Stories from Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Sept. 5, 1923 • A woman named only as Mrs. Raymond Harris of Kennett is taken to an insane asylum in Farmington by deputies after talking about “religious matters” for hours at the train station. Mrs. Harris’ mental illness reportedly began after she “had gotten up from a sick-bed too soon after the birth of her baby girl and had gone to a revival meeting where there was great enthusiasm. Along with this she contracted a deep cold and lost her mind completely.”...

Dr. Omer Key Petty was born March 23, 1936, in Arbyrd, Missouri to William and Exie Petty. He passed away Aug. 28, 2023, in his beloved town of Poplar Bluff, Missouri where he had an amazing 63-year career as a dentist, spent happy days playing golf, and enjoying life with friends and family...

Norma Gean Daniel, 92, of Doniphan, Missouri, died Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Daniel was born April 24, 1931, in Rombauer, Missouri, daughter of the late McCoy and Hattie Wells (née Mattingly). She was proud of her teaching career which began in Fisk at Twin Rivers School. ...

Billy J. Bennett, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, at Oakdale Care Center. Bill was born Dec. 29, 1937, to Brytle and Emma (Lankford) Bennett in Kennett, Missouri. Bill was a member of First Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff. ...

Shirley K. Harpool, 74, beloved wife of David M. Harpool of Ansonia, Connecticut died peacefully Sept. 3, 2023, in the comfort of her home, with her family by her side. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, July 6, 1949, she was the daughter of the late Arvel and Iona Wiley Billington. ...

Stacie Lee Robertson, 71, of Wappapello, Missouri, died Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Mrs. Robertson was born March 25, 1952, in Knoxville, Tennessee, daughter of the late Robert and Anna Mae Thomas. Stacie was a member of Lake Wappapello United Methodist Church in Wappapello...

Carnelia F. Lueddecke, 88, of Piedmont, passed away Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Morrison Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel with Rev. Sean Montgomery officiating. Interment will be in the Annapolis Cemetery...

For two years, the Margaret Harwell Art Museum has hosted the 4-H Animal Art exhibit free of charge and provided an ice cream social at the opening reception. The Southeast Missouri 4-H Program extended its gratitude by awarding the museum with its Platinum Sponsorship award during the gallery opening...

Wappapello Lake was hovering just below recreation pool by Tuesday afternoon, following an interruption to normal gatehouse operations over the holiday weekend. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers warned visitors over the weekend to use caution as the lake level had dropped below normal summer pool of 359.74 feet, said Operations Manager Bart Dearborn...

A Stoddard County family is suing members of the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department following the death of their 9-year-old lab mix, Parker. Court documents filed by The Oliver Firm, run by former prosecutor Russ Oliver, ask for the body camera footage of the incident, as well as a civil penalty in the amount of $5,000 and attorney fees...

POPLAR BLUFF POLICE DEPARTMENT Officers assisted the Missouri State Highway Patrol with a motor vehicle pursuit at 9:39 a.m. Monday, Sept. 4, which entered Poplar Bluff on the east side of town. The pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle ran into a ditch on Wiseman Drive, and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident...