Stories from Thursday, June 3, 2021

Louise Hastings Ballard, 87, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at her home in Jackson. She was born March 19, 1934, in Poplar Bluff, to Odie and Eva Taylor Settlemoir. She and Welton Hastings were married July 18, 1953. Three daughters were born to their union. They had been married 33 years when Welton passed away October 1, 1986. She later married Paul Ballard and they had been married 10 years when Paul passed away...

Bobby Ray Burch Sr., son of the late Cecil Ray Burch and Lucille Bilderback Burch, was born on September 12, 1940 in Essex, Missouri and departed this life on June 2, 2021 at his home in Wappapello, Missouri, at the age of 80 years. Mr. Burch was a former truck driver for Monarch Feed and a volunteer for the Wappapello Fire Department. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Wappappello...

Marvin Knuckles, age 92, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, departed this life on Sunday, May 30, 2021, in Nixa, Missouri. Marvin was born on September 6, 1928, in Shannon County, Missouri to the late Sterling Price Knuckles and Florence (Sconce) Knuckles. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, and follower of Christ. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher...

Lamarr J. ‘Poogin’ Millis passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on June 3, 2021 following a short illness. Poogin was born on January 2, 1933, in Ellsinore, Missouri to the late Jodie and Sybil Millis. He drove a truck as an owner/operator for over 60 years. In his younger days when he wasn’t working, he could be found on his boat indulging in his lifelong love of fishing. He also enjoyed camping, riding his 4-wheeler and spending time with his family and friends...

Berry Wayne Hinkle, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away June 2, 2021. He was born January 7, 1944 at Corning, Arkansas to the late James Daniel Hinkle and Ivory (Hafferty) Hinkle. He is survived by five children, Ivory (Jack) Bergeron, Debbie Johnson, James Russell Johnson, Samantha Kay Hinkle and Cody Wayne Hinkle. ...

Kaitlyn Baucom, 14, of Poplar Bluff will take her artwork to the National Junior Beta Competition June 29-July 2 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. This is the third time she’s won first place in the state event and the right to compete at nationals...

The Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Play for Honor Memorial is nearly full. The annual golf tournament at Ozark Ridge Golf Course, held during the first Saturday every June, has seen increased interest this summer. About 50 teams have signed up for the two-person scramble event. Darren Summers, the younger brother of Eric Summers, said only a few spots are left...

The Poplar Bluff R-I School District expanded its efforts Wednesday to provide area students with free meals over summer. Dixie Harden, food service director, said the day was slower than expected. “I think that was because it was raining on and off,” she said...

Confident, professional, a team player, a go-getter, and a motivator are all words used to describe Laura Powell, Mark Twain School’s Teacher of the Year. But words cannot fully describe the contributions she made during the school’s first year of operation...