Stories from Friday, December 6, 2019

MALDEN ­— Larry E. Dees passed away peacefully in his home at High Ridge, Mo. on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. Larry was born on June 3, 1949 in Wilhelmina, Mo. He was the youngest son of the late Delbert and Louise Dees. On Sept. 2, 1969 Larry married the love of his life, Kay Stone of Malden, who has remained by his side...

PIEDMONT — Woodrow W. Rosa, 93, of Williamsville, died Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 at his residence. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Morrison Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Kenneth Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis...

PIGGOTT, Ark. — Mary Rosella Book Doyle, born June 18, 1918, near Piggott, Ark. to Molly and Rev. Curtis Book. Mary died Dec. 5, 2019, at Swift Creek Care Center of Poplar Bluff. Mary was married to Alfred Doyle on Aug. 23, 1940. He preceded her in death in 1999. She was also preceded in death by their son, Billy Doyle and wife Kaye; her parents; and her seven sisters and brothers...

A 53-year-old Hayti man was seriously injured in a one-vehicle crash at 4:55 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, on Highway AA, three miles west of Broseley. According to the report, Anthony K. Cooley was injured when his vehicle ran off the left of the road and struck a ditch...

In fifth grade, Wyatt Russom convinced his mother to get him a yo-yo after a presentation at school turned into a hobby through high school.

Diana Frazier and Christie Bell add the final touches the Poplar Bluff Junior High tree for the annual Christmas Tree Forest at the Poplar Bluff Museum, which opens Sunday. Trees are decorated with ornaments crafted by local school children. Votes will be taken through 3:45 p.m. Sunday for the People’s Choice Award. The winner will be announced at 4 p.m...

Everyone is invited to the free 2019 Christmas Community Dinner at the First United Methodist Church beginning at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 11. Last year approximately 1,000 enjoyed the dinner. This year, the cooks expect to feed even more people. Church members are making a shopping list and checking it twice. There has to be enough food, since they invited everyone to join them for the banquet celebrating Jesus’ love...

Commemorative Christmas ornaments are being sold for $15 to support Rodger’s Theatre. All money goes to support the restoration of the theatre, according to organizers. For information, call 573-785-0699 or 573-429-0416.

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Staff Writer GREENVILLE — A Piedmont man recently preempted his trial by pleading guilty to molesting a pre-teen girl and was sentenced to prison. Kaleb Shaver was sentenced Nov. 25 to 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after he earlier pleaded guilty to the Class C felony of third-degree child molestation before Circuit Judge Kelly Parker, according to Wayne County Circuit Clerk Darren Garrison...

DEXTER — Vera Lorraine Almond, daughter of the late Herman Norris and Elsie Sifford Norris, was born on Dec. 27, 1929 in Chaffee, Mo. and departed this life on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019 at her residence in Bloomfield, at the age of 89 years. Mrs. Almond was a former employee of the United States Department of Agriculture, where she worked as an Admin. ...

County firefighters responded at 6:52 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, to a grass fire on Highway 142 in Neelyville. According to the report, a small area, on state right-of-way, burned. County firefighters responded at 7:53 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, to a trash fire on County Road 523...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 27-year-old Dexter man was injured in a one-vehicle crash at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, on Lighthouse Drive, one mile east of Dexter. According to the report, Courtney A. Marfell, 36, of Dexter was operating a 2013 Chrysler Town & Country van westbound when it ran off the road and struck a tree...

William Thomas ‘Tom’ McCoy, 94, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. According to his wishes, Tom will be cremated. No services are planned. Cotrell Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.cotrellfuneralservice.com...

Poplar Bluff High School senior Alexandria Rainwater, 17, isn’t waiting until she graduates to start pursuing her dreams. Rainwater recently threw her hat into the talent ring. She traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, in November to try out for the first level of “America’s Got Talent,” the one without celebrity judges...

With requests ranging from fluffy blankets for a 12-year-old girl to shoes for an 8-year-old boy, Project Christmas Promise is once again in full swing as organizers try to ensure every Butler County child has a merry holiday. More than 1,000 children in need have already made it onto their lists...