Stories from Friday, October 23, 2020

Occasionally, I share a column based on Robert Petterson’s, The One Year Book of Amazing Stories: 365 Days of Seeing God’s Hand in Unlikely Places. Here is one of the author’s incredible stories. The final notes of the famous jazz musician’s life were fading fast when he checked into New York City’s Beth Israel Hospital...

Humanity has just not advanced all that much (if at all). I am not a fan of political speeches and campaign hijinks, but you simply cannot avoid watching or hearing it. I am tired of the trick questions that are given at interviews, the name calling and disparaging comments. It makes me wonder if there are any honorable politicians out there. (I know there are, but still … )...

A 67-year-old Puxico woman was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash at 4:53 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, on Highway WW, four miles north of Dudley. According to the report, Glenda F. Williamson was operating a 2005 Polaris all-terrain vehicle southbound when she pulled into the path of a 2018 GMC pickup being driven northbound by Cody J. Grubbs, 37, of Puxico...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Jennifer R. Armbruster, 35, of Annapolis was arrested at 2:01 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). She was booked at the Wayne County Jail. _ Michael E. Stover, 48, of Des Arc was arrested at 2:01 p.m. ...

City firefighters responded at 2:18 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, to a vehicle fire at the intersection of Bearden and Main streets. According to the report, firefighters found the engine compartment and both front tires fully engulfed upon their arrival and used 150 gallons of water to put out the fire...

Monsoons, injuries, illness, snowshoeing, long hikes through the most isolated and far-reaching locations — a Ripley County woman has done all of this and more to help conserve endangered plant species around the world. While Jennifer Smock’s work for the Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) may have been confined to the computers at her Ripley County home for many months of the pandemic, she has crossed continents in recent years with the goal of plant conservation...

Peggy Louise Jenkins, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed away Oct. 22, 2020 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Peggy was born on March 8, 1944 to the late E. W. Jaco and Flossie (Hern) Jaco in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Peggy enjoyed her love of gardening; especially knock out roses and Asiatic Lilies of which she would gladly give one to anyone. ...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Alberta Marie (nee Drew) Robertson, born April 4, 1923 (Qulin, Missouri), died Oct. 22, 2020 (St. Louis, Missouri). Beloved daughter of the late A. Dell and Ruth (nee Jones) Drew. Beloved wife of 72 years of the late Thomas Lawrence Robertson (Jan. ...

While a recent vehicle vs. utility pole accident impacted only a small number of customers, it took up to four crews to repair the damage earlier this week. Costs for repairs have not been calculated at this time, according to utility and law enforcement officials, and the driver involved has not been named...

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center accepted a sizeable donation from Bailey’s CARSTAR. The donation will be used to fund the Care and Share Program, which provides ingredients for a holiday meal to veterans living below the federal poverty line...

Remembrance of a life tragically taken too early while making others aware of protecting themselves were goals of Finish the Run organizer, businesswoman and mother Janet McNece. The recent event in Poplar Bluff honored a young nurse who was giving her life to serve others, but was murdered by someone she knew...

GREENVILLE — A Poplar Bluff woman died early Thursday morning of multiple gunshot wounds allegedly fired by her boyfriend who now faces a murder charge. Lelena Kay Guard’s cause of death was determined during an autopsy performed Friday morning by Dr. Russell Deidiker at Farmington, according to Wayne County Deputy Coroner Mark Smith...

After a delay because of the pandemic, the 2019-20 retiring staff from Poplar Bluff R-I Schools received recognition Thursday night.

NEELYVILLE — After a week of students remaining home, they will be back in class at the Neelyville R-IV school district Monday.