Stories from Thursday, December 31, 2020

The year 2021 is coming, and soon 2020 will be in the books. You know as well as I that it has been a rough year. It did not pan out like we had hoped at the New Year’s party last year. It has been full of trouble and sorrow and just not good stuff. There are many who worry that 2021 will be just as bad and just as challenging. So, what do we do?...

About a month ago my friend Harry Dapron sent me the story I am sharing with you today. Reading it, I quickly knew it would be my final column of 2020. This year has been challenging for everyone. The story that follows reminds me of Jesus’ parables, probably fictional, nevertheless containing a nugget of incredible spiritual truth...

The Rev. John Harwell has a twofold perspective on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected small churches in Southeast Missouri. Harwell pastors New Life Christian Church United in Poplar Bluff, with a membership of 42, and First Christian Church in Doniphan, with 51 members...

A 61-year-old Universal City, Texas, man was seriously injured in a crash at 2:55 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, on Highway 67, eight miles north of Poplar Bluff. According to the report, Mark H. Kelly was operating a 2004 Ford Escape southbound when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree...

Cecil Cleo Brake, 90, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, Dec. 28, 2020 at Mark Twain Care Center. Cecil was born Sept. 25, 1930 to Elmer and Maud Johnston Brake in Poplar Bluff. He and Audrey Nadine Atnip were married Oct. 15, 1950 in Poplar Bluff. She passed away Nov. 14, 2014...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 35-year-old Mountain View man was injured in a one-vehicle crash at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, on U.S. 60, two miles east of Essex. According to the report, Christopher A. Rebardi was operating a 2006 Ford pickup westbound when it ran off the left side of the road and overturned in the median...

City firefighters responded at 1:25 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, to assist emergency-medical-services personnel in loading a patient at 301 E. Neat St. _____

Butler County’s elected officials and law enforcement personnel were sworn in Thursday morning in preparation for their new terms beginning in 2021. Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett conducted the ceremony in the Division 1 courtroom. “It still means a lot to me to swear other people in,” Pritchett said. “They have a lot of responsibilities. They put themselves out there to serve the community, and I know they all take their roles very seriously.”...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced the availability of funds for Butler County organizations serving the homeless and hungry in the area through Phase 38 of the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. Federal funds totaling $13,724 are available for distribution in Butler County...

There are arguably few people who have had more of an influence on high school football in Poplar Bluff the last few decades than the late Paul Webber. Even though Webber coached the Mules for just three seasons (1989-91), the impact of those three seasons on the program still is strong even today...

The Twin Rivers R-X school district has started looking into replacing the gym floor at the Qulin campus. Dr. Ben Johnson, superintendent, said they need the project as the floor is buckling at this point and is becoming dangerous. The district reached out to the Missouri United School Insurance Council (MUSIC), which it’s a member of, to help cover the cost...

Cambria Denise Eichmann and Blake Daniel Willeford of Dexter are the parents of a son born Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, at Saint Francis Healthcare Family BirthPlace. They selected the name Barrett Stetson Willeford for the 8-pound, 15-ounce baby, who was 20 inches long. He has one sister...

Last year, the DAR staff talked about starting the decade off right, “Let’s learn from each other and practice compassion before all else, even when we can only agree to disagree.” Then, 2020 came onto the scene. Suffice it to say, we didn’t start the decade off on the right note in pretty much any way...

Age 24 isn’t a big deal at this point. At 18, you can vote and 21 you can drink. Thereafter, it always just seems like a new number. Twenty-four years ago this past Thursday, in the early hours of the morning, my mom woke my dad up and told him, “we’re having a baby today.” When he asked if it was time to go, she said, “No, I want to sleep a little more first.”...

From the election of a new president of the United States to the passing of a well-known area businessman, change was the word of the day as 2020 ended. Former Vice-President Joe Biden defeated incumbent Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 general election, though the outcome was not official until several days later. Meanwhile, the area saw the passing of two more outstanding community members, as Colvin McDonald died in November and Harry Blackwell died on Christmas Day...

Butler County began to see a spike in cases of COVID-19 as the month of October began and later topped 3,000 cases as a late-year surge pushed area hospitals’ critical care units. However, a COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Butler County before Christmas, offering hope at the end of a long year of the pandemic...

Poplar Bluff City Council The Poplar Bluff City Council will have a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, in City Council Chambers, 301 S. Fifth St. Workshop items to be discussed are: • an amendment to city code Section 120.060 (B) Residency Requirements...