Thursday, December 31, 2020

Oklahoma reports 36 COVID-19 deaths

 


(From the Oklahoma State Department of Health)

As of this advisory, there are 290,936 cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma.
2,626 is today's 7-day rolling average for the number of new cases reported.

There are 36 additional deaths identified to report.

One in Canadian County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in Carter County, one male in the 36-49 age group.
Two in Comanche County, one female in the 65 or older age group, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in Jackson County, one female in the 65 or older age group.







Two in Kay County, one female in the 65 or older age group, one male in the 65 or older age group.
Two in Kingfisher County, one female in the 65 or older age group, one male in the 50-64 age group.
One in Lincoln County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
One in McClain County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
One in McCurtain County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in McIntosh County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
One in Murray County, one male in the 50-64 age group.
One in Nowata County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
Six in Oklahoma County, one female in the 65 or older age group, one male in the 36-49 age group, one in the 50-64 age group, three males in the 65 or older age group.
One in Pawnee County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in Pontotoc County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
Four in Pottawatomie County, three females in the 65 or older age group, one male in the 65 or older age group.
Two in Rogers County, two males in the 65 or older age group.
One in Texas County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
Four in Tulsa County, three females in the 65 or older age group, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in Wagoner County, one female in the 50-64 age group.
One in Washington County, one female in the 65 or older age group.

There are 2,489 total deaths in the state.
Additional hospitalization data can be found in the Hospital Tiers report, published evenings Monday through Friday.
For more information, visit https://oklahoma.gov/covid19.html.

Arkansas reports 39 COVID-19 deaths


(From Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson)

Governor Asa Hutchinson provided today's update on Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

In its Thursday update, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 2,708 new cases; 22,189 active cases; 1,195 hospitalized, which is up 21 from Wednesday; 209 on ventilators, which is up 4 from Wednesday; deaths added today, 39, for a total of 3,676; a total of 225,138 cases; 167,893 recoveries; PCR tests, 13,666; antigen tests, 3,163.








The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are Pulaski, 375; Washington, 310; Benton, 253; Craighead, 116; and Sebastian, 109.

Governor Hutchinson released the following statement on today’s COVID-19 numbers:

"I spent the last day of 2020 working with our health department team on vaccine distribution. And while the new cases are way too high, the 2,708 new cases today are more than 400 fewer than the same day last week. We are also working with our incredible hospitals on the best way to cover the increase in hospitalizations. Be safe this New Year's Eve."

Jasper County reports two COVID-19 deaths, 76 new cases

 

Two more COVID-19 deaths were reported in Jasper County today bringing the total to 102.

The victims were a woman in her 80s and a man in his 70s, according to the Jasper County Health Department.

The department confirmed 76 new cases in one day and have had 213 in the past three days.

Jasper County has recorded 6,945 coronavirus cases to date, with 267 currently active, according to the county's COVID-19 dashboard.

The breakdown of cases per city is as follows:

Carthage 2,514

Webb City 1,502

Carl Junction 998

Joplin (outside city limits) 913







Oronogo 245

Sarcoxie 193

Jasper 159

Carterville 117

Reeds 104

Duenweg 67

Alba 37

Asbury 31

Purcell 21

Diamond 20

LaRussell 11

Avilla 10

(Neck City and the portion of rural Golden City that are in Jasper County have had less than 10 cases. The statistics do not include the portion of Jasper County that is located in the Joplin city limits.)

Three more COVID-19 deaths reported in Joplin, 70 new cases reported in 24 hours


The Joplin Health Department reported three more deaths due to COVID-19 today.

The victims were an 84-year-old woman, a 63-year-old man and a 90-year-old man. Joplin has recorded 93 COVID-19 deaths.

Seventy new cases were confirmed in the past day, putting the total to date at 4,621.

The number of coronavirus patients in Joplin hospital is up to 81 with 31 of those from Joplin. The number of city residents hospitalized was 21 only two days ago.

Long, Hartzler, Graves, Smith will object to electoral college certification


(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long, Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves and Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith)

Next week, your 117th United States Congress will convene for the first time. After the election of Speaker and the adoption of the Rules of Congress, the action will quickly move to reading aloud the electoral votes submitted by each state from this past November's election - counting them, and declaring the vote tally for President and Vice President. 


During that process, the question will be put before your elected officials - does anyone object to the certification of electoral votes of a state. We will object. Our hope is that others will join us.

We don't take this decision lightly, but we must protect the integrity of each vote cast by every law-abiding Missourian. 

For every instance of Georgia failing to follow its own state law in verifying signatures, of Pennsylvania accepting mail ballots after the legal deadline set by its state legislature, or folks from outside Nevada casting a ballot in that state - the value of every Missourians’ vote is diminished. That's not right. And we cannot simply look the other way.









The right to freely cast your vote in elections is a sacred privilege afforded to us as Americans because of the sacrifices of the patriots who fought for that right. When that process is spoiled and abused by officials not following their own state law, it violates that right and jeopardizes the entire integrity and foundation of 'free and fair' elections. 

In such instances, where voting process changes are made without the consent of the voter, we know it is our duty and our obligation to serve as a backstop to protect the power of one person, one vote - to protect your vote as a Missourian. 

We must be able to have confidence in not only the agreement and expectation that this election would follow the law, but future ones will as well. We take the responsibility of upholding the Constitution seriously, and that is why we feel compelled to object to the electoral count taking place on January 6th. 









The reported results of this past November's Presidential election don't even pass the most basic eye test. Republicans were projected to lose seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, we gained more than a dozen. 

Republicans were supposed to lose control of several state legislatures, we picked up multiple. We were projected to lose control of the United States Senate - we didn't, and we won't. 

