Stories from Friday, December 11, 2020

Several summers ago, my family traveled to Oklahoma for a visit with my wife’s parents. While there I came across a great story in an old Reader’s Digest from December 2003. The minute I read the story, I knew I would use it in a future Christmas column. The story of Dr. Leandra Lynch touched me, and I hope it will inspire you as well...

SIKESTON — Fourteen games ago, the Poplar Bluff boys’ basketball team earned a victory over Sikeston. But, streaks are supposed to end, and the Mules did just that on Thursday evening in the third-place game of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Sikeston Field House with an 81-65 victory over the Bulldogs...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Dawson Tilley, 19, of Dexter was arrested at 9:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, on suspicion of DWI (drugs). He was booked at the Stoddard County Jail and released. _ Wallace Hutchinson, 23, of Greenville was arrested at 7:48 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, on suspicion of lawful possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, no insurance and failure to drive on the right half of the road. He was booked at the Butler County jail...

County firefighters responded at 1:25 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, to a grass fire at 689 Highway V. According to the report, a small area of grass and several lawn mowers burned. _ County firefighters responded at 1:50 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, to a woods fire at 12661 Foxwood Pointe...

Lois Dodd-Tucker of Cape Girardeau died Dec. 9, 2020 at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 24, 1924 at Naylor, Mo., daughter of George and Zephra Fowler Blackledge. April 1, 1945, she married Paul Dodd, an auctioneer and realtor. Lois worked as a co-partner in Dodd Realty with her husband for many years in Poplar Bluff. Paul died Oct. 2, 1972...

Patricia Dianne Montgomery of Linville, North Carolina passed on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, at home. Patty was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, a daughter of the late Raymond and Mary Ridge. Patty graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1963, and graduated from Three Rivers Community College...

Loudean Starnes, 93, departed from this earth Dec. 3, 2020. She was surrounded by her beloved family at her home. She is the daughter of Willie and Bessie Wallace. Her parents preceded her in death. Her husband, Leon “Pete” Starnes preceded her in death Dec. 13, 1972...

A Coldwater, Mississippi, man has been ordered to stand trial for the stabbing death of his uncle. Terry A. Brown appeared Thursday afternoon before Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce for a preliminary hearing in his case. He was accompanied by his attorney, Katie New with the Public Defender’s Office...

Lenard Hacker, 86, of Broseley, Missouri, died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 at Puxico Nursing and Rehab, in Puxico, Missouri. Mr. Hacker was born Feb. 6, 1934 in Crab Orchard, Kentucky, son of the late Roy and Frieda Hacker. He worked for TOFC Trucking for 36 years in Chicago, Illinois. After retiring to Broseley in 1989, he drove the school bus for the Twin Rivers school district for several years...

Jalon Michael Harris, the son of Michael Anthony Harris, Adrienne Dionne Webb and Mareece Webb departed this Life Nov. 28, 2020. Jalon was an artist and licensed carpenter, but his passion was gaming and making music. He will be remembered for his outgoing and comedic personality, his kind heart and the way he encouraged and believed in others...

VAN BUREN — The Carter County commission answered questions Friday about long delays in the construction of a new courthouse to replace an older one severely damaged during the May 2017 flood of the Current River. Questions also arose about county finances and what appeared to be a lack of bidding on the costs to renovate the current courthouse location...

Being quarantined or self-isolated does not mean you have to be lonely. There is a difference. Loneliness is considered a public health risk, but ­ in this time of self-isolation it is important to distinguish loneliness from isolation, said Dr. J. Kale Monk...

Local members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union are expected to protest outside the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center today over a variety of complaints.