Stories from Wednesday, July 24, 2019

When Municipal Utilities shut down its offices on North Westwood Boulevard one Friday in mid-December 2014, the plan was to spend about a year in a modular building across the street before finding a permanent home. After more than a few delays — from changes in city administration to renovation scheduling problems — officials believe they may finally be able to set a date in August for that long-awaited move...

SHANNON COUNTY — A teenager died Tuesday afternoon in an incident on the Current River in Shannon County. Trenton A. Crane, 16, of Pevely, Missouri was attempting to swim across the waterway at Blue Springs around 3:40 p.m. when he became fatigued, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Violet Brashear, 79, of Harviell, Mo., died July 22, 2019 at her residence. Visitation is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday July 26 at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with Rev. Bill Orr officiating.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake will hold the 28th Annual Old Greenville Days on Sept. 21-22, in the Greenville Day Use Recreation Area. This event consists of arts and crafts (handmade or generated), live music (gospel, bluegrass and country), a living history demonstration by Crowley’s Ridge Black Powder Club, old time children’s games and much more, according to organizers...

A variety of stun guns, knives and a blow dart gun were taken during an overnight break-in at Timeless Treasures in downtown Poplar Bluff. Two large windows were broken by unknown individuals between 5 p.m. July 21 and shortly before 4 a.m. July 22 at the front of the building, which is in the 100 block of South Main Street...

Fishing remains good in local lakes and rivers, and luckily, the latest rains weren’t enough to raise the water levels in any significant manner. “The crappie are still pretty good,” said Charlie Brotherton, who keeps a close eye on what’s happening at Wappapello Lake. “They’ve been catching them about 6 to 8 feet deep near the channel.”...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center has a full schedule of programs planned for August, which includes canoeing, pinning insects, and making jams and jellies. Some programs require registration in advance, so Cape Nature Center Assistant Manager Jamie Koehler said it’s important guests familiarize themselves with MDC’s event website for the center at www.mdc.mo.gov/southeastevents...

Twin Rivers R-X will host its annual Royal Registration and Back to School Fair during the first week of August. This year, the Royal Registration is set up to run a little differently. Christina Miller, guidance counselor at the high school, said parents are being encouraged to update their student’s records online before coming to the event and there will not be a freshman orientation...

VAN BUREN, Mo. — Melburn Allen ‘Junior’ Jones, 79, of Carter County, died Monday, July 22, 2019 at Mercy South Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. - noon Saturday, July 27 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. The funeral will follow at noon in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Green Mountain Cemetery in Fremont, Mo...

VAN BUREN, Mo. — Erma Dean Wells, 83, of St. Charles, Mo., died Monday, July 22, 2019 at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital in St. Peters, Mo.  Visitation will be from 10 a.m. - noon Friday, July 26 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. The funeral will follow at noon in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Van Buren City Cemetery in Van Buren...

City firefighters responded at 7:14 a.m. Tuesday, July 23, to a report of an unauthorized fire at 937 Cherry Street and 940 Cedar Street. Upon arriving, firefighters found a small unattended fire in the ditch and used about five gallons of water to extinguish the fire before cleaning up the scene...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Lori Susan Garner, 54, of Poplar Bluff, died July 23, 2019 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Friday, July 26 at First Baptist Church, 515 North Westwood Blvd. Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 27 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Patterson officiating. Interment will follow at Black Creek Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 27, at the Morrison Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with Rev. Brent Reed officiating. Interment will be in the Mt. View Cemetery at Des Arc. Online condolences: www.morrisonfuneral.com .