Stories from Sunday, June 17, 2018

The Second Annual Restore the Rodgers Banquet will begin with a social hour at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Black River Coliseum. The program will follow at 7 p.m. with dinner catered by Tasteful Creations. This year's theme is Hollywood Glamour, said Rodgers Theatre, Inc. President Wally Duncan. Funds generated from the benefit will help pay restoration costs for the tower and marquee. Currently the tower is removed from the marquee while RTI requests bids for the work, he added...

Since Ronnie Martin became Poplar Bluff R-1's transportation director in February 2016, the district's annual school bus inspection approval ratings have continued to increase. Poplar Bluff received a 97.7 percent on 43 buses submitted under the Missouri State Highway Patrol program this year. It is 21 percent higher than 2017, and 32.6 percent higher than 2016...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Izora Marie Robinson, 96, of Ripley County, Mo., died Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at her residence. Visitation was Friday at Edwards Funeral Home. Funeral services were Saturday at the funeral home with Bro. Donald Sanford officiating, Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery...

Jerry L. Proffer of Poplar Bluff, Mo., met his Heavenly Father on June 16, 2018, at the age of 83. He passed away at his home surrounded by family after a long battle with cancer. His faith and courage were an inspiration to many. Jerry was born May 11, 1935, to Russell and Inez Proffer in Poplar Bluff. He married his high school sweetheart, Jeanie Aud, 64 years ago, who survives of the home...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Mary Virginia Derganc, 90, of Naylor, Mo., died Thursday, June 14, 2018, at her residence. Mrs. Derganc was born Oct. 27, 1927, to the late John Lamb and Mary Lamb. On Feb. 9, 1949, she married Tony Derganc Jr. in Piggott, Ark., and he preceded her in death Dec. 28, 1989. She was a homemaker...

GREENVILLE -- Meda Laverne Vaughn, 95 of Paragould, Ark., formerly of Wayne County, died Saturday, June 16, 2018, at Bell Meade Cottage, Paragould. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Greenville. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home...

CORNING, Ark. -- Cecil Dale Cooper, 73, of Poplar Bluff passed away Friday, June 15, 2018, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Cooper was born Oct. 16, 1944, in Corning. He was a salesman at Napa Auto Tire & Parts and sold auto parts at various locations in the Poplar Bluff area for 50 years. He enjoyed selling auto parts, Cardinal baseball, traveling and spending time with his family. He proudly served in the U.S. Air Force and attended House of Prayer in Corning...

NEELYVILLE -- Audrey F. Adams, 79, of Naylor died Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at her home. Ms. Adams was born March 21, 1939, in Coon Island. A nurses aid, she had worked in a nursing home. She enjoyed dogs and reading. She had attended Friendship General Baptist Church in Coon Island...

By MONA CHAREN The headline writers adore the word "historic." It was ubiquitous in reporting on the April meeting between Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in. Kim shook Moon's hand and then guided him over the military demarcation line to step onto North Korean territory. This prompted swoons. What rot. If that was a bona fide gesture of peaceful intent, time will tell. In the meantime, let's assume it was a stunt...

Hot and bothered Yes, I'm calling in regards to the community action program. See it's a shame someone, a senior citizen applies for an air conditioning when they have a health problem and they're approved early in the morning and then they call back and uh, tell you you're denied because housing pays for electricity in the seniors unit but they will not let you have it due to not being, not paying on your electric bill. ...

Folks gathered Saturday for the annual Wheatley Historical Preservation Association's Juneteenth celebration. Nationally recognized in 45 states, Juneteenth commemorates the abolishment of slavery and serves as a second Independence Day for people of color...

A suspicious fire destroyed a South 11th Street commercial building housing two businesses and storage units Friday. The cause of the fire remained under investigation by the state fire marshal's office as of Saturday afternoon. With heat indexes reaching nearly 105 degrees, seven firefighters, including Fire Chief Ralph Stucker, were overcome by heat while battling the blaze and received intravenous fluids at the scene...