Stories from Monday, August 26, 2019

DEXTER — Yewell G. Lawrence, 87, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Bloomfield, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, at his home. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Kimberly Ann Johnson, 57, of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 at her residence. Visitation will be Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 5-7 p.m. at Cotrell Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 11 a.m. in the funeral chapel, with Rev. Annette Joseph officiating.

Robert ‘Bob’ L. Hampleman, 78, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 in Poplar Bluff. A private graveside service will be Tuesday at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery with Rev. Jim Schremp officiating. Cotrell Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Robert L. Hampleman...

As a blistering hot summer comes to a close, area residents are ready to celebrate the coming of cooler temperatures in the best possible way; with their friends and neighbors at the time-honored Williamsville/Black River Fire Department Labor Day Picnic in Williamsville. The 35th annual event will be held Friday, Aug. 30, and Saturday, Aug. 31, at the city picnic grounds next to the school on Highway A...

Janie Elizabeth O'Hara, 62, of Poplar Bluff, died Aug. 24, 2019 at her residence. Per her request she was cremated and there will be a family gathering at a later date.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is sponsoring its 16th annual bridge building competition for high school juniors and seniors in the Southeast District. The competition challenges students to design and construct the most efficient model bridge using limited materials−15 pieces of balsa wood, thread and glue...

As part of a commitment to recycling and safety, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources provided MERS Goodwill with a grant to cover the use of recycled scrap tires as materials for its playground surfaces. The recycled material, from 100 percent recycled scrap tires generated in Missouri, covers part of the current concrete play area of the drop-in day care center of MERS Goodwill’s Poplar Bluff Excel Center...

Ross Andrew Dare of Poplar Bluff participated in the 80th session of The American Legion Boys State of Missouri during the month of June. The event was held on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Dare was selected to participate based on his leadership, citizenship, academics and character during his junior year at Poplar Bluff High School. The program is designed to educate and train Missouri’s young leaders in functional citizenship, leadership and government...

The historic Route 34 Leeper bridge over Black River in Wayne County and the Business 60 Poplar Bluff Viaduct bridge over Black River and Union Pacific railroad in Butler County are available for relocation and reuse by others. Any interested party is encouraged to submit a proposal no later than June 30, 2020, to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Historic Preservation Section to obtain either structure...

NEELYVILLE — Terrill L. Griffin, 69, of Naylor, died Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be after 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 in the funeral home with Rev. James Keel officiating.

BLOOMFIELD — Arlie (Dean) Ham, 91, of Fisk, died Monday, Aug. 26 at his residence. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29 at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Helen Kay Jordan, 69, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019 at Westwood Hills Health Care Center in Poplar Bluff. A memorial service is planned for a later date.

City firefighters responded at 7:17 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, to a report of a smoke/carbon monoxide detector sounding at the 1007 W. Maud St. residence occupied by Arden Taylor and owned by Sally Welsh. According to the report, firefighters entered the home and found no smoke present...

Taking the helm of the local Missouri State Highway Patrol troop has presented Phil Gregory with new challenges as he shifts his mindset toward traffic enforcement. A 25-year veteran of the patrol, Gregory recently was promoted to captain and assumed the role of the troop’s commanding officer...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 37-year-old Bernie man was injured in a go-cart accident at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, on Circle Drive, one and one-half miles south of Bernie. According to the report, Anthony D. Wamble was operating a 1984 Manco go-cart southbound when he failed to negotiate a curve, which caused his go-cart to run off the left side of the road...

MALDEN — Wanda ‘Pug’ Matthews, 92, of Malden, died Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 at Malden Nursing Center in Malden. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 at Landess Funeral Home Chapel in Malden. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29 at Landess Funeral Chapel with Rev. Aulden Leblanc, Mr. Scott Matthews and Mr. Travis Matthews officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery...

DONIPHAN — Avid gardener Fran Stewart isn’t “quite contrary,” like “Mary,” but her petunias and zinnias are every bit as well behaved as the silver bells and cockle shells spoken of in the familiar nursery rhyme. Fran’s handiwork can be admired at the sectional planter west of the courthouse which showcases the “Tribute to Current River” stone memorial...

Work is wrapping up this week on an approximately $3.4 million overpass project at the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park.

The annual ‘Run 4 The Arts’ event will see its fourth year on Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. on the Poplar Bluff campus of Three Rivers College.