Stories from Friday, October 1, 2021

The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library Board of Trustees has extended the mask mandate at its facilities for another 21 days. The new mandate will continue through Oct. 21. “While COVID cases seem to be declining, the percent of the population not vaccinated does not justify a non-mask policy,” said Library Director Sue Szostak...

Ronald Louis Vaughn, 65, of Campbell, Missouri passed away Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 at General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. Ronald was born Aug. 21, 1956 to William and Inez Audrey Mae (Reece) Bryan in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Ronald was a veteran of the United States Army. He used to enjoy hunting, fishing and collecting vintage movies...

The Poplar Bluff Fire Department will celebrate the promotion of five longtime employees and the addition of three new ones during a pinning ceremony Friday night at the Black River Coliseum. The promotions and new hires follow the recent retirement of Capt. Blaine Murrell, Battalion Chief David Dudley and Chief Ralph Stucker...

Wayne Gould, 75, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff.

Due to an unexpected illness, the services for Betty Sweezea have been rescheduled. Visitation will be held at noon, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., also in the Piedmont Chapel. Burial will be in Carson Hill Cemetery...

Firefighters responded to a call at 10:08 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, of a strange odor at 418 Hazel Street, Apartment A. They found nothing. _ Firefighters responded to a call at 8:53 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, of a motor vehicle fire near 934 Park. They found a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix with fire coming from the engine compartment and used a booster line and 15 gallons of water to put it out...

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI — Poplar Bluff’s Aleanna Moore and Van Buren’s Peyton Padovano are among the local teachers that were selected as the second-annual 2021 McDonald’s Outstanding Educators from a pool of more than 720 nominations.

Ripley County officials announced Thursday, Sept. 30, two new confirmed deaths of county residents who suffered from COVID-19 among other underlying conditions. County coroner Mike Jackson and health center director Tammy Cosgrove made the announcement. The deaths were the eighth and ninth to be confirmed in the county since Sept. 13...