Stories from Thursday, January 6, 2022

DONIPHAN — On Saturday, Feb. 5, at noon, a benefit for Mike Haywood will be held at Patsy’s Hitchin’ Rail. The proceeds will go toward Haywood’s medical expenses. He was hit by a vehicle when he stopped to help a stranded motorist in November. There will be food - chili and chicken and dumplings - an auction and raffle drawings for: a Browning 300 Win Mag Rifle, Safari edition (donated by Aaron and Kelli Harris) $20 each; a Henry 22 Long Rifle Silver Eagle (also donated by the Harrises) $15 each, and a cyclone Xtreme SCP 175-lb. ...

As of today, six of the 163 seats in the lower house of the Missouri General Assembly do not have representatives — with all six unfilled seats previously held by the GOP. Republicans now hold 108 House seats because of the vacancies, one shy of the 109 GOP members needed to override any potential legislative vetoes by Gov. Mike Parson — if there is no Democratic support...

Dr. Quentin Clark Smith, 92, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, formerly of Rothville and Brookfield, Missouri passed away Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Quentin was born Feb. 25, 1929, in Jamesport, Missouri to Warren and Avelon (Clark) Smith. He married Emily Thiele on May 23, 1959, in Rothville. She preceded him in death in 2013...

Jerome Blume, 80, of Campbell died Monday, Jan. 3, at Piggott Community Hospital.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — Missouri high school students will have to score a little higher on the ACT exam in the future to receive the state’s main merit-based college scholarship. The state higher education department said Dec. 8 that the ACT score needed to receive the maximum $3,000 from the Bright Flight scholarship will increase from 31 to 32 for high school students graduating in 2023. That means the change will kick in for this year’s junior class...

MONROE, Louisiana (AP) — President Joe Biden cannot require teachers in the Head Start early education program to be vaccinated against COVID-19, a Louisiana federal judge ruled Saturday, handing a victory to 24 states that had sued the federal government...

Four Poplar Bluff High School choral students have been selected for the All-State Choir, one of whom has further qualified to compete statewide in the Sight-Singing Bee. Bralin Duckett, a tenor, and soprano Emma Harris will perform with the choir in January during the Missouri Music Educators Association conference at Osage Beach, while Christian Redding, a tenor, and alto Emma Tinsley will serve as alternates...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT A resident of the 600 block of Roxy Lake Estate reported at 4:03 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, that several unauthorized charges had been made to his/her bank card. _ A resident of the 190 block of County Road 533 reported at 3:23 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, that both license plates from his/her 2009 Chevrolet Silverado had been stolen...

Liver transplant patient Joshua Cates, 12, arrived home Christmas Eve with a police escort and friends, family and neighbors lining the streets, waving welcome home signs. The fence encircling his home was decorated with balloons and signs. Joshua’s liver hasn’t functioned properly since birth because he has Alagille syndrome, among various other health issues, explained his father, Doyle Cates...

JoAnn M. Fairchild, 54, of Annapolis died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at her residence. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.coma

A picturesque January snowfall created hazardous road conditions across Southeast Missouri. The National Weather Service reported the Poplar Bluff area received between one-half and one inch of snow, depending on the area, and Cape Girardeau got an inch. The Bootheel and areas of Kentucky recorded three to five inches...