Stories from Tuesday, January 25, 2022

As Patrolman Molly Johns canvassed the Poplar Bluff community in drizzling snow, she witnessed within five to 10 minutes two homeless men walking the streets. Johns felt she needed to take action, so she pulled up to the Dollar General Store on Highway 53 to buy blankets...

GATEWOOD — An Arkansas man sustained serious injuries in a one-vehicle accident at 5:40 p.m. Monday on Highway 142, one mile east of Gatewood. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Edwards D. Foster, 51, of Williford, Arkansas, was operating a 2003 Suzuki motorcycle eastbound when it ran off the right side of the road and overturned, ejecting Foster...

Shirley Jean Whalen, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed away Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Shirley was born April 10, 1936, to Burnice and Hortense (Cozart) Thomas in Luxora, Arkansas. She married Charles Whalen on April 6, 1963. They enjoyed 58 years together before Charles passed away in May 2021...

Adult psychiatrist, Brian Braumiller, DO, has joined the medical staff of Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center (PBRMC) as the new Medical Director of Behavioral Health Services. “Dr. Braumiller brings many years of diverse service to the behavioral health service line. ...

Several local propane professionals have been elected to serve as Directors and Officers of the Missouri Propane Education and Research Council (MOPERC). The Council recently installed its new leadership at the group’s winter meeting in Ridgedale, Missouri. The slate was approved at the MOPERC fall meeting in Jefferson City and includes representatives from across the state who serve in various capacities...

Edwardsville, Ill. — On a frigid Jan. 17, 1977, R.P. Lumber Co., Inc. opened its doors for the first time in Staunton, Illinois. The young entrepreneur that opened the doors that day didn’t see a customer for three days and battled a bitter winter, but today the company operates 81 lumberyards, two components manufacturing facilities, a farm and ranch retail subsidiary with 22 locations, and is involved in numerous other business and civic ventures. ...

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center has announced Steve Nelson, PT, MBA as its new chief operations officer, effective Monday, Feb. 7. “Steve brings many years of operation experience and a demonstrated track record of improving operations, growing services...

The Neelyville R-IV School District was back in session Monday and attendance numbers were up, Superintendent Debra Parish said. The school was closed last week because of COVID. “Our attendance has improved,” Parish said. “We are at 92.6% attendance rate. We have seven positives, which are also down. So, things are better.”...

Ernestine Cleta Gilton, 92, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed away Jan. 24, 2022, at her home in Poplar Bluff. Ernestine was born on July 12, 1929, to Earnest and Velma Lourance in Mountain View, Arkansas. She married Ilar Gilton June 15, 1946. Ernestine grew up in Qulin, Missouri. ...

The reception Saturday for the Three Rivers Alumni Art Exhibit drew plenty of art lovers from the Poplar Bluff area. Eight artists, all of whom are TRC graduates, were represented in the show. They are Sara Hoefer, Ivory Morgan, Skylar Vaughn, Robert Abney, Charles W. ...

FISK, Mo. — Roma Francis Dortch, 86, of Fisk, Missouri, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 at her residence in Fisk. Mrs. Dortch was born Oct. 7, 1935, daughter of the late Pat and Louise Duggins. She was an avid Cardinals Baseball fan and she never liked to miss a game...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Deputies responded at 4:49 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17, to an alarm at the Munch-n-Pump at 2605 Township Line Road, where they found the front door had been broken. _ A resident of the 1600 block of County Road 467 reported at 3:14 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, that a sliding glass door to his/her residence had been broken out. Upon further investigation, it was determined a tractor was missing from a barn on the property...

Captain Philip E. Gregory, commanding officer of Troop E, Poplar Bluff, announced the promotion of Trooper Brooks A. Pratt, effective Feb. 1, 2022. Pratt has been promoted to the rank of corporal and designated the assistant zone supervisor of Zone 7, Mississippi, New Madrid and Scott counties. ...

The Poplar Bluff School Foundation recently voted to fund over $3,500 in competitive grants designated to benefit a range of students, both at-risk and gifted, at the Middle School and Junior High. “I’m glad we have this many applications; that’s a good thing,” commented Emily Wolpers, Foundation chairperson, during the November meeting of the nonprofit organization. ...