Stories from Friday, March 5, 2021

For the pastoral team at Bluff First Assembly of God, their outlook on 2021 mirrors their church’s theme for this year: “The Best is Yet to Come.” The Poplar Bluff church, located on Katy Lane just off Westwood Boulevard, is led by T.J. Woodard, lead pastor, Max Southern, executive pastor, and Nathan Smith, worship and youth pastor...

BLOOMFIELD — Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner reports on March 4, as a result of an ongoing drug investigation, his department, along with the SEMO Drug Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Dexter Police Department intercepted approximately 74 pounds of marijuana on Highway 60 near Grayridge...

The University of Missouri Butler County Extension office is presenting Healthy Living for Brain and Body as part of the Alzheimer’s Association series from noon - 1 p.m. Thursday, March 11. The class will be available both on Zoom and in person. “Attendees will learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these tips into a plan for healthy aging,” said John Fuller, human development and family science field specialist with the University of Missouri Extension.. ...

Peggy Hutson of Broseley, Missouri passed away at the age of 85.  Peggy worked at Doctors Hospital and the Poplar Bluff School system before retiring to travel with the love of her life Alex.  Peggy was a member of the Palace of Praise and a tribal elder of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She loved to read and work outside in her flowers, but her favorite past time was a good long conversation, as she never met a stranger. ...

The local Kiwanis Club’s 83rd annual Pancake Day will from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 13, at the Poplar Bluff Junior High School. Proceeds will benefit the all-inclusive playground at Kiwanis Bacon Park. Pancake Project Chairman Matthew Sparks recalls pancake day has been a huge family event for most of his life...

Ninety-percent of women either do not want to or do not care to vote. How many women ever devote 10 minutes to the conversation of a political question? The woman’s true sphere is … in the household and among the home circle. Women who wish to pursue a career are “lost,” “man-hating” and “ridden with guilt complexes.”...

I stepped right in it when I arrived in Poplar Bluff as a new reporter for the Daily American Republic. I couldn’t help notice the strikingly-handsome neoclassical building at Poplar and Main streets downtown right next door to the newspaper, and I was curious why it was empty...

Steven Wayne Thrasher, 65, of Clarkton, Missouri, passed away March 5, 2021. He was born January 19, 1956 in Poplar Bluff, to the late Ollie Lavern Thrasher and Flossie Mae (Webb) Thrasher. On October 6, 2003 in Neelyville, he was married to Robin Taylor. She survives...

A 27-year-old Poplar Bluff man was sentenced Friday to 120 months in prison for possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew T. Schelp, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Southeastern Division...

Arts and Advisory Board City of Poplar Bluff Arts and Advisory Board meeting will be at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 9. _ Planning and Zoning Commission The regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday, March 8, has been canceled. The next scheduled meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, March 22...

Dylan James Miller, 21, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed away on March 2, 2021 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born on November 30, 1999 to Kim (Stucker) Miller and Paul and stepmother, Heidi Miller in Poplar Bluff. Dylan was all about his truck, first and foremost, he enjoyed 4-wheeling and fixing things. He was also proud of his job at Baldwin GMC...

Albert ‘Al’ Dale Finley, age 82, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Thursday, March 4, 2021 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Finley was born July 14, 1938 in Broseley, Missouri, son of the late Lonnie Dale and Myrtle (Snider) Finley. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed being outdoors, hunting and fishing. On December 23, 1976 he married Alma Rhodes. She preceded him in death on March 15, 2018...

Donald ‘Larry’ Acre Sr. photo Donald ‘Larry’ Acre Sr., age 82, of Broseley, Missouri, died Thursday, March 4, 2021 at Hunter Acres Care Center in Sikeston, Missouri. Mr. Acre was born May 1, 1938 in Orange, California, son of the late Curtis and Lucille (Alexander) Acre...

Award-winning country superstar Travis Tritt will return to the Black River Coliseum for a one-night show Saturday, April 10, it was announced Friday. Tritt previously played a show at the facility several years ago. “We’re trying to get things introduced again,” said Black River Coliseum Director Greg Smith of the show, the first at the coliseum since February 2020, when the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center hosted its annual VAlentines for Veterans concert...

PIEDMONT, Mo. — Bobby J. Abernathy, 73, of Patterson, Missouri, passed away Thursday, March 4, 2021, at his residence. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, March 8, 2021, at Meador-Flatwoods Cemetery in Piedmont. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Nathan Bridges credits his mom for creating the necessity that mothered his invention. That’s because there were no handouts at the Bridges household. The 20-year-old Patterson furniture redesigner was told by his mom that if he wanted money to spend, he would have to find a way to earn it...

In the biggest drug bust in Stoddard County’s history, a Dexter man was arrested early Thursday morning as he returned home from California with 74 pounds of marijuana in a rented SUV, according to Sheriff Carl Hefner.

Four people were injured – three of them seriously – in a two-car accident shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday on County Road 604, about a quarter mile east of Poplar Bluff shortly, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Two victims had to be evacuated from the scene by helicopter to St. Louis hospitals, according to authorities...

From Carter and Butler counties in Southeast Missouri to the state capital and the governor's office, Robert Knodell has made the journey about serving others. "There is a tremendous opportunity to help people when you get involved, and if you have a heart for people in your community or your state, there is a big opportunity there," he said in a telephone interview...