Stories from Thursday, May 2, 2019

Eight days shy of having weight loss surgery one year ago, Leanna Alexander bravely stood in front of a group of Poplar Bluff Junior High girls to share her personal story to finding self love. As a part of Chi & Company’s purpose to instill a sense of self-confidence in young women, founder Christy Frazier-Moore meets with a group of girls each month to discuss topics relating to them...

Jameson Dvorak is Sacred Heart School’s student of the month. Jameson is in Ms. Denise’s Kindergarten class. His family includes his mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, three brothers and one sister. Jameson loves Ms. Denise’s room because it helps him to learn. He also loves learning about Jesus...

The Easter season is a wonderful time in the church year. We get to look at life and death. Life and death, great (?), you question. Yes, it is. In a world which does not like to take a hard look at death, as a world who likes to alleviate pain and grief as quickly as possibly, Easter season makes us look at grief and death. The scriptures take us through it...

Yes, I have to admit it, I am a flatlander and I’m proud of it. I grew up where alligators sun themselves on the bayous of Louisiana and where the Spanish moss hangs down from the tree and blows gracefully in the hot summer wind. Until I was called to a church in Arkansas, the highest I had ever climbed was in a US Forest Service fire tower on Stink Creek near Bastrop, Louisiana and up Louisiana’s highest point, Mount Driskill...

DEXTER, Mo. — Richard Magarian, 57, of Dexter, died April 30, 2019 at his residence. Friends may call at the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter on Friday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to noon. Funeral services will them be conducted at the Lighthouse Christian Center on Friday, May 3 at noon with the Rev. Tim Russell officiating.

NEELYVILLE, Mo. — Jimmy E. Hancock, 84, of Fairdealing, Mo., died Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens in Poplar Bluff...

DONIPHAN, Mo. — Jimmy Dwayne Stewart, 59, of Doniphan, died Tuesday, April 30, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. Visitation will begin at noon, Saturday, May 4 at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Kevin Guthrie officiating.

PIEDMONT, Mo. — Rita Dilport, 71 of Piedmont died Wednesday, May 1, 2019 in Creve Coeur, Mo. Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Friday, May 3 at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4 in the Piedmont Chapel. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Rev. Albert Wood, 86, of Campbell, Mo., died Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be Sunday at Westwood Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, with the funeral service following on Monday. Times are still pending and will be announced in a full DAR obituary on Saturday or on Cotrell Funeral Service’s website: http://www.cotrellfuneralservice.com./ as soon as times have been set...

Hard work, determination and goal setting are what two Neelyville High School seniors credit for earning the top spots among their graduating peers. Amanda Lynn Moore and Robin Nicole Smith were named the valedictorian and salutatorian of the NHS class of 2019. They will speak Saturday during the graduation ceremony at the High School gym...

Retirement means it’s only time for a new adventure and 28 Poplar Bluff R-1 School employees were honored before leaving the district. Retirees gathered for a reception Thursday afternoon to visit with colleagues, family and friends before setting off on their new adventure...

Photos provided Rev. Greg Gilberto leads a prayer at the local event for the National Day of Prayer, which was moved inside Thursday at the Black River Coliseum this year because of wet weather. The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. See more photos on page 2...

City firefighters responded at 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, to a report of an unauthorized burn at the 1018 Hart St. residence owned by Robert Conner. According to the report, firefighters found a smoldering fire and used five gallons of water to put it out...

City firefighters responded at 9:55 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, to an alarm at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, 3100 Oak Grove Road. It was investigation only. ———— City firefighters responded at 9:16 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, to a report of smoke coming from the roof at the concession stand at Whiteley Park, 500 Highway 53...

Area officials are watching more expected bands of heavy rain through the weekend for potential flooding. While nothing has been reported yet in Butler County, Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers said low lying areas prone to flooding could be impacted first. Rainfall is being monitored, so first responders are prepared to take action if needed, he said...