Stories from Tuesday, January 29, 2019

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. ­­— Clarence ’Chic’ Thomas Sorensen Jr., 72, of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 at John J Pershing VA Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, Mo. A graveside service will be at noon, Feb. 4, 2019 at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

The state is expected to conclude its case today in the trial of a Doniphan man accused of the 2010 murders of two elderly couples found dead inside their burned homes. The trial of Keith A. Boyles began Monday in Butler County with Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett hearing opening statements from Assistant Attorney General Kevin Zoellner and Boyles’ attorney, Thomas Marshall with the Capital Public Defender’s Office...

After asking for the community’s help Saturday afternoon in locating James William Hastings, 32, of Poplar Bluff, he was arrested later that evening and charged with suspicion of child abuse. Officers were provided with information that allowed them to contact Hastings and bring him into custody, according to Detective Andy Cleaveland with the Poplar Bluff Police Department. Hastings is now being held at Butler County jail...

DEXTER, Mo. — Julia Marie Moore, 99, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 28, 2019 at the Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be after 10 a.m.,Thursday, Jan. 31 until time of services at noon at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Walker Cemetery in Bloomfield with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements...

City firefighters responded at 8:12 a.m. Tuesday to a gas leak at the Poplar Bluff Police Department at 1111 S. Poplar Street. According to the report, firefighters received a call from the PBPD stating they had a natural gas odor in their parking lot...

Matt and Dorthy Phillips, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the birth of their 8 1/2-pound son, Warren Matthew Phillips, born at 5:34 p.m., Jan. 17, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was 20 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Steve and Nikki Phillips of Poplar Bluff and Donnie and Rochelle Robinson of Greenville, Mo...

CAMPBELL, Mo. ­— Clara Hawkins, 76, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, formerly of Campbell, died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 at Presbyterian Rust Medial Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30 at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. The funeral will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31 at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell with Rev. Bruce Vinson officiating. Burial will be in the Bethany Cemetery in Campbell...

DONIPHAN, Mo. —Mae Bell Woodson, 87, of Gatewood, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Visitation will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 1 at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Danny Miller officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Olive Cemetery in rural Ripley County, Mo...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Carmenlita Sells, 87 passed away on January 24, 2019 at Festus Manor Nursing Home. She was born on July 10, 1931 to the late Ed and Etta (Luther) Berry at Kennett, Mo. She was married to Thomas (Jr) Sells son of the late Rev. Gene and Edna Sells on June 26, 1948. He preceded her in death after...

A Butler County judge heard extensive weapon- and neurological-related testimony Tuesday in the trial of a Doniphan man accused of the 2010 murders of two elderly couples found dead inside their burned homes. Before the state rested its case at about 11:20 a.m., Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett heard testimony from the state’s final four witnesses in the trial of Keith A. Boyles...

A Poplar Bluff woman was charged Tuesday in connection to the May 2018 death of Jermaine Johnson, who was found at the end of a county road in eastern Butler County. According to Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs, Shanesha Rene Burns was taken into custody around 1 a.m. Tuesday at the Butler County jail. Dobbs said the 32-year-old admitted to being present when Johnson was killed as the result of an illegal drug operation sale...