Stories from Thursday, January 2, 2020

City firefighters responded at 3:03 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, to a report of an out of control leaf and grass fire at the 1111 Maud St. home owned by Rebecca Dennis. According to the report, firefighters found a large leaf fire in a wooded lot behind the home and used 15 gallons of water to extinguish it...

Jameson Viverette of the 100 block of Hunter reported at 12:04 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, that a vacant home in the 1000 block of Davis Street had been forcibly entered and several statues stolen. _ Tom Shackleford of the 500 block of Arthur Street reported at 11:42 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, that the home belonging to Bill Kenzer at in the 2000 block of North 14th Street had been broken into sometime between Dec. 30 and 31...

REYNO, Ark. — Muriel Butler West, 93, passed away on Dec. 30, 2019 at her home in Poplar Bluff, surrounded by family. Muriel was born on March 2, 1926 in Reyno, Ark. to Robert Lloyd and Eula Mae Adams Butler. She was a very kind and loving Mimi that enjoyed developing an individual bond with each grandchild. ...

Wappapello postmaster Ron Harris cancelled his last stamp Friday, Dec. 27, ending a 46-year-long career with the U.S. Postal Service. His official retirement date was Dec. 31. Harris, 65, of Poplar Bluff took a 90-day temporary position at the post office during the holidays nearly five decades ago. Not only was he helping out the carriers, Harris was getting his foot in the postal system’s door...

STODDARD COUNTY — Two Poplar Bluff residents were injured in a one-vehicle crash at 4:37 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, on Highway 153, three miles south of U.S. 60. According to the report, Whitley R. Buchanan, 30, was operating a 2005 Ford Escape northbound when it ran off the left side of the road. Buchanan reportedly overcorrected, which caused her SUV to overturn...

City firefighters responded at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, to an alarm at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, 3100 Oak Grove Road. It was investigation only. _ City firefighters responded at 1:39 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, to a report of smoke coming from the heater at the 444 N. Main St. apartment occupied by Patsy Sullivan...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Dustin E. Wooldridge, 37, of Doniphan was arrested at 9:52 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to register a motor vehicle and no seat belt. He was booked at the Butler County jail...

More than $1 million in sales tax and property tax payments will be made in the coming year to developers of the Eight Points retail area. Just over 8% of the debt owed by area residents for the commercial development has been paid to date, or about $3.3 million, according to information from city officials...

The closure of the fall semester for most high school students means a break from classes, but returning a few weeks later. However, for two Neelyville students, the end of the semester meant the end of high school.

Stephanie Link is a fourth through sixth grade teacher at Poplar Bluff Middle School. She teaches art. This is her 4th year as a teacher.

Students are chosen by their teachers based on exemplary citizenship, positive attitude, and dedication to academic excellence.

Norma Gean Stroup, 93, of Bloomfield, daughter of the late Henry and Martha Cates Phillips, was born in the Buckhorn Community, Mo. Nov. 22, 1926, and passed away at her home near Bloomfield Jan. 1, 2020. She had lived in Bloomfield and Aquilla all of her life. She had worked at Elder’s as a seamstress for 46 years. She was a member of the St. Joe General Baptist Church in Idalia...

Irma Lea Brannum, 86, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Brannum, the daughter of the late Mac and Lovisa (Eggleston) Gentry, was born May 12, 1933 in Winterset, Iowa. She was a longtime member of the First Christian Church and formerly worked as executive secretary for VNA (Visiting Nurse’s Assoc.). ...

Mary Lou Webb, 82, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Mrs. Webb, the daughter of the late Herman and Velma (Shrum) Helm, was born Nov. 4, 1937, Shook, Mo. She was a Jehovah Witness for 47 years and enjoyed going door to door sharing scripture with anyone who would listen. ...

A Poplar Bluff businessman is free on bond after his recent arrest on charges alleging he defrauded Southern Bank over a commercial agricultural loan. Richard Vaughn Morris, 60, is to appear at 9 a.m. Jan. 16 before Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce for arraignment on two Class E felonies of defrauding secured creditors...

Rev. Ralph William Mayes, 88, of Poplar Bluff passed away Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Rev. Mayes was born Sept. 24, 1931, the oldest of six children to John H. and Edna (Wright) Mayes. Prior to his passing, Rev. Mayes pastored churches in Elgin, Harvard and Granite City, Ill., before moving back to Poplar Bluff in 1975. Rev. Mayes pastored the Third Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff for 22 years. More recently, he was pastor of Fairview Baptist Church until health issues forced him to retire in 2018...

The first baby of 2020, Jonah Lee Tucker, was born at 1:47 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Jonah weighted 7 pounds and 13 ounces. His length is 21 inches. Not only was he the first baby of the year, he’s the first baby of a new decade...