Stories from Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Robert A. Harrell, 78, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2 at First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Brandon Spain officiating. Burial will be at the City Cemetery...

At the start of 2019, for the second time in her life, Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as Speaker of the House of Representatives. While I knew this would mean a dramatic shift left for the policies advanced in your Congress, I at least had a brief moment of optimism during her opening remarks when Speaker Pelosi said that she was going to work “in a bipartisan way for the good of our country.”...

City firefighters responded at 4:40 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, to a report of a structure fire at 936 Cherry St. According to the report, firefighters found smoke showing from an open front carport that was attached to the home. Firefighters reportedly found a small fire on the carport floor and used 50 gallons of water to put out the fire...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 35-year-old Dexter man was injured in a two-vehicle crash at 6:22 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, on U.S. 60, one mile east of Dudley. According to the report, Christopher R. Blazer was operating a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan eastbound when it struck the rear of a 2006 Mercury Mariner being driven by Earl E. Christian, 28, of Dexter...

November and December 2019 saw Poplar Bluff’s iconic Twin Towers celebrate its 50th anniversary, more than 1,500 people served at the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, the Carter County Sheriff’s Department move into a new home on higher ground and a proposed city budget which will be more than a quarter million dollars in the red, among others...

VAN BUREN — Carter County officials are preparing to move the county offices into the former Main Street Market later this month. The new building will be a more permanent, but still temporary location, until a new courthouse/justice center can be built...

Debra J. Williams, 61, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Dec. 18, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born on Aug. 15, 1958 to Bob and Lillian (Johnson) Williams in Poplar Bluff. Debra enjoyed knitting and crocheting. She is survived by father, Bob Williams; mother, Lillian (Johnson) Williams; aunt, Brenda Louise Davidson (Hughie); aunt, Linda Stiffan (Robert); uncle, Buddy Williams and many cousins...

Two non-profits tasked with providing emergency housing and other services to some of the area’s most vulnerable residents say the community has been extremely good to them in 2019, but their needs continue year-round. Both United Gospel Rescue Mission and Haven House already have their eyes set to 2020, and how they will continue to provide services...

CAPE GIRARDEAU — Geneva Mary Wyatt, 94, of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, Dec. 30, 2019 at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born June 12, 1925 in Sikeston, Mo. to Henry W. and Josephine Schaefer Schwab. She and J.R. Wyatt were married Jan. 22, 1955 at Sikeston. He preceded her in death on April 4, 1968...

Robert (Bob) Harrell photo flag Robert Allen (Bob) Harrell, 78, of Poplar Bluff, went home to his Heavenly Father on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 surrounded by his loved ones. The son of John and Effie Harrell, Bob was born Aug. 12, 1941 in Jacksonville, Ill. His childhood years growing up on Routt Street created countless memories that became cherished family stories and legends. At the age of 12, the Lord graciously saved Bob and gave him faith that would shape and guide him his entire life...

Missouri’s alternative methods deer season has gotten off to a pretty slow start, and when I checked the numbers Tuesday morning, hunters had only taken 3,000 deer statewide. Some of the blame probably can be placed on the weather over the weekend, but the low harvest likely is more attributable to a lack of daytime deer movement...

Bill B. Chronister, 95, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.