Stories from Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Samantha Gatewood Douglas of Poplar Bluff has been named this year’s Three Rivers College Alumni Star. She will be honored at the Alumni Reunion festivities on Feb. 4, including a reception that day. “During her time at Three Rivers and beyond, Samantha has been engaged and involved,” said Michelle Reynolds, director of development at TRC. “She continues to share her enthusiasm and pride for the College in many ways.”...

Muhammad Diakhaby, better known to those who love him as ‘Moe,’ recently experienced a life-changing setback while in Seattle, Washington, for a job interview with Microsoft in mid-october. “I was going through a crosswalk, a pedestrian crosswalk and I had my earphones in – I didn’t see anybody either way – all I remember is looking to my left, I just see headlights and I wake up in the ambulance,” said Diakhaby. “When I woke up, I couldn’t feel my legs or anything — that was just surreal.”...

Southeast Missouri's U.S. Rep. Jason Smith is one of three men vying to become chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee in the 118th Congress, which is set to begin Jan. 3. A spokesperson in Smith's Washington office told the Southeast Missourian a decision on the chairmanship by the House Republican Steering Committee could be pushed to early January — at least until after the speakership election...

A Dexter man faces up to four life sentences after being found guilty Tuesday by a Stoddard County jury of molesting two children under the age of 5. Billy D. Stitz, 65, was found guilty of three counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree and one count of statutory rape in the first degree perpetrated against two children under the age of 5, said Stoddard County Prosecutor Russ Oliver in a press release...

BENTON, Mo. — A day after the Scott County Commission ordered the county’s K-9 to be reunited with its former handler, the sheriff said early Wednesday he will seek the lawful return of K-9 Rex. In a news release issued Wednesday, Scott County Sheriff Wes Drury said K-9 Rex was purchased with money donated to the Scott County Sheriff’s Office...

James David Hicks Sr., 75, of Fisk, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in the very same house he was born in on Oct. 21, 1947. He was the son of the late Ernest and Agnes Hicks. On Aug. 26, 1967, he married Carol Ann Meehan. She preceded him in death on March 4, 2011...

A local Aire Solutions technician received national recognition at the ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship last month. Auston Pickard has worked for Aire Solutions for five years. This year he earned his NATE certification — a stamp of approval from HVACR collective North American Technician Excellence — and was invited to compete in an online, multi-round HVAC proficiency test. ...

David Ray Roberts, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Roberts was born Feb. 6, 1956, in St. Louis, Missouri, son of the late Floyd Poe Roberts and Betty Jane Morgan. He is survived by one daughter: Katelyn Roberts and fiancé, Austin, of Nixa, Missouri; three grandchildren: Demetria Ra’Shae and Riley Rae Taylor and Thatcher Bagwell; three siblings: Karen Canter of Nixa, Melodie Bailey and Merl Morgan, both of Poplar Bluff. ...

Sarah Kubus, Julie Spencer and Terri Whitten have been named Top Listers for November at Century 21 American Realty. Kubus was born and raised in Poplar Bluff. She graduated from PBHS, attended Truman State University, and went on to earn a master’s degree in teaching, later returning to teach at the Poplar Bluff school district before going into real estate...

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center recently presented its BEE Award to Red Coat Ambassador Kevin Haggett, according to a press release from the hospital. The BEE Award stands for Being Exceptional Every (Day) and was adopted by the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in 2021. ...

Trina Morris, 49, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, at PBRMC. Visitation is at noon Friday, Dec. 16, Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral service is at 2 p.m., also in the Piedmont Chapel. Burial is in Forest Chapel in Piedmont. Online condolences; www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Butler County Sheriff’s Department Robert Cline, 41, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 14 at the Probation Parole Community Supervision Center at 1441 Black River Industrial Park Rd. Cline was booked in on a Butler County warrant for first peace disturbance and harassment. Bond was set at $20,000 and he was lodged in the Butler County jail...

Poplar Bluff Police Department David Beaird reported at 7:55 a.m. Dec. 13, someone stole a license plate from his vehicle while it was parked in the 1100 block of Herschel Bess Boulevard. _ An employee at Save-A-Lot at 452 Hwy 53 reported at 9:09 a.m. Dec. 13, that on Dec. 8, a white male stole two packages of Pop-Tarts...

Butler County Sheriff's Department Melvin Lee Loness, 51, of Poplar Bluff, was booked at the Butler County jail at 5 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, for first degree trespassing with bond set at $20,000. _ Robert Lewis Cline, 41, of Fisk, was booked at the Butler County jail at 8:35 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, for first degree harrassment with a bond set at $20,000...