Stories from Friday, July 27, 2018

After a lifetime in public education, Tom Lawson made the move back to his hometown in 1988, assuming he would find something to occupy his time. Thirty years later, he continues to be a familiar face around the community by beginning a second career in city government...

Sharon Kissinger was taught a strong work ethic as a young girl from her parents and quitting was never an option. That same work ethic continues within Kissinger at age 65 while helping the community financially plan for their future. Owner of Kissinger & Kirkman, Investment Centre, LLC in Poplar Bluff, Kissinger said she looks forward to going to work each day and has no plans to retire...

Tom Telle has occasionally gotten up on a Monday morning and found himself two states away by Tuesday, walking through the Mall of America in Minnesota before dropping in on a Cubs game in Chicago. Freedom has defined the world of Telle and his wife, Jeanette, since he retired in 1999 from Morse, Harwell, Jiles Insurance...

Donn Trenner, 91, estimates that two-thirds of his friends are dead. "That's a hard one for me," he said. "I've lost a lot of people." As baby boomers age, more and more folks will reach their 80s, 90s -- and beyond. They will not only lose friends but face the daunting task of making new friends at an advanced age...

Steve Elkerman has always been a doer, his wife Pat, explained one hot afternoon in July, as she stood on the carport of their hilltop home just east of Doniphan. "We've got plenty of garden," she said, as a comfortable breeze rolled over the house, a tidy yard and three nearby plots of vegetables where the couple harvested green beans and peas that morning...

You know you're a misguided environmentalist if you support banning plastic straws -- the latest enviro craze sweeping the nation -- while still consuming trendy Frappuccino-like drinks contained in big ol' plastic cups. Cups that also have plastic lids...

WASHINGTON -- Give President Trump credit. When he chastised NATO allies over their failure to spend adequately on our common defense, his critics said he was endangering the Atlantic alliance. Instead, his tough stance persuaded allies to spend billions more on defense, strengthening NATO instead...

Have a little faith, baby, have a little faith," that is one of my favorite lines from a movie I still enjoy watching, even though I can quote most of it. I love it when a person who has faith is assuring someone that doesn't have faith. Jesus once told his disciples "... ...

"Boys need feminists' help too," declares Feministing.com founder Jessica Valenti. Writing in The New York Times, Valenti worries that while women "protest, run for office, and embrace the movement for gender equality in record numbers, a generation of mostly white men are being radicalized into believing that their problems stem from women's progress."...

Shirley Fisher Maurer, a beautiful and loving soul, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 10, 2018. Shirley, a resident of Hobe Sound, Fla. began volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club of Hobe Sound in 2001. While there for over 15 years, she created the Harry Potter Reading Club and was a tutor inspiring many local youth to have a great love of reading. ...

Jean McCoy, 80, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at St. Louis University Hospital. Melba Jean, the daughter of the late Walter C. and Edna (Jones) Hendrickson, was born April 30, 1938 in Butler County. She was of the Christian faith. ...

On Thursday night, the Poplar Bluff High School held a free physical night, providing physicals for students ranging from seventh to 12th grade. The physicals were administered for students ahead of the fall sports season. Practices for fall high school sports begins August 6, while junior high practices start August 13...

A familiar face for Butler County will now serve as the new director of Cape Girardeau County's emergency management agency, or EMA. Mark Winkler brings with him 28 years of experience as a regional coordinator with the state emergency management agency, or SEMA...

Experience and a dedication to public service were cited Thursday by several Republican candidates for Butler County and state offices which will be decided in a primary election Aug. 7 and general election Nov. 6. A forum was hosted by the Butler County Republican Central Committee for contested races of state representative for the 153rd and 152nd districts, as well as county prosecutor, Division II judge and treasurer. ...