Arkansas reports 21 COVID-19 deaths, 807 new cases

(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 807 new cases; 7,142 active cases; 496 hospitalized, which is up 35 from Sunday; 99 on ventilators, which is up 13 from Sunday.

The department also reported deaths added today, 21, for a total of 1,329; a total of 82,049 cases; 71,509 recoveries; PCR tests, 7,056; antigen tests, 9.

The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are Pulaski, 74; Sebastian, 37; Craighead, 29; Garland, 26; and Faulkner, 25.

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

“There are 807 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Arkansas. It’s critical that we all continue following the guidance of our public health officials to slow the spread of this virus. I will have updates on our testing efforts and the White House Task Force report at tomorrow’s weekly briefing.”

City of Joplin promotes Ryan Talken to health director

(From the City of Joplin)

City Manager Nick Edwards is pleased to announce that Ryan Talken has accepted the position of Joplin Health Director. 

Talken has served as the Assistant Health Director since January 2007 and has worked at the City for a total of 18 years. He worked for the department as an Epidemiology Specialist and head of the Environmental Health and Epidemiology Division before he was promoted to the Assistant Director. 

Additionally, Talken has three years of experience in the private sector and with the State of Missouri Department of Agriculture, both of which had an environmental and health component. 

In naming Talken to this position, Edwards said, “There is no better way to evaluate a person’s character, skills, and knowledge than to see them facing challenges. 

During this pandemic, Ryan has provided leadership and demonstrated an unwavering drive to serve the citizens of Joplin. His service sets a high standard for the organization which will positively impact the Health Department and the community.”

Talken has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Northwest Missouri State University. He is currently completing his Master’s degree in public health from Missouri State University.

The director position became open when previous Health Director Dan Pekarek was promoted to Assistant City Manager in June of this year. Talken has served under Pekarek’s leadership since joining the Health Department and spoke of the valuable experience and education during this time.

“I am grateful for this opportunity and know that I have big shoes to fill. Dan has been an outstanding role model and teacher,” said Talken. 

“He is a wealth of knowledge and has great experience. He’s managed and directed the staff through several communitywide situations, including the tornado in 2011 and the recovery efforts, disease management and ongoing animal control issues. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to teach us about public health management.”

During the search process, Edwards learned that other department heads had overwhelming support for Talken. 

“He is seen as someone who can be relied on to make sound decisions when faced with difficult issues, professional, knowledgeable in his field, cheerful, and willing to help others whenever and however he can. Aside from Ryan’s individual strengths, his leadership will have a positive impact on the overall culture of the city organization.

“I would also like to thank Dan for his leadership of the Health Department and the organization. Dan created the foundation for a strong department, and I am confident that Ryan can continue a legacy of a high performing Health Department that Dan made possible.”

During a press briefing today, Pekarek stated that he was pleased with this promotion and was confident that the Health Department is in good hands. “Ryan has the skills and the demeanor to lead this department into the future, and I’m pleased that he has been selected to do so.”

Talken’s promotion was effective starting today, Monday, September 28, 2020.

Bartosh apologizes for son's racist statement, says "this will not go unpunished"

Jasper County Presiding Commissioner John Bartosh, bombarded with social media commentary following the posting of a video on social media showing his 16-year-old son singing a racist song and drinking at Bernie's Bar and Grill in Avilla, issued the following statement this morning:

I want to begin by saying I am profoundly sorry for the racist things my son said. 

My son is a 16 year old kid and what he said was hurtful and unnecessary. It does not represent the opinion of the County Commission or me as a person. 

While this is not an excuse for his bad behavior, because there is no excuse, he was involved in a car crash last week and sustained a head injury. He made some bad choices leading up to the racist things he said in that video and conducted himself in a manner that was shameful for our family. 

As parents we should, and will, do a better job educating our son about racial and cultural issues facing our society. 

Because he is a 16-year-old kid and this is a family issue, it will be dealt with as a family and I want you to know this will not go unpunished. 

I know this apology isn’t enough, and all I can promise is to do a better job for my family and my community. 

