DeKalb County Sheriff dies in crash DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Clark, 43, died June 3 from injuries sustained in a duty-related vehicle accident. Reports indicate that Clark was responding to aid a deputy when the crash occurred. According to the highway patrol, Sheriff Clark was southbound on Highway 33 in a 2019 Chevrolet pickup, crossing over eastbound Highway 36. A 2020 GMC SUV driven by Robert Carpenter, Diller, NB, was eastbound on Highway 36. Carpenter’s vehicle struck the passenger side of Clark’s vehicle. Both vehicles went off the south side of Highway 36, coming to rest on their wheels, facing southeast. Clark was pronounced deceased by Dr. Khang Le at Mosaic Hospital in St. Joseph. Carpenter received moderate injuries. Three passengers in his vehicle, Susan Carpenter, 70, Diller, NB, and Lexi Cary, 17, and Kaylee Carpenter, 17, both of Beatrice, NB, received minor
injuries. They were all wearing their seat belts. All were taken to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Ambulances responding to the accident were Cameron and DeKalb-Clinton. The accident was investigated Sgt. J.M. Cross, Major Crash Investigative Unit, and crash team members, Sgt. J.M. Toal, Sgt. G.D. Ward, Cpl. R.V. McCormick, assisted by Sgt. D.L. Lyle, Division of Drug and Crime Control, Sgt. R.J. Wilhoit, Tpr. J.D. Howard, Tpr. E.J. Villanueva, Tpr. D.A. Landi, Tpr. V.F. Selsor, Tpr. B.T. Quiring, Tpr. J.J. Thompson, Lt. W.S. Sims, Gt. T.B. Gardner, Lt. M.A. Ott, Cpl. S.J. Cool, and Lt. D.J. Hedrick, Missouri Conservation Department, DeKalb County Sheriff ’s Office, Osborn, and Cameron Fire Departments. The Daviess County Sheriff ’s Office posted the following on June 3: “On behalf of the Daviess County Sheriff ’s Office, we offer our sincere condolences to the family, friends, community, and
members of the sheriff ’s office of DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Clark. Sheriff Andy Clark was killed this morning in the line of duty in a traffic collision. May you rest in peace dear brother. Godspeed.” Sheriff Clark was a member of the Daviess-DeKalb County Regional Jail Board. His obituary appears elsewhere in this issue.
Mobile Pantry at Jameson Second Harvest Community Food Bank and the Jameson community will have a Pop-Up Mobile Pantry from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, while supplies last, on Wednesday, June 17, at the North Daviess School in Jameson. The school is located at 413 2nd Street. Second Harvest Community Food Bank alongside volunteers will be distributing food through a one-day mobile food drop in Jameson. Second Harvest recognizes the need within this area and is taking action by bringing food to the food insecure individuals in each respective community. This program is open to the general public. There are no income guidelines to utilize this program.
Ashcroft Awards Technology Ladder Grant to Daviess County Library
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced Daviess County Library has been awarded a Technology Ladder Grant of $20,152. “Libraries are vital institutions, offering a wealth of resources and learning opportunities to their communities,” Ashcroft said. “Grants like these help ensure Missouri’s libraries can continue to provide quality programs and services to their patrons.” Technology Ladder Grants provide funding for eligible libraries to help them move up the technology ladder to a higher level of service by providing fi-
nancial assistance for technology hardware, software and website development. The Missouri State Library has approved a total of 169 grant applications in the 2020 fiscal year, totaling $1,454,754.50 in federal awards that the secretary’s office has distributed to libraries throughout Missouri. The grants are funded by the Library Services and Technology Act through the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. Visit www.sos.mo.gov to learn more about the Office of the Missouri Secretary of State.
Appointments can now be made online for events June 8-12 on the DHSS registration site, http://health.mo.gov/communitytest. Events scheduled from June 13-20 will continue to be added over the next few days. Those without access to online registration can call the Missouri COVID-19 hotline for registration assistance at 877-435-8411. The community sampling goal for May 25-June 7 was to have 9,600 people tested at events in 11 counties. As of June 3, 9,483 people had already been tested; 107 of these patients tested positive. CARES Act funding will be
used for community sampling. Some counties have also elected to provide community sampling using CARES Act funding received by their county. The community-based testing will be operated by the Department of Health and Senior Services and Missouri National Guard in coordination with the hosting local public health agencies. Those who would like to be tested can register for the site nearest them at health.mo.gov/ communitytest. More information can be found at health.mo.gov/coronavirus.
