Stories from Wednesday, August 3, 2016

An Anna, Illinois man has died due to injuries sustained jumping from a bluff on Current River just north of Van Buren, Missouri. The mishap occurred Saturday afternoon The Missouri State Highway Patrol has not released the name of the individual, saying only that he is a 26-year-old white male from the aforementioned city...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Butler County deputies on Saturday afternoon responded to a report of a 3-year-old child walking alone on the East Outer Road just south of Poplar Bluff. According to incident reports, a concerned citizen approached the little girl and attempted to find her home. The citizen then called deputies, who after interviewing several people in the neighborhood near Outer Road and Discount Drive, were able to find the child's home...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Less than two years after the city of Poplar Bluff spent more than $3.5 million on technology upgrades that should have put a new computer on every employee's desk, officials are buying PC equipment again. The city council voted Monday to purchase approximately $27,000 in Lenovo mini PCs and associated software...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff Municipal Library is gearing up for its first annual Book in The Bluff event, which will feature a number of activities themed around the Daniel J. Brown novel "The Boys in the Boat." Library officials say the novel, which is set in the same year the current library was constructed, is a great way to continue their centennial celebration occurring throughout 2016...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer Butler County residents were out and about early Tuesday morning, exercising their right to vote. While traffic was slow at a few polling locations in Poplar Bluff, Mo., a desire for change was a common motivator. Resident Tim Willoughby votes at the former armory building, located just off Main Street. Willoughby says he likes to vote for people who have never been in office...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A new Poplar Bluff Police Department will be constructed downtown with the new city hall building, city council members decided Monday. City Manager Mark Massingham made the proposal, asking for and receiving approval to look for an architect...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Butler County authorities continue to investigate a weekend armed robbery at the new Motel 6 on Highway 67 North. At about 2:15 a.m. Saturday, Butler County deputies were sent to the motel after an employee called reporting a "male subject entered the business brandishing a gun and stole money," Deputy Derek House wrote in his report...

Jack Kellett CORNING, Ark., -- Jack Kellett, 80, of Corning, passed away Friday, July 29, 2016 at Mark Twain Nursing Home in Poplar Bluff. Born Jan. 21, 1936 in Corning, Mr. Kellett was a retired painter. He attended Corning Church of Christ. Survivors are his children Mark Kellett of St. ...

Earl "Hutch" Hutchinson DEXTER, Mo. -- Earl "Hutch" Hutchison, 92, of Dexter, died Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in Dexter. Visitation will be from noon - 2 p.m., Wednesday, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m., in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, with Pastor Ron Beaton and Rev. Mike Williams both of Dexter, officiating...

Penalize city for negligence Hello, Speak Out. I just saw the news clip on KFVS Channel 12 about the Benton City Hall and Police Headquarters. It looked just like Poplar Bluff. They had, you know, plastic covering over their computers, their desks, and everything and I thought -- well, either some of people from Benton are in Poplar Bluff operating or people from Poplar Bluff are operating over in Benton. ...

Charles Hanna Charles Hanna, 85, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 at the Manor in Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

By GEORGE F. WILL PHILADELPHIA -- En route to fight one of his many duels, French politician Georges Clemenceau bought a one-way train ticket. Was he pessimistic? "Not at all. I always use my opponent's return ticket for the trip back." Some Hillary Clinton advisers, although not that serene, think her victory is probable and can be assured...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN The self-righteousness and smugness of Ted Cruz in refusing to endorse Donald Trump, then walking off stage in Cleveland, smirking amidst the boos, takes the mind back in time. At the Cow Palace in San Francisco in July of 1964, Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, having been defeated by Barry Goldwater, took the podium to introduce a platform plank denouncing "extremism."...

Dessie I. Renard Dessie I. Renard, 91, of Cape Girardeau Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Sunday, July 31, 2016 at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Mrs. Renard, the daughter of the late Albert F. and Alpha Lemonds Mounce, was born Dec. ...

Shiloh Cemetery meeting Aug. 13 The annual Shiloh Cemetery meeting will be held at noon Saturday, Aug. 13. Lunch will be served at noon, followed by the financial meeting and report. Send donations for cemetery maintenance and upkeep to: Secretary/Treasurer Earline Ward, 2897 CR 426, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901...

Elton Dunlap -- Harviell, Mo. Earl "Hutch" Hutchinson -- Dexter, Mo. Jack Kellett -- Corning, Ark. Dessie I. Renard -- Cape Girardeau, Mo. Charles Hanna -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Sue Messer -- Poplar Bluff, Mo.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- When the Southeast Missouri State baseball team won its first of three consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championships in 2014, Andy Sawyers was aware. What Division I baseball coach isn't aware of what other teams are winning?...

Sue Messer Sue Messer, 81, passed away on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at Westwood Hills Nursing Home in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Sue was born on March 22, 1935 to James and Hazel Decker in Great Bend, Kan. She is survived by three daughters; Donelda Cannoles of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Bronalyn (Larry) Reppert of St. ...

Elton Dunlap NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Elton Richard Dunlap, 81, of Harviell, died Sat., July 30, 2016 at his residence. He was born on Nov. 2, 1934 to Lonnie and Bernice Smith Dunlap in Harviell. Mr. Dunlap was married on April, 18, 1958 to Ada Belle Pierce in University City, Mo. ...