Stories from Sunday, October 8, 2017

SIKESTON, Mo. -- There came a point that Anna Catherine DeHart wanted to give up music. Fresh out of college and feeling frustrated with how her career was going, the 23-year-old was like any other young adult not knowing what direction she wanted to take her life...

From Staff Reports The 10th Annual Welcome Home Celebration to honor area veterans will be held Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. VA staff will also announce the entertainer for the 2018 Valentines for Veterans Concert during the opening ceremonies, according to a press release...

Chartwells Food Service Director Dixie Harden and her team are beacons of light for families in need at Poplar Bluff R-1. For various community outreach programs, organizational partnerships, and countless hours spent volunteering behind the scenes, Harden and her staff recently were recognized for going above and beyond in their efforts to benefit the community...

A functioning smoke detector could mean a free Domino's Pizza Tuesday evening for any Poplar Bluff, Mo., resident who is randomly chosen from among the call-in orders during a four-hour period. To promote fire safety during Fire Prevention Week, the Poplar Bluff Fire Department is teaming up with the local Domino's and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for a special safety campaign...

Letter to the Editor, Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to those involved in making the 8th Annual Iron Horse Festival a great success. The weather was perfect and we had a great crowd! The festival would not be possible without our sponsors and volunteers. ...

Grand Prize Winners/Ball Award The Exhibits for the Butler county fair were judged on September 29 and displayed to the public through Saturday afternoon. Ribbons were given out in each of 44 adult sections for First, Second and Third place with award money for each. ...

Amanda Marie Willard and Todd Standley Bullington were united in marriage at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, June 24, 2017, at First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The bride is the daughter of Mark and Chris Lance. The bridegroom is the son of Stan and Joan Bullington. Pastor Byron Beck performed the ceremony. The bride was given to marriage by her father...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Mary L. Harrison, 80, of Piedmont died Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel of Piedmont.

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Lela Irene Dollins, 58, of Neelyville, Mo., passed away Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 at her residence. She was born Sept. 22, 1959 at Poplar Bluff, Mo. to the late Loyd and Agnes "Hancock" Dollins. She is survived by her son Christopher Dollins of Neelyville and Emily Crisp whom she considered as a daughter. ...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Johnny Lee Cook Sr., 65, of Crystal City, Mo., formerly of St. Louis, Mo., died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 at the St. Anthony's Medical Center of St. Louis. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel of Neelyville followed by a graveside service at 3:30 p.m. at Naylor Memorial Cemetery with Full Military Rites...

WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Rudy C. Fuchs, 81, of Williamsville died Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Services are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Williamsville. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield has had only one director since construction began on the cemetery in 2002 -- but that will change soon as Ken Swearengin chose to retire recently. Swearengin told the crowd of state officials, veterans, employees and friends that his decision to retire was a difficult one, but in the end, he decided that he needed to spend more time with his family...

By GEORGE F. WILL DETROIT -- With biblical succinctness, and foreshadowing a resurrection, Mike Duggan said, "Let there be light!" and 65,000 LED streetlights replaced the 40 percent of the city's streetlights that were broken when he took office in 2014. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN What was his motive? Why did he do it? Why did Stephen Paddock, 64, rent rooms at the Mandalay Bay hotel, sneak in an arsenal of guns, a dozen of them converted to fully automatic, and rain down death on a country music concert?...

In a season already full of comebacks and late-game drama, the Poplar Bluff football team made things more interesting Friday for Senior Night. Backup quarterback Mason Libla threw for pair a touchdowns to overcome a 14-point, first-half deficit while Poplar Bluff stopped a pair of two-point runs before Isaiah Johnson completed another rally...

DONIPHAN -- Doniphan's dream of a first-ever district title in softball started like a nightmare Friday when the first four Willow Springs batters circled the bases. But a four-run deficit only made the celebration more emotional after the Donettes rallied for an 8-5 win to claim the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 championship at Quick Creek Park...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- After stumbling over nerves in the semifinals, Dexter played one of its best games, possibly since the season opener, and held onto its dominance over Stoddard County. The Bearcats won their fifth consecutive Stoddard County Activities Association Tournament by beating Bloomfield 25-20, 25-12 on Friday night...

MALDEN -- It seemed only fitting when Malden played its first ever game against one of its all-time great coaches Friday night that the Green Wave welcomed him with the same formula he used to take the program to new heights. Seniors Tray Stevenson, Mason Brown and Broddric Annesser marked the occasion with a combined 363 yards rushing and eight touchdowns as Malden blew past Kennett and former coach Joel Wyatt 58-12 to win its eighth straight Delta Bowl...

PARK HILLS Mo. --Park Hills Central secured home field advantage for the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 playoff while closing in on a potential undefeated season. The Rebels tallied three unanswered scores with few mistakes to begin the contest, and rode the energy to a 36-20 victory against visiting Dexter on Friday night...