Stories from Thursday, January 4, 2024

Winter weather and fiscal mishaps are this date’s most noteworthy headlines. First, mismanagement by the Butler County Court leaves truckers shortchanged and angry after working holiday overtime. A few decades later, winter weather freezes the postal service but brings out both sledders and reckless drivers, resulting in several near-misses...

Naomi Ruth Love, 67, of Malden, Missouri passed away Dec. 31, 2023 at her home in Malden. Naomi was born Oct. 19, 1956 to Milford and Ludia (McGath) Love in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Naomi was a truck driver for over 23 years before she retired. Naomi is survived by children, Ronnie Love, Kimberly Howard, Melissa Lacy; sisters, Darlene Price, Sandra Love, Shirley Brewer, Shirley Hayes; grandchildren, Dustin Buck, Jessica Constantino, Brandon Buck, Charlene Buck, Gisela-Marie Milligan, Brittney Franks, Aaron Buck, Blake Hadley, Melanie Clay, Taylor Clay, Journey Love; and 13 great-grandchildren.. ...

Cathy McManus, was born Cathy Dee Rhodes May 26, 1952. She has a twin brother Gary Lee Rhodes. They were God’s gift to their parents Charles Edgar Rhodes and Bette Jane Rhodes. On Jan. 1, 2024, Cathy Rhodes McManus went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus...

Earl Victor Gilham, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Dec. 31, 2023, at his home in Poplar Bluff. Earl was born Jan. 28, 1956, to Earl and Margaret Moore Gilham in St. Louis, Missouri. Earl was an avid outdoorsman that loved to fish, hike, and just be outdoors. ...

Having served more than 40 years as an advocate for abused women, children and the elderly, Barb Thompson was an obvious choice for the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce when deciding who was most deserving of the honor, 2023 Citizen of the Year. However, as she was ushered into a packed room of family, friends, colleagues and chamber members who were secretly waiting for her in a back room at the Division of Family Services, Thompson’s astonishment was obvious...

Rick Parks achieved personal and professional success, without question. Parks — a former Navy-trained nuclear operator and native of Butler County — was vital in the making of the Emmy-nominated documentary, “Meltdown: Three Mile Island.” Three Mile Island, located in central Pennsylvania, was the worst nuclear power plant meltdown in American history and remains the worst accident of its kind in the United States...

A diverse set of headlines hit the press on this date, from a teenager seeking to annul her marriage to a nighttime highway robbery. In more positive news, the highway patrol believes speed limits imposed in 1973 to conserve fuel might reduce traffic fatalities on rural roads...

James Mark Ray, 49, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. James was born Nov. 6, 1974, in Poplar Bluff to Floyd Alfred Ray and Juanita Faye (Morgan) Ray. He married Sarah Beth Lacy July 8, 2000 in Poplar Bluff. James lived in Poplar Bluff his entire life. ...

Ronald Gene Harris Jr., 69, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, at Memory Lane in Dexter, Missouri. Ron was born Jan. 29, 1954, to Ronald and Ruth (Smoot) Harris Sr. in Poplar Bluff. Ron was of the Baptist faith. He worked for United States Postal Service for 47 years, retiring Jan. ...

POPLAR BLUFF POLICE DEPARTMENT An employee at the Probation/Parole Community Supervision Center reported at 10:49 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, a client used a urine delivery device to submit a false sample for drug screening. _ Officers assisted an officer with U.S. Probation/Parole at 11:23 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, with a home visit at a residence in the 400 block of Short A Street. Drug paraphernalia found in the residence was seized and placed into evidence...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Melvin Lee Applewhite, 38, of Sikeston was booked at Butler County jail Wednesday, Jan. 3, for failure to appear on the original charge of failure to stop at a red light. _ Wesley Esqu Bilbrey, 36, of Poplar Bluff was booked at Butler County jail Tuesday, Jan. 2, for failure to appear on the original charge of littering, first offense...