All of this occurred on the same night President Trump lost? 

It's hard to believe. 

Combined with the daily reports of voting irregularities where state election laws were discarded and not followed, something doesn't add up. President Trump won over 74 million votes, Obama - 69 million. President Trump won 2586 counties, Obama - 873 counties, Joe Biden - 527 counties. The numbers, the evidence, and the abnormalities all speak for themselves.

We have joined lawsuits, called for a Special Counsel and demanded accountability and integrity, now we finally get to cast our vote. We have no illusions about the outcome, at the end of the day, this is still Nancy Pelosi's House. Our only hope is that more will join us - that more will value protecting the vote of every American living in their state as much as we do fighting for yours.


Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Nancy Hughes: The sign


“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12 (NIV)


My niece and her family went to an amusement park a few years ago for one last getaway before school started. Her youngest, Ty, went to the restroom as the rest of the family waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. Finally she sent her older son in to find out what was going on. He found younger brother standing by the sinks.

“What are you doing, Ty?” he asked. “I’m waiting,” Ty answered. “For what?” his older brother asked. Ty pointed to the sign above the sinks. It read “Employees must wash hands before leaving.” “I’m waiting for someone to come wash my hands so I can leave.” he replied.








The most important sign of all is found in Luke 2:12 as we read about the birth of Jesus. Shepherds were keeping an eye on their flocks of sheep one evening, probably thinking of sleep as they watched for wolves. Suddenly the sky was filled with angels, praising God and sharing that the Savior had been born.

I am willing to bet that not one shepherd said “I’m not sure what just happened. But it was cool. Now, back to work.” Had they done that, they would have missed completely the birth of their Savior and the opportunity to worship Him.

Instead, they hurried to find Mary and Joseph and the baby (verse 16) so they could not only worship Him but share what had occurred with everyone they came in contact with. (verse 17) What about you and me? “This will be a sign to you . . .” What are we going to do with this Scripture in our lives?

It is so easy to get distracted by “signs” in this world. “Turn here” or “No speeding” or “Cell Phones Off” or “Keep to the right.” In other words, the everyday routines that we all have in our lives. Are they important for what we are doing every day? Sure. But not important for eternity.

The most important sign of all was given to us by God the Father, wrapped in a covering of cloths and love. His name? Jesus. Emmanuel. Lord of All. Savior. Redeemer. Bright and Morning Star. Holy One. Healer.

Don’t allow yourself to get so distracted with everyday life that you miss the most important Sign of all.

Father, thank you for sending us your Son as a beautiful sign of your love and mercy and forgiveness. I praise you for showing us you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

Have you ever completely misread a sign in a building or on the highway?

Were you distracted by other things to cause you to misread it?

Apply

Journal signs that you see around you every day.

Write down Scriptures of hope on sticky notes and place those “signs” around your home to remind you of the most import Sign of all.

Power

2:12 (NIV) “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Isaiah 7:11 (NIV) “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

John 12:37 (NIV) “Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.”

Paul Richardson: Dream a little dream about sleep


While it seems like it was only yesterday, reality says it was fifty years ago that the thought of staying up to see in the New Year was an exhilarating idea. 

When you’re a high schooler, the idea of being invited to a New Year’s Eve party was the ultimate social experience. Although these parties were adult supervised and closely monitored, ones that I would have been permitted to attend, it was still “the thing." 

I do recall a particular party that got a little risqué during a party game. I will not mention any names, but it wasn’t me that was the subject at the center of attention. The game consisted of a group with knowledge of the game on the floor sitting in a circle. 








One by one, subjects were brought from another room with no knowledge of what was about to happen, placed in the center of the circle, and covered with a blanket. The leader of the game would state, “You are in the middle of the desert, remove the item that is making you hot!” 

The goal was to throw off the blanket, once the blanket was removed, that person would join the circle. This usually occurred after discarding a couple of mundane items such as shoes or glasses. This particular night, the subject under the blanket had to be stopped and numerous items were passed back under the blanket with instructions to redress prior to exiting. The game was called due to penalties.

When I left home and went to the university, the parties were no longer adult supervised, but the excitement remained. Then comes parenthood and you are assembling with other couples with the same obligations and their kids, still staying up to all hours of the night and ushering in the New Year with some exuberance.








Just like New Year’s Eve celebrations, I like leftover pizza. In those early days I would awake and begin the day, dining on room temperature left-over pizza from an open box on the coffee table or study desk. Things change. I still like leftover pizza, but now I want it refrigerated when the decision is made to keep it for later. 

To begin the day, I would like that pizza to be heated and topped with a couple of over-easy eggs, add a little cracked pepper, some Tabasco, and breakfast is served. Much more sophisticated than the reality of many years ago.

New Year’s Eve desires have changed also. I have taken that train of staying up and arriving at New Year station. It is a short trip and somewhat anti-climactic, with standing room only. In fact, I believe that they took out all the seats in order to pack more people in. Having been there, done that, and wearing the t-shirt, I now like to approach New Year’s Eve as I would a movie. Let’s watch the afternoon matinee so that we can make our regular bedtime and dream a little dream, about dreaming a little dream, about sleep!

Newton County confirms 77 COVID-19 cases today, 141 in the past two days


Newton County Health Department confirmed 77 new COVID-19 cases today, according to statistics posted this afternoon on the department's Facebook page.

One hundred forty-one cases have been confirmed in the past two days. To date, the county has recorded 4,041 cases, including 420 in isolation, up from 381 the previous day.







Newton County has had 66 deaths due to COVID-19.

The statistics do not include the portion of Newton County that is located in the Joplin city limits.


