Stories from Monday, June 6, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff History Museum is currently displaying a unique collection of letters that offers an intimate snapshot into a soldier's life in Nazi Germany, and hope to somehow return those letters to his family. The museum came into possession of correspondence addressed to and from German Army Pvt. Ernst Hoff while preparing to display the World War II uniform of Pvt. Herbert V. Larson of Poplar Bluff...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer JACKSON, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., city council member and two members of his family have been named in a civil suit that claims they defrauded an elderly former neighbor for more than $150,000 in cash and property following the death of the man's wife and his own cancer diagnosis...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer VAN BUREN, Mo. -- An attempt to remove the current mayor of Van Buren will go to trial. Judge David Evans ruled Thursday against a request to dismiss the case against Mayor Michael Hoerner, who was elected in April. "The court agrees that the local prosecutor has set forth sufficient allegations in his quo warranto petition to challenge the candidate's qualifications," Evans wrote in a judgement filed at the Carter County Courthouse...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Dexter, Mo., veteran Mac Mallory was donating blood, something he did regularly, when technicians found something concerning. His heart had skipped a beat. This type of medical condition can cause blood clots to form in the heart, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke...

Government should make insurance companies pay You know I was just thinking it's kinda one-sided when various government entities make you carry various kinds of insurance and yet don't mandate that those insurance companies pay off on claims. You shouldn't have to hire an attorney to make an insurance company do what they are supposed to do when the state or federal government is forcing you to make payments to them. ...

From Staff Reports The lineage of a special tulip poplar tree planted recently by Rombauer Rascals 4-H Club of the Rombauer, Mo., along the banks of the Black River in Poplar Bluff, Mo., can be traced to the American Revolutionary War. When 4-H leader Betty Schalk and the Rombauer Rascals learned a few months ago Missouri 4-H clubs were going to receive 30 of the Liberty Trees, which had been grown through a bud grafting program, they decided to pursue getting one...

The 24th annual children's theatre drama camp will be held July 25-29 at Three Rivers College. Campers will participate in activities focusing on acting, improvisation, theater games, creative dramatics, musical theater and readers theater. They will show off what they have learned at a performance at 11 a.m. Friday, July 29 at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center in Poplar Bluff...

Percy and Peggy Kiefer of Poplar Bluff, Mo. will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary Sunday, June 12, 2016, with a reception at their home hosted by their children. Their children are Doris Hastings, Danny Kiefer, Dennis Kiefer and David Kiefer, all of Poplar Bluff, and the late Jeannie Martin. Hastings said friends and family are invited to drop by. The couple also expects their 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren to be in attendance...

With summer right around the corner, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) compiled the top five tips for protecting against mosquito and tick bites. Missourians all across our state will be enjoying our great parks, trails and streams, and should know all the proper precautions to take...

It was a horrid tragedy. A 13-year-old girl hit and killed while attempting to cross Kanell Boulevard at night. It was made even worse because the driver whose car she ran into left the scene. And then another car came along, ran over her body and also left the scene...

By MONA CHAREN A gorilla has taken control of your TV set. What an apt metaphor for the past year. In fact, of course, I refer to the actual gorilla that was (if you take the word of some of the more unhinged commenters on social media) "assassinated" by zoo officials in Cincinnati...

Joyce McGill Eaker MALDEN, Mo. -- Joyce McGill Eaker, 71, of Malden died Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at her residence in Malden. Visitation will be from noon-1 p.m. Monday, June 6, 2016 at the Landess Funeral Home Chapel in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the Landess Funeral Home Chapel in Malden with Rev. Stewart-Allen Clark officiating. Burial will be in the Tucker Addition Cemetery in Campbell, Mo...

Jackie Thompson Jackie Thompson, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away on May 29, 2016 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born on July 19, 1929 in Malden, Mo. and graduated Malden High School. On March 18, 1950 she married Johnny C. Thompson in Piggott, Ark. He preceded her in death on Sept. 19, 2006...

Jimmy Mangrum WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- Jimmy Ray Mangrum, 54, of Wappapello, Mo., died Friday, June 3, 2016, at his residence. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Wappapello. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral chapel, with burial following at Little Brushy Cemetery adjacent to the funeral home. The Rev. Jim Schremp will officiated at the funeral and burial...

Margaret Casinger Margaret E. Casinger, 68, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, June 4, 2016, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. The arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Amy Louise (Crader) Jett DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Amy Louise (Crader) Jett, 35, of Jonesboro, Ark., departed this life Sunday, May 29, 2016, at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro, Ark. Mrs. Jett, daughter of Daniel and Laurie (Shreves) Crader, was born Feb. 1, 1981, in Doniphan, Mo. She had been a case worker with the Department of Human Services in Jonesboro...

Thomas Edgar Barker Thomas Edgar Barker, 64, of Harviell, Mo. went to be with the Lord on June 1, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born on March 31, 1952 to Marion and Stella (Harris) Barker in Poplar Bluff. He graduated from Neelyville High School in 1970. Thomas retired from Gates Rubber Company. After he retired he worked in maintenance for Advanced Health Care. On May 15, 1971 he married Carylon Gill in Harviell, Mo...

The Poplar Bluff Piranhas swim team opened its season Saturday at the Black River Coliseum Aquatic Center as nine relays won events in various age groups against River City, Farmington, Charleston and Sikeston. Raegan McAtee won three 13-14 division races, the backstroke (1 minute, 08.65 seconds), the 50-yard freestyle (27.33 seconds) and the IM (2:29.99). ...