Stories from Saturday, October 2, 2021

This week, we’ve talked to a former resident who wanted to share the good news of his promotion with the community he still stays in touch with, businesses celebrating new recognitions, communities planning fall festivals, residents working to overcome tragedy, athletes pushing to reach new goals, families who have recently lost loved ones and so many more. ...

In the 1800s and early 1900s, settlers cleared enough land in Missouri that Brown-headed Nuthatches became locally extinct due to loss of habitat. Over the past two years, 102 of these small birds have been returned to Missouri; and it looks like they have a good chance to re-establish populations, according to a press release from the U.S. Forest Service...

The Poplar Bluff High School Junior ROTC (JROTC) held a Guidon Ceremony to welcome new initiates Thursday in the PBHS gym. Lt. Col. Scott Kulla, senior Army instructor at the school, presided over the ceremony. “This ceremony really represents the beginning of their JROTC career so for the freshmen,” Kulla said, “cements the fact that cadets are joining a family whose values can carry them through their high school careers.”...

The Poplar Bluff Housing Authority will host the 2021 National Night Out from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at its offices at 302 N. E St. The local housing authority is “proud” to host the event, said Tammy Harper with the agency. The annual event is a community-building campaign promoting strong police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live and work...

Mr. And Mrs. O.D. (Ollie and Nadine) Johnson are celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary on Oct. 3, 2021. The couple celebrated their anniversary by taking a trip to Reelfoot Lake and retracing where they had gone on their honeymoon. Mr. O.D. Johnson’s parents were Mr. Ora Johnson and Mrs. Minnie Seypholtusky Johnson. Mrs. Nadine Johnson’s parents were Mr. Merlin Birdsong and Mrs. Ruby Lewis Birdsong...

The Poplar Bluff High School Class of 1956 held its 65th class reunion Sept. 17-18. Several class members and spouses met Friday evening at Las Margaritas to begin their weekend of celebration. Then, on Saturday evening, more class members and spouses all gathered at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce building for a time of visiting and recalling remembrances of the high school years...