Stories from Wednesday, July 31, 2024

The crowded field of Republican candidates for Butler County eastern and western district commissioners had the chance to state their case at a candidate forum Tuesday evening at the courthouse. Each individual was given five minutes to pitch their platform to the voters and spoke in the order they will appear on the ballot.

An individual was discovered deceased in a vehicle Tuesday night in Mansion Mall parking lot, with an overdose suspected as the cause.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration distributed a notice of an expanded voluntary recall of produce possibly contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes from Wiers Farm last week. Missouri locations of Kroger regularly carry cucumbers, peppers, squash and tomatillos from this source.

Newspapers on this date highlighted the benefits and setbacks of progress. 1924 was a boom year for Southeast Missouri’s agriculture, and also saw speculation on the future of Williamsville, whose primary export at that time was timber. The railroad could make it a hub of agriculture and smelting, The Daily Republican speculated. However, the downside of industry was clear in 1974, when the Missouri Pacific Railroad was forced to clean up oil contaminating the Black River...

Betty Kathleen Burton, 90, of Cabot, passed from this life into the arms of Jesus Monday, July 29, 2024. She was born Aug. 12, 1933 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to the late Edward and Emma Aden Heifner. Betty attended McArthur Assembly of God Church until her health prevented her attendance. She and her sister, Margaret, both played the accordion, sang together on a Christian radio program and were very musically inclined. Betty was full of personality and very outgoing...

Elvin Thompson, 92, of Patterson, Missouri passed away Friday, July 26, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Visitation is at 5 p.m., Friday, August 2, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral is at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 3, also in the Piedmont Chapel. Burial is in Mill Spring Cemetery, with full military honors...

Kittye Alice Hall, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed into her promised heavenly home July 30, 2024, to meet her Savior and be reunited with her family. Kittye was born the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, to Joseph Arvil and Alice Belle (Sinks) Hall in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Shortly after her arrival, the news of Pearl Harbor bombing was received...

Linda Lunyou, 82, of Piedmont, Missouri, died Monday, July 29, 2024. Visitation is at 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 3, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral is at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 4, also in the Piedmont Chapel. Burial is in Duncan Cemetery. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Ruth Eastwood, 76, of Poplar Bluff passed away July 30, 2024. Visitation will be Saturday from 11 a.m. -noon at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. See www.fowlersullivanfuneralhome.com for a full obituary.