Stories from Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Sunday morning, President Trump announced that the world’s worst terrorist, the head of the ISIS caliphate who had raped an American woman, had received justice. About to be captured and carried off in a helicopter by U.S. special forces, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi blew himself up with an explosive vest in a compound in northwest Syria. The long search for the sadist and fanatic had ended in triumph. No U.S. troops were lost...

Gun control did not become politically acceptable until the Gun Control Act of 1968 signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The law’s primary focus was to regulate commerce in firearms by prohibiting interstate firearms transfers except among licensed manufacturers, dealers and importers. ...

The Poplar Bluff MERS Goodwill Excel Center for adult learners, located next door to Orscheln, celebrated its one-year anniversary Oct. 24. Through the combined efforts of MERS Goodwill Industries and the Poplar Bluff community, the Excel Center opened last fall. The very first class of graduates from an Excel Center program in the state of Missouri have now earned their high school diplomas. Other center locations include St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia...

Hillview Elementary in Neelyville has announced its first quarter honor roll. ‘A’ honor roll Second Grade: Zhoey Abner, Henry Allen, Nora Beaird, Jesse Berten, Sophie Brawner, Gregory Brown, Wesley Burgett, Caitlyn Christian, Jackson Cloud, Blake Day, Allee Ennis, Lillian Fowler, Isiah Green, Isaiah Hawker, Adalynn Henson, Mason Hover, Audrey King, Gavin Lane, Keygan Long, Harper Martin, Marianna Mathis, Jase Mikel, Gracie Patty, Lauren Pennington, Mia Piroli, Rylan Pogue, Samuel Richardson, Ayden Roper, Jordan Sturtevant, AdaLynn Swartzlander, Taylor Turner and Sawyer Willard.. ...

City firefighters responded at 2:28 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, to an alarm at Petco, 757 N. Westwood Blvd. It was investigation only. _ City firefighters responded at 8:02 a.m. Monday, Oct. 28, to a smoke alarm at the 1947 Glendale Road residence occupied by Terri McElhaney...

VAN BUREN — Wilma Lucille Sanders, 78, of Van Buren, died Oct. 28, 2019 at the Riverways Manor Nursing Home in Van Buren. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Dave Truncone officiating. Burial will be in the Van Buren City Cemetery in Van Buren...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Dillon Michael Smith, 19, of Broseley was booked at the Butler County jail Monday, Oct. 28, on suspicion of stealing and first-degree trespassing. _ Kyle Michael Taylor, 26, of the 5000 block of Linwood Drive was booked at the Butler County jail Monday, Oct. 28, on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and shoplifting...

Katherine Sue Wells, 63, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Poplar Bluff celebrated by Father Daniel Robles. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery...

MALDEN — W.T. McDonald, 77, of Campbell, died Monday, Oct. 28, 2019 at his residence. Visitation will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. in the Bradshaw Chapel with Bro. Larry Landers officiating. Burial will be in Elder Cemetery in Campbell...

East Carter R-II Middle School in Ellsinore has announced its first quarter honor rolls. Sixth grade Torryn Burkhart, Rowdy Clubb, Levi Collins, Cordell Duckett, Emma Eudaley, Colton Harvey, Alexis Hosentfeld, Payton Jackson, Kaitlyn King, Gracie Miller, Shiloh Million, Madison Newman, Katelyn Nichols, Sebastian Ochoa, Gavin Osburn, Abigail Price, Cason Price, Gabriel Randazzo, Alexander Reasons, Drayden Shaffer, Makayla Shonk, Benjamin Stahl, Steven Way...

James Anthony Ritzman, Jr. (Tony), 54, passed away on Oct. 13, 2019 at his home in Fort Myers, Fla. He was born on April 23, 1965 in Aurora, Ill. James is survived by his parents, Constance and Terry Cartwright of Qulin; his two brothers, Bradley (Brenda) Ritzman of San Antonio, Texas and John Ritzman of Butler County, Mo. and one nephew, Zion Ritzman of Qulin...

Three veteran Poplar Bluff police officers are taking on new responsibilities after their recent promotions. “One change near the top of the ladder can affect every person below, as the Poplar Bluff Police Department has just experienced,” explained police Chief Danny Whiteley...

The Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center hosted its annual Fall Festival on Tuesday night, which serves as one of the two main fundraisers the school has throughout the year. The festival started when the center was still at the Mark Twain facility on Main Street and has grown into a tradition.

VIDEO INCLUDED A ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted Tuesday at a facility Saint Francis Healthcare says lays the groundwork for their expansion in Poplar Bluff. The event recognized both the changes that have taken place at Saint Francis Health Center - Poplar Bluff since a merger was announced in July, and those still to come. “The overall goal for the changes is really to continue our commitment to rural health care, rural health care in Poplar Bluff, and continue to provide excellent quality, low cost care to the people of the region,” said Saint Francis Healthcare System president and CEO Maryann Reese. “I see growth as Poplar Bluff grows. I see this site growing.”