Stories from Thursday, December 23, 2021

As the lights went down and the crowd roared to life at Las Vegas’ Thomas and Mack Center in early December, Poplar Bluff native Coy Rahlmann could feel the excitement in the air. He was nervous, but prepared for his big moment. Rahlmann, 20, along with team-roping partner Douglas Rich, was competing in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the first time...

Betty Jean Hayes, 74, of Alexandria, Louisiana, formerly of the Malden, Missouri, died Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, at Christus Cabrini Hospital in in Alexandria.

Billy Joe Woollums, 69 of Malden, Missouri, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021 at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Today, many of our readers are observing special traditions that may have tied generations of their family together at Christmas time, or are simply a new, yet very beloved activity that makes them feel closer to loved ones during the holiday season...