Stories from Thursday, October 21, 2021

KENNETT, Mo. – Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain announces that Benny Lynn Johnson, 59, of Milan, Tennessee was convicted by a Stoddard County Jury on October 20th of the felonies of driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. The jury recommended the maximum possible sentence on each of three charges of driving while intoxicated causing a death and two charges of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident...

Bible Baptist Church hosted the fifth biennial J. Minnie Smith Elementary School reunion Saturday, featuring a luncheon, photo and news clipping displays and a book signing with author and alumnus Betty Frizzell J. Minnie Smith Elementary School served the East Side of Poplar Bluff from 1897-1987. ...

Kathryn Joyce Fann, age 88, of Bridgeton, Missouri, died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021 at her residence in Bridgeton. Mrs. Fann was born May 12, 1933 in Rombauer, Missouri, daughter of the late Carl and Nell Hamm. Her family was always her main focus throughout her lifetime...

Poplar Bluff First Church of God’s Fall Festival will be from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at 3482 S. Westwood Blvd. The event is open to the public. “We are revamping our Fall Festival this year,” said Pastor Ben Higgins. “We didn’t want to compete with a million other businesses, churches and organizations on the same night. Our emphasis is less on Halloween and more on harvest. We’ll be handing out candy; there will be a hayride, pumpkins, all that’s free.”...

The Poplar Bluff R-I School Board approved a plan Thursday night to use federal ESSER COVID-19 relief funds to expand afterschool programs for district students with the local Boys & Girls Club and Americorps. The three-year plan is designed to address loss-of-learning among students due to the COVID pandemic. R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill said the program would benefit students throughout the district...

Clarence Pilapil Sarabia Jr., 45, of Naylor, Missouri., passed away on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Sarabia was born on March 17, 1976 in Captain Cook, HI. He had worked as a clerk and enjoyed woodworking, golf, frisbee golf, sports and hiking...

Kimberly Brooks of the 3300 block of South Westwood Boulevard reported at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, that she had been a victim of online fraud totaling $1,839. _ Bryson Peek reported at 4:37 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, that while he was visiting a friend on County Road 410, his black Chevy Malibu was stolen from the driveway...