Stories from Thursday, February 20, 2020

A section of Broadway will be closed next week as the Poplar Bluff Street Department begins permanent repairs to a bridge over an unused Frisco Railroad tunnel. The roadbed will be removed and replaced with base rock, until overlay can be done in the fall...

The city has named an interim chief to run the day-to-day operations of the Poplar Bluff Fire Department as Chief Ralph Stucker continues to recover from emergency surgery to removed blood clot that was obstructing his breathing. Effective Friday, “Battalion Chief Mike Moffitt will become interim fire chief for the city of Poplar Bluff Fire Department,” said City Manager Mark Massingham in a memo to all city departments...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL An 85-year-old Charleston woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, on Interstate 57 in Mississippi County. According to the report, Carolyn S. Burcks was operating a 2012 GMC Terrain northbound when it struck a 2010 Navistar fire truck in the rear. The fire truck reportedly was stopped on the road with its emergency lights activated while Sikeston firefighters were on the scene of a grass fire...

City firefighters responded at 11:35 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, to a motor-vehicle crash at 113 W. Roosevelt. _ City firefighters responded at 8:41 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, to a report of a chair on fire in the middle of the 900 block of Grand Avenue...

Mary Jane Mattingly, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020 at her residence. Mrs. Mattingly, the daughter of the late Raymond W. and Helen Elsie (Collins) Frazier, was born July 5, 1935 in Poplar Bluff. She was of the Church of Christ faith. Mrs. Mattingly worked as a waitress for the Newberry Luncheonette. She enjoyed spending time with her family, sewing, crafts, making quilts and cooking...

Ronnie Richmond, 71, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020 at his residence. Mr. Richmond was born May 26, 1948 in Poplar Bluff, son of the late Fred and Margaret Richmond. Mr. Richmond was a retired truck driver, and enjoyed four wheeling, music, and hanging out with his friends and family. He also loved tinkering in his shop, building things...

WESTBY, Wisconsin -- Spend any time with people who supported presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016 and you quickly find out that the reasons they voted for Trump had very little to do with him. It is likely one of the most misunderstood threads among this new conservative populist coalition. To get the real reasons for their support for Trump, you have to be where they are, have no preconceived ideas about who they are and have no prejudice for what you think their motivations are...

Jimmie Chester Brooks, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Feb. 18, 2020, at his residence. He was born Dec. 19, 1938, in Doniphan, Mo. to the late Chester Brooks and Essie Drowns Brooks. He is survived by his children, Raymond Patrick Brooks and Tiffany of Jackson, Mo., and Patty Massey and John of Cottonwood Falls, Kans.; one sister; Shirley Wallace of Harrisburg, Ark., as well as four brothers; Dickie Brooks and Ira A. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Saint Francis Medical Center’s Emergency and Trauma Center has been recertified as the only state-designated Level III Trauma Center in southeast Missouri. “This designation as a Level III Trauma Center demonstrates our continued commitment to provide the highest quality care when our patients need it most,” said Dr. ...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON Staff Writer The local Black History Month celebration Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Northside Community Center, 1450 Garfield, will include a variety of topics pertaining to Black and African American heritage, according to organizers...

In a pair of resignations, Poplar Bluff R-I schools will lose 15 years of administrative service.

By BARBARA ANN HORTON Staff Writer The Mason-Dixon Chili Society is preparing for the largest cook-off to benefit the United Gospel Rescue Mission Saturday at the Black River Coliseum. “We have 36 teams signed up for the 15th annual event,” said society member and banker Sandy Wood. “Everyone is fighting to have the best chili recipe. We are expecting to have the best year ever.”...