Stories from Monday, August 21, 2023

Three people were killed and three were seriously injured in a trio of area accidents over the weekend, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. A 78-year-old Doniphan man was killed and two people from Poplar Bluff seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident at 8:50 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, two miles west of Doniphan on Highway 142...

RoseMary Groves, 89, passed away peacefully Aug. 17, 2023 at her home in New Milford, Connecticut. She was born Aug. 26, 1933 to Charles and Freeda (Corder) Haynes in Bernie, Missouri. RoseMary was a loving mother and grandmother. With her former husband, she developed a love of travel, when as an Army wife she traveled the world with her family due to numerous military postings. ...

Helen Geraldine (Gerry) Williams, 91, of Eminence, Missouri, died Aug. 18, 2023, at the Rock Point Nursing Center in Birch Tree, Missouri. Gerry was born in Blodgett, Missouri, Sept. 23, 1931. She married Andrew (Andy) Williams Oct. 6, 1951. Together they owned and operated United Business Machines of Poplar Bluff for 42 years...

A 40-year-old Poplar Bluff man is dead and two people have been formally charged in his death, said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs. The victim later identified as Travis D. Hicks, 40, of Poplar Bluff was taken by ambulance to the Poplar Bluff Regional Center where he was later pronounced dead...

Despite hectic traffic and stifling morning heat, over 5,400 students attended their first day of school in Poplar Bluff on Monday morning. They were greeted with enthusiasm by teachers and staff. New students arrived at the kindergarten center by bus and drop-off at 8 a.m. where they were treated to breakfast in the cafeteria before being guided to their classes...

A pair of split votes Monday as Poplar Bluff City Council members attempted to fill a vacant seat were a sign of how many good candidates stepped forward, according to the group. Billy DePew, a retired SMC Electric sales engineer, was ultimately chosen on a 5-1 vote to fill a vacant at-large seat until the next election...

Mortgage rates rose to their highest level in 21 years Thursday, Aug. 17, according to Freddie Mac, also known as Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 7.09%, up from 6.96% a week earlier. Last week's average is the highest the long-term fixed mortgage has been since April 2002, when it was 7.12%...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 65-year-old man sustained moderate injuries in a two-vehicle accident at 3:55 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, on U.S. Highway 60, two miles east of Van Buren. According to the report, Terra N. Konen, 32, of Van Buren was operating a 2002 Ford F-150 eastbound when it rear-ended an eastbound 1997 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Robert E. Flesch, 65, of Van Buren...