Stories from Friday, April 15, 2022

When you meet 18-year-old Ashton Clark of Poplar Bluff, you see a typical teenager with cool hair sporting his favorite college sweatshirt who loves video games and Star Wars. What you don’t see are the multiple scars and wounds covering his outer body and internal organs. His long history of doctors visits and surgeries are nowhere to be found in the sheepish grin he gives when recalling the time he told an inquiring store clerk his wounds came from a helicopter fall...

Memorial Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff celebrated Good Friday by bearing crosses publicly in honor of the Easter holiday. Each year a group stands in front of the church on the corner of Hwy. 53 and South Broadway in Poplar Bluff in an expression of faith.

What is Easter? Every year this day rolls around and yet it is often overlooked for its importance. When asking your average person about Easter, they will probably say something along the lines of “It’s a day celebrating spring,” or, “It is the time with the bunny and colorful eggs.”...

VAN BUREN – Ozark National Scenic Riverways Ranger Zack Swindle was recently honored with the Director’s Leadership Award during his graduation from the Land Management Police Training Program. The event was held April 6 at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia...

Dorothy Jane Marble Davidson, an avid traveler, left Poplar Bluff for her last grand adventure on Saturday, March 26, 2022. She was born Oct. 13, 1922, to Lee B. Marble and Dorothy Rebecca Smith in Portland, Arkansas. Due to the death of her parents at an early age, her maternal grandparents Dr. Robert L. Smith and Gertrude Munday Smith became her legal guardians. She was much loved and grew up in their family home in Russellville, Arkansas...

Jerome W. “Whit” Burford, 76, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, died Monday, April 11, 2022 at his home. Jerome was born Nov. 18, 1945 in Doniphan, Missouri to Edwin King Burford, Sr. and Anna Ruth Whitfield Burford. He and the former Janet L. Chamberlain were married Dec. 31, 1966 in Doniphan...

Helen Louise (nee Carrell) Stogsdill, 98, of St. Louis, previously of Poplar Bluff, entered into rest on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Born Tuesday, Jan. 1, 1924 to the late Clarence and Mary Elizabeth Carrell (nee McFarland) in Flint, Michigan. Preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Rudolph Preslar and her second husband Carl Stogsdill...

Rev. Bill Wiles, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed away April 12, 2022 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Bill was born Aug. 11, 1931 to Houston and Clara (Neely) Wiles in Malden, Missouri. He married Jeanette Marie (Pulliam) July 9, 1953. She survives...

PIEDMONT, Mo. — Marion Moore Jr. 82, of Piedmont, died Thursday, April 14, at his residence. Visitation is at noon, Monday, April 18, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral following at 1 p.m., also in the Piedmont Chapel. Burial is in Jacktown Cemetery, Clubb, with full military honors...

Byron Curtis Davis, 59, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri died Thursday, April 14, 2022, in Poplar Bluff.

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and the fish are jumping at Wappapello State Park. It can only mean one thing — spring has sprung in this unique corner of Southeast Missouri. Lake Wappapello offers camping and hiking in its forests, and boating of all kinds on the water...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON Staff Writer Nearly six dozen dogs sniffed their way through the Downtown Dog Park to retrieve plastic eggs filled with treats during a recent Doggy Easter Egg Hunt. “We had about 70 dogs show up within seven different time slots with over 130 humans,” said Kennedy Thayer, Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation program coordinator. ...

Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland member Logan Luke of Poplar Bluff has been awarded the title of Missouri’s Youth of the Year. Luke was selected from among 14 youth across the state for the honor and is the first local club member to win the award. He will represent Missouri in the Regional Youth of the Year competition in Chicago in June. He was accompanied this week by administrative staff and club board members to Jefferson City for the Youth of the Year conference in Jefferson City...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Lesa Renae Farris, 54, of Poplar Bluff was booked at the Butler County jail Thursday, April 14, on suspicion of marijuana possession. _ Sierra Nicole Handschumacher, 22, of Poplar Bluff was booked at the Butler County jail Thursday, April 14, to serve a one year sentence...