Parson provides update on COVID-19 vaccinations


(From Gov. Mike Parson)

During today's briefing at the State Capitol, Governor Mike Parson provided an update on Missouri's progress with COVID-19 vaccinations.

“Missouri has now received shipments of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, and we have been successfully administering vaccines for more than two weeks,” Governor Parson. 

“We are very pleased with how well the process has gone so far. We are continuing to work through Phase 1A of our vaccine plan, and additional details on Phase 1B will be forthcoming.”








On Monday, CVS and Walgreens pharmacies across the state began administering vaccines to staff and residents at long-term care facilities through the federal pharmacy partnership. These vaccine shipments come directly from the federal government to the pharmacies as part of Missouri's allotment of Moderna vaccines.

As of December 29, more than 66,000 frontline health care workers and long-term care facility residents and staff have received an initial dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. By the end of this week, vaccinating facilities across the state will have received another 84,000 initial doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Missouri has been allotted more than 73,000 doses for next week.

Also next week, individuals who have received an initial dose of the Pfizer vaccine will begin receiving their second dose. 








It is important to note that shipments for the second dose are already accounted for when initial shipments are allotted. Second doses are shipped at a later date according to each vaccine's administration parameters.

In addition to vaccine updates, Governor Parson also provided an update on the state's partnership with Vizient during today's briefing. Missouri now has 196 contracted staff through the partnership, including 33 respiratory therapists, 75 certified nurses aids, and 88 nurses with various specialties.

“Our partnership with Vizient continues to provide relief for six hospitals across the state,” Governor Parson said. “On Monday, 24 health care workers reported to work at assigned hospitals. The remaining staff will begin work throughout the coming days and into the new year.”

Governor Parson continues to remind Missourians of the importance of social distancing, wearing a mask, minimizing travel, and avoiding large gatherings. Missourians are also strongly encouraged to visit the state's vaccine website MOStopsCOVID.com for daily updates and answers to common questions.

Greene County reports 15 COVID-19 deaths


(From the Springfield-Greene County Health Department)

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department is saddened to announce the deaths of 15 Greene County residents from COVID-19. These fatalities were reported to us between Wednesday, December 23 and Tuesday, December 29.

Community members lost include:
A man in his 30s who had no underlying health conditions
Two women in their 60s
Two women in their 70s
Three men in their 70s
Five women in their 80s
Two men in their 80s

We extend our condolences to everyone impacted by these losses. We take each loss personally and our hearts are with each of you. 








“The death of our youngest community member to date is a sad reminder that COVID-19 can result in adverse health complications. Regardless of our age or how healthy we may be, we all must do our part to keep each other safe and healthy. The lives of individuals in our community depend on us finishing strong by continuing to wear a mask, watch our distance and wash our hands,” said Director of Health Clay Goddard

Sadly, 101 deaths have now been reported by the health department in December, which is our community’s deadliest month for COVID-19.

A total of 297 Greene County residents have died from the virus.

Profiles of those we’ve lost

Seven of the individuals who died from COVID-19 were associated with long-term care. Long-term care association of four individuals is unknown. Fourteen individuals had underlying health conditions.






 

Average age of those who have died

During the December 23-29 reporting period, the average age of those who died from COVID-19 in Greene County decreased to 70.7 years from 77.2 years the week prior.

Total number of COVID-19 deaths in Greene County by age group:

30s: 1 death

40s: 5 deaths

50s: 13 deaths

60s: 39 deaths

70s: 84 deaths

80s: 92 deaths

90s: 59 deaths

100s: 4 deaths

COVID-19 in our community

A total of 20,912 cases have been reported in Greene County.

5,465 cases of COVID-19 have been reported so far in December.

897 cases of COVID-19 were reported to the health department in the last week. The seven-day average for new cases is 128.3.

Lebanon Police Department announces death of officer due to COVID-19


(From the Lebanon Police Department)

(December 28) Today, our department is mourning the loss of Officer Kendle Blackburn after he fought a tough battle with COVID-19. 

Kendle was known throughout our city as the friendliest police officer anyone could ever meet. He was the example of community policing and his life touched so many others in a positive way. 

To be Kendle’s friend was a blessing as he was loved by everyone who knew him. Kendle’s life of dedicated service will never be forgotten. 








Please join us in lifting Kendle’s family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this very difficult time. Our department appreciates everything that was done to support Kendle while he was in the hospital. Rest in Peace Kendle. We love you brother.

***
(December 30) Officer Blackburn’s body will lie in state on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m. and Friday, January 1, 2021 from noon until 5:00 p.m. at the Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, 1001 Lynn Street, Lebanon, MO.

A full honors funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 starting at 11 a.m. at Shadel’s Colonial Chapel with procession to follow to Mt. Rose Memorial Park, 193 Mountrose Street, Lebanon, MO, where a brief graveside service will be held. 

All ceremonies are open to the public.

Citizens wishing to pay respects to Officer Blackburn, his family, and the Lebanon Police Department but unable to attend the full service may wish to park in the rear of the building at the Kenneth E. Cowan Civic Center, 500 E. Elm Street, Lebanon, MO and line Washington Street to view the procession.

Please practice social distancing, and the family requests the use of masks.

Audit shows county taxpayers left footing the bill because state not paying enough to house, transport prisoners


(From State Auditor Nicole Galloway)

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of the County Reimbursement Program, which reimburses county governments for certain costs for housing and transporting state prisoners. The program is administered by the Missouri Department of Corrections. 

The audit found that a combination of delayed reimbursements due to lack of state funding and increasing incarceration costs has resulted in the necessity for counties to rely on local resources.

