Stories from Thursday, June 13, 2019

Poplar Bluff High School’s trap team competed Saturday at the AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship) state shoot at Linn Creek, Mo., where a total of 218 shooters were on hand. Tayler Hillis earned fourth place honors in the Juniors division with a score of 198 out of 200...

TYLER, Texas — Mrs. Merrilee Makras Jett, 88, of Tyler, Texas died on Friday, June 7, 2019. A memorial service for Merrilee will be held on Saturday, June 15 at 2 p.m. in the Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel in Tyler.

By BRIAN SHARP Grace Christian Fellowship A little over five years ago God gave a vision to a small group of people to begin a Sunday afternoon worship service for those who were struggling with addiction and felt uneasy attending a typical church. Two years later that worship service expanded to include an in-house ministry to those desiring to be set free from their addiction. This was the birth of Crossroads Ministry, a local, faith-based recovery ministry for men...

GREENVILLE, Mo. — Clyde “DeWayne” Marler, age 74 of Greenville died Wednesday, June 12, 2019 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Friday, June 14 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 15 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville Chapel...

In a few short days it will be Father’s Day, so I find myself thinking about my Dad and my Grandfather and several other men who have been spiritual fathers’ to me over the years and at different stages in my life. I am forever grateful to them all...

CORNING, Ark. — Sharon Moore, 60, of Maynard, Ark., passed away June 12, 2019 at home. Mrs. Moore was retired from MODOT. She was a devoted grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends. Mrs. Moore was of the Baptist faith and attended Moark Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church...

GREENVILLE, Mo. — Don J. Polk, 85 of Piedmont, Mo., died Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Monday, June 17 at Ruegg Funeral Home in Greenville. The memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. in the Greenville Chapel. Burial will be at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Lawrence Eugene Beckwith, 57, of Wappapello, Mo., died Friday, June 7, 2019 at his residence. A memorial will be held, on Sunday, July 7, 2019 at Apostolic Faith Church, 2436 N. Benton, Springfield, MO 65802. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Madison Kayler of Bernie, Mo., has received the Copper Dome Scholarship and Residence Life Leadership Award to attend Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo. for the 2019-2020 academic year. Kayler is the daughter of Clinton and Dena Costin of Bernie. She is a 2019 graduate of Bernie High School...

Katherine Sliger, Poplar Bluff, has been named to the William Jewell College dean’s list for the spring 2019 semester. The honor recognizes students with a grade-point average of 3.7 or above enrolled in at least 14 hours. William Jewell College is located in Liberty, Mo., 15 miles from Kansas City. The critical thinking college guides students to live what they learn, engage in the world and prepare for meaningful lives of leadership and service...

The Little Miss and Mr. Firecracker pageant will be held July 4 at the Black River Coliseum. Categories will be held for boys ages birth to 5 and up, and girls birth to ages 18-26. Registration starts at 10 a.m., with categories beginning at 11 a.m...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. — Richard D. Heaton, 50, of Sparta, Mo., died June 9, 2019 at his residence. Visitation for Richard will be Saturday, June 15 starting at 10 a.m., in the Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. in the chapel.

When Austin Dunlap recently became Butler County’s newest road deputy, he already knew his way around the department, having mopped its floors and previously worked as a dispatcher and jailer. “I wanted to be a police officer my whole life,” said Dunlap, who has “always had a respect” for those in law enforcement...

Unsafe conditions at two downtown buildings in recent months helped prompt a change in Poplar Bluff ordinances police say will help them in patrolling condemned properties. Anyone found to be illegally inside a building that has been posted as dangerous can face a fine of up to $500, up to 90 days in jail or both. Police say prior to the ordinance, they were sometimes limited to just ordering people away from a property...

Fostering children is an extremely rewarding experience for Nancy Arnold, who was named Foster Parent of the Year earlier this week. The award was a surprise, but she missed the event as she and her 10-year-old son Alex were returning from an “awesome Panama Cruise.”...