Stories from Friday, April 2, 2021

Jessie Mae Wootton, 81, of Montgomery, Illinois, passed away March 21, 2021 at RML Specialty Hospital in Chicago. She was born September 24, 1939 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, daughter of Earve Sr. and Pauline (Mann) Aldridge. Jessie was employed by West Suburban Bank in various departments for over 20 years...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT Steven Robert Agoain, 40, of Wappapello was booked Friday, April 2, into the Butler County jail on suspicion of driving while revoked/suspended. _ Patrick Michael, 36, of Doniphan was booked Thursday, April 1, into the Butler County jail on suspicion of nonsupport in each of six individual months within any 12 month period and failure to appear for second degree assault...

The Agee Community Club ladies held their noon luncheon at Arby’s on March 12. This month’s hostess was Nadine Johnson. The club president Cathy Womack called the meeting to order with the ladies repeating the club’s motto, “When the heart is full of love the world is full of beauty.” Invocation was offered by Nickey Orton...

Rick Mansfield of Ellington will speak on “Retracing the Epic Journey of Henry Schoolcraft” at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 8, at the West Side Church of God, corner of Barron Road and Channon Drive. The Poplar Bluff Chapter National Daughters of the American Revolution is presenting the program and inviting the public to the event, which is part of the chapter’s Missouri Bicentennial Programs...

City Council The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Poplar Bluff will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, April 5, in the City Council Chambers, 301 S. Fifth St. Workshop Items for Discussion: The City Council will consider a request to destroy antiquated records retained by the Poplar Bluff Police Department as prescribed by the Missouri Secretary of State’s Records Retention Schedule. Move to April 19 voting session...

My friend Dave Coombs sent me an incredible story of heroism that I want to share today. Roddie Edmonds enlisted at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia on March 17, 1941, and rose to the rank of master sergeant by the end of World War II. Edmonds along with a large group of inexperienced soldiers arrived on the front a mere five days before Germany commenced the infamous Battle of the Bulge. ...

The South Central Walk Worthy Women’s Conference, an inter-denominational event, will be held April 23-24 at First Baptist Church in Mountain View, Missouri. The conference times are 6:30-9:30 Friday evening and 9:00 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. The conference host will be Teresa Arthur, and we are honored to welcome keynote speakers: Shelene Bryan, author and Bible teacher, Sara Forhetz, speaker, and Sheila Walsh, author and Bible teacher; Marti Rose, Dramatist; Praise and Worship Leaders, Richie and Brad Jester.. ...

Missouri residents will head to the polls again Tuesday to decide important matters for their communities, and Butler County is no exception. There are two contested school board races and two contested municipal races, as well as tax measures on the ballot for two of our counties. We also have the opportunity to elect three people to the Butler County Health Department’s Board of Trustees...

The members of the Missouri House gave their stamp of approval to the appropriation bills that make up the Fiscal Year 2022 State Operating Budget. Members spent more than seven hours on the House floor Tuesday as they discussed and amended the 13 bills that contain more than $32 billion in funding...

To the Editor: Southeast Missouri Transportation Service, Inc. (SMTS, Inc.) is in opposition to proposed legislation – like House Bill No. 52 sponsored by Representative Adam Schnelting (R-St. Charles) – allowing concealed-carry permit holders to lawfully bring firearms on public transportation. It raises serious concerns for public safety and jeopardizes the local funding SMTS, Inc. receives to match federal funding...

Blace Lanae Dabbs and Lane Allen Dabbs of Fisk, Missouri, are the parents of a son born at 1:37 p.m. March 5, 2021, at Saint Francis Healthcare Family BirthPlace. They named the 7-pound, 11-ounce, 20.25-inches-long baby Lennox Dale Dabbs. He has two brothers...

November 5, 1982 - March 23, 2021 Forrest Patrick “Project Pat” Gipson, son of Pamela Gipson and Charles Little was born on November 5, 1982 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Patrick was educated in the Kansas City, Missouri School District. He was very family oriented and a people person. ...

Bentley ‘Ben’ Carl Hager went to be with his Lord Jesus Christ, Friday April 2, 2021. He was 85 years old. Ben was born May 23, 1935 to Walter and Vivian Hager, near Harviell, Missouri. He married Norma Pennington on January 14, 1956. Ben was a life long carpenter who retired from Doctors Hospital maintenance department. ...

A Poplar Bluff has been convicted of murder in the death of a man whose body was recovered from the Black River in 2014. Curtis L. Walker, 35, of Poplar Bluff was convicted on April 1, of murder in the second degree, armed criminal action, and burglary in the first degree, Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey L. Proctor said in a press release...

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — While driving through Crocker, Missouri, in the early morning hours of Jan. 23, Sgt. 1st Class Matt Mobley, noncommissioned officer in charge of range maintenance at the Combat Training Company, saw something in a gas station parking lot that caught his eye...

Voters in Poplar Bluff’s Ward 4 have two city council candidates to pick from in Tuesday’s election. Incumbent Shane Cornman faces Robert Durbin, who tried unsuccessfully in 2020 for an at-large seat. Former at-large city council member Jerrica Fox is running unopposed for the Ward 2 seat currently held by Ed DeGaris. DeGaris chose not to run for re-election...

Neelyville teacher Jessica Newcomb spent last year with the same class she had when she started teaching with the district. Newcomb started out teaching kindergarten and second grade 14 years ago and moved to Neelyville High School two years ago, just in time to see her first class graduate...

Three Poplar Bluff R-I school district residents are vying for positions on the Board of Education in Tuesday’s election. Two seats are up for election. They are currently held by Ken Davis and Tim Gaebler. The incumbents are challenged by Kevin Ellis...

Gloria Ellen Copeland, daughter of the late Henry Bacon and Norine (Aubuchon) Bacon was born August 5, 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri and departed this life on April 1, 2021 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She had attained the age of seventy-three years, seven months and twenty-seven days...