Community COVID-19 testing events continue throughout Missouri
Several counties throughout Missouri have already participated in community sampling efforts in order for public health officials to learn more about the prevalence of COVID-19 transmission. Testing goals for events thus far have been exceeded, and the State of Missouri is continuing these efforts through June. Beginning on June 8, the goal is to test 10,900 people over a twoweek period at events being held in 21 counties. Community sampling gives the state a better sense of COVID-19 prevalence in a given area, which will help guide its response and
ease uncertainty for Missourians. If prevalence is low, this will help reassure citizens that it is safe to begin re-engaging in the community and returning to somewhat normal operations. If prevalence is higher, quick, and proactive steps will be taken to keep the virus from spreading further in the community. Any Missouri residents who wish to be tested with a nasal swab to see if they have an active COVID-19 infection can do so at the specified sites in each region at no cost to the individual. Missouri residency is the only requirement; individuals do not
Vehicle overturns multiple times at end of chase on I-35
An Independence man, Levi D. Williams, 27, fled from the highway patrol on June 1 at speeds up to 100 mph on I-35. Williams was injured when he was ejected from the vehicle after it overturned multiple times at the end of the chase. According to the probable cause statement, Cpl. S. Cool was notified of a light blue sedan traveling at excessive speed and all over the roadway on northbound I-35 at 3:44 p.m. June 1. Cpl. Cool observed the subject’s vehicle on northbound I-35, clocked at a speed of 96 miles per hour, as he was patrolling on southbound I-35. Cpl. Cool crossed the median and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Williams’ vehicle took the exit ramp at the 61-mile marker to U.S. 69 and then continued through the intersection without stopping, entering back onto northbound I-35 and accelerating to approximately 100 mph. Cpl. Cool pursued the vehicle northbound, observing that Williams was continually weaving onto the shoulder and across the center line. The trooper also observed Williams holding a cell
phone as though he were taking selfies or live streaming the pursuit. At the 67-mile marker the vehicle ran off the inside shoulder partially into the median, overcorrected, crossed the roadway and ran off the right shoulder pavement. The driver then overcorrected and the vehicle entered a broadside slide, tripped, and overturned multiple times. The vehicle rolled down the roadway’s embankment and came to rest at the bottom. (continued on page 10)
GTL cancels Children’s Theater Gallatin Theater League (GTL) has been bringing Missoula Children’s Theater (MCT) to Gallatin for eight years. After consulting with MCT about required guidelines and Centers for Disease Control recommendations, GTL decided to cancel the residency for this year. It was a difficult decision, but members did not feel it would be an enjoyable experience for the children with the restrictions in place. GTL looks forward to bringing MCT back to Gallatin in 2021.
have to live in the county in which they are tested, and they do not have to be experiencing symptoms. Location selection for this period of community sampling is based on inadequate testing according to the number of confirmed cases and the number of total tests conducted prior to these events. Counties hosting upcoming community testing events are Scott, Platte, Stoddard, Carter, Ripley, Cass, Franklin, Johnson, Pettis, Lafayette, Ray, Warren, Carroll, Chariton, Lincoln, Lewis, Moniteau, Pike, Scotland, Montgomery, and Osage.
Jamesport Event Center, town struggle to get back to normal by T.L. Huffman, Staff Writer To the Spillman Event Center in Jamesport social gatherings are everything. The Jamesport Community Association (JCA) holds its meeting there and the building is rented out for big events — weddings, reunions, anniversaries, MoDOT’s corporate meeting, Amish Organic Valley and seed meetings … just about any event that involves crowds of people gathering and interacting. Just what you don’t want during a pandemic. COVID-19 brought everything to a grinding halt. “The event center hasn’t been rented since this virus stuff started,” says Vicki Harding, treasurer
Coronavirus Update Confirmed Cases to Date
Grundy County....... (+1 this week) 4 Daviess County...... (+3 this week) 7 Caldwell County....... (unchanged) 6 Gentry County.....(+13 this week) 54 Livingston County... (+1 this week) 4 Dekalb County.......... (unchanged) 6 Harrison County....... (unchanged) 9 Clinton County......(+1 this week) 19 Missouri 14,913 cases, 840 deaths
Source: Missouri DHSS at 8:30 a.m. June 10
USA: 2.02M confirmed cases, 602K recoveries, 113K deaths Worldwide: 7.24M cases, 3.37M recoveries, 411K deaths
Source: Wikipedia; Daily situation reports
for JCA. “A wedding was rescheduled, a reunion was rescheduled, a bank event was canceled, the school alumni meeting was canceled, the fish fry was rescheduled twice.” JCA gets all of its funding from the rental of the Spillman Event Center and its own fundraisers held there, which includes a comedy show that was already canceled. “Lost revenue is being felt,” Harding says. However, the town’s annual fish fry was held June 5. The JCA checked with the health department and followed their recom-
mendations. “All the amenities” took on a whole new meaning during this fish fry. Once amenities meant additions like baked beans and cole slaw. Now amenities means implementing safety protocols, like gloves and masks and whatever other hygiene standards are required. They spread the tables apart and served people under the outdoor pavilion to allow for social distancing. They had bleachers and encouraged people to bring their own lawn chairs. They offered take-out and drive up. (continued on page 3)