Stories from Thursday, May 27, 2021

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Jaden Deaton sprinted past the leader on the backstretch and held on to claim the 3200-meters title Thursday in the MSHSAA Class 5 state track and field championships. The Poplar Bluff senior’s win, along with his fourth-place showing in the 1600, a pair of all-state performances by Jadarius Pigg in the hurdles, a top-4 finish in the pole vault by Luke Barousse and a point from hurdler John-Paul Godwin led the Mules on a wet day at Adkins Stadium...

Wappapello Lake – Warmer weather is almost here and that means millions of Americans will be planning visits to our nation’s lakes and rivers. As the steward of many of these public waters, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reminds visitors of the importance of practicing safe, sensible, and thoughtful activities in and around the water...

The annual yearly meeting at the Sparkman Cemetery will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the cemetery. The public is invited

A pork steak dinner will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. Friday at the Eagles, 1400 S. Broadway. The event is open to the public.

Cynthia Lorraine Pattillo, 73, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, May 25, 2021. She was born April 22, 1948 in St. Louis to the late Robert Bailey and Ruth M. (Street) Sanders. She was a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff and a member of the Fellowship General Baptist Church...

If you’ve driven in downtown Poplar Bluff lately, you may have noticed a bit of an invasion of amphibians. More specifically, you might have seen several frogs along the streets. And, if they made you smile, their creators have succeeded in reaching their goal...

Sandra LaRose Abney, 72, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Wednesday, May 26, 2021. She was born December 13, 1948 in Poplar Bluff to the late Floyd and Bessie (McCury) Abney. She had a simple faith in Jesus and attended 3rd Baptist Church. She was a creative soul as she loved drawing portraits and painting landscapes. She enjoyed a good movie but loved animals, especially cats...

Lavern Whalen 97, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri passed away Sunday May 23, 2021. Lavern Whalen was born December 19, 1923 to Carl and Iva Kearbey in Williamsville, Missouri. She married Laurence Whalen on April 12, 1947. Lavern taught school in Poplar Bluff, Missouri for many years. ...

JEFFERSON CITY — Tristin Hill and Brendan Yarbro of Poplar Bluff received the State FFA Degree, the highest degree members can receive at the state level. The Poplar Bluff FFA members were one of 858 degree recipients receiving the honor during the State FFA Degree Ceremony at the 93rd  Missouri FFA Convention, April 30 – May 1, on the Missouri State Fairgrounds, Sedalia...

Monday’s Games CIVIIC LEAGUE Boss Squad 4, Shoe Carnival 0 Smith & Sons def. Innovative Ortho., forfeit Sterling Bank 7, Haffy’s 2 LITTLE LEAGUE S2 Concrete 17, R&T Auto 13 Saylors Vipers 18, Focus Physical 6 Century Twenty-One 16, Ozark Total 14...

Poplar Bluff’s R.W. Huntington Municipal Pool will open to the public Friday. The pool will officially open for the season at 12:45 p.m., and admission this year will be $2 per child age 17 and younger, or $3 for adults. Open swim hours will be from 1-5 p.m. every day of the week, according to the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department, which oversees the pool...

VAN BUREN — Judith Iva (Sanders) Oakley was born on Carter Creek just North of Van Buren March 3, 1942 and went to the big classroom in the sky May 23. 2021. Judy was united in marriage to Gene Oakley Oct. 28, 1961, in the Methodist Church in Perryville, Missouri. She was blessed to become the mother of Pam (Oakley) Dorris and the grandmother of Blake and Brianna Dorris. Judy was also mother to James Wesley Oakley who died in infancy...

FISK, Mo. — Gary Zoll, 75, of Puxico, Missouri, went home to be with Jesus Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Zoll was born Nov. 4, 1945 in Poplar Bluff, son of the late Arthur Lloyd and Angeline Marie Zoll. He was a Vietnam War veteran and a member of the Puxico VFW and the 1081 Marine Corp League. He was also a member of the Puxico Methodist Church for most of his life. He enjoyed writing music and playing guitar...

YUMA, Ariz. — “Last night reminded me of many nights, staying up by the radio and the Cardinals were playing on the west coast. The game started at 9 p.m., finished at midnight, and I’m trying to stay awake because I’ve got school the next morning,” Three Rivers College radio announcer Tim Hager said. “I’m not going to do this forever, but this has been fun.”...