Stories from Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Albert Johnson, Sr., 73, of Broseley, died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019 at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at Cotrell Funeral Chapel. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. with Rev. Joe McClure officiating. Burial will be at Poplar Bluff City Cemetery...

Several former board members of a community improvement district (CID) in Van Buren, Missouri, “spectacularly” misused nearly $300,000 of tax funds to pay their private business debts and private business projects, according to a state audit report released Monday...

Ticket distribution will begin Jan. 6 for the 10th Annual Valentines for Veterans Concert, according to John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. The performer for the Feb. 14 concert will be country music artist Neal McCoy, Desmond McMullan, interim director said in a press release...

The mostly healthy food pantry for veterans will be Wednesday, Dec. 18, instead of the fourth Wednesday, which is Christmas Day. Registered nurse Ashley (Maples) Aubuchon’s job at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center as a nurse educator is to keep veterans healthy...

The Sounds of Christmas have been playing in the minds and hearts of the Palace of Praise congregation in Poplar Bluff since February. They will share the production with the public at 7 p.m. Dec. 15-18 at the church, 1400 Herschel Bess Blvd. Associate Pastor Randy West writes and directs a new play each year, and church members have been producing his work for 10 years, said Terrie Faughn, church clerk/secretary...

PIEDMONT — Nickey R. Jones, 60, formerly of Piedmont, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 in Jefferson, Colo. Arrangements are pending with Morrison Funeral Chapel, Piedmont.

NEELYVILLE — Shiril W. Ritchie, 82, of Qulin, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. - noon Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville. Graveside service will follow at 1 p.m. in the Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley...

NEELYVILLE — William ‘Doby’ Collins, 78, of Poplar Bluff, died Dec. 7, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from noon - 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville. Burial will be in Havam Cemetery near Neelyville...

Poplar Bluff City Council members discussed a budget Tuesday for 2020 that would include a nearly $300,000 deficit and the loss of all mosquito abatement operations.

Poplar Bluff’s airport will get a name change, part of an effort that recognizes its changing role in both the area and the state.

City firefighters responded at 8:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9, to a motor vehicle accident without injuries at the intersection of Barron Road and 14th Street. According to the report, they helped check those involved for injuries before controlling traffic and calling Municipal Utilities to inspect a nearby electric pole involved in the accident. They then cleared the scene...

Poplar Bluff Police Elizabeth A. Ferguson, 29, of the 80 block of B street. County Road 605, was arrested at 3:42 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, on Poplar Bluff four failure to appear warrants; three for stealing and one for another misdemeanor as well as suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was booked in the Butler County jail...