Stories from Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Judith Nettles, 81, of Poplar Bluff is the 2021 CASA Volunteer of the Year for the 36th Judicial Circuit. Nettles not only believes every child has the right to have an advocate, she has stepped forward to make certain that happens. In congratulating Nettles, Judy Moss, Butler County Community Resource Council CASA program director, said, “Judith was chosen as CASA of the Year for her devotion to our children, her innovative thinking, and her ability to tell the team how things are. ...

John Boyd McMullin Jr., 90, of Poplar Bluff died Jan. 13, 2022 at his residence. John was born Jan. 8, 1932, to the late John Boyd McMullin Sr. and Melissa Effie (Kearby) McMullin in Cadet, Missouri. On Aug. 30, 1980, he married Freda McMullin. She survives...

James “Gene” Hobbs, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, at Piedmont Newnan Hospital, in Newnan, Georgia.

GREENVILLE — The Wayne County Health Center will be closed for the remainder of the week because of illness among staff. “We are closed this week due to illness,” said administrator Rhonda Eads in an email. Nursing staff, Eads said, “are working from home to follow up on all positive cases of COVID.”...

Rev. Jimmie Bruce, 91, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Jan.16, 2022 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Oct. 8, 1930 to the late James and Mary (Scofield) Bruce. He married Edna Mae (Davidson) June 7, 1952 in Piggott, Arkansas. She preceded in death Jan. 23, 2016...

Butler County Health Department offers Narcan and nonjudgemental support to those struggling with addiction in Poplar Bluff through the CDC’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program. “This is a great program that we have that is reaching the community. That’s our biggest goal, is to reach the community to help people find resources for addiction — and we do Narcan, so that’s a big thing to help save lives,” said heath educator Amy Bland, who runs the program...

POPLAR BLUFF FIRE DEPARTMENT Firefighters were dispatched at 5:48 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, to a reported shed fire at 1814 Bradley St. Upon arrival, the shed was fully involved and on the ground. Firefighters used 50 gallons of water to put the fire out. The occupant of the shed, which was owned by Paul White, reported burning brush near the shed when it caught fire...