Stories from Friday, February 7, 2020

During his floor speech explaining his vote to convict Donald Trump, Mitt Romney was overcome by emotion and paused to compose himself. The intense moment came when he spoke of his devotion to God, saying: “I am profoundly religious. My faith is at the heart of who I am.” Lump in throat. Long pause. “I take an oath before God as enormously consequential.” The oath, in this case, was the one all 100 senators swore -- to do impartial justice as jurors in the trial of the president...

The students of the Black Belt Academy recently competed at the ATA Regional Tournament in Memphis, Tennessee, earning 15 medals. They include: four first place; six second place; and five third place. Pictured are: back row, Laura Bowman, Walter Rommel, Damon Weible and Tony Page; front row, Jude Funke, Ryker Hampton, Zoie Franklin and Dean Weible...

Clara Wilkerson Wilkerson is in Mrs. Miller’s pre-K classroom. Mrs. Miller states “Clara cares about others. She demonstrates responsibility by listening well, following directions, and cleaning up after herself. Clara loves to learn.” Clara’s parents are Josh and Carey Wilkerson and she has a little brother, Cohen...

Puxico Junior High School recently released the honor rolls for the fall 2019 semester.

County Fire Department County firefighters responded to a call at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, of a motor vehicle accident on Highway 53, two miles south of Poplar Bluff. Firefighters used extrication tools to remove two people from the damaged vehicle...

P&Z The Poplar Bluff Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Poplar Bluff City Council chambers, at 301 S. Fifth St. Items on the agenda include discussion of small wireless communications and an amendment to the CX-3 central commercial mixed use district...

Jimmy Lee Champion, 44, of Williamsville departed this life unexpectedly in the early morning hours Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Jimmy was born Oct. 14,1975, in Poplar Bluff to Jim R. and Mary Champion. Jimmy was a 1994 graduate of Poplar Bluff high school. He went on to lead a successful career as a lead HVAC technician...

If you live in Southeast Missouri and are 100% disabled or are age 65 and older, you qualify for help filing federal and state taxes, as well as property tax and rental credits. AARP volunteers throughout the area have been training both in person and online to learn the new tax laws and to update their skills...

Poplar Bluff officials have increased police presence in south side after an attempted kidnapping that has generated few leads. Additional marked and unmarked patrol cars have been dispatched in the past week to the area near the 400 block of Midland Street...

CAMPBELL ~ Patsy Raye Barfoot, 81 of Campbell, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020 at her daughter’s residence in Jonesboro, Ark. Patsy, daughter of Walton Ray and Georgia Sevella Smith Evans, was born on Sunday, March 27, 1938 in Harrisburg, Ark. She was a 1972 Graduate of Arkansas State University with an Elementary Education Teaching Certificate. She was a retired Migrant School Teacher and also taught at Campbell Elementary. She was a member of the Campbell Methodist Church...

Pike Creek Reorganized Common Sewer District will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the District Office, 4878 Highway PP, Poplar Bluff. New business will be about billing software. The agenda may include a vote to close part of the meeting pursuant to Sections 6.021 and/or 610.022...

The family of a missing Ripley County man is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his whereabouts. Brandon Wayne Harris, 37, reportedly was last seen Jan. 25 at the R&B Club on Highway 21 north of Doniphan. Reports said Harris’ pickup truck was found parked outside the business and apparently had been left there overnight...

The Poplar Bluff water tower at Business Highway 60 and 67 served as a landmark for members of the community until it came down in 2012. However, it is now immortalized on the walls of the Poplar Bluff History Museum. Michael Shane designed, painted and helped hang a 8-by-9-foot painting now displayed at the museum...

The Butler County Women’s Democrat Club’s annual Ham and Bean Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the United Gospel Rescue Mission. Keynote Speaker Dr. Jack Rushin will talk about Civility in Politics. Max West calls the dinner “a country thing. It is just a get together which is a little bit different and brings all the democrats together.”...

For the third census in a row, Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers is stepping up to help count efforts in Missouri.

Butler County Sheriff's Department Diana Mitchell, 73, of the 3000 block of County Road 209 reported at 2:08 p.m. Feb. 5 that a package of her medication had gone missing. According to the report, Mitchell was waiting for the package to arrive, but it never did. ...