"Local taxpayers are left footing the bill because the state has not been keeping up its end of the deal and the cost of incarcerating state prisoners is increasing," Auditor Galloway said. 








"This is an issue throughout Missouri, but is particularly concerning for smaller communities where revenue is especially limited. Our audit clearly outlines the facts and details the problems with this program so that the legislature can evaluate the information and make changes."

Under state law, counties can be reimbursed for criminal costs, prisoner transportation and extradition costs for state prisoners. Counties submit claims throughout the year for these expenses and the Department of Corrections processes these payments on a first come, first served basis. However, state appropriations have not been sufficient to cover reimbursement claims.

As of June 30, 2020, the state owed about $31 million to counties that it did not have the appropriation authority to pay. In fiscal year 2021, the General Assembly approved $52 million for county reimbursements, which includes $9.75 million for unpaid reimbursements. This addresses about a third of the outstanding claims still owed to counties.


The audit reported the Department of Corrections has not requested sufficient funds to pay the outstanding reimbursement claims and past budget requests haven't included information about the previous years' shortfalls. 

The audit recommended that the department request the money necessary to pay all obligations and ensure the financial history of the program is included so that legislators have an understanding of how much is owed to county governments.








Additionally, while the reimbursement rate paid by the state has kept up with inflation over the last 10 years, it is essentially the same as the rate paid in 1998. During this time incarceration costs have continued to increase. 

The state provides a reimbursement of $22.58 per day, but actual costs average closer to $49 a day. The increasing difference means counties have to subsidize the cost of housing these prisoners. The audit found that counties subsidized an estimated $41 million in incarceration costs for state prisoners during the 2020 fiscal year.

Auditors surveyed counties to better understand the impact of low reimbursement rates and delayed payments. According to these local officials, issues with state reimbursements resulted in not having enough revenue to cover jail costs and, as a result, having to reduce other services or increase local tax rates. Additionally, lack of revenue leads to difficulty in hiring new sheriffs' employees due to low salaries or lack of equipment.



The audit also found inconsistencies in the law related to reimbursements. Under the law, the state reimbursement rate can go up to $37.50 a day, but is subject to appropriations. However, there are varying interpretations of the statute because this language is not consistent with how reimbursements are set (on a per day basis) and how state funds are appropriated (by year). The audit recommended that the legislature amend the statute to clarify the intent of the law so local officials can better understand what to expect from the state reimbursements.



The complete audit report is available here.

Springfield-Greene County Health Department to begin giving COVID-19 vaccinations to health care workers


(From the Springfield-Greene County Health Department)

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department and Jordan Valley Community Health Center will offer COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, December 31 to those who work in healthcare, but are not affiliated with a healthcare system or long-term care facilities.

Those to be vaccinated on Thursday have already been contacted and scheduled by the Health Department. This initial round of vaccines will enhance joint efforts to vaccinate healthcare workers who fall under Phase 1A of the state’s four-phase approach.

This marks the next major step in vaccinating our community against COVID-19, returning to normalcy and bringing the pandemic to a close. 







“Healthcare workers face a wide range of hazards, especially in the fight against COVID-19. It’s crucial that we vaccinate these workers to ensure that they are protected while they take care of all of us,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nancy Yoon. “We are grateful to Jordan Valley Community Health Center for helping us get a head start on vaccinating this group of individuals. Moving through this phase will bring us one step closer to a return to normal.”

The role of the Health Department in this phase of the state’s four-phase approach is to ensure access for 1A groups not already covered by entities like hospitals or the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program. This round of vaccination will continue into next week.

To focus efforts around those healthcare workers most at risk, SGCHD has further prioritized groups within Phase 1A:

1A1

o Patient-facing healthcare workers who utilize aerosols (ie: dentists)

o Patient-facing healthcare workers who are unable to remain masked or who treat patients unable to remain masked

o Patient-facing healthcare workers who medically treat COVID positive patients (ie: walk-in clinics)

o All long-term care facilities to include skilled nursing, assisted living, residential care

o Home healthcare staff

o Hospice care staff 





 

1A2

o Patient-facing healthcare workers who have physical contact with patients while masked

o Patient-facing healthcare workers providing direct care and cannot remain physically distanced whereas both patient and staff are wearing masks and healthcare worker does not meet 1A1 definition

1A3

o Patient-facing healthcare workers who can remain physically distanced and masked while treating patients (ie: behavioral health)

1A4

o Those who are categorized as 1A but do not live or work in Greene County, or provide care to residents of Greene County.

While those in the 1A1 group will be prioritized first, the health department will continue to coordinate the distribution of vaccines for those in Phase 1A. Healthcare organizations interested in vaccinating staff can sign up by calling 417-874-1211 or by email at coronavirus@springfieldmo.gov.

Mercy Hospital Springfield began vaccinating its staff on December 14. CoxHealth began its vaccination process for employees on December 21. Walgreens and CVS began vaccinating long-term care staff and residents this week.

At this time, vaccine for the general public is not yet available, and there is no specific timeline on when that will occur. The Health Department is actively working to keep our community informed about COVID-19 and the vaccine, and is dedicated to maintaining transparency throughout the process. The public can stay up to date on vaccine distribution by signing up for email alerts and taking the Finish Strong Pledge at health.springfieldmo.gov/COVIDvaccine

Oklahoma reports 48 COVID-19 deaths


(From the Oklahoma State Department of Health)

As of this advisory, there are 287,030 cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma.
 
3,249 is today's 7-day rolling average for the number of new cases reported.

There are 48 additional deaths identified to report.

