Stories from Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Shawn Gilmore and Neely Harris of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the birth of their 5-pound 6-ounce daughter, Lennon Kate Gilmore, born at 5 a.m., January 8, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was 19 inches long. Grandparents are Belinda Coleman of Poplar Bluff, Bobby Gilmore of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Patty Harris of Dexter, Mo. and Mike Harris of Campbell, Mo...

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...

Natali Ketcherside was named the Top Lister Producer for January at Century 21 American Realty. Ketcherside joined Century 21 in 2003. She was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. She moved to Poplar Bluff in 1993 and attended Three Rivers College. She received a business administration degree in 1997. She is a member of the Three Rivers Board of Realtors and the Missouri and National Associations of Realtors. Ketcherside received the Award of Excellence from C-21 Corporation in St. Louis...

Terri Whitten has been selling real estate since 2009 and has been them Top Lister and Producer for the past five years with her former companies. She has earned Gold, Silver and Platinum Level Awards for the past eight years. Her achievements include Top Producer in 2011, Top Lister for 2013, and Top Producer for 2016, and Top Lister and Producer for 2015 and ’17...

What is community? One definition for community is “a group of people living together in one place, especially one practicing common ownership.” When Poplar Bluff and Butler County experience a disaster such as the ice storm of 2009 or floods, everybody seems to step up to the plate and we all work together as a community to help each other. I’m sure most other communities do the same but we like to think we are exceptional and I think we are...

WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. — Leonard Edward Bilbrey, 87, of Williamsville, died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 4:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Williamsville. The funeral will follow at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16 also at the Williamsville chapel. Burial will be at Duncan Cemetery near Piedmont, Mo...

DEXTER, Mo. — Gladys Naomia Cagle, 99, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019 at the Ridgeview Living Community in Malden. Visitation will be after noon, Saturday, Feb. 16 until time of services at 1 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter...

“Remember when we drove out 12-Mile Road and parked by the lake and smooched?” Don Bollinger asks, his eyes twinkling in delight. “Oh my goodness,” his wife blushes with school-girl embarrassment, “You’re not supposed to tell that!” After 70 years of marriage, Don and Darlene are blessed with a plethora of tales that chronicle their life-long journey together...

LOWNDES, Mo. — Leo Ray Charles, 87, of Defiance, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 12 at his residence. Visitation will be at 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville, Mo. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, at Lowndes Community Church of Christ. Burial will be at Lowndes Community Church of Christ Cemetery. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

BERNIE — A shoplifting investigation at a Dollar General Store in Bernie earlier this week resulted in an area woman being charged with possessing Fentanyl in its powder form. “This is the first case in Stoddard County of Fentanyl in its powdered formed,” Bernie Chief of Police Justin Allen said in a press release. “Fentanyl typically comes in a solid or liquid form...

Pancakes and Kiwanis are a recipe for success for youngsters in the Poplar Bluff area. Children are the primary focus for the local Kiwanis Club and for 81 years, the club members have hosted an annual pancake day to raise funds to benefit them. This year’s event will be from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 16, at the Poplar Bluff Junior High School and the club members are offering others an opportunity to assist them in helping youth...

Local health officials believe Butler County could be nearing the end of a Hepatitis A outbreak. After seven years without a single reported case, the county saw 107 people test positive over a three-month period at the end of 2018. The outbreak was primarily linked to drug use, or close contact with someone who had used drugs, officials have said...

City firefighters responded at 10:47 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, to a carbon monoxide detector at the 2004 Mathis Drive residence owned by Dale Bullington. According to the report, firefighters used a gas meter to check the residence and detected a CO reading around the kitchen stove. The gas to the kitchen stove was turned off, and the residence was ventilated using natural ventilation...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Jean Stroud, 95, of Florissant, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, entered her eternal home Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 in Florissant. Jean, the daughter of the late William and Lucy Vinson Davis, was born May 20, 1923 in Butler County, Mo. ...

Poplar Bluff resident, Mable Herrin Niswonger, credits faith and family as the key to her longevity. On Feb. 15, she will celebrate a miletone birthday — her 90th. Mable was raised in Corning, Ark. where she married George Edward Niswonger in April, 1948. The couple then spent three decades living and working in Illinois before finally settling into retirement in the Poplar Bluff area...

Longtime Butler County resident, Mary Rimer, recently celebrated her 95th birthday quietly, with family and friends.