John Bartosh

Earlier Posts

Video of Jasper County official's son, a Carthage High School senior, drinking and singing racist song goes viral

Following video of Carthage teen drinking, singing racist son, bar owner promises to do better job spotting fake IDs, removes confederate flag

Grandmother issues urgent plea as FBI, area law enforcement search north Joplin for missing child

(From the Joplin Police Department)

On September 28th, 2020, law enforcement officials will be conducting a thorough search on foot in several areas on the north side of Joplin. This search is being aided by the FBI, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the Carthage Police Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

In addition, the Joplin Police Department is releasing a short video message from Leora Hardee’s grandmother. 

The Joplin Police Department is requesting assistance from the media in disseminating this message. Again, if anyone has any information or tips that could assist investigators in locating Leora Hardee, you are encouraged to contact the Joplin Police Department at 417-623-3131.

 

Original News Release

 On September 17, 2020, the Joplin Police Department received a report of a missing child. Joplin Police Detectives responded to the scene and initiated a missing child investigation, which is still currently ongoing. 

Leora Hardee, age 14, was reported missing from the area of D Street and north Wall Avenue. Hardee is described as being about 5’1” tall, 100 lbs., wears glasses and had sandy brown hair. 

Hardee may be in need of medications. 

Jason Smith: America needs new Supreme Court justice to prevent rioting, looting and violence

(From Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith)

“He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States…”.

Article II, Section 2 of our Constitution is clear – it is the job of the President of the United States to nominate an individual to fill any current or announced vacancy on the Supreme Court.

Equally, it is the job of your United States Senate to provide their advice and potential consent on the nominee. 

The Senate has the right, like it did in 2016, to reject the then nominee of President Obama, just as it has the right now, should it choose, to confirm the nominee of President Trump.

At my time of writing this, President Trump has yet to formally name who he will nominate to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Justice Ginsburg, but at the time you will be reading this, that name will be known in every household across America.
What I do know about who the President will put forth is that they will be a name which has already been shared over two weeks ago on the President’s short list of folks he would consider for our nation’s highest court.

A list comprised of qualified constitutionalists who believe in reading laws as they are written and not legislating from the bench. While the left becomes unhinged as they scream about the President holding off nominating anyone, they fail to call on their own Presidential candidate to release a similar list of names he would consider filling any vacancy on the Supreme Court with.

The truth is, Joe Biden can’t name anyone because there is no one progressive enough to satisfy the far left who has taken control of the Democrat Party.

Think of the threats which have been made by the leaders in the Democrat party since we learned of Justice Ginsburg’s death late last week – that they will “pack the court” by expanding the number of Justices on the Supreme Court if they win the White House, that they will again hold a round of sham politicized impeachment proceedings against the President or Attorney General William Barr to try and slow down the functionality of the United States Senate, and some have even called for shutting down your government completely to halt Supreme Court confirmation proceedings. 

Obstruct, investigate, impeach, impede, delay…it has been the Washington Democrat’s playbook for the last three years.

The truth is, President Trump has a constitutional right and obligation to nominate someone to our nation’s highest bench. There is not consideration of replacing a liberal justice with a liberal justice or moderate with a moderate or conservative with a conservative. 

The American people elected Donald Trump President, and it is his right as President to nominate someone.

Similarly, it is the United States Senate’s job to provide advice and consent on that nomination by either confirming it or not. That is exactly what happened in 2016 when then President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia – the Senate rightfully advised the President that they rejected that nomination and did not provide their consent. This is nothing new.

As a matter of fact, in the history of our country, on 29 different occasions a Supreme Court vacancy has occurred in the same year as an election, 10 of those times the President and Senate were of different parties, as chosen by the American people and 9 out of those 10 times the nominee was rejected. 2016 was no different. The Senate acted historically as it had acted by not confirming who the White House had nominated. Conversely, 19 of those times the President and Senate were of the same party and 17 times the vacancy was filled, that is where we are in 2020.

After President Obama’s first two years in office, the American people intentionally selected a divided government to place a check on an agenda they felt out of step. Further, they elected a Republican Senate in 2014.

So, when a Supreme Court vacancy occurred during President Obama’s final year in office, the Senate acted exactly how the American people had elected it to do – to provide balance and counter on a President’s agenda headed in the wrong direction for our country.

As a matter of fact, a Senate controlled by the opposing party as the President hasn’t confirmed a nominee put forth by a President to fill a vacancy in an election year in more than a century.