One in Beckham County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
One in Canadian County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
Ten in Cleveland County, two females in the 36-49 age group, one female in the 50-64 age group, one female in the 65 or older age, one male in the 36-49 age group, two males in the 50-64 age group, three males in the 65 or older age group.







Two in Comanche County, one female in the 50-64 age group, one male in the 65 or older age group.
Two in Craig County, two males in the 65 or older age group.
One in Hughes County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in Logan County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
One in Mayes County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in McClain County, one female in the 50-64 age group.
Two in McIntosh County, two females in the 65 or older age group.
Three in Oklahoma County, one female in the 36-49 age group, one female in the 50-64 age group, one female in the 65 or older age group.
One in Okmulgee County, one male in the 36-49 age group.
One in Osage County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in Pawnee County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
One in Payne County, one male in the 50-64 age group.
One in Tillman County, one male in the 50-64 age group.
Sixteen in Tulsa County, one female in the 50-64 age group, seven females in the 65 or older age group, eight males in the 65 or older age group.
One in Wagoner County, one male in the 50-64 age group.
One in Washington County, one male in the 65 or older age group.

There are 2,453 total deaths in the state.

Additional hospitalization data can be found in the Hospital Tiers report, published evenings Monday through Friday.

For more information, visit https://oklahoma.gov/covid19.html.

Josh Hawley to object to certification of electoral college results, refuses to remain Q anonymous


Josh Hawley is the senator from the Show-Me State so you are going to have to show him that Joe Biden really won the 2020 presidential election.

And if you show him, it doesn't matter because he is not going to believe it ... or at least he is calculating that there are enough fairy tale believers nationwide that he can boost his presidential ambitions.

Hawley announced this morning he will object to certification of the electoral college results January 6, making sure the spotlight is on him and he won't be just another Q-Anonymous senator.







Hawley issued the following tweet:

Following both the 2004 and 2016 elections, Democrats in Congress objected during the certification of electoral votes in order to raise concerns about election integrity. They were praised by Democratic leadership and the media when they did. And they were entitled to do so. But now those of us concerned about the integrity of this election are entitled to do the same.

I cannot vote to certify the electoral college results on January 6 without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania failed to follow their own election laws. And I cannot vote to certify without pointing out the unprecedented efforts of mega corporations, including Facebook and Twitter, to interfere in this election, in support of Joe Biden.

At the very least, Congress should investigate allegations of voter fraud and adopt measures to secure the integrity of our elections. But Congress has so far failed to act.

For these reasons, I will follow the same practice Democrat members of Congress have in years past and object during the certification process on January 6 to raise these critical issues.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Jasper County confirms 70 COVID-19 cases


The Jasper County Health Department confirmed 70 COVID-19 cases today, according to statistics posted this evening on the county's COVID-19 dashboard.

The new cases put the county's total to date at 6849, including 215 active cases.







Jasper County has recorded 100 deaths due to COVID-19.

The statistics do not include the portion of Jasper County that is located in the Joplin city limits.



Oklahoma reports 22 COVID-19 deaths


(From the Oklahoma State Department of the Health)

As of this advisory, there are 283,781 cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 

2,594 is today's 7-day rolling average for the number of new cases reported.

There are 22 additional deaths identified to report.

Two in Cleveland County, one female in the 65 or older age group, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in Creek County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in Garfield County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
One in Grady County, one male in the 65 or older age group.







One in Kay County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
One in Love County, one female in the 50-64 age group.
One in McClain County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
One in McCurtain County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
Eight in Oklahoma County, three females in the 65 or older age group, one male in the 18-35 age group, one male in the 50-64 age group, three males in the 65 or older age group.
One in Pontotoc County, one male in the 65 or older age group.
Three in Tulsa County, one female in the 65 or older age group, two males in the 65 or older age group.
One in Woods County, one female in the 65 or older age group.

There are 2,405 total deaths in the state.

Additional hospitalization data can be found in the Hospital Tiers report, published evenings Monday through Friday.

For more information, visit https://oklahoma.gov/covid19.html.

Newton County reports two COVID-19 deaths, 64 new cases


The Newton County Health Department reported two COVID-19 deaths today and 64 new cases.

The victims were a woman in her 20s and a man in his 80s. Newton County's death toll due to COVID-19 is now 66. The county has recorded 3,964 cases.







The number of county residents hospitalized with coronavirus is 28, up from 27 the previous day, while 381 people are currently in isolation, up from 360. 

The statistics do not include Newton County residents who live in the Joplin city limits.

85-year-old man is Joplin's 90th COVID-19 death, 30 new cases reported


The Joplin Health Department reported the city's 90th COVID-19 death today.

The victim, according to a department news release, was an 85-year-old man from a long-term care facility.

The department confirmed 30 new cases, putting the total at 4,491 cases, including 182 active cases. 

Joplin hospitals have 84 COVID-19 patients, including 21 city residents.


Monday, December 28, 2020

Newton County confirms 24 COVID-19 cases


Newton County confirmed 24 COVID-19 cases today, according to statistics posted this evening on the Newton County Health Department Facebook page.

The new cases bring the county's total to 3,900, with 360 people in isolation.

Twenty-seven county residents are hospitalized, the same as the previous day. Newton County has recorded 64 deaths due to COVID-19.

The statistics do not include the portion of Newton County that is located in the Joplin city limits.

Carthage R-9 mourns passing of head custodian at Steadley Elementary


(From the Carthage R-9 School District)

It is with great sadness we share Kelly Stephens passed away Sunday morning. He was a valued member of our Carthage R9 family since August 2014. He most recently served as the head custodian at
Steadley Elementary School - Carthage R9.

He will be missed by students, colleagues, family, and friends. Please keep Kelly’s family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time.


