Year in Review; Transitions mark end of 2020

From the election of a new president of the United States to the passing of a well-known area businessman, change was the word of the day as 2020 ended.

Former Vice-President Joe Biden defeated incumbent Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 general election, though the outcome was not official until several days later. Meanwhile, the area saw the passing of two more outstanding community members, as Colvin McDonald died in November and Harry Blackwell died on Christmas Day.

October

Oct. 1

• It is reported Macie Elizabeth Williams, 19, died from injuries suffered after being struck by a vehicle on Monday while walking on Barron Road.

Oct. 2

• Audrey Lack is crowned homecoming queen at Poplar Bluff High School by retiring Queen Khelie Spence.

Oct. 5

• The Poplar Bluff City Council voted 4-3 to allow Stifel Financial to proceed with steps to finance the planned $11.6-million police department to be constructed on Shelby Road.

Oct. 6

• It is reported a hunter found the body of a man near Wappapello over the weekend.

Oct. 10

• An estimated 150 runners participated in the Badge of Honor Benefit Run, which started and finished on the campus of Three Rivers College.

Oct. 14

Poplar Bluff High School junior Austin Stoner in October was named the school’s first ever All-American trap shooter.DAR/Paul Davis

• Is reported PBHS junior Austin stoner is the school’s first All-American trap shooter.

• oplar Bluff junior high school teacher Joshua Olsen, 40, appears in court on charges of first-degree rape or attempted rape and first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy.

Oct. 15

• Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs announces a body found in the woods near Wappapello had been positively identified as Ronald Dale Moore, 50, who had been missing since Sept. 11.

Oct. 28

• It is reported Robert Lee Coats, 83, of Poplar Bluff has been found safe in Mississippi after being missing since Oct. 20.

Oct. 30

• It is reported state regulators suspended Gamma Healthcare for what is alleged were serious violations, which put patients’ health at risk.

November

Nov. 3

• Republican incumbent Butch Anderson holds off a challenge from Van Rhodes to retain his seat as Butler County’s eastern district commissioner.

Nov. 14

• t is reported renovations have begun at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library.

Nov. 16

• Captain D’s opens its doors as the first occupant of a food plaza on the north end of Doniphan.

Nov. 19

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center opened a new urgent care on its Westwood Boulevard campus in late November.DAR/Michael Shine

• It is reported a new urgent care facility has opened at the John J. Pershing VA medical Center in Poplar Bluff.

Nov. 25

• It is reported Colvin McDonald, a long time community leader and preservationist in Poplar Bluff, died on Nov. 21 at the age of 80.

December

Dec. 3

• It is reported Christopher Gilmore was arrested in connection with an apparent homicide and assault in Poplar Bluff. Another suspect, Stacy Gipson, remained at large.

Dec. 5

• It is reported the 2021 Ag Expo has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dec. 9

• Amber Longhibler is sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

Dec. 10

• It is reported Tara Janae Maxfield was sentenced to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder in relation to the 2017 death of Tommy Eugene Younger.

Dec. 18

• It is reported substitute teachers with the Poplar Bluff R-1 school district will see a salary increase from $70 per day to $90 per day. Former teachers from the district who served as substitutes now will receive $100 a day.

Dec. 22

• It is reported Noah Burke, 35, of Poplar Bluff, died while in custody at the Butler County jail.

• It is reported the City of Poplar Bluff has secured $3 billion in funding for four-lane project of Highway 67 south to the Arkansas border.

Dec. 25

• Harry Blackwell, the owner of the Harry Blackwell family of dealerships in Dexter in Malden and former co-owner of a dealership in Poplar Bluff, dies at the age of 78.

Dec. 26

Longtime Carter County Sheriff Rick Stephens announced his retirement earlier this year and was featured in the DAR Dec. 26.DAR/Paul Davis

• It is reported Carter County Sheriff Rick Stephens will retire at the end of the year.

Dec. 29

• It is reported a new convenience store will soon open at the corner of Ninth and Maud streets in Poplar Bluff, despite the concerns of residents in the neighborhood.