The need to have a fully functioning court is now potentially greater than at any point in our country’s history. Hilary Clinton has publicly told Joe Biden to not concede the results of the election to Donald Trump - to use every legal tool he has to try and challenge the results in the courts.

As we approach what may very well be one of the tightest and most contested elections our nation has ever seen, now more than ever we need a fully functioning Supreme Court for the expected legal challenges to come.

More rioting. More looting. More violence. It is what is in store if Supreme Court decisions involving the 2020 Presidential race fall on 4-4 tied lines. Our country doesn’t deserve that, Missourians don’t deserve that.

The Supreme Court has often been the last stop at protecting your constitutional rights against governments at all levels trying to gain more power. Holding a vote to confirm President Trump’s nominee to that bench is about listening to the will of the American people.

That will elected Donald J Trump President in 2016, re-elected him a Senate Republican Majority in 2018 and is ready for this moment.

Missouri confirms 1,392 COVID-19 cases, no deaths reported

 

The number of newly confirmed coronavirus cases remained high in Missouri with another 1,392 added today, according to statistics posted this afternoon by the Department of Health and Senior Services.

Missouri has had 123,406.

The death toll remained at 2,063 with no new deaths reported today.

The positivity rate for tests remained at 11.8 for a third consecutive day.

A total of 1,125 Missourians are hospitalized with COVID-19.

Following video of Carthage teen drinking, singing racist song, bar owner vows to do better job spotting fake IDs, removes confederate flag

The owner of Bernie's Bar and Grill in Avilla says his bar did not intentionally serve the 16-year-old Carthage youth whose drinking and singing of a racist version of Alabama's Song of the South have gone viral in a Facebook video.

Rick Walker also stressed he does not condone the type of racist behavior exhibited by the Carthage High School student, who is the son of a Jasper County elected official, in the video.

Walker posted several comments on the Facebook page of a Carthage woman who was disgusted by the teen's actions and posted the video.

"We are not responsible for what comes out of people's mouth, but we are for what goes in their mouth at our place. He was carded, so we need to get better at spotting out fakes," Walker said.

The presence of the minor in the establishment was not against any law or city ordinance, Walker said. "(S)ince we also serve food, we've always allowed minors to come in."

That policy will change, Walker promised.

"In the future, there will be no minors allowed after 9 p.m. when the grill closes. We are very sorry this happened and will be making changes to stop this."

Walker said he and his staff are planning to take a class to help them detect fake IDs, but the racist language is a different matter.

"I can't control what comes out of one kid's mouth. What he sang was wrong ; I do not condone it, I hate it, but I have no control over other people's hateful mouths. Just like I can't control you saying "lets shut this b---h down.

"But I can control to the best of my power to control underage drinking. We are going to look into a class that helps us detect fake IDs. I am talking about this, because it us within my control to get better at it. I just don't know how to stop idiots from saying stupid s--t."

On the subject of the confederate flag, when a commenter suggested Walker should consider taking down the flag, he responded that he would consider it.

"Perhaps I will, it was hanging there when I got the place and since I am not a racist I've never gave it much thought."

Further discussion took place on the subject with one commenter saying Walker needed to make it happen and not mincing words about it.

Rick Walker, I am happy you are taking ownership and have chosen to prevent this from happening again. If that kid left your bar and killed someone else or himself, this would be incredibly worse. But really, take down that damn flag. If you’re not a racist, you damn well know better.

Walker quickly responded, "Done, it's coming down." 

Video of Jasper County official's son, 16, a Carthage High School senior, drinking and singing racist song goes viral

A video featuring a 16-year-old Carthage High School student singing a racist song at the top of his lungs and drinking alcohol at an Avilla bar has gone viral on Facebook this morning.

The video features the youth, who is the son of an elected Jasper County official, singing a version of Alabama's Song of the South with which he was obviously well acquainted.

In the 25-second video, in place of the lyrics of the Alabama song, which read "sweet potato pie and shut my mouth," the teen substituted the words "ain't no n-----s coming back again," and in place of the portion that reads "gone with the wind, there ain't nobody coming back again," he substituted the words "gone with the wind, there ain't no n-----s coming back again."