Arkansas reports 55 COVID-19 deaths

 


(From Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson)

Governor Asa Hutchinson provided today's update on Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

In its Monday update, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 1,651 new cases; 20,831 active cases; 1,155 hospitalized, which is up 62 from Sunday; 201 on ventilators, which is up 15 from Sunday; deaths added today, 55, for a total of 3,537; a total of 216,528 cases; 162,787 recoveries; PCR tests, 4,382; antigen tests, 2,272.








The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are Pulaski, 266; Benton, 139; Washington, 131; Faulkner, 110; and Saline, 91.

Governor Hutchinson released the following statement on today’s COVID-19 numbers:

"It will take a few days to know whether the increase in hospitalizations is the result of buildup after the long Christmas weekend. Regardless, the high number of cases continues to strain our health care system. Regretfully, we also have an additional 55 deaths in Arkansas from COVID-19. The importance of following guidance from the Department of Health cannot be overstated."

Ten COVID-19 cases reported in Joplin, 83 in city hospitals


New COVID-19 cases have been coming at a slower rate recently and only 10 were reported over a 24-hour period, according to statistics posted Sunday night on the city's COVID-19 dashboard.

Joplin has recorded 4,460 cases to date with 179 remaining active. City hospitals have 83 COVID-19 patients, including 21 Joplin residents.

Joplin has had 89 deaths due to COVID-19.


Two COVID-19 deaths put Jasper County toll at 100


The Jasper County Health Department reported the county's 99th and 100th deaths due to COVID-19 today.

The victims were a man in his 70s and a man in his 80s.






Smith tells Trump he supports a special counsel to find out what really took place in election


(From Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith)

2020 has been a year none of us will ever forget. With a number of highs, but plenty of lows, it is important that we take a quick pause to look at some of the historic moments of the last year which reminded us that America is the greatest place to live on the face of the earth. 

Despite constant obstruction, delays and politics from Nancy Pelosi, President Trump was still able to deliver huge accomplishments for American families and workers.

Under President Trump’s leadership, and in the face of a worldwide pandemic, our nation experienced record setting economic growth -- median household incomes hit the highest level ever seen, manufacturing jobs grew at the fastest rate in three decades, and unemployment was down at record lows. 








Apart from liberal lockdown states, our economy is now bouncing back faster than anyone could have imagined from the Coronavirus pandemic. And the reason is simple, jobs, wages, families, and small business were all thriving because of the tax and regulatory relief delivered under President Trump in his first 3 years in office. 

Things like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which resulted in the lowest tax rate on small businesses in more than 80 years and more take home pay for middle and low income workers, joined with unprecedented regulatory relief that saved families thousands of dollars finally has American families growing their own pockets instead of Washington’s.

We also saw huge wins on the global stage this year. From renegotiating bad trade deals that hurt American workers, to holding China accountable for stealing American intellectual property - the President has consistently shown that he is willing to go to bat for the American worker. He has also delivered for our allies – the Abraham Accords negotiated by President Trump this year marked the largest breakthrough in Israeli-Arab relations in generations. 

The establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, and Morocco is a massive step towards lasting peace in the Middle East that cannot be overstated. For this accomplishment, President Trump received three separate Nobel Peace Prize nominations. It should come as no surprise the mainstream media has declined to report on that.

The President has also fulfilled his commitment to continue to keep Americans safe. Earlier this year, the White House announced that over four hundred miles of border wall have now been constructed. 








Additionally, the President has refused the left’s radical calls to defund the police, he has stood up to those who wanted to try and physically tear down giants of American history and he has successfully rebuilt our military by giving our men and women in uniform the largest pay increases seen in a generation, while also giving them the resources to safely do their job.

There is no doubt that aspects of this year have also been tough for many Americans, but President Trump has risen to the challenge and fought this COVID virus without decimating our economy like so many called for. 

Despite the naysayers in the media, Operation Warp Speed has delivered a safe and effective vaccine faster than anyone believed possible. As we distribute millions of doses of vaccines every week to the most vulnerable, thanks to President Trump, I believe more strongly than ever that the rest of America needs to join us here in Missouri where we have been open for business since the Spring. It’s time to end the blue state lockdowns, shutdowns and mandates, and asking Missourians to foot the bill - neither is the American way.

While it might not seem like it at first, 2020 has given us so much to be thankful for. And when we all hear and see with our own two eyes the widespread instances of voter fraud, intimidation, manipulation, machine error and lack of signature verification which plagued last month’s elections, we know there is more to the story.

Just this week I let President Trump know of my support for him to appoint a special counsel to get to the bottom of what really took place. I will continue to fight for the truth to ensure this election was transparent, fair, and most importantly, accurate.

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Thoughts on the Webb City Sentinel's final issue and the end of an era


When I saw that the upcoming issue of the Webb City Sentinel would be its last, my thought went back to the first newspaper I put out of business.

It was 41 years and two months ago.

I wasn't the one who made the decision to close the Lockwood Luminary-Golden City Herald and I had only been the editor for 10 months when Boone Newspapers decided to put it out of its misery.

Tommy Wilson, who was the publisher of both the Lamar Democrat and the Luminary-Herald, gave us little advance warning. We always put the paper together on Tuesday, then drove the pages over to Lamar to be printed on Wednesday morning.

It was past four p.m. when Wilson walked into the Luminary-Herald's Lockwood office and made the announcement to Donna Shaw, the advertising manager and me.







The paper we were working on would be the last, he said. Lockwood and Golden City news would run as a weekly page in the Democrat.

"Donna, we'll be taking to you to Lamar with us," Wilson said, then he looked directly at me.

"Randy, we're not taking you."

