Stories from Friday, September 20, 2019

Twin Rivers R-X schools invited Columbine shooting survivor Craig Scott to talk to students.

VAN BUREN — An event Sept. 28 will celebrate American heritage with classic automobiles and traditional bluegrass music at Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The event is free and all are welcome. The Classic Car and Music Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the iconic Big Spring. Many of the vehicles that will be on display symbolize those that once traversed the rugged hills surrounding ONSR, when Big Spring State Park was a popular destination for auto tourism...

Have you ever settled for less than the best? I certainly have. I’ve settled on petty things that don’t amount to much, and I’ve settled on the big things that matter a great deal. I’ve settled financially, emotionally, and spiritually. I’m settling right now in my ministry. And I’m willing to bet if you open your heart a little, you’ll find that there are some areas you may be settling with as well...

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center will hold a community suicide prevention awareness candlelight vigil Thursday, Sept. 26, beginning at 6 p.m. “We want to provide information, resources, and support to our veterans and their advocates,” said VA Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator Jennifer Becking. “The candle lighting service is always a powerful reminder of the importance of suicide prevention awareness.”...

“My scars do not define me,” 29 year-old Nigerian-born burn survivor advocate and singer, Kechi Okwuchi, told a captivated audience at the Black River Coliseum Thursday during the 32nd annual Women Aware Conference. Okwuchi was one of two survivors of the Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crash on Dec. ...

Disclaimer: English teachers, please be kind to me and don’t take me to task for speaking outside my area of expertise. A comma is the pause that refreshes, anticipation of what will be said next, another side of an issue, and a means to separate words and ideas giving equal weight to each. A well-placed comma is a tool making good writing successful. It enhances the rhythm of verbal communication...

NEELYVILLE — On Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, I.D. Hill passed away at The Fremont Assisted Living in Springfield, Mo., with family by her side. I.D. was in her 92nd year of life. Mrs. Hill was born on Oct. 21, 1926, in Okolona, Miss. to Lucy Jane (Parker) Watson and Charlie Parker. She enjoyed singing gospel music, gardening, bingo and farming, alongside of her husband and family. In 2006, I.D. was chosen as Mother’s Day Mother of the Year...

BROSELEY — Clifford Allen Gordon, 57, of Broseley, died Sept. 19, 2019. A celebration of life memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Elk General Baptist Church in Broseley.

City firefighters responded at 10:47 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, to a report of a fire behind Westwood Billiards, 2207 S. Westwood Blvd. According to the report, they found a dumpster filled with cardboard that was fully involved. Firefighters used about 750 gallons of water to put out the visible flames and found the debris in the dumpster was smoldering throughout...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 45-year-old Ironton man was killed in a two-vehicle crash at 2:20 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20, on Highway 21, north of East Madison Street, in Ironton. According to the report, Lucas S. Browers, 22, of Lesterville was operating a 2005 Dodge pickup southbound when it crossed the center line and struck a 1995 Ford pickup head one...

A 37-year-old Piedmont woman was killed in a one-vehicle crash at 3:10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20, on County Road 250, three miles south of Malden, in New Madrid County. According to the report, Heather D. Hicks was operating a 2011 Ford pickup when it ran off the left side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned...

Candace Hecker is a fourth grade teacher at Poplar Bluff Middle School. She teaches English Language Arts. This is her 22nd year as a teacher.

When Kenny Carpenter joined the Poplar Bluff Police Department nearly 25 years ago he attained something he had wanted since his youth. “I wanted to be a police officer; it was something I always wanted to do even back in high school,” Carpenter explained. “I remember sitting out at the high school, talking to the security guards … one of them was a retired police officer...

Linda Buhler, 69, of Poplar Bluff died Sept. 19, 2019 at her home. There will be a memorial visitation at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23 at Second Baptist Church, 503 West Pine St. Poplar Bluff. The memorial service will follow at noon with Pastor John Crowley officiating.

Donald Ray Sheehy Sr., 88, of Poplar Bluff, died Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 2-3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23 in the chapel at Moore Funeral Service, 1100 Iron Bridge Road, Poplar Bluff.

Butler County will help local organizations seek a $750,000 grant to establish a homeless shelter for families, children and others who are not currently served by existing programs. The funds are available through a state Community Block Development Grant program for disaster recovery, explained Crystal Jones, assistant director of Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission...

Zaaliluah (Zee) Chelsea Luke and Noah C. Risby have been named Sept. students of the month at Greenville R-II High School.