Stories from Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Residents can expect periodic lane closures and temporarily narrower lanes when work starts Monday on sidewalk improvements for sections of Pine Street and South Westwood Boulevard. Weather permitting, work will be completed Sept. 18, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation...

The Poplar Bluff R-1 Long Range Planning Committee met Monday to discuss the district's upcoming needs, as projects left over from the 2014 bond issue are quickly wrapping up. Discussion primarily focused on the early childhood center, now located at the newer Mark Twain campus on Main Street, and potential options for a new location...

Less than six months after being released on parole, a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man may face new charges in connection with two alleged assaults, which occurred two days apart and involved firearms. At about 2:45 p.m. Monday, Poplar Bluff police officers reportedly were sent to the area of Cole Avenue and Relief Street regarding a report of shots being fired at a vehicle...

Debra Ann Downing, 57, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Friday, June 30, 2017 at her home surrounded by her family. Services were held Monday, July 3, 2017 at the Cotrell Funeral Chapel, Minister Kelly Blackwell officiated. Burial followed in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery...

Julieanne Patterson, 75, of Fisk died Sunday, July 2, 2017 at Puxico Nursing Center in Puxico. Visitation and funeral services were held Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at the Fisk Presbyterian Church. Rev. Jim Sanders officiated. Burial followed in the Shain Memorial Cemetery...

Downtown Poplar Bluff Inc., the City of Poplar Bluff, the Chamber of Commerce, and City Council would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to Briggs & Stratton for sponsoring the annual Downtown Poplar Bluff fireworks show. We would also like to extend a thank you to Fox Radio Network for sponsoring the annual Fourth of July Parade. Winners of the patriotic float contest were P.B. Buddy Ball, Three Rivers Shrine Club and Hefner Furniture...

The following individuals have made donations to the Stoddard County Children's Home in Memory or in Honor of a loved one. Donations for January, February, March, April and May of 2017: January: Benny and Nita Lemons in Memory of Carol Ann Lemons Darrel and Toni Pyle in Memory of Gloria Burleson, Martha Guethle, Allen Kelley and Kyle Patrick Govrea...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN If Gov. Bruce Rauner and his legislature in Springfield do not put a budget together by Friday, the Land of Lincoln will be the first state in the Union to see its debt plunge into junk-bond status. Illinois has $14.5 billion in overdue bills, $130 billion in unfunded pension obligations, and no budget. "We can't manage our money," says Rauner. "We're like a banana republic."...

Applications are currently being accepted for Three Rivers College's 25th Annual Children's Theatre Summer Drama Camp. Running Aug. 7-11, this camp is open to children entering grades 2nd through 8th grades. Camp instructors, Subrina Berger and JoNell Seifert will lead the camp each day, from 9 a.m. ...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that the nomination period for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees is under way. County committees are made up of farmers and ranchers elected by other producers in their communities to guide the delivery of farm programs at the local level. ...

There is a story of a little boy who was afraid of the dark. One night his mother said to him, "Son, I can't see why you are afraid, don't you know that God is with you in the dark?" "Yes, I know that," he said, "but mother, I want someone with me with skin on." So it is with many lonely, fearful people in our world. ...

The Vital ICE App is designed to save lives and taking five minutes to fill in the information could mean the difference in saving your life. In the event of an emergency, first responders may use the Vital ICE app to retrieve the user's vital information. ...

The 40th reunion June 30 and July 1 was a special moment the Griffin Family shared by 110 people. This is the largest number of family members to attend in several years and organizers hope everyone plans to come back next year. Several sports were enjoyed by all ages-golfing, fishing and target shooting being the highlighted ones. The family thanks Duck Creek Church for letting them use the wonderful quarters again,...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Shirley June Huett, 81, of St. Louis, formerly of Bunker, Mo., died Saturday, July 8, 2017. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, at the Yount Baptist Church in Garwood, with the funeral service following at 1 p.m. Rev. Howell Burkhead will be officiating...

ELLSINORE, Mo. --Wanda Edwina Carnahan, 87, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, July 9, 2017. Visitation will be at 6 p.m., Thursday, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore, with the funeral service being held at 10 a.m., Friday. Burial will be in Kearbey Cemetery in Ellsinore...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission voted 3-0 to hire Sides Construction of Cape Girardeau, Mo., as the contractor for remodeling the Trust Building at a cost of $117,800. The building will house offices for Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner and deputies in his department...

Student registrations dates for the Puxico R-8 school year will be Monday, Aug. 7 and Thursday, Aug. 10 with Back to School Night taking place Monday, Aug. 14. The members of the freshmen class and their parents are invited to the annual Freshmen Tipoff located in the school cafeteria Aug. 7. The evening will begin with pizza at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting begin promptly at 6 p.m...

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge staff invites the public for coffee and conversation from 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Thursday, July 13, at the Visitor Center, located at 24279 State Highway 51, one mile north of Puxico. Have a question about the refuge? Interested in how staff manages the refuge for wildlife? Wondering about recreation opportunities? The open house will be the perfect opportunity to chat with Mingo staff and learn more about this unique resource. ...

During the Puxico VFW Homecoming Aug. 8-12, the majority of the downtown streets will be under the control of VFW Post #7822. However, the City of Puxico will have a 50-foot section of street area on the south of Richardson Avenue from Mel's Diner to the parking lot that is designate for use by non-profit organizations...

The American Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for eligible blood and platelet donors of all blood types to give now and help save lives. Blood donations have fallen short of expectations for the past two months, resulting in about 61,000 fewer donations than needed and causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply. The shortfall is the equivalent of the Red Cross not collecting any blood donations for more than four days...

With a 1-stroke lead, Nathan Woolard birdied the 17th hole for a 2-and-1 victory over his older brother, Nick, to win the 2017 Westwood Hills Country Club match play championship Sunday. Nathan, a Poplar Bluff senior, was 5-under par for the match with five birdies, an eagle and two bogies...