Stories from Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Studying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, Erin More Ceesay learned, “to be a great leader, you must have a servant’s heart.” Ceesay was the keynote speaker Monday at the 33rd annual community celebration in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Wheatley School...

DONIPHAN, Mo. — Joan L. Ayling, 66, of Doniphan, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 at her residence. A service is to be held at noon, Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Doniphan United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.edwardsfuneralhome.org

A nationwide grant was awarded to a Poplar Bluff non-profit group to help keep area school children’s stomachs full and, in turn, their minds focused on learning. The Bread Shed was one of 150 organizations in the country to receive a $10,000 grant from the Joy in Childhood Foundation...

Jennifer Nicole and Joshua David Elsworth Sr., of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the birth of their 8-pound 8-ounce son, Johnathon Dale Elsworth. He was born at 7:19 a.m., Dec. 11, 2018 at Saint Francis Healthcare Family Birthplace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. and was 20.5 inches long...

Jamie Lynn and David Michael Kelley, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the birth of their 4-pound 10-ounce son, Oliver Michael Kelley. He was born at 10:51 a.m., Nov. 27, 2018 at Saint Francis Healthcare Family Birthplace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. and was 17.5 inches long...

Joyce Renee and Donald Charles Williams Jr., of Fairdealing, Mo., announce the birth of their 8-pound 10-ounce son, Abel Ricky Allen Williams. He was born at 10:51 a.m., Nov. 30, 2018 at Saint Francis Healthcare Family Birthplace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. and was 21 inches long...

Grandin native Laura Nance invites the community to an open house from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at the new Country Care Family Clinic in Ellsinore. Nance, a family nurse practitioner, recently opened the clinic at 3 East Cleveland Ave. with a primary goal of helping those without medical insurance coverage...

Robert Randolph, owner of the new Fairfield Inn at 3109 Oak Grove Rd. in Poplar Bluff, cuts a ribbon to officially open the business during a ceremony hosted by the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce.

An estimated 8,000 people turned out Friday and Saturday for the 33rd annual Ag Expo, held at the Black River Coliseum. The event, sponsored by the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and Three Rivers College Agriculture Club, featured more than 100 local vendors...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Patty Harty, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 21, 2019 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will be from 5 - 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25 at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. A celebration of life will immediately follow at 6 p.m. in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel with Nathan Kirkley officiating...

City firefighters responded at 3:33 a.m. Tuesday to a fire alarm at 2233 N. Westwood Boulevard. According to the report, upon arrival firefighters found an indoor sprinkler line had burst in a break room causing water to flow in the outdoor canopy section. Water was not being released indoors...

It has been 70 years since Paul McGhee took his bar exam and began practicing law in Stoddard County. At age 93, McGhee is the most senior judge who still regularly presides over cases in the Missouri state court’s system. Since taking senior judge status in January 1995, McGhee may no longer be as active as he once was, but he still drives himself to Poplar Bluff twice a month to hear cases...

A site plan has been approved by the city planning department for a 125,000 square foot building on South 11th Street, which could be the location of a new factory in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park. The plan was submitted last week and dirt work has already started at the location, under the direction of Zoellner Construction of Perryville, according to planning department officials...