Apparently, the teen's version of the song was popular in the crowded establishment, since those around him seemed to be enjoying his rendition.

The teen apologized for his performance about an hour ago in comments to a posting of the video that was circulating throughout Carthage and the surrounding community.

I’m sorry for what I said and it’s not who I really am. I’m sorry for saying things like that.

By that time, the reaction was already overwhelmingly negative and people did not readily accept the apology.

Among the comments:

you were sure having a good time singing it though!!

you’re disgusting and I can’t wait for them to post the video of whipping your ass.

are you happy that your little song went viral

Nah, you're sorry you got exposed

It's easy to be sorry when you're caught.

you’re only apologizing because you see everyone who’s sharing it and realizing who you really are

Also you are addressing “sorry to everyone’s feelings” it’s not a feeling thing. It’s morally wrong to say that word. It’s not emotional it’s a moral thing. Which in most cases you get when you are raised right.
How can you live in carthage and be like this half the students are Mexicans! I grew up in Carthage and it’s a great little town then you got f-----g s--t head like this who ruins that rep for that town.

The situation promises to be a thorny one at a Carthage High School that has a student body that not only includes African-Americans, but also Hispanics and Vietnamese students.

The video should also create some problems for Bernie's Route 66 Bar and Grill, since the teen was underage and it is unlikely he went in there by himself and it is a cinch the establishment did not allow him to bring his own bottle.

Nancy Hughes: Going through the door

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

I had a surgery scheduled to remove a small fatty tumor on the back of my neck. The doctor said that it was a minor procedure and he could do it in his office – no problem. He explained exactly what he was going to do and what he expected to find.

And yet, because it was on my neck, I was more than a little concerned. Yes, he’s a great doctor and no, he would not have said he could do it in his office if he could not. But I still had considerable apprehension at what was going to take place.

Oh, I prayed about the surgery but my prayers went something like this: "Lord, I am really nervous about the surgery on my neck. What if there is a problem? What if something gets cut that isn't supposed to? What if I can't stay still like the doctor wants me to?" and on and on and on. Can you relate?

And then one day, after a month of approaching the Lord repeatedly with my “what if” sessions, I think He felt He needed to reassure me. My Bible fell open to the Old Testament and I found myself reading Deuteronomy 31:8. It said ““The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

“I am not going to leave you at the door of the doctor’s office and say “See you when you are done,” the Lord whispered to my heart. “I will never leave you – remember? I will walk through the door, be there through the surgery, and walk out through that same door with you. Just as I have always done. Always.”

I know. I know. How many hundreds or even thousands of times in the past had the Lord gone before me, making a path, and then stayed right by my side. And yet, here I was, facing the unknown and thinking that just maybe, on THIS journey, Jesus would decide not to go.

So let’s be honest: what “door” are you entering, afraid that the Lord will not go with you? Maybe it’s divorce or financial problems or a prodigal child. Or it could be health issues or broken friendships or the loss of a spouse.

Whatever it is, rest assured that just as Moses shared with the Israelites that “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you,” He will be with each of us, no matter what we face or what “door” we may be going through. Always.

May I share with you that Jesus did just as He said. He stayed with me and kept me calm and at peace. I talked to Him during the procedure and thanked Him when it was over. And once again, as has happened so many times before, I knew with all my heart that my Father was faithful. May you have that same conviction today.

Father, thank you for your faithfulness to stay right by my side, no matter what I have faced in the past or will face in the future. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

· Have you ever been faced with a “door” that you were truly afraid to go through?

· Did you realize that the Lord was at your side and would never leave you?

Apply

· Journal some of the “doors” that you have gone through over the past few years.

· Beside each one, write a sentence of praise for how the Lord stayed with you through each one and never left your side.

Power

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Exodus 33:14 (NIV) “The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Joshua 1:9 (NIV) "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog Encouragement from the War Room.)

Jasper County confirms 35 COVID-19 cases, number in isolation increases

 

Thirty-five COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Jasper County putting the county's total at 2,493, according to statistics posted today on the Jasper County Health Department Facebook page.

The number of people who are in isolation increased from 163 to 173, while the number hospitalized remained at 24.

The county has recorded 32 deaths due to COVID-19.

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