prenger, the pound is old and in a state of disrepair. "The water [at the pound] is sandy," she said and can't be used to disinfect the animals nor is it good for providing them water. Pranger said "The ASPCA [American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] said they could get the money (for upgrades and renovations) here at no cost to us." Pranger believes that there are people "who would volunteer to go out there" and work, she told the council. The pound is currently closed and the city has no humane officer on staff. Pranger
Aug 22,Table of Contents Page 5 — 68th Year of Puxico Homecoming Page 6-7 — Castillo Racing Team: In It For The Speed Page 7 — Local Mom Competes at Brick’s Page 8-9 — Kim Musser’s Art Page 11 — Noranda Knifes the Heart of SEMO Page 12-13 — Robin Williams - The Face of Inner Pain Page 14 — Wisdom from the Woods Page 15 — This Week’s Review: Anna Catherine DeHart click --> Newspaper Pickup Locations
Aug 20,