Even though I was only 23 at the time, I was smart enough to know that he did not mean I would have to find my own ride.

For a long time, I wondered if I could have done something that would have saved the Luminary-Herald. In retrospect, I realize the newspaper's demise began years before and that the days of newspapers serving communities with less than 1,000 residents with small business bases were going the way of the dinosaur.

I was the editor of two other weekly newspapers that went out of business, but neither had the impact the closure of the Luminary-Herald did. It was the only newspaper the communities of Lockwood and Golden City did. A page in the Democrat, no matter how well done, was simply not the same.

In August 1989, I was working as managing editor at the Democrat when Publisher Doug Davis told me we were going to launch a weekly newspaper for Jasper. Doug called it the Jasper County News, the last newspaper Jasper had. At the time, Jasper already had a fledgling newspaper, the Jasper Jubilee, published by Brenda Dockery.

Jasper wasn't big enough for one newspaper, much less than two and by the time, the Jasper County News published its last edition in 1990, I was already working at the Carthage Press. I never really had the time to become invested in the Jasper newspaper, so I felt no sorrow at its passing.

In the mid-90s, Carthage Press Publisher Jim Farley asked me to come up with a news plan for Joplin to compete with the Globe. The company that owned the Press shot down the idea, but Jim asked me if we could do a weekly newspaper in Lamar. 






The first edition of the Lamar Press was published in August 1996 and it was a success right from the start- at least as far as the news product was concerned. We were never able to sell much advertising for it and after 49 weeks, it went out of business. 

Though I hated to see it happen, putting out six issues of the Carthage newspaper every week and one issue of the Lamar paper was beginning to wear me down.

With newspaper chains buying up smaller newspapers, then cutting them to the bone, combined with the arrival of the internet, more and more publications, many of which had been the heart and soul of their communities vanished, often taking them with the only source of information about community events, club meetings and sports activities.

Small dailies became the twice-weeklies and then weeklies as greedy, incompetent out-of-town publishers cut every cent possible out of the budget, moved the newspaper's functions to central sites, cutting even more jobs and often had even the editing and reporting done by people who worked at other locations.

The Carthage Press, which had been a successful newspaper all the way into the early 2000s, eventually was shut down, despite the best efforts of editor John Hacker.

Recently, the Neosho Daily News, the newspaper that I was reading before I started elementary school, provided a buyout to the only reporter at the paper (a reporter who also had to cover the news for the Aurora Advertiser). I wonder how long it will be before that newspaper also publishes its final issue.

The Webb City Sentinel will publish for the final time next week.

Unlike the chain-owned newspapers that were assassinated by their hedge fund owners, Bob Foos is closing the operation on its own terms, never having betrayed his readers.

Foos, who in his 70s, is retiring. In August, when he announced his plans, I wrote what I thought made the Webb City Sentinel an outstanding newspaper and how much I enjoyed reading it when I began working at the Carthage Press.

As the area reporter during the first three years at the Press, I covered the Webb City and Carterville area and was interested in seeing what was going on, what stories I had missed and seeing a couple of things that made the Sentinel stand out from other southwest Missouri weeklies.

One was the brilliant cartooning of the late and dearly missed Nic Frising. No other small weekly in Missouri that I knew of had a cartoonist, much less one as gifted as Nic.

The other was the photography of owner/editor Bob Foos. Foos has been one of the top photographers in Missouri for four decades.

The Webb City Sentinel not only provided a weekly update on city and school events and extensive community coverage, but it had a look unlike any other area newspaper- an easy-to-read design, Foos photos, Frising cartoons- each edition offered a visual feast.

What I failed to mention and it was a glaring oversight, is the main reason the Sentinel was such a good newspaper was the investment its publisher made in the community.

Bob Foos put Webb City first.

The Sentinel will be missed.

Thirty years ago today, Nancy Cruzan died

  (On December 26, 1990, 30 years ago today, Nancy Cruzan, the Carterville woman whose right-to-die case began in Jasper County and went all the way to the U. S. Supreme Court died, two weeks after she was removed from the feeding tubes that kept her alive. This post was originally published in the December 25, 2005 Turner Report commemorating the 15th anniversary of Ms. Cruzan's death.)

Each year I tell my eighth grade communications arts students at South Middle School the story about a foolish reporter who nearly missed out on the best story he ever wrote because he was too busy trying to be one of the crowd.

That reporter, unfortunately, has the same face I look at in the mirror every morning when I shave and that face didn't look appreciably better on that October day in 1990. 

At the time, I had been a general assignment reporter for the Carthage Press for six months. Mostly, I handled area assignments, going everywhere from Joplin to Sarcoxie to Lamar and everything in between. 








I was not normally assigned to cover hearings at the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage, but this was city/courthouse reporter Pat Halvorsen's day off, and I became the Press reporter at a hearing of national importance, Jasper County Judge Charles Teel would hear evidence in the Nancy Cruzan right-to-die case.

I was probably the only reporter covering that hearing who had actually known Nancy Cruzan, though I had not seen her since she and I were both teenagers and my baseball team was playing games in her home town of Carterville.

The path to that Jasper County Courthouse hearing began on Jan. 11, 1983, when Nancy lost control of her car as she was headed home from working at Schreiber's in Carthage. Her car ran off the the road, and overturned several times, landing on its top. 

By the time CPR was administered to Nancy, her brain had already been deprived of oxygen for about 14 minutes; six is all it takes to cause permanent brain damage. She was left in what her doctors called a "persistent vegetative state." The cerebral hemisphere of her brain, which controlled her thinking and her emotions, no longer functioned, the doctors said. All she had left were physical reflexes.









