Stories from Friday, February 19, 2021

This week marks the beginning of one of the most important parts of the traditional Christian liturgical calendar, the 40-day period of Lent, which leads to Easter Sunday. Lent marks the 40 days in which observant believers traditionally give up certain luxuries as well as practice periods of fasting, prayer and daily devotionals or meditations...

POPLAR BLUFF POLICE DEPARTMENT Katrina R. Braden, 29, of the 3300 block of South Westwood, was arrested Thursday, Feb. 18, at highways 60 and 67 on a warrant, and suspicion of possession of marijuana and tampering with a motor vehicle. She was booked at Butler County jail...

COLUMBIA, Ill. — Virginia C. Jelinek, 81 years of Columbia, Illinois, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. She was born on Oct. 14, 1939, in Qulin, Missouri. She married Donald R. Jelinek, Sr. in Dupo, Illinois, on April 4, 1959...

Thomas William “T.W.” Hunter, 79, of Doniphan, Missouri, passed away in Doniphan Jan. 17, 2021. Born July 10, 1948 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. T.W. (Tom) Hunter lived and worked in that area for most of his life. Tom was a talented carpenter who specialized in roofing. ...

Officials in Qulin and Piedmont hope to be able to lift boil water orders for those communities soon after damage to portions of their municipal systems was brought on by brutal winter weather. City officials for both report they are awaiting water test results before lifting those orders, which may be back sometime next week...

Lorita Katherine (Bauer) Lee, 86, of Poplar Bluff, beloved wife, mother, sister and friend, passed away at her home on Monday, February 8, 2021. Her spirit returned unto God who gave it. She leaves her husband, C. William ‘Bill’ Lee of Poplar Bluff; three sons, Steve (JoAnn) Lee, St. ...

The following advisory boards for the city of Poplar Bluff are scheduled to meet. Historical preservation board The Poplar Bluff Historical Preservation Commission will meet at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the city council chambers, 301 S. Fifth St. Items on the agenda include discussion of a memorial monument at 303 Moran...

The imposing white Bedford stone building that sits vacant at Main and Poplar streets has a storied history in Poplar Bluff’s downtown. Hailed as “The Old Reliable’’ in the early 20th century, the building was constructed in 1914 as the new location for The Bank of Poplar Bluff. When it first opened, a 1915 newspaper headline blared “Elegant Bank Is Opened For Public’s Gaze.’’...

A former Poplar Bluff police officer sentenced recently in federal court to 25 years on child pornography charges was returned to Butler County jail Friday, Feb. 12, to face outstanding state charges stemming from the same offense. Brandon Michael Hopper, 40, now faces felony charges of sexual trafficking in children, promoting child pornography and two counts possessing child pornography, according to a complaint filed in Butler County Circuit Court. ...

Emily Goodin wears two hats these days. Along with being director of the Butler County Health Center, Goodin is the Region E implementation team leader. Goodin acquired the region team leader position when the health center won a competitive COVID response regional implementation grant through the Missouri Department of Health...

Missouri history provides a fascinating contrast to the US House vote to remove Rep. Marjorie Greene, R-Georgia, from committee assignments. Unlike Greene, similar disciplinary actions in Missouri against members have avoided a partisan split and required a simple action by the leader of the legislator’s own party...