Stories from Monday, December 18, 2023

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 53-year-old man sustained minor injuries in a two-vehicle accident at 5:37 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, on Highway 53, a quarter-mile south of Poplar Bluff. According to the report, Gary L. King, 53, of Campbell was operating a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis southbound when it rear-ended a southbound 2009 Pontiac G6 stopped in traffic and operated by Hillary R. Deaton, 44, of Poplar Bluff...

Annabel Horton, 62, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Horton was born July 18, 1961 in Kansas City, Missouri, daughter of the late Aubrey and Joyce Montgomery. She enjoyed being outdoors and loved her family, friends, and animals...

Mary W. Hodge, 97, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed away Dec. 16, 2023 at Westwood Hills Healthcare in Poplar Bluff. Mary was born on May 18, 1926 to Charles and Eva (Bradford) Garrison in Arkansas. She married Theodore Leroy Hodge, he preceded her in death...

Ernest Jasper Phelan, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed away Dec. 15, 2023, at his home in Poplar Bluff. Ernest was born April 16, 1942, to Pleasant and Lucille (Cummins) Phelan in Amarillo, Texas. He married Donna (Parish) Phelan Feb. 16, 2003. Ernest was in the Navy (1962-1967) during the Vietnam War. ...

Robin L. Looney, 67, of Williamsville, Missouri, passed away Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at his residence. Visitation will be from noon until 2 p.m.,Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, , at Ruegg Funeral Home, Williamsville. Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., also at Williamsville chapel. Burial will follow at Holliday Cemetery, Williamsville...

Just under 70% of total general fund spending would go toward employee costs in 2024, according to a budget approved Monday by the Poplar Bluff City Council. General fund spending as a whole will be up 3.25%, city manager Matt Winters explained in budget documents presented to the council earlier this month...

Veterans and their families gathered Saturday at Memorial Gardens in Poplar Bluff to mark the graves of 870 soldiers during a Wreaths Cross America ceremony. They also gathered to honor those who serve and teach the next generation the value of freedom...

A Fairdealing man was seriously injured early Sunday morning in a side-by-side accident on County Road 448, one mile west of Poplar Bluff. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Michael A. Lady, 25, of Fairdealing was operating a 2022 Can-Am Defender eastbound at 3:30 a.m. Sunday when it traveled off the right side of the road and hit a tree...

A Poplar Bluff man sits in the Butler County jail after he allegedly held his girlfriend hostage. Floyd Williams, 39, of Poplar Bluff is charged with first-degree kidnapping, armed criminal action, second-degree domestic assault and resisting arrest. The kidnapping charge is a Class B felony, while armed criminal action is an unclassified felony, domestic assault is a Class D felony and resisting arrest is a Class E felony...

The Butler County Commission accepted two bids for new projects last week: a new office in the courthouse basement, and renovations for the future Butler County Coroner’s Office. Both bids came from the only applicant, R Brothers Construction. The first bid was $5,900 to construct a new office for court advocate Jennifer Williams...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Dusty D. Austin, 38, of Qulin was booked at the Butler County jail Friday, Dec. 15, on a warrant for operating a vehicle without insurance. He was later released. _ Justin W. Crouch, 22, of Doniphan was booked at the Butler County jail Saturday, Dec. 16, on a warrant for failure to appear on stealing. He was later released...