Stories from Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Louis Wayne Jenkins, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away on March 28, 2021 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Louis was born on November 9, 1936 to the late Dave and Elois (Harlow) Jenkins in Pontotoc, Mississippi. He married Mary Gail (Gambrell) Jenkins on April 25, 1958, in Mississippi....

Route N in Butler County will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert under the roadway. This section of roadway is located between Missouri Route 51/53 and County Road 215. Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, April 5, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m...

Missouri courts now have an option that will allow them to progress past some COVID-19 restrictions, if vaccines are readily available in the circuit. The state’s highest court has made changes to its operational directives with the recent increase in access to COVID-19 vaccines in Missouri...

In the summer of 2018, at the age of 15, Kristi and Eric Boles’ son Ryder was diagnosed with testicular germ cell cancer. The Dexter parents were determined to fight the battle every step of the way. With unwavering support from family, friends, and community, they made it...

POPLAR BLUFF FIRE DEPARTMENT City firefighters responded at 6:38 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, to call for assistance at 3100 Kennedy Lane. According to the report, a man had fallen and could not get up. Firefighters and EMS assisted. _ City firefighters responded at 3:01 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, to a report of an alarm at the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center at 1200 Camp Road. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the alarm sounded due to maintenance workers spraying paint...

ST. LOUIS — Spire is extending the deadline for its energy assistance program that is available to Missouri customers who are experiencing financial hardship and have past-due balances because of the pandemic.  The program was originally scheduled to end on March 31...

Steven Wade Pickard, age 59, of Doniphan, Missouri, died Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at his residence. Mr. Pickard was born July 11, 1961 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, son of the late James Harold Pickard and Elsie Mae (Summers) Inscoe. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and riding his four-wheeler. Steven especially loved spending time with his family and friends. On October 19, 2001 he married Tonya Hardin. She survives...

A total of 28 COVID-19 cases were confirmed from March 24 through Wednesday, bringing the total number of Butler County cases to 4,383. Another 1,420 people also received vaccine booster shots at the National Guard vaccination event Tuesday in Poplar Bluff...

Hazel Katherine Shawver age 89, of Poplar Bluff passed away on March 27, 2021 in Poplar Bluff. She was born on November 20, 1931 in Perth, Kansas. To the late Asa and Georgie Wineinger. On August 8, 1950 she was married to Bill Leroy Shawver, he preceded her in death on April 2007. Hazel was a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation in Poplar Bluff...

Doris Jean Robb, 80, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away, March 30, 2021 at the Cedar Gate Nursing Center in Poplar Bluff. She was born December 29, 1940 William Smith and Ala ‘Glasco’ Smith Frizzell. On November 14, 1962 she was married to Ronald Owen Robb at Rockford, Illinois. He preceded her in death on May 15, 2007...

The Wappapello Civic Center is open after being closed for more than a year, and dances are scheduled again. Board member Judy Wood said the board decided to reopen because the COVID-19 precaution rules have eased and more than 10 people can be together...