Stories from Tuesday, February 12, 2019

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Jerry Richard Pruett, 77, died peacefully on December 25 with his daughters by his side, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Jerry is survived by his wife of 21 years, Karen Pruett and stepson Stephen Patla of Bloomfield; his daughter Kathryn Pruett and daughter and son-in-law Christi and Bob Busch, all of Charlotte, N.C.; as well as Jerry’s older brother and his wife, Larry and Darlene Pruett (and children Robin and Dan) of Jacksonville, Fla...

SILVA, Mo. — Allen J. Hicks, age 102, of Silva, passed away Sunday, February 10, 2019 at the Stockhoff Memorial Nursing Home in Fredericktown, Mo. He was born July 13, 1916 at Brooklin, Ark., the son of Charlie Hicks and Paralee (Hargrove) Hicks. A long time resident of Silva, Allen and his wife operated the Hicks Grocery in Silva. ...

The Butler County Retired Teachers group is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m., Wednesday, February 20, in the Missouri Room at the Poplar Bluff school administration building. The Missouri Room is located next to the Mules Cafe on Harper Street. Sheri Kennedy and Nicky Villasana from The Learning Lab will be on hand to highlight the successes they have had utilizing a “New Way to Teach Reading”. ...

VULCAN, Mo. — Michael Stevenson, 62, of Buffalo, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 at the Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 15 at the Vulcan Assembly of God Church. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. in the church with Rev. Keith Pyles officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. View Cemetery in Des Arc...

ST. LOUIS — The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has appointed Scott E. Spencer to its Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council for a three-year term starting in 2019. Spencer is vice chairman, president and CEO of Sterling Bank, headquartered in Poplar Bluff...

Sterling Bank recently announced the addition of Miranda Fickert as vice president. “We are very pleased to have Miranda join Sterling. Her years of experience and strong educational background will enhance our professional staff as we deliver state-of-the-art banking products and high-quality services to our customers,” Scott E. Spencer, president and CEO, said...

The Friends of Music in Kennett will continue its 2018-2019 season with a Feb. 23 concert featuring area current and retired school band directors. The Band Directors’ Town Band, directed by Dr. Michael Cates, will perform at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Kennett High School auditorium. The band will be performing songs from the Great American Songbook, including such standards as, “All of Me”, “The Days of Wine and Roses”, “Sweet Georgia Brown” and more...

Applications for the 2019 Saint Francis Healthcare Scholarship Program funded by Saint Francis Foundation and Auxiliary are now available. The program awards more than 20 scholarships of up to $2,000 annually to students pursuing a healthcare-related career...

City firefighters responded at 1:01 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, to 2340 Kentucky and a report of an alarm sounding. It was a false alarm, according to the report. ———— City firefighters responded at 5:03 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, to 1209 Gardner and a report of a smoke alarm sounding. It was caused by cooking and there was no fire, according to the report...

City firefighters responded at 2:43 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, to a report of a possible structure fire in the 800 block of South Eighth Street. According to the report, firefighters found a backpack on fire in the rear of 702 S. Eighth St. and put the fire out...

For the second year in a row, Poplar Bluff R-I has had an elementary school receive national recognition for exceptional student achievement on the MAP test. Lake Road Elementary was one of only two Missouri schools to be named a National ESEA Distinguished School out of 68 educational institutions nationwide during the program’s annual conference held Wednesday through Saturday, Jan. 30-Feb. 2, in Kansas City...

Volunteers are spending the first half of this week dipping more than 2,000 strawberries and making other Valentine’s Day treats to help Kami Spradling, 7, her brother Mack, 5, and their family raise $10,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While some items are now sold out, orders are still being taken for chocolate dipped strawberries, cookies and cake bites...

As we celebrate our National Salute to Veteran Patients Week with various festivities (Wall of Valor inductions, special proclamations, and of course – the Valentines for Veterans Concert), I think it’s important to remember that there is no better way to show our appreciation for veterans than to extend care and compassion for them when it comes to suicide prevention...

DONIPHAN — After practicing law elsewhere for two years, Edward “Ted” Thompson decided it was time for him come home to Ripley County, where he now serves as its new prosecuting attorney. “My goal is to do this job and to do it to the best of my ability,” said Thompson, who was sworn in in January. “… I’ll do the best job I can for the next four years.”...

When the National Veterans Golden Age Games commence in Anchorage, Alaska, in June, Mary Jayne Bader of Poplar Bluff will be among the participants. Bader will be competing for the third time, and is excited at the opportunity to once again test her physical abilities...

If you’ve driven through the intersection of Westwood Boulevard and Pine Street in Poplar Bluff lately, you likely spotted a new addition on the skyline – several banks of solar panels on the copper-colored roof of the Chamber of Commerce building. “I’m extremely excited about it,” said Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter of the facility’s newly-installed solar power system. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU — In addition to skill and technique, it was vision and attention to subtlety that in many cases carried the day during the 41st annual Exhibiting Excellence high school art show at the Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Harold Alan Robertson, of Poplar Bluff, died February 8, 2019. He was 96. Mr. Robertson was born on June 13, 1922 in Butler County to James Henry Robertson and Eddie (Dixon) Robertson. He attended Poplar Bluff Senior High, and was the first member of his family to graduate from high school...