Stories from Saturday, October 7, 2017

Betty A. Ash, 82, of Polar Bluff died Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017 at her residence. A graveside service was held Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Poplar Bluff. Pastor Catherine Bryant officiated. Online condolences: www.cotrellfuneralservice.com...

FISK, MO. -- Nancy Jane Abernathy, 58, of Bernie, Mo., died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 at her residence. Mrs. Abernathy was born March 19, 1959 in Campbell, Mo. She was a member of First Southern Baptist Church at Malden, Mo. She had worked for several years at 1st Midwest Bank in Dexter...

Clifton Pennington, 59, of Wappapello, Mo. died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. A memorial visitation will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Faith Assembly of God Church in Greenville. Memorial Services will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church with Pastor Brenda Henson and Rev. Louie Robinson officiating. Memorials may be made to the family in care of the funeral home...

The Apostle Peter made a wise observation about life when he wrote: "He that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it." Peter 3:10, 11...

In a review that began in summer 2016, the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Board of Directors determined the best course of action for stewarding the council's property assets. "It was decided to leave the five offices in the current locations," Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland CEO Anne Soots said. "The council has the flexibility to manage staffing and hours of operations based on organizational needs."...

So many veterans feel confused about benefits and services they've earned. There's so much to know...and so many changes from one year to the next. That's why the nonprofit D-A-V (Disabled American Veterans) offers help. The DAV Mobile Service Office will be at the following locations to personally provide the best counseling and claim filing assistance available. Like all D-A-V services, help from the Mobile Service Office is free to all veterans and members of their families...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield will observe Wreaths Across America on Saturday, Dec. 16, with the ceremony starting at 11 a.m. This year will mark the 12th time the ceremony has been held at the Bloomfield cemetery...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield has had only one director since construction began on the cemetery in 2002 -- but that will change soon as Ken Swearengin chose to retire recently. Swearengin told the crowd of state officials, veterans, employees and friends that his decision to retire was a difficult one, but in the end, he decided that he needed to spend more time with his family...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is in the multi-year process of updating Conservation Area Management Plans, and is seeking public input on how Knob Lick, Gipsy and Perry tower sites are important to Missourians. The management plan is open for public review until Oct. 31...

John R. Jones of Puxico, son of the late Ira and Verna Susan Neighbors Jones, was born May 10, 1935, in Puxico, Mo. and passed away at his home near Puxico Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, at the age of 82 years, 4 months and 22 days. He had lived in the Puxico area all of his life. He had owned and operated a sawmill and enjoyed working his sawmill for 52 years. He was a member of the Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Puxico...