Stories from Friday, June 12, 2020

Most of us remember where we were when we heard a plane had flown into the first tower on 9/11. The same is true for the assassinations of John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, and Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Turning points exist for every generation; times when events change history...

Having as few as one deputy on duty at a time to cover the 699 square miles in Butler County and protect its 42,000 citizens is something Sheriff Mark Dobbs describes as unrealistic and unsafe. But, that is the situation he finds himself in after having had to lay off five — one deputy/process server, three deputies and one custodian — in recent months due to budget shortfalls...

Edna Anderson of Dexter turned 101 on June 4; however, amid COVID-19 safeguards, the day passed without the fanfare of a large family celebration one would expect on such a momentous occasion. There was a party, though, and Anderson was thrilled with the effort...

JEFFERSON CITY — The five Missouri State Veterans Cemeteries announced today that military funeral honors as well as committal services will resume at all locations beginning on Tuesday, June 16. These funeral services were suspended due to COVID-19 concerns in March...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Two area men were injured in a two-vehicle crash at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11, on Highway 21, seven miles north of Ellington. According to the report, Brandon W. Scherffins, 45, of Desloge, Missouri, was operating a northbound 2017 Subaru Outback and was slowing to stop for a vehicle, which had stopped suddenly in the road...

City firefighters responded at 2:45 p.m. Thursday, June 11, to an alarm at Kneibert Clinic, 686 Lester St. It was investigation only. _ City firefighters responded at 2:42 p.m. Thursday, June 11, to a motor-vehicle crash at the intersection of Pine and 11th streets...

The Poplar Bluff City Council will have a special meeting at 6:30 p.m., a public hearing at 6:45 p.m. and its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 S. Fifth St. The special meeting at 6:30 p.m. will include the city manager presenting each council person with their salaries for services to the city prior to the city clerk presenting the abstract of votes cast at the Municipal election Tuesday, June 3, for their approval...

ELLSINORE, Mo. -Jessie Laverne (Roark) Boyer, 80, daughter of the late William Thomas and Ora Mae (Berry) Roark, was born Sept. 8, 1939 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and departed this life on June 12, 2020 at Ellsinore, Mo. Jessie had resided in Ellsinore, Mo. for most of her life. ...

This weekend Twin Rivers High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian will address their graduating class after delaying the ceremony by about a month.

Butler County officials will follow Gov. Mike Parson’s order to end statewide restrictions as Missouri fully reopens Tuesday. Parson announced the ending of Phase 1 of the state’s plan to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday but left it up to local health officials to leave some regulations in place...