Stories from Monday, December 7, 2020

BLOOMFIELD — Donald “Donnie” Ray Hayes, age 73, of Summersville, Missouri, died Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, at his residence in Summersville. Mr. Hayes was born March 15, 1947, in Poplar Bluff, son of the late Raymond and Alberta Thomas Hayes. He was in the Army and served in Vietnam...

Marie Ann Jupp, 68, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. Born Aug. 18, 1952 in Indianapolis, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late George C. Jupp Sr. and Stella (Stewart) Jupp. She is survived by her son, James David DeWeese of San Pedro, California; daughters, Monica Weston of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Judy Pfeiffer of Jackson, Missouri; two brothers, Robert Jupp of Williamsville, Missouri and Charles Jupp of California; two sisters, Carol Raymer of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Cynthia Jupp-Haynes of Poplar Bluff; Missouri, and five grandchildren, Joshua Weston, Jared Antolin, Alexa Pfeiffer, Tyler DeWeese, and Jasmine Pfeiffer.. ...

When David Perkins left the corporate world, he found himself considering a second career in law enforcement or education. Law enforcement won out, but now nearly a decade later, Perkins finds himself in the education arena as the school resource officer at the Poplar Bluff Middle School...

Juanita Fern Reeves Whelchel, 97, of Poplar Bluff, went to her heavenly home Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 at her residence, with her loving family at her bedside. Juanita, the daughter of Ulric and Lena (Redwine) Reeves, was born Sept. 15, 1923, in Pitman, Arkansas. ...

Wendle “Wendy” Hendrix, 84, of Qulin, Missouri, died Friday, Dec. 4, 2020 at Malden Nursing & Rehab in Malden, Missouri. Mr. Hendrix was born July 1, 1936 in Qulin, son of the late Oliver and Ellen Hendrix. He served in the U.S. National Guard from 1956 to 1965. He was retired from MFA Oil Company and enjoyed fishing and gardening...

Butler County has reached a new point in the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Missouri public health warning requirements released by the state, Butler County is now an extreme risk area. “Based on the criteria, the state would put us in category one (extreme risk),” said Butler County EMA Director Robbie Myers...

Tilling the soil, planting and growing vegetables offers many rewards from homegrown food on the table to time spent outside in the fresh air. The Butler County Community Resource Council is working to expand community gardens in an effort to improve the lives of children and families, and they are asking for the public’s input. An award is being offered to one lucky person who takes the survey...

Teddy Dean Spradling, 84, Doniphan, Missouri, succumbed to a month long battle against complications related to COVID-19 on Thursday Dec. 3, 2020 at Kindred Healthcare in Green Cove Springs North, Florida. He was born in Ripley County and was a Navy Veteran. After leaving the military, he was employed as an aircraft technician by McDonnell Douglas, retiring after 32 years of lauded service...

DEXTER POLICE DEXTER — Demarcus Cotton, 30, of Sikeston was arrested at 6:40 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, on suspicion of driving while revoked or suspended. _ DEXTER — Anthony Green II, 27, of Cape Girardeau was arrested at 2:58 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, on a municipal failure to appear warrant...

Poplar Bluff firefighters responded at 7:32 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, to 605 Maple St. to a cooking fire. According to the report, the burner was accidentally turned on and not turned off. Melalnie Watkins is the resident and Marty Michel is the owner. They cleared the scene at 7:56 a.m...

The schools in the Neelyville R-IV school district recently released the names of those students on the first quarter A and A/B honor rolls. Neelyville Elementary A Honor Roll Third Grade Jesse Berten Wesley Burgett Wade Hale Ayden Roper Taylor Turner...

About 40 elementary students at Oak Grove Elementary recently participated in a home project, creating a piece of art using nothing but recyclables, besides adhesive material. This year’s building-wide winner selected by faculty was third grader Aubrey Rider, who submitted a project entitled “Save The Turtles,” with shells made out of the bottom part of green soda bottles and messaging intended to raise awareness about pollution in the ocean...

Poplar Bluff City Council members are expected to pass a balanced 2021 budget which will include cuts to an additional four city positions.  The budget was discussed Monday during a workshop session and will be a workshop and voting item Dec. 21. “Unfortunately, again in 2021 the general fund budget does not include a salary and unfortunately, it does include an increase in health insurance deductibles,” city manager Matt Winters said during the discussion...

A local physician and hospital official called Monday on Poplar Bluff City Council members to enact a mandatory mask ordinance. City officials said after the meeting they will take the request under advisement. Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center has faced a full COVID-19 unit for the past three months, having to go as far at times as Tulsa, Oklahoma, Belleville, Illinois, and Harrisonville, Arkansas, to find free beds to treat patients, said Dr. ...