Stories from Tuesday, March 26, 2024

KENNETT — In what appears to be a result of miscommunication and various unfortunate circumstances, Melvin D. Anderson — who was already convicted of murder — will be receiving a new trial. According to the judgment entered on Wednesday, March 20, Judge Mark Preyer notes that the matter has “traveled a difficult, unexpected, and tragically unique road.”...

Eather (Eletha) Jackson Murphy, 95. Born: Feb. 8, 1929. Died: March 15, 2024 Mrs. Murphy died peacefully at home in Phoenix, Arizona. She lived in Broseley and Poplar Bluff most of her life. She was a dedicated member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses...

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, Thurman L. Keele, Jr. (Leon), passed away at the age of 77. Leon was born Nov. 15, 1946, in Illinois to Thurman Keele, Sr. (Monk) and Lillian Louise (Collyott) Keele. He served in the United State Air Force from 1966 to 1970 and retired from Pace Construction in 1998. Leon loved to take his boat out and fish for bass, his largest being 11.1 pounds at Town Lake in Mt. Pleasant, Texas...

Freida Adell Clements, 81, of Piedmont, died Friday, March 22, at her residence. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 27, at Masonic Cemetery, Piedmont. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com.

Lekesha Nicole Moss “Sunshine”, 48 , of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away March 22, 2024, completely unexpected, and her family and friends are profoundly saddened. Lekesha was born Jan. 19,1976, to Marie Jones and James Earl McIntyre in Hayti, Missouri. ...

Would you like it if you and members of your family could live to 100? If Thursday’s Blue Zones presentation at the Missouri Highlands office in Poplar Bluff is any indication, it could be an eventual possibility.

Two candidates are seeking to serve as the Ward One alderperson for the city of Neelyville. The candidates are Vickie L. LeCroy and Amanda Collier, and the position carries a two-year term.

There is one contested race for Neelyville Board of Education, involving two seats with two-year terms.

Six pets found loving local families on Saturday during the PetSmart National Adoption Event, held in collaboration with the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri. “It was the most we’ve had adopted at the event,” said Director Corretta Bishop...

Shuttles will be available April 6 and 8 to help alleviate traffic congestion in Poplar Bluff for the music festival and eclipse. President of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce Steve Halter explained the service will be free. The chamber and the city are sponsoring five shuttles, each capable of taking 30 passengers...

One of Ripley County’s most contentious damage suits is resolved on this day in 1924 — a food poisoning case against a Poplar Bluff restaurant. Three men remain missing at Lake Wappapello in 1949, and Southeast Missouri peach farmers face serious losses in 1974...

PUXICO, Mo. — A Puxico man was killed in a single-vehicle crash Tuesday, March 25 in Stoddard County. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at 8:55 a.m. on Highway J, two miles west of Puxico, as the westbound vehicle driven by Vaden S. Woolard, 41, of Puxico traveled off the road and struck a culvert then overturned, ejecting him...