For five years she remained in that limbo, until her parents, Joe and Joyce Cruzan asked Judge Teel if they could remove the feeding tube, the only thing that was keeping their daughter alive.

After a hearing in Jasper County Circuit Court, in which witnesses testified Nancy had indicated she would never want to be kept alive by artificial means, Judge Teel granted permission to remove the feeding tube, but his decision was appealed by the Missouri Attorney General's office. 

The State Supreme Court overruled Judge Teel's decision; the case was appealed to the U. S. Supreme Court, which agreed to hear it...the first time the nation's highest court had ever heard a right-to-die case.

The court ruled that a person does have the right to die, but that decision did not necessarily apply to the Cruzan case, which was sent back to Jasper County to hear evidence and determine if Nancy really had said what she would want to have happen to her under such circumstances.








That brought the case to Carthage on that October day. Eight TV vans from all of the Joplin stations, plus Springfield, Kansas City, and St. Louis were filling up the inside parking places on the square.

Though I arrived a full hour before the hearing was scheduled to begin, the third-floor courtroom was already nearly filled...mostly with reporters. Since the case was going to be heard by Judge Teel once more and not by a jury, reporters were allowed to sit in the jury box so they could be a little closer to the judge, the attorneys and the witnesses. Even though I had already been a reporter for more than 13 years, I was caught up in my opportunity to be one of the big boys.

In that jury box, seated to my left was the stringer who was covering the case for the New York Times. Right beside him, was the Times' courtroom artist and behind them were reporters for Associated Press and the Kansas City Star. To my right was a young reporter from one of the Springfield television stations, sitting by a second sketch artist, whose newspaper or TV affiliate I never did learn.

During that morning session, I listened to the same testimony from the same angle, that all of the other reporters in that jury box did, and if something critical had not happened at about 11:30 a.m. I would have written the same story that all of them did. And there would have been nothing wrong with that, except that the Press was an afternoon paper, so we would have been the last to go with a story that everyone else had already read.

Thank God for lunch.

Judge Teel dismissed everyone for lunch a little after 11:30 and said the hearing would resume at 1:30. I returned to the courtroom at 10 minutes past one and the jury box had already filled- it was the best thing that could have happened.

With the jury box filled, I took a seat directly behind Joe and Joyce Cruzan, their lawyer, William Colby of Kansas City, Nancy's sister, Christy White, and Christy's daughters...Nancy's beloved nieces...Angie Yocum, a sophomore at Webb City High School at the time; and Miranda Yocum, a freshman.

My chair was directly behind Angie and Miranda and I could see that Miranda had a sketchpad open and was drawing a courtroom scene that easily rivaled anything the other two courtroom artists were doing. She paid special attention to detail, capturing everything from the courtroom decor to the bright red suspenders being worn by Colby.

I continued taking notes about the testimony, but in the margins, I was writing everything I could about Miranda and Angie. Everyone else was going to know about the testimony before the Carthage Press hit the streets, but no one was going to have this story about the tiny sketch artist.

One of the afternoon witnesses was a man for whom Nancy had worked when she lived in Oklahoma City. The Cruzan family listened attentively as the man began his testimony, clearly answering the questions that were posed to him by Colby and by Carthage attorney Thad McCanse, who had been appointed by the court to represent "Nancy's interests."

Nancy's former boss recalled the conversation he had with her when she had said she would not want to live as a vegetable because "vegetables can't hug their nieces."

I quickly looked at the two nieces. Angie began to cry almost immediately. Miranda's face was also reddening as she put her arm around her sister's shoulder and began patting her on the back. Through the tears, the two looked at each other and smiled. Despite the circumstances, it's always good to hear how much someone loves you.

A few moments later, Joe Cruzan, Nancy's father, stepped up and quickly left the courtroom without saying a word to anyone.

At this point when I am recounting the story to my eighth graders, I always ask, "Do you know why he left the courtroom?"

They always surmise that the testimony had become too emotional for him and he had to leave to collect himself. I shake my head and get the students angry with me, when I say, "He had to go to the bathroom," and I quickly add, "And I did something that no reporter should ever do."

There is always a sound of horror among my students. "You followed him to the bathroom," they say with a mixture of shock and disgust.

I nod. "I followed him to the bathroom." 

I always make sure the students know that I was at least polite enough to let him finish what he needed to do, providing no further details.

As he left the restroom, I stepped in front of him, introduced myself, and asked him if I could ask him a couple of questions. I will never forget the long sigh that followed that request. "Sure," he answered, though more questions from the press was the last thing he could have wanted.

"I have been watching your granddaughter," I said. "She really has a talent for drawing."

In a split second, the worry seemed to vanish from Joe Cruzan's face and was replaced by a smile. 

Without me even asking a question, he spent the next 15 to 20 minutes telling me about Miranda, her artwork, and how talented she was and how proud he and the family were of her.

It wasn't long after we returned to the courtroom that the testimony ended. Miranda jumped up from her seat and nearly ran to William Colby. "I drew this for you," she said, and the lawyer was caught completely off guard.

"That's really good," he said. 

I jotted down a few more details then rushed back to the Press, it was one of those nights when I couldn't wait to start writing.

I had opened up the Press newsroom so reporters from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Springfield News-Leader could type their stories and send them in. Earlier in the day, that would have seemed like a big deal, but I had learned my lesson.

What lesson is that, my eighth graders ask when I reach that portion of the story.

"You can't get ahead if all you ever do is follow."
***
Several weeks after the hearing, Judge Teel once again ruled that the feeding tubes could be removed. On Dec. 26, 1990, 15 years ago tomorrow, Nancy Cruzan died.