Stories from Tuesday, December 24, 2019

GREENVILLE — For decades, members of Greenville’s Masonic Lodge No. 107 have brightened Christmas for widows of its deceased members, and this year was no different. “Part of Masonic teaching is the obligation to look after the widows of our members,” said Secretary David Bollinger, “and we’ve always done something for them.”...

_ City firefighters responded at 6:16 p.m., Monday, Dec. 23, to a report of unauthorized burning at 11th and Lester streets. Upon their arrival, firefighters found the occupants of 1125 Lester St. burning leaves. They told the occupants about the city’s burning ordinance and used 10 gallons of water to extinguish the fire...

Students at Poplar Bluff junior high and high school will have new policies around vaping in the new semester. The R-I school board discussed the new policy at its monthly meeting in December. The conversation started a month earlier when Dr. Scott Dill, superintendent, brought up concerns voiced by Gov. Mike Parson about the issue...

When Debra Parish started in education, becoming a superintendent wasn’t in her plan. However, in July she stepped into the role for the Neelyville R-IV school district. “It’s like the other 33 years I’ve done (in education),” Parish said. “It’s going fast and furious. This is a challenging, crazy, complex job, but I am thoroughly enjoying it...

The first two months of 2019 saw the opening of new the Libla Family Sports Complex at Three Rivers College and the groundbreaking of a new state-of-the-art learning resource center at the local VA medical center. Authorities also shut down a “flop house” in downtown Poplar Bluff, evicting 26 from the property and safely disarmed a suicidal man after a 10-hour standoff at Dudley...

_ Lane Joe Pennington, 23, of Qulin was arrested Friday, Dec. 20 on Butler County warrants for being an owner/operator of a motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility and possession of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Butler County jail...